“The Mandalorian”

Season 2: Better Than I Expected

By Grace Enfield

I do admit, going into season two of Disney's highly acclaimed original, "The Mandalorian," my expectations were somewhat low.

The first season was entertaining, but the acting was sub-par and at some points downright cringe-worthy. However, the second season proved my expectations wrong. 

The show's 2020 sister season follows the Mandalorian, played by Pedro Pascal, on his adventure through the cosmos as he tries to find The Child, a.k.a. "Baby Yoda," a permanent home and searches for more Mandalorians. Each thirty-minute episode packs thrilling fight scenes, charming reunions, and exciting space travel into a neat little package that leaves fans on a cliffhanger until the next week's episode. Not only does the story follow the Mandalorian, but the creators brought back fan-favorite characters with a modern twist and a surprise for hard-core fans at the end of the season. 

I wouldn't recommend the show to those who don't know the story. There are references to past events from the franchise that new viewers may not follow without significant internet research. An avid fan of the classic "Star Wars" episodes, though, would be mesmerized by this spin-off series.

As someone who knows the premise of the "Star Wars" franchise, I still needed many explanations about who someone was or the importance of a particular place. Yet, it hooked me with its fun storyline and exciting cast of characters. 

There were several differences between the show's opening in 2019 and the second season, like actually seeing the Mandalorian's face for more than a minute and connections to past characters. But a massive change from the first to the second season was the quality of the acting. 

The first season's characters lacked luster, and their interactions seemed forced and clumsy. Now I can't compare the acting in season one to the ridiculous lines and awful graphics of the original episodes, but there were some pretty atrocious moments in "The Mandalorian."  

At one point in the first season, The Mandalorian crew gets attacked in the middle of the night. One character, Greef Karga, played by Carl Weathers, needed medical attention after the attack. The Child offers the injured man the attention he needs, but before the little creature can get close to him, Greef Karga exclaims, "Ah, he's gonna eat me." That one simple line made me audibly laugh at the immature acting, but I pushed on. As the second season went on, though, the characters became compelling and less surface level. 

The Mandalorian, whose real name is Din Djarin, finally opens up about where he comes from. He wasn't always a Mandalorian. He's called a "foundling," someone who becomes a Mandalorian rather than born into the culture. As he opens up to those he encounters, he becomes less of a soulless bounty hunter and more of a relatable character searching for belonging with his people.

This backstory was the necessary push that I needed to continue to be interested in the series. After a whole season of questions with minimal answers, it gave me a new appreciation for the franchise and the work that went into creating it. 

Overall, I'm impressed with the writers' determination and the timeliness of it, considering the world's state at the time of the filming. This season contained the perfect balance between action, backstory, and continuation of the missions started in the first season. I'm excited to see where the show goes, even with some odd dialogue.