There is no argument that The Mandalorian is the hottest Star Wars content to enter its universe. The series has been immensely successful for Lucasfilm and Disney, with fans praising the show's content and finding it to be a stellar addition to the existing stories and lore.
After a phenomenal introduction and storytelling of the perspective characters like Grogu and Din Djarin in the first season, fans were amazed that the makers and creators replicated the excitement of its content in season 2. Though some believe that the first season is better, others will argue that the second season was far more thrilling and felt like a true Star Wars story.
Season 1 Is Better: The First Impression With The Introduction Of Grogu
Before the show's premiere, all we knew was that the show would center on a Mandalorian, Din Djarin. Little did viewers anticipate the show's direction since the trailers did not spoil anything. No one thought that the first episode would introduce a young green fellow that resembled Master Yoda.
Considering that franchises like Star Wars are prone to leaks on the internet, it came as a surprise that those involved in the show kept this major secret. It was worth not knowing this beforehand because his surprise appearance caught people's attention, kept us on the edge of the seat, and wanted to see more on what was to come. Grogu's reveal on the show set a new sensational character to become a talking point on the internet.
Season 2 Is Better: The Growing Father-Son Relationship Between Din Djarin & Grogu
Season 1 only set the stage for the journey for Grogu and Din Djarin. Though Din started to feel attached to Grogu in season 1, his relationship with Grogu became more pronounced in season 2.
Because of his father-son relationship with Grogu, we saw a change in the character development of Din. He goes from being a reserved bounty hunter to a caring and defensive father figure. Their close relationship was beautifully written and left viewers touched, so it was emotional when both characters parted in the season 2 finale, with an incredible performance by Pedro Pascal.
Season 1 Is Better: The Backstory Of Din Djarin
Despite a dynamic character development in season 2, there is still little we know about Din and his personal life. The first season highlighted a segment of his childhood that explained how he became a Mandalorian. However, his backstory was not further touched upon since then, leaving questions about who he is aside from being Grogu's caretaker.
We had hoped that there would be more backstory of Din Djarin in the second season, which made sense, but it was completely absent. Though season 2 focused on Din's relationship with Grogu, it would not hurt to learn about his childhood before the attack in his village and his living as a bounty hunter before meeting Grogu.
Season 2 Is Better: Answering Questions
Since the show's first season, fans have had several questions. These questions included Baby Yoda's name, the use of the Darksaber, and the reasons for wanting Baby Yoda. Most shows drag on with these mysteries for several seasons before revealing them to the public.
Fortunately, we received most of the answers throughout the second season, which satisfied viewers and added excitement. When new questions surfaced, viewers did not have to wait too long as the Jedi to receive Grogu's call was revealed by the season 2 finale.
Season 1 Is Better: It Set The Direction For Season 2
Season 1 established the precedence for the show's future. After surviving Gideon and his troops in Nevarro, the finale clarified the show's next plot to help Grogu find his rightful home. Therefore, viewers knew what to anticipate for the second season, which is worth the wait.
Unfortunately, the season 2 finale left viewers with little indication about the future since many fans did not believe that the main plotline would conclude this quick with Grogu. This cliffhanger leaves questions for what is next for Din Djarin.
Season 2 Is Better: Acknowledging The Remaining Star Wars Universe
Season 2 was exhilarating due to the appearance of several popular characters. The first of them was the surprising revelation of Boba Fett, which ended the long three-decade debate. Not only was the revelation a major one for Boba Fett fans, but he also reunited with his suit and showed his badassery when he faced the stormtroopers in "Chapter 14: The Tragedy."
Season 2 also saw the live-action portrayals of popular characters from The Clone Wars series. Since this is a show about Mandalorians, it seemed fitting to introduce Bo-Katan, who continues to reveal the lore behind Mandalorians. Then, the first Jedi featured with Ahsoka Tano, who once again showed why she is one of the most formidable Jedis in the universe. It also does not end there as a prominent character featured from the movies, Luke Skywalker.
Season 1 Is Better: Everything Was Original
Although we love the nods to the old movies and animation series, we also love to see more original content. The first season benefits from this originality because it makes the story refreshing within the Star Wars universe. These new contents include new characters like Cara Dune and Kuiil and lore about Mandalorians.
This has to be acknowledged since the Star Wars universe is more than just Jedis, Siths, and the Force. Viewers want to see a world beyond the Force, and The Mandalorian is the perfect show for it. Though season 2 did not accomplish the originality, we can be hopeful that things will change for the show's future content.
Season 2 Is Better: The Buildup Of The Final Episodes
The one reason that makes season 2 far superior to season 1 is the buildup of the second season's story and pacing. Though the first season had well-written episodes and story development, it did have filler episodes that did not fit well with the story, causing the first season to appear incohesive in its content and pacing.
Though the second season also had some of the same issues at the beginning with filler episodes, it was after "Chapter 13: The Jedi" when the story took a turn and built on the existing content. With new revelations and high stakes, each episode ended with viewers wanting more and anxiously waiting to see what happens next. Each episode built its story towards the finale that allowed the story, pacing, and tone to be cohesive and consistent.
Season 1 Is Better: Grogu Had More Action
One thing that we loved about Grogu is the power he possessed. He is cute, but he shows himself to be quite powerful. In the first season, Grogu displayed his force abilities, such as taking out a beast and moving fire. He also appeared to have healing abilities, which is unusual to see with those with the Force.
Unfortunately, Grogu sidelined himself when it came to displaying his powers in the second season. He was not as formidable as he was in the first season, although he did have his reasons. We did see Grogu use his Force during his assessment with Ahsoka and did have some action when he faced stormtroopers after being abducted. However, Grogu used his Force more often in the first season than in the second season, so we did not have as many Force moment scenes with Grogu in season 2.
Season 2 Is Better: The Mind-Blowing Season Finale
Because of the buildup from previous episodes, the season 2 finale looked exciting, with a rescue mission for Grogu. Little did viewers know that their minds would be blown, with a season 2 finale that will be a roller coast ride of emotions. We got several fight scenes, including all the female characters against the stormtroopers and Din Djarin's battle with Gideon. Also, tensions were high between Din and Bo-Katan regarding the Darksaber.
However, the unexpected arrival of a beloved Jedi caused the internet to explode. Luke Skywalker came in a fashion similar to his father in Rogue One to face the Dark Troopers with his immense powers. After feeling nostalgically ecstatic, we also deal with emotional sadness. The final episode concluded with a heartbreaking conclusion of the Grogu and Din's adventure as Din accomplishes his mission and Luke takes Grogu as his trainee.