When Star Wars revealed in The Mandalorian episode 1 that Din is hunting a baby Yoda, audiences were hooked. What was originally a bounty hunter and his prey has evolved into a lovable and compelling father-son relationship. But since then, the story and plot of The Mandalorian seem to be focusing less and less on its protagonists. In particular, season 2 of the Mandalorian relied heavily on cameos from popular characters Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, and Bo-Katan, just to name a few. And while the initial reaction to seeing these characters in live-action was thrilling, some fans are beginning to find the onslaught of cameos to be tiring.
By contrast, Star Wars' latest show focuses on its protagonists. Andor is just as compelling as A New Hope while also being as visually stunning as the Holdo Maneuver was from The Last Jedi. Through Andor, Star Wars has proven that it has the capability of telling a compelling story without the need for franchise cameos or awkward fan service. Andor’s gritty and realistic approach to fleshing out its characters doesn’t rely on the audience’s knowledge of any other Star Wars material. Instead, it visually and emotionally shows why the audience needs to care about each of its characters—a trick the Mandalorian might be forgetting but can soon fix.
The Book Of Boba Fett Could Hurt Mandalorian Season 3
With Andor, fans are beginning to realize just how much the Mandalorian is relying on cameos for its success. However, not just the Mandalorian but other Star Wars series and movies have begun to substitute creativity for the sake of unending fan service. The Book of Boba Fett had a problem in that a whole section of the show focused entirely on the Mandalorian and Grogu, so much so that some consider the Book of Boba Fett to be a sort-of Mandalorian season 2.5.
Because the Book of Boba Fett was heavily criticized for its poor portrayal of Boba Fett and Cad Bane, the Mandalorian’s involvement in the show has had a knock-on effect. Grogu essentially undoes the climax of the Mandalorian season 2 by choosing to leave Luke and the Jedi Order. Furthermore, Din also journeys to see the Armorer, who officially tells him he is no longer a Mandalorian because of his helmet removals in season 2. But these crucial plot points for Din and Grogu’s journey are left to drown in the middle of Boba Fett’s show when they should happen in The Mandalorian's next season.
Andor Was The Antithesis Of The Mandalorian (& Was Great)
While both Andor and the Mandalorian are great Star Wars shows, Andor took the direct opposite approach when compared to The Mandalorian. For one thing, Andor did not include any cameos to major or well-known Star Wars characters. Cassian, Mon Mothma, and Saw Gerrera are just about the only recognizable faces in Andor—all of which are minor characters from other Star Wars content. Andor attempted to take these minor, flat Star Wars characters and round them into major ones. Meanwhile, The Mandalorian drew in major Star Wars characters like Luke Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano for the sake of fan service and to bolster its cast.
Because The Mandalorian included Jedi, the Force, and lightsabers, it upheld a long-standing Star Wars tradition. Almost every Star Wars movie and series has referenced the Force in some way or another, except for Andor. Andor breaks Star Wars’ obsession with the Force and grounds its viewers in a far darker and gritty reality. Luke Skywalker does not show up at the end of the show to save the day as he does in the Mandalorian—instead, real Rebel lives are lost in an effort to push the Rebellion one step further. Their sacrifices have a profound impact on Cassian’s character and his development.
The Mandalorian Must Avoid A Force Awakens Problem
Fan service is something that tends to work once and then quickly lose its effect—a problem the Force Awakens is known for. Reusing and referencing the original plot of A New Hope was a brilliant move to reintroduce new audiences to Star Wars while also honoring what came before. But after the magic had faded, people realized that there was almost no difference between the Force Awakens and Episode IV. Since the Mandalorian season 2 relied on a similar kind of fan service, it’s in danger of losing its luster as time goes on.
In order to not lose its charm, the Mandalorian season 3 should return to focusing on the Mandalorian and Grogu. Rather than bring in a plethora of well-known Star Wars characters for the sake of enticing fans, the Mandalorian and Grogu need to be challenged in the next season—just as they were in the Mandalorian season 1. At this point, their characters have been established, and their relationship has been solidified, so it’s time to see what else Star Wars has in store for these two heroes. The worst thing that could come out of the Mandalorian season 3 is for it to feature a slew of new cameos.
The Mandalorian Is Still Great (& Season 3 Can Prove It)
Even though the Mandalorian season 2 relied on cameos, it still came out to be an enjoyable Star Wars show. Grogu’s fun and lovable character is contrasted by the cold demeanor of Din Djarin in a way that melts the audience’s hearts. Seeing Din’s journey from bounty hunter to father is what makes the show as great as it is, and the Mandalorian season 3 needs to bring this back into focus. Luke and Ahsoka’s roles were an important part of Grogu’s training, but they do not need to appear again for The Mandalorian season 3 to thrive.
It already seems that the Mandalorian season 3 is headed in the right direction. With a civil war brewing on Mandalore, the show has the opportunity to make or break Grogu and Din’s relationship. Since Din has accidentally laid claim to the throne of Mandalore by winning the Darksaber from Moff Gideon, he must contend with Bo-Katan for the future of Mandalore. If Din gets a hold of Mandalore in the Mandalorian season 3 he could reshape the Mandalorian people into something both he and Grogu could live peaceably in.