Rating: 8.5/10 | Verdict: Worth a watch!

The Mandalorian is a show that has been iconic since its first release on Disney+ in 2019. “Baby Yoda” quickly went viral back then, and has remained hugely popular thanks to Disney’s obsession with merchandising…and the fact that he really is super adorable. I happened to be working in retail back in 2019, and remember well all of the “oohs” and “awwwws” over any product with “Baby Yoda” on it!

For those who haven’t had the chance to see the show yet, The Mandalorian centers on a bounty hunter known simply as “Mando” who was raised by the Mandalorians, a race of people who take the Mandalorian creed—a religious oath involving loyalty, strength, courage in battle, and never removing one’s helmet in view of another. After receiving a hefty bounty payment in exchange for delivering The Child—AKA “Baby Yoda”—to an ex-Imperial officer, Mando has a change of heart and chooses to protect The Child instead of delivering him over to a perilous fate. This choice leads the unlikely pair on a series of adventures as burgeoning Imperial forces seek to take The Child back.

I’ve heard many opine that this show feels more like Star Wars than the most recent trilogy did, and I have to say that while I enjoyed the most recent trilogy (more perhaps than it deserved), I agree that The Mandalorian’s quality is better. The story is far more cohesive, and actually seems to be following a well-laid plan, unlike the most recent trilogy. And like the original trilogy, the show includes excellent action sequences and intriguing characters alongside a story brimming with heart. It builds upon the world of Star Wars while also remaining more true to the larger canon (as my more informed friends have told me). In addition, I appreciated the excellent lighting, costuming, and music even more on a second watch.

Another thing I noticed more on a rewatch is the show’s “space Western” feel: a quality I’ve heard people attribute to the appeal of Star Wars before, but never fully appreciated until recognizing it in The Mandalorian. I’ve never had any special affection for Westerns myself, but the mystique of the nomadic gunslinging defender of justice who proves himself a quicker draw than any challenger is undeniably a big part of this show’s appeal.

The appeal of The Mandalorian, at least for me as a Christian, also has a lot to do with the one of the most intriguing themes that this show explores: namely, what is meant by true religion. In both of the seasons that have already been released, Mando is criticized right and left by various characters for his religious beliefs. They frequently tease him about never taking his helmet off, and several twist the code that he follows to serve their own ends. In addition, in Season 2, Mando begins to encounter people wearing Mandalorian armor who take off their helmets freely. They claim the creed he has taken is part of an ultra-conservative sect, and that one can be a true Mandalorian without the helmet rule.

As the show progresses, we see Mando under increasing pressure to remove his helmet, and wonder at the internal struggle he must be undergoing as he decides whether anything is worth violating the creed to which he has pledged his life. In other words, Mando must decide what he believes it truly means to be a Mandalorian. I think his decision (you’ll have to watch the show to know what it is!) is one that can help Christians as we ourselves make personal decisions about primary and secondary issues. The following passage is relevant here:

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

James 1:27

Revisiting the valiant and self-sacrificial efforts of Mando as he protects The Child have been an encouragement to me as I seem to be reminded more and more lately that evil can still thrive in our world. I hope that watching this show will similarly remind you that good ultimately triumphs! Considering the quality of the first two seasons, I have high hopes that Season 3 will continue to solidify The Mandalorian as a modern classic.

Until then, may this force of cuteness be with you: