Those looking for substance in The Mandalorian and Grogu will inevitably leave disappointed. It’s become clearer in hindsight, but the series that kick-started this new Star Wars era only worked because it was so locked in stasis. Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) can never evolve beyond his brand of sweet stoicism, and his very-young, very-green son (who, bafflingly, he speaks to more like a pet in Mando/Grogu) is doomed to perpetual infancy. They’re perfect TV characters for this reason, which makes their jump to the big screen — in the first Star Wars film in years, the film that has to work more than any before it — so ironic.
Ahead of the franchise’s return to the big screen, many wondered where The Mandalorian and Grogu would bring its central duo. After all, the Mando-verse did set the stage for the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) and a major battle between his Imperial Remnant and the New Republic. Could director Jon Favreau, or co-writer Dave Filoni, find it in their hearts to give this clan of two some true purpose — or better yet, use them to bring the franchise into the future? Sadly, not quite: the adventure Mando and Grogu embark on pays more tribute to the past, leaving this galaxy far away more listless than they found it.
