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Tag: Star Wars

  • How ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 9 Turns Nostalgia Into World-Building

    How ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 9 Turns Nostalgia Into World-Building

    Finally, after a long wait, the second season of The Mandalorian has released. The show did not waste any time and continues where the first left off. Our new favorite Mandalorian Din Djarin is now responsible for a young child that is somehow related to Yoda. Now, he sets out into the galaxy to find others of his kind to bring back the young force-sensitive child home. The last season was filled with Easter Eggs and references to the first two trilogies. It expanded the universe in a way we had yet to see, but there is something about how the second season opens that confirms how well this show handles nostalgia. The Mandalorian isn’t just an Easter egg hunt, as it uses these familiar elements to further build upon a galaxy we once believe to know like the back of our hand.

     

    Before you continue, be wary that there will be some major spoilers for the episode. So, only continue at your own risk if you have yet to watch it.

     

    After the infiltration of an underground fighting arena goes wrong, Mando once again returns to Tatooine. In a way, this planet might be the most visited place in the galaxy. At first, we get some familiar shots from the original trilogy and the last season. The fifth episode Gunslinger, which took place on the same planet, was heavily criticized for focusing too much on nostalgia, and it almost feels like it is going down the same path again. Yet, after we briefly catch up with Amy Sedaris‘ Peli Motto and get a nice moment of character growth, it splinters off from the familiar. The story truly starts the moment he enters the village of Mos Pelgo. Finally, we visit a new location on this desert planet with its history and characters.

    Now, the selling point of this episode is the appearance of Cobb Vanth, played by a former gunslinger Timothy Olyphant. I believe fans from the Extended Universe will recognize that name. The first time we meet him, he is wearing a very familiar outfit. Yes, it is, in fact, that of Boba Fett, who we last saw fall into a Sarlacc Pit. The moment that showed how this series pays tribute to the Star Wars history and its last season is the moment Vanth takes off the helmet. In the Mandalorian creed, you cannot take off your helmet. We physically see Din shocked even if we can’t see his face. The show doesn’t hold our hands and have Pedro Pascal explain that no Mandalorian should do such a thing. Din seems to have no connection with Fett, so there was also no in-universe reason for point out the original owner of the Beskar armor. Those that have seen the original will make the connection automatically. Viewers, who are new to the franchise, might even be inspired to read up on it.

    There are a lot of great little ways it uses visuals from the franchises’ history. Vanth’s speedster was made out of one of Anakin’s pod racer engine. Mando used a similar cry that Obi-Wan used in A New Hope to communicate with the Tusken Raiders. Yet, this time they aren’t just chased away but spent time with, which had got teased in the previously mentioned episode. Now, we get to explore how Raiders survive in the desert and what traditions they have. We saw glimpses of this worldbuilding when they spent more time with the Jawa’s in the first season. We also get introduced to the ecosystem of Tatooine, such as the various creatures that live there. The Sarlacc Pit was a giant creature that lived under the sand that seemed beyond our understanding. Well, we now get introduced to its natural enemy, the Krayt Dragon, which is the main focus of the episode.

    All of these elements not only pay tribute to the franchise’s history but uses them to extend our understanding of this universe. The smartest aspect is how everything in this episode is due to their connection to Boba Fett. His armor creates this immediate connection to the Sarlacc Pit and Tatooine. It takes place in the desert, so it uses some old Western film elements to ease you into the new season. So, the logical next step is to finalize that connection with a massive reveal at the end of the episode. It only truly works if you know anything about the franchise’s history. Yet, it also works for new viewers, as one can make most of the connections from the episodes’ general set-up based on nostalgia. It is hard to believe that this is only the first episode, and I am curious how they expand the Star Wars galaxy in the future.

    Source: IndieWire

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ is Growing Up

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ is Growing Up

    The title is both referring to The Mandalorian (the show) and the Mandalorian (Din Djarin, the character). Chapter 9 shows us what appears to be the natural evolution of both, in their own way.

