The future of the Star Wars franchise is on the small screen if The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian are any indications. While The Clone Wars (begun in 2008) has long been hailed by Star Wars fans as an epic and worthy spin-off of the Skywalker saga, The Mandalorian has presented something different, a slow burn space western with new characters disconnected from the storyline begun by George Lucas in 1977.
While some fans will always prefer their Star Wars to have the gigantic space battles and militarized monks clashing laser swords that The Clone Wars provides, some are ready for the smaller-scale action-adventure that The Mandalorian offers, with its condensed shoot-outs and intimate moments. Here are 5 reasons why The Clone Wars is the perfect spin-off and 5 why it's The Mandalorian. Catch Season 7 of The Clone Wars in late February and Season 1 of The Mandalorian streaming now, both on Disney+.
THE CLONE WARS: EPIC SCALE
Like the rest of the Star Wars film franchise, The Clone Wars has an epic feel. Since it takes place between in the middle of the prequel trilogy, it has to match the scale of their operatic machinations. There's huge space battles, ground assaults, and of course lightsaber duels.
The characters visit multiple planets, some old and some new, and are involved in plots that both build on their cinematic counterparts and carve trajectories of their own. The series manages to cover an incredible amount of ground in 30-minute episodes at this rate, no doubt due to the creative license of its animated medium rather than live-action.
THE MANDALORIAN: SLOW BURN
If the series feels like it takes it's time telling its story, that's by design. Its slow-burn approach allows for intimate character moments that might otherwise get overlooked amidst space battles and lightsaber fights. It offers a slice of life approach that lets viewers feel as though they're witnessing real characters go about their diurnal duties.
Much like Luke Skywalker traipsing around his uncle's moisture farm on Tatooine, many of the moments in the series may seem mundane, but they only add to the authenticity of the world-building. When the drama hits, it feels earned, as stories take their time to unfold.
THE CLONE WARS: FASTER-PACED
The Clone Wars is an adventure story, filled with stakes and risks that feel larger than life. The momentum has to keep going, driven forward by a progressive and adrenaline filled plot, as well as richly developed characters who have the fate of the galaxy on their shoulders. Rarely is their time for petty squabbles or mundane concerns in such a narrative crucible.
The series has a responsibility to provide viewers a complete picture of a very important time in the galaxy's history. The "Clone Wars," once merely eluded to by an elder Obi-Wan Kenobi (and only highlighted in the prequel trilogy) have to be documented in a bold, exciting way that incorporates both new and old lore in a way that feels titanic in importance and magnitude.
THE MANDALORIAN: ORIGINAL TRILOGY FEEL
Series creator Jon Favreau and his team clearly hold George Lucas's original Star Wars trilogy in incredibly high regard. Their attention to detail in making The Mandalorian feel like a part of that world, as it unfolds less than a decade after Return of the Jedi is incredibly prolific.
From the punchy zeal of the back-and-forth dialogue, to the rusted look of the starships and Mandalorian armor, it all evokes "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away." Fans who have been missing that in the new Disney sequel trilogy, and cringe at the glossy aesthetic of the prequel trilogy, celebrate its return to franchise roots.
THE CLONE WARS: FIXES PROBLEMS FROM THE PREQUELS
As a spin-off, viewers might expect that The Clone Wars would worry about its own storyline and character development, but it also manages to generously fix problems with the prequel trilogy as it does so. Rather than seem apologetic in tone, this makes it seem fundamentally more connected to the Star Wars Universe.
Viewers are given a more in-depth look at Obi-Wan and Anakin's relationship, and the politics so cavalierly mentioned in the prequel trilogy are made easily accessible and even intriguing. And certain prequel characters that received an egregious lack of screen time are brought back with respect and fascinating plots.
THE MANDALORIAN: FRESH TAKE
One of the most salient aspects of The Mandalorian is that despite feeling familiar, it still offers a bold new approach to storytelling in the Star Wars Universe. The future of the franchise seems to be going in a direction much similar to its laconic stride.
This is a series about the rest of the galaxy that lived and died while the Skywalker familial drama was playing out. It's about the "regular people" who are just trying to earn a living in a part of the galaxy that doesn't often make mention of the Force, or lightsabers, or anything attached to the more well-known Skywalker saga. Except maybe the small creature that resembles Yoda.
THE CLONE WARS: GRIPPING STORY
While some may dismiss the first three seasons of The Clone Wars as little more than a kid show aimed at a preteen audience, by the fourth season it's clear that it's become something else. The tonal shift reminds you that it's a gripping story, especially regarding Anakin Skywalker's fall from the Jedi Order and the light side of the Force.
It also focuses on his master Obi-Wan Kenobi, making him out to be so much more than a scowling mentor; he has struggles of his own following the Jedi Code. And the clone troopers are given storylines as well, making them feel like humans, rather than mindless soldiers.
THE MANDALORIAN: NO RESEARCH NEEDED
Curious viewers with only tertiary knowledge of Star Wars canon and lore can jump feet first into The Mandalorian without feeling overwhelmed by people, places, and terminology they aren't familiar with. It's not necessary to know anything about Mandalorians to enjoy the plot.
For many viewers who haven't kept up with the Disney sequel trilogy, or didn't see the prequel trilogy, it provides a nice continuation of the original trilogy that feels comfortable and welcoming. Viewers often learn information as the characters do, making them feel more involved.
THE CLONE WARS: FULLY DEVELOPED CHARACTERS
One of the most enduring aspects of The Clone Wars that cannot be overstated is in the area of character development. Not only do viewers witness the strong bond between Anakin Skywalker and his master Obi-Wan Kenobi, they also are privy to Anakin Skywalker's own relationship with his padawan, Ahsoka Tano, who has become a fan favorite.
The clone trooper officers like Captain Rex, Commander Cody, Fives, and the rest get very elaborate storylines, to the point where the challenges and turmoil they face becomes more emotionally relevant than any lofty Jedi's. But fear not, Master Yoda, Windu, and your favorite space wizards all make appearances.
THE MANDALORIAN: APPEALS TO A WIDER DEMOGRAPHIC
The Mandalorian is at heart a western/samurai series in space, and as an amalgamation of genres, it will reach a wider audience. By the nature of its longer format, combining elements of episodic and serialized television, as well as its emphasis on aspects of the original Star Wars trilogy, it can pull a wider demographic into the Star Wars fandom.
It's the sort of Star Wars spin-off that doesn't seem over-the-top or fantastical, ingratiating itself to sci-fi enthusiasts spanning several fandoms. Viewers who like the tone of Firefly, the intellectualism of Star Trek, and the visuals of The Expanse will be very satisfied. Their viewership will ensure more Star Wars contributions of its caliber get made.