Where to stream it? Disney+ (new episodes release Wednesdays)
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Katee Sackhoff
Created by: Jon Favreau
Intro: The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere Review
It was a long, long time ago when we last saw new episodes of the flagship Disney+ show The Mandalorian. Despite a spin-off series about Boba Fett delivering what was essentially the second-and-a-half season of Mando’s saga, the show hasn’t seen new episodes since December of 2020.
Suffice to say, fans were eager for new content. The good news is (at least judging by the premiere episode) The Mandalorian season 3 is here to deliver what we have all been waiting for!
Please note: this review contains spoilers for The Book of Boba Fett and every episode of The Mandalorian released on or before March 1st, 2023. Make sure to watch the last three episodes of The Book of Boba Fett before watching The Mandalorian‘s third season.
Together Again
At the end of season 2, Mando (aka Din Djarin) and Baby Yoda (aka Grogu) were separated in a spectacular episode that saw the return of a young Luke Skywalker thanks to some Disney imagineering. Now they are together once more as adopted papa and son, embarking on adventures together in a refurbished Naboo starfighter.
The show begins with a ceremony of sorts where the The Armorer is inducting a new recruit into the Mandalorian Helmet Cult by a shoreline when everything is interrupted a giant alligator (don’t you hate it when that happens?). Thankfully, Din shows up and blasts the alligator creature to pieces, but only before he must once again explain himself over the dreaded sin of removing his helmet.
Din and The Armorer determine it is best for him to travel to the planet Mandalore and bathe in the waters of the mines to atone for his transgressions. It is the THE WAY, you know.
The rest of the episode follows Mando as he brings Grogu along to the planet Navarro to try and resurrect the droid IG-11 (who sacrificed himself at the end of season 1). He has a run-in with some space pirates and Grogu tries to play with/eat some Anzellans, which are the little creatures we last saw in The Rise of Skywalker.
The Saga Continues
This episode balanced out action sequences, cute scenes with Grogu, and fan service with familiar characters. The final moments set up the continued conflict between Bo-Katan and Din Djarin as they speak together at a Mandalorian castle on the planet Kalevala.
I’m intrigued to see where the future episodes take us, but still mostly in it to be wowed by the special effects and chuckle at the Baby Yoda memes. Whereas Andor delivered prestige TV in the Star Wars universe, The Mandalorian is just here to have fun and probably sell some merchandise.
I’ll admit that even after watching the various animated Star Wars series that further flesh out the story of the planet Mandalore, I’m still a pit perplexed by its mythology. And with this season I’m still doubtful that will change. Why exactly is this one group of Mandalorians so committed to helmets but not some of the other Mandalorians? And what are the Darksaber rules again- because they seem to change?
For what it is, though, The Mandalorian continues to be a solid fantasy/genre-hybrid show that will delight both hardcore and casual Star Wars fans.
Final Thoughts: The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere Review
After an underwhelming Bob Fett spin-off, The Mandalorian is back once again to prove why it’s become such a phenomenon.
So strap into your starship, because I have a good feeling about this. The show’s third season looks to meet or exceed its very best moments. Din Djarin’s journey to the planet Mandalore should provide some intriguing chapters in the Star Wars saga in no small part thanks to the foundation laid by a solid premiere episode.