    When a successful tv show gets to its second season, or when a movie gets a chance for a sequel, there’s sure to be some debate on what path to follow next. Some argue that it should stick to what audiences reacted to so well, while others may claim that it should develop into something new, something fresh. This involves a lot of second-guessing, and it is bound to be hard to keep the creators’ vision untainted by outside feedback. Disney+’s The Mandalorian, like few other shows, managed to bypass most of that since Season 2 was already being written and shot before Season 1 even premiered. This being the case, the new season’s inception began as the first one did, with the creative minds behind the show not being influenced by anyone but themselves, and so far the end result seems to also mimic Season 1’s in its resounding success.

    The plot is still keeping it pretty simple and straightforward. We’re not getting multiple storylines being focused on at the same time, with added locations and various active characters. We’re still focused on only following the story of Din Djarin and The Child. That’s how the show began and that’s how it thrives. What seems to be an obvious step forward in terms of scale isn’t the story itself, but the way it’s being shown to us. I greatly enjoyed the number of establishing shots we got throughout the episode. The way the world Din Djarin in moving through seems bigger than ever, with the episode taking its time in showing us not only the new locations but how one gets there, portraying Tatooine in a way that felt the most satisfying since.. well, ever? If the show manages to keep the storyline concise and the environment and locations at such a grand scale, it may probably continue to tap into that A New Hope gold. A simple story, relatable and easy to follow that is set in a wondrous universe filled with possibilities.

    When it comes to the main character, one has to feel that it has experienced a natural growth of his own. When we first meet Din, he was but a solitary bounty hunter, looking for a payday any way he could. Even his fellow Mandalorians managed to get in his way, doubting his allegiance to the Mandalorian creed. Through season one he began to understand that to survive in such an inhospitable part of the galaxy he would need the help of others, as his own kind so emphatically showed him. It all began with Kuiil, that moved by a hint of self-interest helped him reach The Child so his valley could be free of mercenaries. And like this one relationship, all the other he developed throughout season one were also mostly devised out of a sense of common interest. A mutual enemy being the usual reason.

    But then comes Season 2. Faced with a dispute that could probably be easily resolved with a laser blast, allowing him to be on his way and not get involved any further in the dealings of a small town in the middle of Tatooine’s desert, Din decides to go above and beyond and do the right thing with little self-interest to it. And in doing so, he not only helps to resolve the problem facing Mos Pelgo, but he serves as an intermediary in the resolution of a long-lasting feud between two hostile communities. This brings Din Djarin even further away from his violent beginnings, making him not just someone that looks to do the right thing, but one that looks to inspire that upon others. The makings of a hero.

  • Star Wars’ ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Who is Ahsoka Tano?

    Star Wars’ ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Who is Ahsoka Tano?

    Ahead of The Mandalorian’s season 2, we give quick introductions to characters that have yet to debut on a live-action Star Wars project, but that most likely will show up on the Disney+ hit series in the coming weeks.

    After the events of Attack of the Clones, and seeing that Anakin Skywalker could benefit from having to train his very own Padawan, Master Yoda assigned a young Jedi, Ahsoka Tano (a Togruta from the planet Shili) to the then Jedi Knight. And so began their friendship, one rooted in mutual respect. Through the years Ahsoka revealed herself to be an invaluable member of the Republic army, working beside Anakin, gaining the trust of the clones she served with, especially one Captain Rex. Later on, she was thought to be responsible for an explosion at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, and even though Anakin fought to prove her innocence, she became so disillusioned by the Jedi’s behavior through the entire process that she decided to leave the Order.

    During the events of Revenge of the Sith, and as she was about to bring Darth Maul in custody into Coruscant, Palpatine executes Order 66 making the clone army she was with, turn on her. She manages to flee with the help of Captain Rex, even if that meant that Maul had to be released to create a diversion that would allow for their successful escape.

