you’re able to imagine my shock when I watched American novelist Jason Pargin’sStar Warscritique centered onThe Mandalorian, in which he states outright that “The Mandalorianis dead.” I consider myself to be one ofThe Mandalorian’s biggest fans, having followed theStar WarsTV show since before its release in November 2019. I’ve rewatched it countless times since then, and will certainly be seated in the movie theater whenThe Mandalorian and Groguarrives next year. It’s my favoriteStar Warsproject ever, even as a lifelong fan of the franchise.
Pargin’s critique, shared on his Threads account, focuses mostly on where he thinksStar Warshas gone wrong with the massively successful TV show. He states thatThe Mandalorianshould have remained a TV show that ran for hundreds of episodes, much like the Western and sci-fi TV shows of old - including the original iterations ofStar Trek. Pargin makes the claim that,becauseStar Warsdecided to endThe Mandalorianwith 24 episodes and pivot into a movie, “The Mandalorianis dead.”
This, of course, is quite a bold claim that ought to be considered.The Mandalorianis what most modernStar Warscontent is now hinging upon, something even Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has shared recently by stating that the TV show’s era is the franchise’s current main focus. Din Djarin and Grogu have become some ofStar Wars’best and most beloved characters. That’s why I think it’s important to take a deeper look at Pargin’s critique and truly determine whether he’s right or not.
The Mandalorian TV Show Should Have Run For Much, Much Longer
This Format Was Perfect For Their Story
I’d first like to discuss the part of Pargin’s critique that I do agree with. I think he’s right in saying thatThe Mandalorianshould have been a continuous TV show that went on and on in the same fashion as season 1, where Din Djarin and Grogu were constantly meeting new faces on exciting adventures. The stakes would still be high if Din had to keep protecting Grogu and finding ways to provide for the two of them, the same way he does throughout season 1 and, in a way, season 2 as well.
The Mandalorian’s Complete Timeline Explained: From Din Djarin & Grogu’s Introduction To Mandalore’s Liberation
Beginning in 2019, The Mandalorian’s story has become absolutely essential to the Star Wars narrative. This is the complete timeline of its events.
As Pargin points out, this would have been a hugely successful formula. In fact, this exact kind of thing is whatStar Warsviewers are already asking for, myself included. It’s the reason why I’m not as opposed to the idea ofDin Djarin’sRazor Crestcoming back inThe Mandalorian and Groguas I probably should be. We all want the vibes of season 1 back, and we all want to just see these two adventuring together again. Based onThe Mandalorianseason 3’s ending,Star Warsunderstands this, too.
After having Din take a step away from bounty hunting in seasons 2 and 3,The Mandalorianis bringing that type of storyline back for the titular Mandalorian by having him do “bounty hunting” workfor theNew Republic, targeting members of theImperial Remnant. Grogu’s Mandalorian apprentice journeys guarantee that the two of them will be back to adventuring the way they did in season 1, too. Unfortunately, however, they’re not using the correct medium for such adventures.
Star Wars Did Make A Mistake In Expanding The Mandalorian Too Much
Its Contained Story Is What Made It Such A Success
Star Warsdid so much so quickly withThe Mandalorianthat now, they’ve already outgrown the small screen, and they’re making a leap to the big screen before they even began to maximize the potential of their tenure in TV. This has so much to do withThe Mandalorianseason 2;tying in characters like Bo-Katan Kryze, Ahsoka Tano, Boba Fett, and Luke Skywalker blewThe Mandalorian’s contained story out of proportion. As Pargin points out, byThe Mandalorianseason 3, the show’s viewers were utterly lost.
It goes from being a spaghetti Western that takes place in Star Wars to just… well, Star Wars.
It looked nothing like it did at the time it started, and that isn’t necessarily a good thing. ComparingThe Mandalorianseason 1 with season 3 is jarring. It goes from being a spaghetti Western that takes place inStar Warsto just… well,Star Wars. Because so much ofThe Mandalorianseason 3 was set up in another show (The Book of Boba Fett), audiences are just confused in general, too.Pargin accredits this to “corporate synergy,” something that’s affecting everyone in entertainment media, before he brings upThe Mandalorian and Grogumovie.
