The Mandalorian (Star Wars Live Action Series)

[Ramatuelle]

..... Remember when Grogu sneaking sentient frog eggs was the thing that had everyone in a flap? That was Shakespeare compared to this.

 

[jye4ever]

Remember when they set up a future epic showdown between Din and Bo for the darksaber during the S2 finale.

 

[ZE_501]

Din's body language alone used to convey so much with so little. I feel like the old Din would have just given Bo an inscrutable yet meaningful look, instead of wondering aloud

Spoiler

if they needed to "blast their way out of there"

etc. etc. -- lots of redundant noise emanating from formerly strong silent type. And I don't see that as an 'arc'.

Spoiler

(And Grogu literally just Force Flips everywhere now.)

Ah well. Grateful for the fun we had while it lasted, and looking forward to Andor S2.

 

[MeatHookGekko]

I haven't watched this yet, but it sounds like most people didn't like it and I see it's already the lowest rated episode on IMDB...but I saw TV Line and Esquire headlines calling it the best episode of the season.

How are TV Line and Esquire supported financially?

Do you remember the old video game magazines? This was before really widespread use of the internet and cell phone commonality and smart phones and speed of information. If you wanted to know what was what in the near future, you had to buy or look through some video game magazines.

But all the reviews were cooked. The companies buying ads in those magazines weren't exactly without leverage. Don't like our hottest new game? Well, guess we are going to start pulling our ads. It probably didn't help that the people working at the magazines, many were likely trolling for jobs in the industry or up the food chain, and being the squeaky wheel doesn't do much for you then.

It's a pretty common marketing strategy now. If your product is in a free fall, add in as much woke as possible and as fast as possible, then you can blame whatever group you want to target as being at fault for the poor performance. Plus the bonus of all the free unpaid media coverage for the controversy.

I'm not here to defend the few hundred or thousand SW "fans" who said bad things or threats or hostility towards Kelly Marie Tran. I'm not justifying that. I am saying if you are Kathleen Kennedy, and people are calling for your head because you keep sinking ship after ship, it's much easier to talk about a "toxic scandal" than your own failures as an inept leader.

It's a marketing strategy to attack fans now. The common belief is they will watch anyway. And you score woke points with the side of the industry that leans that way.

The problem with the "cameos" is they are name brand actors who are usually only in one episode. That might fit some storylines. But it's far more effective story telling usually to build some narratives across multiple episodes. Hence, sometimes the non name brand actor or actress might be a better fit.

Kuiil was like that. Great character. Took some time to really flesh out his personality and his impact on the overall story. Couldn't do that in one episode.

The return of Grogu in an entirely different series is completely indefensible. End of Mando S2, Grogu is gone. Beginning of S3, there he is again. What? I don't care what kind of recap you use, that's totally insane from a practical storytelling perspective.

X Files lasted how many episodes with mostly "Monster Of The Week" storylines? I mean it's inexplicable that you can't just follow Djarin and Grogu getting into wild adventures where there are central to the story.

The other problem is episode length. If you infuse this many side plots and side characters and backdoor pilot premises, then you need to start churning out hour long episodes and a longer season. This like ordering a steak at Applebees, a 2 and a half inch "steak" and 3 pounds of broccoli and bread. I'm cool with side characters getting their own little narratives, but add it onto a real core story where it's about...gasp...the actual Mandalorian.

 

[MeatHookGekko]

PS I have never, not once in my entire life, ordered a steak at Applebees.

I might do that if I was leaving a funeral with a bunch of people there was peer pressure to go somewhere afterwards that was mostly safe because one of the people was sort of an alcoholic, and it's better than going to a bar. Not that I should be going into bars anymore, because of all the fighting that happens when I go into bars.

The point being, if I just compared your TV show to ordering a steak at Applebees, then there's clearly a problem. Not just a problem for love of Star Wars. But problem even with the baseline product.

