The Mandalorian Season 1
Mar. 3rd, 2020 09:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
satalasers I've been trying to marathon Star Wars this year, which I did in fits and starts. I still need to technically rewatch Solo and Rogue One, but basically: I'm pretty much done with my Star Wars marathon. Yay! The sequel trilogy were disappointing in so many ways, so I'm pretty happy to pretend they never existed, and therefore, never watch those ever again.
Rebels was the hardest to get through, mostly because I didn't like it, at worst, and felt ambivalent, at best. There are fleeting elements that I like, Maul (however badly he was handled), Ezra, Mandalore (sans Sabine because for the majority of it, she ran away from the Mandalorian stuff which is the only thing I found interesting about her). Kanan I hated because he was an awful teacher and an awful person and I was looking forward to his death; Hera was occasionally interesting (but both I loathed because they didn't tell Ezra about his parents, and they had PLENTY OF EPISODES TO DO SO). I enjoyed seeing Ahsoka and Darth Vader and Rex and Thrawn though. The animation was truly abominable at times, which after watching Clone Wars, had me seething because the animation for Clone Wars was SO GOOD, and this? this is the SUCCESSOR? what a downgrade! So it took me forever to get through it, because I just found it hard to watch.
So. The Mandalorian. WHAT A GOOD SHOW!
Here's a preface. I have a mixed relationship with Dave Filioni, I enjoyed TCW (maybe because George Lucas was still on hand); mostly disliked Rebels (because I'm generally not interesting in seeing how characters Got There/answering questions I didn't have and still don't need to have explained to me); so I was... wary with the Mandalorian, because I liked Jon Favreau, for most part! but uh, Taika Waititi, who I feel is kind of in the same line as Joss Whedon and Rian Johnson for me -- I prefer them doing their own stuff than playing in a franchise's sandbox, because their gimmicks occur, and it sticks out like a sore thumb that they have to make it Theirs, and that takes me right out.
*Listen, had Thor been Like That from the start, I wouldn't have minded, or if it taken place in a separate universe, like Joker or Venom, I'm not going to instantly dislike it. At least Joss Whedon tried somewhat to keep Thor to be Shakespearen Vikings In Space, and unfortunately Ragnarok's characterization is the one that stuck, and I'm furious, because I want my Shakespearean Space Vikings back.
LUCKILY IT WAS ONLY FLEETINGLY IN THE LAST EPISODE, WHICH I SAID TO MYSELF 'FUCK. THIS IS NOT GOOD.' BUT TWO OCCASIONS OF IT, AND I WAS LIKE: 'UH HUH. TOTALLY TAIKA WAITITI, DO NOT LIKE' and it was and I am cringing at them. Basically? Those two Stormtroopers having their conversation and Greef Carga saying to Baby Yoda (do the magic hand thing) took me right out of it.
I expect the Stormtroopers talk to be on a sketch show, not in the Mandalorian. I'm a little more forgiving of 'do the magic hand thing', but I still not a fan, because it just feels out of character to me, and breaking the fourth wall, but at least that took less time and was much more fleeting. I just find it to be really jarring and out of place, and I also don't want Stormtroopers to talk that much.
I had a bad feeling about the Seven Samurai homage episode, at the start, because I was genuinely thought: Mando is talking too much to baby Yoda. It's ike the Mad Max Fury Road effect: the more he talked, the less I wanted him too. (But I do like Pedro Pascal's voice, it's just that Mando is meaningful with his words, and more of an action speak louder, kind of guy. But luckily that was only the beginning of the episode.
ALSO PEDRO PASCAL WAS GREAT. DESERVES AN OSCAR. God, I love this show. He's a legend. Seeing him get attached to Baby Yoda, want him to have a better life, but also realizing, he can't have that, but he wants best for others, he wants the Mandalorians foundlings to do well, melts my heart. His entire backstory was great, his burgeoning friendship with Kuiil and Cara (and to a lesser extent, Greef) was lovely to watch unfold. He's a little amoral, but he loves dearly, and I was crying when he was unmasked, because that was great.
BABY YODA, STAR OF THE SHOW. Christ, the animatronics for him was so good!! I could not help but squeal 'baby!!!!' every time I saw him, he was the most precious adorable baby ever. I love that he tries and fails to use the force, several times, and it exhausts him. THAT is why his use of the force is believable and good growth.