This is where Pargin makes his claim that “The Mandalorianis dead,” as he insists the story will end with this movie. Now, we know the latter isn’t true; Din Djarin and Grogu are expected to be a part of Dave Filoni’s culmination movie that will take place afterThe Mandalorian and Grogu, and with more projects in development in this era, I’d be shocked if Din Djarin and Grogu’s story truly ended here. He is, however, right in the sense thatThe MandalorianTV show specifically could be “dead.”
The Mandalorian Franchise Is Still Far From Being Dead
Demands For These Characters & Their Story Remains Strong
In the grand scheme of things, however, I think Pargin is very wrong to sayThe Mandalorianas a whole is dead, especially when he suggests that “everybody has already stopped caring about” their story. The reason whyThe Mandalorianseason 3 caused such an uproar is because people did, and still do, care so much about these two characters and their story. They felt as if Din Djarin and Grogu were done an injustice by taking a backseat in season 3 and straying too far from the TV show’s original formula.
2 Years On, I Finally Understand What Went Wrong With The Mandalorian Season 3
It’s taken 2 years for me to realize what exactly went wrong with The Mandalorian season 3, but now I understand it completely - and I’m utterly torn.
Plus, there’s still plenty of demand forThe Mandalorianas a whole. We know this becauseStar Warscontinues to put these two characters everywhere; Grogu is inescapable in merchandise, and the pair will have a storyline added to theMillennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Runattraction atStar Wars: Galaxy’s Edgein the U.S. Disney Parks next year. They wouldn’t invest such energy and money in these two characters if there wasn’t a demand for them.
The reason why The Mandalorian season 3 caused such an uproar is because people did, and still do, care so much about these two characters and their story.
In fact,despiteThe Mandalorianseason 3’s mixed reviews, it was still the biggest success ofStar Warsand Disney+ as far as streaming goes in recent years- and it wasn’t really that close. In fact,The Mandalorianseason 3 was the most-watched streaming original in 2023on any platform, surpassing everything fromLokiseason 2 toTed Lassoseason 3. Even in 2024,The Mandalorianseason 3 was in the top 10 most-watched TV shows on Disney+with no new releases. Again, if there wasn’t a demand for that story, then this wouldn’t have been the case.
IfThe Mandalorianwas truly dead, then a movie would be the last thing it would get. I truly only understand this bold statement from the view that the TV show is dead, because I do see how it would be hard to go back to TV after elevating Din Djarin and Grogu to movies - and movies are not the right medium to bring back the true spirit of the show. In terms of success, however,I thinkThe Mandalorianwill continue to be just fine.Star Warsknows they have a hit on their hands no matter what.
People Still Care About The Mandalorian & They Always Will
These Characters Have Captured Fans' Hearts Forever
I have no doubt that people will continue to care about the story ofThe Mandalorianfor years and years to come. Think about it: Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo continue to be beloved characters with stories people care deeply about, despite how fans may disagree with the way their stories were handled in theStar Warssequel trilogy. Din Djarin and Grogu have earned a similar kind of love fromStar Warsfans. People will always care, and they will do so very passionately.
I often witness people seeing Din Djarin and Grogu for the first time in-person atStar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and every time, it’s always pure excitement that I see and hear when they catch sight of the duo, even at a distance; they’re easily recognizable to everyone, too, even people who clearly aren’t majorStar Warsfans.
I have closely followed the highs and lows ofThe Mandalorianover the years. I was celebratingThe Mandalorianseason 1’s unprecedented success and incredible storytelling, and doing just the same when season 2 expanded its horizons in an exciting way. I was then conflicted and, later, disappointed by season 3 during the course of its release. Still, though,I’ve never given up on it, and I don’t intend on doing soany time soon.The Mandalorianmay always have some lost potential, but it is very far from being dead.