    After the rise of Emperor Palpatine, she came in contact with the crew of The Ghost, trying to guide them through their battles against the Empire all while trying to keep her identity a secret. After revealing herself, she becomes even more involved with Ezra, Kanan, Hera, Sabine, Zeb, and Chopper’s journey as they fight the increasingly powerful forces of the Empire.
    After being saved by Ezra as she was about to die at the hands of her former Master, now Darth Vader, she vows to come for him at a time of need. So being, after Ezra disappears while fighting Grand Admiral Thrawn in the Rebels finale, Ahsoka joins Sabine sometime after the Battle of Endor, and both launch a search for their missing friend.

     

    For more details regarding The Mandalorian season two aswell as other Star Wars projects, check out the dedicated feature focused on the future of the Star Wars Universe.

  • Star Wars’ ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Who is Cobb Vanth?

    Star Wars’ ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Who is Cobb Vanth?

    Ahead of The Mandalorian’s season 2, we give quick introductions to characters that have yet to debut on a live-action Star Wars project, but that most likely will show up on the Disney+ hit series in the coming weeks.

    Cobb Vanth was a character introduced in the Aftermath trilogy, written by author Chuck Wendig. He has yet to make his official live-action debut, but that seems to be changing with the second season of The Mandalorian. He is a former slave that managed to free himself and rise to the rank of Sheriff in Tatooine’s Freetown (formerly known as Mos Pelgo), even if self-appointed, after the events of Return of the Jedi. He still bears a star-shaped scar on his back, meaning that at some point during his life he was someone else’s property. This makes it obvious that what he had to endure in the past is still very much a part of what drives him even after achieving his freedom.


    During this time, he came in contact with a chest of Mandalorian armor said to have been retrieved from the wreckage of Jabba the Hutt’s sail barge. This heavily implies that this is the armor that once belonged to Boba Fett, since Jabba’s sail barge was destroyed while at the Sarlacc pit, the place we last saw the bounty hunter, with no other Mandalorians in sight. He then committed his life to keep the people of Freetown safe from all outside threats.

    Cobb, unlike Boba, wears said armor not at the bidding of crime lords but on the side of justice, trying to maintain Freetown a lawful place, with crime syndicates at large, while maintaining a somewhat troubled relationship with the Tusken Raiders. In season one’s 5th episode he probably already made an uncredited cameo, when finding the dead body of Fennec Shand.

     

    For more details regarding The Mandalorian season two aswell as other Star Wars projects, check out the dedicated feature focused on the future of the Star Wars Universe.

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: The Story So Far

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: The Story So Far

    The Mandalorian‘s second season is just a few days away, so it seems like the perfect time for a quick recap of the first. One day in a galaxy far far away, a man who is shy about showing his face finds a magical baby. So, he gets chased by guys in plastic armor while finding his purpose and friends along the way. Of course, I am just joking, and there is a lot more to the first season of The Mandalorian.

    Our first live-action Star Wars series introduced us to a Mandalorian foundling named Din Djarin. He is a bounty hunter trying to get by after the Empire’s destruction. His skills garner quite a lot of attention, which leads to him being offered a very peculiar mission by a client (Werner Herzog), who seems to have ties with the Empire. He is to find and take out an unknown target. He finds it with the help of a Ugnaught known as Kuiil (Nick Nolte) but can’t find it in himself as he realizes it is just a child. Technically, it is 50 years old, but by his behavior, he seems to be a toddler. After his ship gets taken apart by Java’s, he takes on a rhinoceros creature called a Mudhorn. In this process, he uncovers that the mysterious child has a strange ability only passed on in legends.