Werner 'I would like to see the baby' Herzog was fantastic. Don't have a lot to say about him but he was compelling and shifty and he had a fantastic presence.
I really liked Kuiil because Nick Nolte was just SO GOOD as an Ugnaught, like again: THE PROSTHETICS WERE SO GOOD. Him saying 'I have spoken' as in: 'the conversation is over. I am done talking', was superb. He was tough and scrappy and resourceful and no nonsense and I loved him. I'm so sad he died but, on the other hand, that is how you felt the stakes.
Cara was great. I like she's big and althetic and a power house and she's from Alderaan!!!! That made me very excited. (I kind of want her and Mando to hook up, but if they stayed platonic, and occasionally crossed paths, that would be good too.)
MOFF GIDEON WIELDS THE DARKSABER. OH MY GOD. OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS. That makes me so excited!!! I adore Giancarlo Esposito, and he's such a good bad guy and I have questions about how he got the Darksaber, and what happened to the current affairs of Mandalore/Bo Katan, but I'm just super excited for more. because what a good end to the show.
What else: Ming Na Wen should return in a later episode -- she's not dead, so I hope she comes back! Music was good. I liked that it was a very Western sound, unlike Star Wars, but still fitting in so well. Loved the concept art at the credits. The heist episode was my favourite because heists! Clancy Brown RETURNS (for a third time, man, sometimes Dave Filioni uses his connections well) and Richard Ayoade is a robot! and I just love how everyone was super shifty and gritty in this show. The armourer had a great fight.
I do want Boba Fett to return in some capacity. LET DANIEL LOGAN APPEAR. I kind of want Ahsoka to appear? This being Dave Filioni, I wouldn't be surprised if she did? She'd be a better fit than say, Ezra -- which needs a followup, but IDK if this show is the place to do it. Thrawn could be an interesting fit, but again: if Thrawn appears, theoretically, so should Ezra, depending on how it turns out.
Overall, I really enjoyed this show. It's like. The first Disney made Star Wars show, that I've genuinely liked non stop. (Though I do feel cautious with the new Clone Wars season, I'm cynical, but I'm still hoping it ends well. It should have had two more seaons, not a truncated final season, but oh well. Can't have everything)
Rebels was the hardest to get through, mostly because I didn't like it, at worst, and felt ambivalent, at best. There are fleeting elements that I like, Maul (however badly he was handled), Ezra, Mandalore (sans Sabine because for the majority of it, she ran away from the Mandalorian stuff which is the only thing I found interesting about her). Kanan I hated because he was an awful teacher and an awful person and I was looking forward to his death; Hera was occasionally interesting (but both I loathed because they didn't tell Ezra about his parents, and they had PLENTY OF EPISODES TO DO SO). I enjoyed seeing Ahsoka and Darth Vader and Rex and Thrawn though. The animation was truly abominable at times, which after watching Clone Wars, had me seething because the animation for Clone Wars was SO GOOD, and this? this is the SUCCESSOR? what a downgrade! So it took me forever to get through it, because I just found it hard to watch.
So. The Mandalorian. WHAT A GOOD SHOW!
Here's a preface. I have a mixed relationship with Dave Filioni, I enjoyed TCW (maybe because George Lucas was still on hand); mostly disliked Rebels (because I'm generally not interesting in seeing how characters Got There/answering questions I didn't have and still don't need to have explained to me); so I was... wary with the Mandalorian, because I liked Jon Favreau, for most part! but uh, Taika Waititi, who I feel is kind of in the same line as Joss Whedon and Rian Johnson for me -- I prefer them doing their own stuff than playing in a franchise's sandbox, because their gimmicks occur, and it sticks out like a sore thumb that they have to make it Theirs, and that takes me right out.
*Listen, had Thor been Like That from the start, I wouldn't have minded, or if it taken place in a separate universe, like Joker or Venom, I'm not going to instantly dislike it. At least Joss Whedon tried somewhat to keep Thor to be Shakespearen Vikings In Space, and unfortunately Ragnarok's characterization is the one that stuck, and I'm furious, because I want my Shakespearean Space Vikings back.
