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We knew that Disney Plus would launch with a big splash, and there are few bigger splashes than debuting the first-ever live-action Star Wars series. Amid some technical glitches and weird additions to other corners of the galaxy far, far away (âMaclunkey!â), the new streaming serviceâs first major draw was well worth the wait, even if UK audiences might not agree given the extra few monthsâ delay.
Created by filmmaker Jon Favreau (Iron Man, The Lion King) and developed by Favreau and animated Star Wars veteran Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars, Rebels), The Mandalorian is set in the years following the fall of the Galactic Empire in Return Of The Jedi. Poking around some new corners of the universe first brought to life by George Lucas, itâs both reassuringly familiar in terms of some tech, creatures and settings, and yet very new, introducing a much more Western vibe than has usually been seen in the movies.
Some story details follow, but weâve avoided major spoilers.
[ul]
[li]Sign up for a 7-day trial of Disney Plus here[/li][/ul]
A lot of that feeling is in the main characterâs brusque, neutral attitude to his work tracking targets down as a bounty hunter and its consequences. Pedro Pascal is a charismatic actor (as those whoâve watched Game Of Thrones or Narcos know) and itâs perhaps a surprise that he spends the entire premiere episode still wearing his helmet.
Yet Pascal is still able to make him compelling, even working behind layers of metal. With only the first show to judge from, youâve got to figure that weâll see his face at some point. But the script has already started to shade in his character. True Mandalorian or not, heâs clearly linked to the people who made the armour, and little touches such as his distrust of droids are played for both characterization and comic relief.
Motley crew
[IMG alt="qeomG8HnvXECqGdZDL7UHG" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qeomG8HnvXECqGdZDL7UHG.jpg[/IMG]
Around him are a more colorful bunch, even if weâve yet to meet many of the characters who will populate the show. Fellow bounty hunter IG-11 (Taika Waititi) is entertaining, like a parking meter crossed with Mr. Spock, a multi-limbed sharp-shooting machine with the ability to pivot around and take out several enemies at one.
Werner Herzog is more of a gruff surprise â who would ever have thought to see him grace a Star Wars screen? â while Nick Nolte has fun voicing an Ugnaught who helps get the Mandalorian where heâs going in this opening episode.
One key element of the show so far is that for all its hard-bitten space cowboy feel, it isnât afraid to have fun with the concept. The Mandalorianâs first on-screen capture is a chatty blue fish-guy played by former Saturday Night Live performer Horatio Sanz, who gives the opening scenes a Midnight Run feel. Watching our anti-hero trying to tame a bluurg, a horse-like creature that is more akin to a grouper fish mated with a dinosaur, offers a brief blast of slapstick.
[IMG alt=âThe first image from the Star Wars live action show The Mandalorian, showing a person wearing Mandalorian armorâ]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ckt...6zEg8Rn7TV.jpg
Blending fan-pleasing easter eggs (is that a very Boba Fett-looking character lurking in the Mandalorian building?) with a fresh tone and a different energy from the films, âChapter Oneâ signals itself confidently as the start of something exciting for both hardcore Star Wars fans and those who donât know their Ewok from their AT-AT, but are interested enough to look this up among the sprawling catalogue that Disneyâs new service has to offer.
The Mandalorian is not perfect: there are moments that donât quite land, including the old clichĂ© about baddies having terrible aim holding true and some tiny, awkward flashbacks to the central characterâs past, while we also wonder if the deeper mythology the show is weaving around the main character will truly pay off.
Yet with a swift running time (39 minutes is remarkably short for this era of bloated streaming content), a chunky, adventurous but not derivative score from Black Pantherâs Ludwig Göransson, itâs a fine addition to a canon that has had some bad luck with TV in the past.
And no, youâre not going to find the Holiday Special lurking among Disneyâs servers. Even if the new show does nod to it with the main manâs staff/blaster combo, as used by Boba Fett, and a reference to Life Day. Yes, even the weirder junctions of the galaxy sometimes come in handy.
Hereâs how to watch The Mandalorian. New episodes drop every Friday on Disney Plus.