    After spending some time with the kid, he still ends up return the child to his employer, who rewards him handsomely. Mando, as the bounty hunter guild leader Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) likes to call him, is paid in Beskar steel, which is a sacred metal of his kind. The Mandalorian armorer grants him a brand new shiny outfit with which he decides to save the child from whatever faith may befall him. He almost gets shot down before his brothers and sisters, who were in hiding, help him escape while sacrificing their hiding spot. Djarin is on the run to keep the child safe. He briefly tries to seek refuge on the forest planet Sorgan. There he works alongside former Rebel shock trooper Cara Dune (Gina Carano) to take down a stolen AT-ST. Yet, bounty hunters are hot on their tail, which gets him stranded on Tatooine. After a bounty goes south, we get a glimpse of a mysterious stranger walking through the desert.

    Afterward, he is in desperate need of a job, so he gets in contact with some old buddies. We get introduced to the first man from Space Boston, Mayfield (Bill Burr). The mission sees them infiltrating a prison ship but, of course, our sharpshooter gets double-crossed. Luckily, Mando is also a fan of horror films, so he takes them out one after another. He didn’t kill them, as they are now trapped as prisoners on the ship. Shortly after, he gets a call from Greef Karga, who asks for his help to take out the stormtroopers that taken over the bounty hunter guild. In exchange, he would ensure that they wouldn’t get hunted down anymore. As you can guess, he was going to hand him over, but after the child healed his wound, he had a change of heart.

    They recruit Cara, Kuiil, and a reprogrammed IG-11 (Taika Waititi), who was hunting the child earlier in the series, to take on the Empire stormtroopers, who still manage to outgun them. The arrival of a former Imperial officer Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) doesn’t help matters as they try to escape through an underground lava river. IG-11 sacrifices his life as Mando takes on a TIE fighter. Luckily, after one last meeting with the armorer, he is given a jet pack alongside his sigit, which is in the form of the Mudhorn. After a successful battle, Mando flies off with the child without knowing that Moff has survived and has the Darksaber, an ancient lightsaber with a unique black blade.

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: What to Expect from Season Two

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: What to Expect from Season Two

    This is the way.

    The live-action Star Wars series, The Mandalorian, is set to make its way back to our small screens on October 30th, streaming exclusively on Disney+. The hit series stars Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin, Gina Carino as Cara Dune, Carl Weathers as Greef Karga, and of course, the star of the show, Baby Yoda aka the Child. As of now, the plot synopsis for the show sets up The Mandalorian and the Child as they “continue their journey, facing enemies and rallying allies as they make their way through a dangerous galaxy in the tumultuous era after the collapse of the Galactic Empire.” However, very little is known about this upcoming season outside of what has been shown in the trailers. Even they’re pretty vague, but that doesn’t stop someone like me from putting the pieces together and trying to fill in the blanks. And that’s what this article aims to achieve. So let’s get right into what we can expect from season two of The Mandalorian.

     

    (Left to right) Gina Carano is Cara Dune, Pedro Pascal is Din Djarin and Carl Weathers is Greef Karga in The Mandalorian, season two.

     

    “I’ve been quested to bring this one back to its kind.”

    Now, we know from the last episode of The Mandalorian in Season One that The Armorer tasked Din Djarin on the quest to lead the Child back to its kind; “a race of enemy sorcerers” known as the Jedi. As we know, most of the Jedi were killed after Order 66, and the only Jedi technically remaining in this point in time, which would be after the events of Return of the Jedi, would be Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, and Ahsoka Tano. Now, obviously, we’re most likely not going to see the Skywalkers on this side of the galaxy anytime soon, so my best bet would be on Mando trying to locate Ahsoka Tano, who we know will be appearing in the series and be portrayed by Rosario Dawson. 

     

     

    In Star Wars lore, the last time we saw Ahsoka was at the very end of Star Wars: Rebels, where she was waiting for Sabine Wren to go and locate the missing Jedi, Ezra Bridger, who sacrificed himself at the end of the show to save his crew and friends from Admiral Thrawn and the Empire. Now, we don’t know exactly if Ahsoka and Sabine were able to locate Ezra, but we might get an update on that in the show. But back to the matter at hand, if the Mandalorian is indeed setting up a meeting between Din Djarin and Ahsoka Tano, then he would have to find her, mainly since most of the galaxy believes her to be dead (See: The Twilight of the Apprentice from Star Wars Rebels). But the galaxy is a very big place, so where would she be? Here’s where it gets interesting.

