Could The Mandalorian season 2 be risking its own ruin by asking fans to know too much about Star Wars? As Disney+ looks forward to its one-year anniversary since launch, the streamer will also be gearing up to debut the follow-up season to its biggest title, The Mandalorian. Created by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian emerged as the highlight following Disney+'s November 2019 launch. In fact, the Star Wars series served as the most in-demand title during debut week across all streaming services. Much of that was due to buzz surrounding the series, particularly Baby Yoda, but the series also became a hit due to the fact that it didn't require a heavy dose of Star Wars knowledge to enjoy. Heading into season 2, The Mandalorian might be risking that inclusion aspect.
The Mandalorian focuses on Din Djarin, a skilled bounty hunter who takes on a lifechanging job following the fall of the Empire. Pedro Pascal stars as the titular figure who was rescued by a group of Mandalorians during the Clone Wars. After joining their clan, he became versed in the culture of Mandalore before emerging as a lone gunfighter. After acquiring a valuable asset, Djarin must put his loyalties on the line to keep far away from the remnants of the Empire.
The Mandalorian was already a huge selling point for Disney+, but thanks to word of mouth and the Baby Yoda factor, the series has grown into a streaming juggernaut. Disney+ now has over 60 million subscribers, and a lot of that viewership could be credited to Star Wars' first live-action show. Original programming has been underwhelming as of late so there's a lot riding on The Mandalorian season 2 when it debuts in October. In order to reach the same success as the premiere season, the series will need to avoid a threatening problem.
The Mandalorian Worked Because It Didn't Require Star Wars Knowledge
As Star Wars' first live-action series, there was a high expectation from fans of the long-running franchise. Though the Star Wars film series had since gathered mainstream attention, The Mandalorian needed elements that would appease viewers from all points of the Star Wars knowledge spectrum. Favreau and his team took a unique approach to the Disney+ story. Not only did it touch on some of the franchise's biggest events, but it also managed to present a brand-new story that didn't require viewers to be well-versed in the world of Star Wars.
Sure, The Mandalorian features a slew of settings, objects, and characters that hold connections to previous Star Wars titles. The timeline is even significant since season 1 takes place five years after the Return of the Jedi, exploring the events after the fall of the Galactic Empire. That said, the central figure of the series, bounty hunter Din Djarin, doesn't have an expansive history in Star Wars canon. His arc can be easily followed because The Mandalorian hardly scratches the surface with his backstory. Looking at the broader scope, the debut season serves as a predominantly contained story about a bounty hunter going to extreme lengths to keep a young creature safe. That creature, of course, was The Child, also known as Baby Yoda.
Speaking of Baby Yoda, The Mandalorian made the genius move of introducing another new character that has a connection to one of Star Wars' most beloved figures. Even those who don't consider themselves Star Wars fans are most likely familiar with Yoda, seeing as the character has been around for decades. Despite not being a younger version of the heavily established Jedi Master, Baby Yoda has the ability to attract new segments of viewers. Upon watching, these viewers have the chance to realize that the series isn't jam-packed with confusing storylines or canon material. That might not be the case, however, when season 2 of The Mandalorian comes along.
Mandalorian Season 2 Will Have Deep Cut Characters & Stories
Whereas The Mandalorian season 1 lightly touches on major moments in the lore of Star Wars, season 2 looks to be diving deeper into deeper stories within canon material. After keeping Baby Yoda out of the grasp of the Imperial remnants, one particular sect led by Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) has his sights set on the 50-year-old infant. After using his stormtrooper forces to track down Djarin, Gideon attacks in the season 1 finale. Though the skilled bounty hunter holds his own, Gideon survives the battle while revealing that he is in possession of the Darksaber.
To casual viewers, the Darksaber probably just looks like a black saber. Technically, that's true but the object holds a much greater significance in the Star Wars franchise. The Darksaber is an ancient weapon in Jedi and Mandalorian history. It also previously appeared in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels. Seeing as season 2 will introduce a live-action version of Ahsoka Tano (rumored to be played by Rosario Dawson), a Jedi Padawan of Anakin Skywalker's featured in both animated series, the Darksaber might be the bridge to connecting The Mandalorian to deep cut Star Wars stories. The weapon will additionally play into Gideon's backstory as it involves his role in the Siege of Mandalore, an event that greatly affected Djarin.
Aside from Ahsoka, The Mandalorian season 2 will also feature Bo-Katan Kryze, the former ruler of Mandalore, and the leader of a group called the Nite Owls. Katee Sackhoff is set to reprise the role after voicing the character in The Clone Wars and Rebels. In addition, Boba Fett has been confirmed to make his live-action return after presumably dying in Return of the Jedi. Temuera Morrison will portray the notable bounty hunter who was teased in season 1. To further build on Boba Fett's presence, Timothy Olyphant is rumored to play Cobb Vanth, a character from the Star Wars: Aftermath book trilogy that served as a slave who acquired Boba Fett's armor.
How Mandalorian Season 2 Can Explain Star Wars Lore To New Fans
With the focus on deep cut characters and storylines that new Star Wars fans might not be familiar with, Disney+ is risking the show's broad inclusion. The Mandalorian will need to find a healthy balance to keep superfans satisfied while also making the series easy to follow for viewers of all knowledge categories. The best way to do that is for The Mandalorian's second season to keep the story of Djarin and Baby Yoda as the central focus. It's no secret that Baby Yoda has become a cultural phenomenon so why not give the people what they want? By presenting Ahsoka, Bo-Katan, Boba Fett, and Cobb Vanth as compelling figures but in a limited capacity, it could appease viewers with canon knowledge without convoluting the main story in focus.
Another way The Mandalorian could effectively include certain Star Wars characters is to hone in on the basics. That way, the Disney+ series could act as a gateway, welcoming newer fans into the deeper lore. If the series lightly touches on events like The Great Purge or flashback moments featuring notorious figures, some viewers might be interested to watch previously released titles that could provide more context. Either way, The Mandalorian is well aware that there's a very real need to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. With the future of Star Wars in the hands of Disney+, the franchise needs to be smart when it comes to pulling in and keeping viewership.