TV Review: “The Mandalorian” on Disney Plus – An Ending So Shocking, Your Jaw Will Drop
In what is the most ambitious original series for Disney+, The Mandalorian, the first ever live-action Star Wars series, looks like a big-budget action movie. The first episode, which debuted at launch on Disney+, is just 40 minutes long, but ends with such a cliffhanger that you’ll wish it was already Friday, when episode two debuts.
Unlike Netflix, Disney+ won’t be releasing all episodes all at once. Instead, they will release episodes weekly similar to HBO or Hulu. In the case of The Mandalorian though, Disney+ is trying to build on the first-week hype by releasing the second episode on November 15th (Friday). Until the season finale on December 27th, they will be releasing most episodes every Friday, with the exception of the penultimate one which will come on Wednesday, December 18th.
The story takes place after “Return of the Jedi,” after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. The series stars Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian), who appeared in the fourth season of Game of Thrones, but is best known for recently starring in the Netflix series Narcos.
What makes The Mandalorian so special is that it feels so very Star Wars, but feels so different at the same time.
One particular moment that is so vintage Star Wars is when The Mandalorian has a flashback to his childhood with his parents gripping on to him during a ruthless battle. Another is the left to right wipe fades that happen to transition in between scenes. One thing noticeably missing, is there is no traditional Star Wars opening crawl.
For most of the first episode, you are meeting new characters and worlds you’ve never seen before. But, at the end of the episode, there is such a familiar looking face that your jaw will drop.
The series, which was created by Iron Man-director Jon Favreau, reportedly cost $100 million for the 8 episodes of the show. The show feels cinematic, with spectacular special effects, it doesn’t feel like something that we would get on television. When you compare it to the $150 million that Apple TV+ is reportedly spending on the The Morning Show, it’s just no contest.
Whether you are a Star Wars fan or are a fan of epic adventure, you will enjoy this show. It has the special effects, high-paced action, interesting species that you would expect from a Star Wars series. But, while many Star Wars fans were worried about this series, given just how much Star Wars content has come out over the last few years, you shouldn’t be. If the rest of the series is anything like the first episode, we are in for a real treat.
About Disney+
Disney+ will launch on November 12th at just $6.99 a month. The service includes four simultaneous streams, unlimited downloads, 4K streaming across a range of devices including Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, iOS, Android, & Web.
They will launch with a deep catalog including the entire Disney Vault, Pixar and Star Wars libraries, MCU films like Captain Marvel, and the entire 30 seasons of The Simpsons. They will have six original series on day one including the highly anticipated Star Wars TV series — The Mandalorian.
About The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian is the first ever live-action Star Wars series set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. Starring Pedro Pascal, Giancarlo Esposito, Carl Weathers and Gina Carano, the series follows a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.
What is the Mandalorian Release Schedule?
- Episode 101: Tuesday, November 12 (Series Premiere)
- Episode 102:Friday, November 15
- Episode 103: Friday, November 22
- Episode 104: Friday, November 29
- Episode 105: Friday, December 6
- Episode 106: Friday, December 13
- Episode 107: Wednesday, December 18 (Wednesday)
- Episode 108: Friday, December 27 (Season Finale)
How to Stream The Mandalorian For Free
You can stream The Mandalorian and the entire Disney+ film and TV show library including hundreds of movies and shows with a 7-Day Free Trial.
If you are a Verizon customer, you will get Disney+ for one-year included with your Unlimited Wireless Plan.