The Mandalorian season 2 will stream on Disney+ from October 30. In our preview, we’ll have a reminder of what happened in season 1, a season that has earned an Emmy nomination for best drama. We’ll then take a look at what we know and what we want from season 2. SPOILERS ahead…
The Mandalorian Season 1 Recap
Story
Mando accepts a job from bounty hunter guild leader Greef Karga to find ‘the Child’, aka Baby Yoda, for ‘the Client’. With the help of an Ugnaught called Kuiil and a droid named IG-11 he rescues Baby Yoda. We soon learn of his mistrust of droids, which becomes a recurring theme throughout the season. A bond forms between Mando and the Child and when it becomes clear that the Client’s intentions are less than pure, Mando again rescues the Child; this time with the help of his fellow Mandalorians.
Mando and the Child jump between planets, trying to stay out of trouble. Of course they find it and baby Yoda is frequently in peril. During this time Mando meets former rebel Cara Dune, who he calls on for assistance in the future.
Mando, Cara, Kuiil, Karga and IG-11 head for a showdown with the Client. They are interrupted by the arrival of Moff Gideon and his army of stormtroopers, who kill the Client and pin down Mando and his gang. Mando’s view of droids changes when IG-11 eventually sacrifices itself to save Mando and company.
Review
The season got off to a flying start as Mando and Baby Yoda were introduced. It had a strong finish too, as characters and storylines were tied together, leading to an epic finale. However, the show did slow in the middle, as the series became surprisingly episodic. Interesting characters were bought in and then not seen again (so far). The series did a great job with action scenes, even if Mando was a bit too reliant on his flamethrower. It also offered plenty of humour, from Baby Yoda facial expressions to comedy stormtroopers. You can hear more thoughts on season 1 from the FinalBoss team on the first episode of BossCast.
The Mandalorian Season 2 Preview
Story
As season 1 ended, the Armorer gave Mando a new mission: return the Child to his own kind. Hopefully this will not be a case of just hopping between planets for dead-end adventures, but a chance to find out more about the Child and his powers.
Also in the season finale, Moff Gideon escaped from his crashed tie fighter using a strange-looking lightsaber. Apparently this was the Darksaber, created by the first Mandalorian to become a Jedi. This name has yet to be said onscreen, however, so we’ll have to wait to find out its history and how it came into Gideon’s hands.
Speaking of Gideon, I hope his late introduction will be the start of more insight into what the Imperials have been doing since the Emperor’s demise. Even without Palpatine, there must be thousands of stormtroopers and Imperial officers throughout space. Who, if anyone, is in charge? Will we get word of what the rebel leaders have been up to?
Season 1 introduced some interesting characters who were left with unresolved issues. The assassin Fennec Shand was shot and left for dead in episode 5, only for a mystery figure to approach the body as the credits rolled. Who was it? What were they doing?
In the next episode, The Prisoner, Mando joined some unsavoury individuals for a mission aboard a space prison. When they double-crossed him, he ran rings around them and escaped. The closing moments revealed he left Mayfield, Burg and Xi’an alive. They seem like the kind of folk who will want revenge.
New For The Mandalorian Season 2
Several new characters from the established Star Wars universe have been announced to debut in season 2.
Rosario Dawson will star as Ahsoka Tano, who was introduced as Anakin Skywalker’s padawan in The Clone Wars movie and was a major character in The Clone Wars series. How she is presented to those unfamiliar with the animated series will be interesting, as will finding out what she’s been doing in the intervening years.
Temuera Morrison played Jango Fett in Attack of the Clones; now he will play that character’s son: Boba Fett. Given Boba was last seen being swallowed by a sarlacc on Tatooine, it will be interesting to see how that plays out. It’s reportedly a small role, therefore I wonder if it might be a flashback to a previous encounter between Boba and Mando.
Katee Sackhoff, who has plenty of space experience from Battlestar Galactica, will play Bo-Katan Kryze in The Mandalorian season 2. She has been voicing the same character in the animated series The Clone Wars and Rebels.
Timothy Olyphant will play Cobb Vanth, a former slave who got Boba Fett’s armour. How he got that should be a good story in itself. Vanth first appeared in the Aftermath book trilogy.
In new roles will be action 80’s legend Michael Biehn, as yet another bounty hunter, and WWE superstar Sasha Banks in an, as yet, unspecified role.
The Mandalorian Season 2 Trailer
Some quick takeaways –
- The armorer talks of Jedi as an order of sorcerers, and it seems Mando is going to search for them. So at least someone finally acknowledges them, even if they haven’t caught up to them being practically extinct.
- Looks like Mando and the Child will be getting around again, with scenes on various planets featuring sand, sea and snow.
- X-Wings! Tie Fighters! The war is never over it seems. Also looks like we’ll see the inside of an Imperial ship, maybe Gideon’s?
- Finally, Mando turns up at Star Wars fight night. Looks like he’ll kick-ass.
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