‘The Mandalorian’ S2
(2020-1)
Dir: various directors

Reviewed Jan 20, 2021

NO SPOILERS AHEAD

I’ve been saying since ‘The Mandalorian’ first graced our streaming internet waves (my neologist talents once again arise: “i-waves”, like “airwaves”, but for the internet age), that it’s an example of what happens when fans make entries into the STAR WARS galaxy, not boards of directors. Actor/producer/director John Favreau has become a large player in film and television, and with proven ability, he collected talented writers and producers to make his pet project, based on a bounty hunter character similar to Boba Fett, whom we meet in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

The second season, though still a complete treat for STAR WARS geekazoids such as myself, has a bit of an “episodic” feel, pun unintended. So our main character, a Mandalore — a special class of bounty hunter outfitted with nearly invincible armor — is on a quest (no spoilers). So in each episode, he is acting on information from the end of the previous episode: “go to planet x, there you will find y“. Planet x is where he goes, and when he finds y, there’s a bargain proposed. The planet, city, or character is having, right at that time, a specific problem that the Mandalorian (a.k.a. “Mando”) is drafted to help with. Whether it’s a giant worm, an unjust authoritarian leader, or problems with The Empire, Mando helps, gets cooperation or information from y to advance to the next step of his episodic journey.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

The ending of S2 is what we hoped for, and the few familiar retreads are worth a bit of bitterness for the sweet taste of satisfaction.