[ul]
[li]Check out all the Star Wars movies and TV shows on Disney Plus[/li][li]Star Wars is 4K on Disney Plus[/li][li]Streaming services compared[/li][/ul]
Continue readingâŠ
Created by filmmaker Jon Favreau (Iron Man, The Lion King) and developed by Favreau and animated Star Wars veteran Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars, Rebels), The Mandalorian is set in the years following the fall of the Galactic Empire in Return Of The Jedi. Poking around some new corners of the universe first brought to life by George Lucas, itâs both reassuringly familiar in terms of some tech, creatures and settings, and yet very new, introducing a much more Western vibe than has usually been seen in the movies.
Some story details follow, but weâve avoided major spoilers.
[ul]
[li]Sign up for a 7-day trial of Disney Plus here[/li][/ul]
A lot of that feeling is in the main characterâs brusque, neutral attitude to his work tracking targets down as a bounty hunter and its consequences. Pedro Pascal is a charismatic actor (as those whoâve watched Game Of Thrones or Narcos know) and itâs perhaps a surprise that he spends the entire premiere episode still wearing his helmet.
Yet Pascal is still able to make him compelling, even working behind layers of metal. With only the first show to judge from, youâve got to figure that weâll see his face at some point. But the script has already started to shade in his character. True Mandalorian or not, heâs clearly linked to the people who made the armour, and little touches such as his distrust of droids are played for both characterization and comic relief.
Motley crew
[IMG alt="qeomG8HnvXECqGdZDL7UHG" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qeomG8HnvXECqGdZDL7UHG.jpg[/IMG]
Around him are a more colorful bunch, even if weâve yet to meet many of the characters who will populate the show. Fellow bounty hunter IG-11 (Taika Waititi) is entertaining, like a parking meter crossed with Mr. Spock, a multi-limbed sharp-shooting machine with the ability to pivot around and take out several enemies at one.
Werner Herzog is more of a gruff surprise â who would ever have thought to see him grace a Star Wars screen? â while Nick Nolte has fun voicing an Ugnaught who helps get the Mandalorian where heâs going in this opening episode.
One key element of the show so far is that for all its hard-bitten space cowboy feel, it isnât afraid to have fun with the concept. The Mandalorianâs first on-screen capture is a chatty blue fish-guy played by former Saturday Night Live performer Horatio Sanz, who gives the opening scenes a Midnight Run feel. Watching our anti-hero trying to tame a bluurg, a horse-like creature that is more akin to a grouper fish mated with a dinosaur, offers a brief blast of slapstick.
[IMG alt=âThe first image from the Star Wars live action show The Mandalorian, showing a person wearing Mandalorian armorâ]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ckt...6zEg8Rn7TV.jpg
Blending fan-pleasing easter eggs (is that a very Boba Fett-looking character lurking in the Mandalorian building?) with a fresh tone and a different energy from the films, âChapter Oneâ signals itself confidently as the start of something exciting for both hardcore Star Wars fans and those who donât know their Ewok from their AT-AT, but are interested enough to look this up among the sprawling catalogue that Disneyâs new service has to offer.
The Mandalorian is not perfect: there are moments that donât quite land, including the old clichĂ© about baddies having terrible aim holding true and some tiny, awkward flashbacks to the central characterâs past, while we also wonder if the deeper mythology the show is weaving around the main character will truly pay off.
Yet with a swift running time (39 minutes is remarkably short for this era of bloated streaming content), a chunky, adventurous but not derivative score from Black Pantherâs Ludwig Göransson, itâs a fine addition to a canon that has had some bad luck with TV in the past.
And no, youâre not going to find the Holiday Special lurking among Disneyâs servers. Even if the new show does nod to it with the main manâs staff/blaster combo, as used by Boba Fett, and a reference to Life Day. Yes, even the weirder junctions of the galaxy sometimes come in handy.
Hereâs how to watch The Mandalorian. New episodes drop every Friday on Disney Plus.
[ul]
[li]Check out all the Star Wars movies and TV shows on Disney Plus[/li][li]Star Wars is 4K on Disney Plus[/li][li]Streaming services compared[/li][/ul]
Continue readingâŠ