     

    “If I can locate other Mandalorians, they can guide me.”

     

    We know that Katee Sackhoff is set to reprise her role as Bo-Katan and Temuera Morrison will make his return to the Star Wars universe portraying the first on-screen Mandalorian; Boba Fett. We can also assume that if Ahsoka Tano is set to appear in the show, then chances are we might see Sabine Wren appear as well on the show, possibly played by Sasha Banks, who was cast in the show in an unknown role but was seen in the trailer for The Mandalorian Season Two wearing a Mandalorian style cloak.

     

     

    Now in the recent special look, we know that Din Djarin will try to locate other Mandalorians who can possibly lead him to Ahsoka Tano. Perhaps he knows of a Mandalorian who was seen traveling with a Jedi. And this could lead him on an adventure where it focuses on him trying to find the other Mandalorians from the saga of Star Wars. That’s would explain why we’re headed to Tatooine for this season. That’s where we will see him encounter Boba Fett. He’ll also be looking for Bo Katan in the series, who was last seen in Star Wars Rebels on Mandalore wielding the Darksaber, which we now know its in Moff Gideon’s possession from the last episode of the Mandalorian, so we might know what happened with her and the rest of the Mandalorians after the Great Purge of Mandalore. She might guide Din to Sabine Wren, who will guide him to Ahsoka. This is how I see the show playing out, but not without some Imperial resistance along the way.

     

    “For The Empire”

     

    We know that Giancarlo Esposito is set to return as Moff Gideon for this season and he will be the main over-arching villain of this show as he is very interested in acquiring The Child for the Empire. And we know from the last episode of The Mandalorian in Season One that he has the Darksaber in his possession. The actor has explained that Moff Gideon’s past is linked to how he acquired the Darksaber. So chances are, we might see Moff Gideon in the past during the events of the Great Purge in Mandalore, while exploring the depth of this character even more. But of course, Din Djarin is ready to step up to the challenge and his allies are not too far behind.

     

    SEASON TWO OF THE MANDALORIAN PREMIERES ON OCTOBER 30TH ON DISNEY+.

  • New ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Season 2 Exclusive Look

    New ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Season 2 Exclusive Look

    There’s brand new The Mandalorian footage out, as the marketing campaign for the hit Disney+ series enters its final stretch ahead of the October 30 premiere date.

    This season we’ll reunite with some familiar faces such as Cara Dune, Greef Karga, and Moff Gideon, introduce live-action Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren, as well as welcome Boba Fett back to the live-action Star Wars universe.

    This past September saw the release of the long-awaited first trailer and in the last few weeks we got a couple of TV spots as well as a few promotional stills. Now, with just eleven days until October 30, it won’t be long until we find out what’s next in the adventures of Din Djarin and The Child, aka Baby Yoda, as they seek new information about both the infant’s rightful home and an order of sorcerers called.. the Jedi. 

    You can find out more info on the show’s Season 2 right here.

  • RUMOR: ‘The Mandalorian’ Spin-Off Focusing on Cara Dune and Bo-Katan In Development

    RUMOR: ‘The Mandalorian’ Spin-Off Focusing on Cara Dune and Bo-Katan In Development

    So, this is an interesting surprise ahead of The Mandalorian‘s second season. The YouTube site Kessel Run Transmissions shared the info on an upcoming show that will expand Disney+’s ventures into the galaxy far, far away. KRT claims that a show is being developed that will focus on Gina Carano‘s Cara Dune and Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ Bo-Katan. There were hints that the character will have their live-action premiere in Mandalorian‘s second season. Bo-Katan will be played by Katee Sackhoff, who also voiced the character in The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. There is no exact info provided, as they theorize if it even takes place before or after Mandalorian.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QEuBKHfra4&feature=youtu.be

    Of course, some might be questioning if this show will still be released. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Carano‘s public opinion. KTR does highlight that they’ve first heard of this about four months ago. As such, anything can have changed with public outcry still around as we build-up to the next season’s release. They also make a good point that it might depend on how Mandalorian‘s second season is received. There have been rumors of a spin-off focused on Cara Dune but the recent drama may have derailed those original plans to some degree. There is still a chance that plans have changed, so they could also just focus on Bo-Katan, or add a new character. It is still exciting to see that Disney+ will be adding more Star Wars series in the near future.