LUCKILY IT WAS ONLY FLEETINGLY IN THE LAST EPISODE, WHICH I SAID TO MYSELF 'FUCK. THIS IS NOT GOOD.' BUT TWO OCCASIONS OF IT, AND I WAS LIKE: 'UH HUH. TOTALLY TAIKA WAITITI, DO NOT LIKE' and it was and I am cringing at them. Basically? Those two Stormtroopers having their conversation and Greef Carga saying to Baby Yoda (do the magic hand thing) took me right out of it.
I expect the Stormtroopers talk to be on a sketch show, not in the Mandalorian. I'm a little more forgiving of 'do the magic hand thing', but I still not a fan, because it just feels out of character to me, and breaking the fourth wall, but at least that took less time and was much more fleeting. I just find it to be really jarring and out of place, and I also don't want Stormtroopers to talk that much.
I had a bad feeling about the Seven Samurai homage episode, at the start, because I was genuinely thought: Mando is talking too much to baby Yoda. It's ike the Mad Max Fury Road effect: the more he talked, the less I wanted him too. (But I do like Pedro Pascal's voice, it's just that Mando is meaningful with his words, and more of an action speak louder, kind of guy. But luckily that was only the beginning of the episode.
ALSO PEDRO PASCAL WAS GREAT. DESERVES AN OSCAR. God, I love this show. He's a legend. Seeing him get attached to Baby Yoda, want him to have a better life, but also realizing, he can't have that, but he wants best for others, he wants the Mandalorians foundlings to do well, melts my heart. His entire backstory was great, his burgeoning friendship with Kuiil and Cara (and to a lesser extent, Greef) was lovely to watch unfold. He's a little amoral, but he loves dearly, and I was crying when he was unmasked, because that was great.
BABY YODA, STAR OF THE SHOW. Christ, the animatronics for him was so good!! I could not help but squeal 'baby!!!!' every time I saw him, he was the most precious adorable baby ever. I love that he tries and fails to use the force, several times, and it exhausts him. THAT is why his use of the force is believable and good growth.
Werner 'I would like to see the baby' Herzog was fantastic. Don't have a lot to say about him but he was compelling and shifty and he had a fantastic presence.
I really liked Kuiil because Nick Nolte was just SO GOOD as an Ugnaught, like again: THE PROSTHETICS WERE SO GOOD. Him saying 'I have spoken' as in: 'the conversation is over. I am done talking', was superb. He was tough and scrappy and resourceful and no nonsense and I loved him. I'm so sad he died but, on the other hand, that is how you felt the stakes.
Cara was great. I like she's big and althetic and a power house and she's from Alderaan!!!! That made me very excited. (I kind of want her and Mando to hook up, but if they stayed platonic, and occasionally crossed paths, that would be good too.)
MOFF GIDEON WIELDS THE DARKSABER. OH MY GOD. OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS. That makes me so excited!!! I adore Giancarlo Esposito, and he's such a good bad guy and I have questions about how he got the Darksaber, and what happened to the current affairs of Mandalore/Bo Katan, but I'm just super excited for more. because what a good end to the show.
What else: Ming Na Wen should return in a later episode -- she's not dead, so I hope she comes back! Music was good. I liked that it was a very Western sound, unlike Star Wars, but still fitting in so well. Loved the concept art at the credits. The heist episode was my favourite because heists! Clancy Brown RETURNS (for a third time, man, sometimes Dave Filioni uses his connections well) and Richard Ayoade is a robot! and I just love how everyone was super shifty and gritty in this show. The armourer had a great fight.
I do want Boba Fett to return in some capacity. LET DANIEL LOGAN APPEAR. I kind of want Ahsoka to appear? This being Dave Filioni, I wouldn't be surprised if she did? She'd be a better fit than say, Ezra -- which needs a followup, but IDK if this show is the place to do it. Thrawn could be an interesting fit, but again: if Thrawn appears, theoretically, so should Ezra, depending on how it turns out.
Overall, I really enjoyed this show. It's like. The first Disney made Star Wars show, that I've genuinely liked non stop. (Though I do feel cautious with the new Clone Wars season, I'm cynical, but I'm still hoping it ends well. It should have had two more seaons, not a truncated final season, but oh well. Can't have everything)
