The Mandalorian Flies High Again

 


"He means more to me than you'll ever know." --The Mandalorian

Few shows came with the weight of expectations that "The Mandalorian" faced when it debuted shortly after the Disney+ launch in late 2019. The first live action "Star Wars" show, it carried the weight of fan hopes and expectations. It dropped just before the final sequel film, a time when the fanbase was deeply divided and skeptical.

That final film, which dropped at the end of the first season of "The Mandalorian" didn't help much. I liked it, many didn't. And nearly a year later, "The Mandalorian" returned for a second outing. The first season defied expectations and creating something incredible, memorable, and brought fans out in droves. Could the second season keep that up?

It did, and more. We got classic characters, like Boba Fett and a special finale guest I won't name check here yet. And we got characters from the expanded universe, like Bo Katan and Ahsoka Tano. And all of it led to one of the best seasons of television of 2020, and has left the "Star Wars" universe in a wonderful place as we approach 2021.

Disney recently announced that a number of new films and TV projects are coming. A year ago, that announcement would have been received with eye rolls. Thanks to what we've gotten from Jon Favreau, Dave Filloni and this show, it is received with anticipation. That is a credit to this show, to its cast and to the world building that has legions of fans enraptured and craving more.

The second season finale was, perhaps, the best the show has had. It's opened a myriad of possibilities and also driven grown men, including myself, to cry. It was a powerful and beautiful experience, and I can't wait to see what they do for an encore next Christmas.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more