The Mandalorianstarted out as a low-level show about a bounty hunter that looked like Boba Fett. However, the appearance of little Grogu at the end of the pilot episode changed everything, revealing that this is a show that is much bigger in scale and scope and would go on to have a completely different focus than what was originally advertised.
The Mandalorianwent on to have an incredibly successful first two seasons, with the first laying the groundwork for what’s to come and teasing potential new plot lines and characters before season two came and leveled up the size and scale of the story significantly. Familiar characters reappearing was a huge part of that, with heroes like Ahsoka Tano and Luke Skywalker being brought back in this post-Return of the Jediera.
RELATED:The Mandalorian: Star Wars Needs To Figure Out Droids
Ultimately, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni’s debut live-action show in a galaxy far, far away has, in part, been successful because of the way in which they have included elements from different eras in the franchise. Even the cameos reflect that; there’s Ahsoka from the prequels, Luke from the original trilogy, and Boba Fett being a mix of the two (especially as Temuera Morrison played him).
Season 3 has done more of the same but has added the sequel trilogy into the mix, with elements like the Praetorian guards and the looming presence of Palpatine and Snoke via cloning. Despite what some fans might think of the sequel trilogy, these elements being added intoThe Mandalorianis ultimately helping to improve the show overall, as one of its core strengths has always been the way in which it feels like a blend of all eras of the franchise and, therefore, has something for everyone.
As stated, the first two seasons weren’t particularly heavy on sequel trilogy references or plot points.The cloning storywas always hinted to be about Palpatine and/or Snoke, but it was never confirmed. Fans also saw the remnants of the Empire begin to take more of an overt presence in the galaxy, but the formation of the First Order wasn’t yet complete (something that Jon Favreau stated would happen in the show prior to season one’s release). Instead, there were lots of elements from the original trilogy, such as the overall aesthetic and look of the show, the Empire-era stormtroopers and ships, Luke Skywalker appearing and looking exactly like what he did in Episode VI, and more. The samecould be said with the prequelsand the appearances of Ahsoka Tano and Bo-Katan Kryze.
Season 3 has continued to have all of those elements from the prequels and originals, but the sequels feature much more heavily this time around. Chapter 23, The Spies, was arguably the biggest example of that. The Shadow Council appeared and included the father of General Hux from the sequels and was played by the brother of Domnhall Gleeson, and audiences could see the slow transition beginning from the Empire to the new First Order. The Shadow Council and Brendol Hux in particular had a huge role in the creation of the First Order,so the sequel trilogy connectionswere on full display there.
The connections to the sequels continued late on in the episode, where the Praetorian guardscame in as back up to help defeat Paz Vizsla. These are the same guards that were by Snoke’s side during the fan favorite throne room battle in Episode VIII -The Last Jedi, albeit with a tweaked design, so it’s abundantly clear the direction that Favreau and Filoni are heading it. This is a far cry from the fans who speculated that the duo were somehow going to utilize the World Between Worlds to retcon the sequels and put them in a different timeline from the rest of the franchise.
All of these connections and the slow building towards the sequelsare helpingThe Mandalorianas a show,even if some fans didn’t agree with the direction of the story of those movies. In the making of documentary for season two, Jon Favreau said that he wanted his show to be the story where every fan of the franchise can get something out of it. Therefore, prequel fans, original trilogy fans, and sequel fans could all enjoy the story and where it’s headed.
The Mandalorianmight have been advertised initially as a bounty hunter show, but it’s actually far from it. This is the flagship story in theStar Warsfranchise right now, and one that is utilizing all eras to create a unique and interesting story.Star Warsfans are often so divided and territorial, defending the stories they love in the franchise while also acting aggressively towards those that they don’t like as much,butThe Mandalorianis attemptingto bring everyone together and give something that anyone can enjoy.
MORE:Star Wars: Why The Mandalorian Climax Movie Is A Great Idea