    Source: Kessel Run Transmissions

  • ‘Black Mirror’s Toby Haynes Taking Over Directing Duties for ‘Cassian Andor’ Series Among COVID Concerns

    ‘Black Mirror’s Toby Haynes Taking Over Directing Duties for ‘Cassian Andor’ Series Among COVID Concerns

    No reason to panic this isn’t a major shift for the Rogue One spin-off focusing on Cassian Andor. Yes, Toby Haynes will replace Tony Gilroy as director of the series. This doesn’t mean he won’t continue his work as a showrunner. The reason for this is related to the pandemic, as Gilroy won’t be able to travel to the filming location in the U.K. It seems that the Black Mirror director was already on a list to potentially direct some episodes. It is unsure if any other COVID-related influences may reshape the Disney+ series’ production. We do not know if they will adjust the production to accommodate the actors as well. The pandemic has made some of the productions a bit more

    Haynes has quite the filmography. He was behind the iconic U.S.S. Callister episode of Black Mirror. So, he has some experience filming a space-centric storyline. We still don’t know much about this show, so who knows how much space travel we can expect. We also do not know how many episodes he will direct. The Mandalorian has built up a core cast of directors that each lent their unique style to the series. There is also the chance he might take over directing duties for the entire show but we have no confirmation on that. Cassian Andor still has no official title but it could offer a unique perspective in the galaxy far far away.

    Source: Deadline

  • Giancarlo Esposito Confirms Plans for ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 4

    Giancarlo Esposito Confirms Plans for ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 4

    Jon Favreau‘s The Mandalorian was a breath of fresh air for Star Wars. It managed to modernize the franchise while staying true to its roots. The first season introduces us to an interesting mystery that would keep the series going. Lovingly called Baby Yoda by fans, the Child’s origins and connection to the Force will be a driving force of the show’s direction. The first season was strongly inspired by Lone Wolf and Cub before opening up to a larger world. Pedro Pascal‘s Mandalorian and the Child were confronted by Giancarlo Esposito‘s Moff Gideon. He is in the possession of the Dark Saber, which some might’ve recognized from The Clone Wars. A lot of mysteries have been set-up and it seems that Esposito may have revealed that they will be solved once the fourth season arrives.

    The next season of The Mandalorian [season 2] is going to be very interesting because you’re going to start to find out the power of The Child, what The Child really means,” he said. “You will also start to uncover the origins of the Darksaber that Moff Gideon has and how that plays into previous Star Wars history connected to The Clone Wars and other shows. And you’ll start to get a real dramatic sense of the territory. We’re living in a universe that’s huge, and there’s so much to explore. So I think this show is going to start to lay the groundwork for the depth and breadth that’s going to come in season 3 and season 4, where you’re really gonna start to get answers.

    The third season was Hollywood’s worst kept secret so the big reveal is that a fourth is already planned. It looks like Favreau may have already mapped out well in advance. The biggest takeaway is also that Disney is avoiding the Netflix strategy. Netflix pretty much limits their series to two to three season runs. Anything beyond isn’t considered profitable. So, if they are already planning out the fourth season there is a good chance these shows have a chance of sticking around for longer. We might get a good mix of long-term shows like The Mandalorian with limited series. WandaVision seems likely to not get a continuation so they have a nice combination to draw in new subscribers. We are only a little over a month away from The Mandalorian‘s second season, so there is a lot more Star Wars to come.

    Source: Slash Film