Kathleen Kennedy is now at the point where she's in charge of what amounts to an energy drink company that is now making motor oil.

"Uh, lady, I ordered a drink to keep me awake, I'm exhausted"

"Only bigots are that tired. Your view of fandom is toxic. The product is fine, you are just mansplaining why you won't chug down some motor oil to show how virtuous you are!"

I've decided if I ever meet KK in real life, I'm giving her an Applebees gift card. Enjoy your less than three inch steak, you psychopath.

 

[MeatHookGekko]

 

[DarkChocobi]

Remember when they set up a future epic showdown between Din and Bo for the darksaber during the S2 finale.

Din is a hardcore simp

 

[jye4ever]

I did lol at the line when Din said:

“They had me at battle droid”

 

[Deeznutz6]

The show feels like Scooby mandooooolorian

 

[ZE_501]

I did lol at the line when Din said:

“They had me at battle droid”

Fair enough, so did I.

 

[ebor]

I did like when they walked into the droid bar and they all went silent and stared at the 2 human (Bo and Mando) a complete opposite of ANH.

I thought Gideon would’ve been responsible for the droids but nope.

That plot was super painful.

We don’t serve your kind here!…

Droid to Mando…my friend doesn’t like you…I don’t like you either…you better be careful…we are wanted droids in 9 sectors…

Mando … I‘ll be careful…

Droid…you’ll be DEAD!

Bo Katan…here look at my ass and red hair…

Droids ( Star Wars fans) shoot themselves

 

[MeatHookGekko]

Din is a hardcore simp

S1 and S2 version of Djarin - Walks into Applebees. Uses his blaster to stun everyone and puts them into carbonite for the crime of bad taste. Uses his flamethrower to burn the place down out of respect. Respect for whom? Everyone. Salvages a few charred pieces of Bourbon Street Shrimp to give to Grogu on the way out.

S3 version of Djarin - Walks into Applebees. Orders the Quesadilla Burger and doing so makes him feel empowered. When he's done, he doesn't leave a tip, he just writes on the napkin, "Don't Invest In The Stock Market" Some tip right? He passes by Neil Druckmann on his way out and fist bumps him before heading to his scrap booking club meeting.

I wouldn't say S3 Djarin is a simp per se. I would however point out that he probably eats at the same Olive Garden on Tuesdays nights as Wil Wheaton.

 

[Ramatuelle]

You know, I think I want to join Axe's merc Mando group where they go around doing profit-based stuff - a most Mandalorian concept btw, this bunch is all about the profit - and less of whatever it is Mando calls himself doing.

I miss Mando having a job. A purpose. It made things more relateable.

Are F&F even still involved with this project? Its like they put the temp office intern in charge.

 

[Ramatuelle]

Also, whats with Axe complaining about Mando's lack of Mandalorian blood when we pan around and every different person on the green is of a different racial profile? It is absolutly canon that this is a creed, not a race or bloodline. Temp office interns strike again!

 

[pixletwin]

Such a terrible episode. This whole season has been one great big shoehorn up the buttocks of fans.

 

[greygoose]

Two episodes left and what are the stakes? What's the conclusion to this season? Who's the villain?

 

[davejames]

Two episodes left and what are the stakes? What's the conclusion to this season? Who's the villain?

Yeah it really doesn't feel like it's building towards... anything. Maybe the return of Gideon but to do what? Steal Grogu again? And it certainly doesn't look like retaking Mandalore from the cave creatures will be much of a challenge.

 

[chrisstbh]

I’m sick of these celebrity cameos.

Lizzo cannot act.
Jack Black has more range than just being the standard campy goofy guy.
Christopher Lloyd looks like he’s about to drop dead.

 

[Jaycepticon]

Two episodes left and what are the stakes? What's the conclusion to this season? Who's the villain?

Two eps left to setup any spin-offs and a BS cliffhanger for season 4, of course.

 

[wormlander]

Then I don’t see why she’d have any significant impact on the story.

I'm not surprised