Why I’ve Become One Of The Mandalorian Season 3’s Biggest Critics

About a year and a half after The Mandalorian season 3 completed its run, I’ve found that my perspective on the latest – and most controversial – installment of the highly successful Star Wars show has changed over time. The Mandalorian was, and still is, absolutely unbeatable in terms of its first two seasons, both of which completely revolutionized the way Star Wars and even many other franchises would approach their live-action TV shows. For many, however, season 3 failed to meet that same bar, though that certainly wasn’t the case for everyone.

As one of The Mandalorian‘s biggest fans, having followed the show ever since its premiere in 2019, I was initially one of the viewers who was avidly defending season 3 as it was released. This continued for months after it had already wrapped up, and I often found myself winding up at the heart of some heated debates about whether season 3 was truly a hit for The Mandalorian or not. Over time, however, I’ve fully come to terms with my own feelings about this past season, and my perspective has almost completely changed.

As A Mandalorian Fan, I Hold High Standards For The Show

It Set The Bar High With Seasons 1 & 2

Even before The Mandalorian season 3 came out, I had high standards for the TV show’s third installment, mostly because of how incredible seasons 1 and 2 are. This show truly set a very high bar for itself with those first two seasons, and in the long wait between seasons 2 and 3 (well over 2 years), my standards for what was to come only grew more and more. Of course, before we even got season 3, we got Din Djarin and Grogu’s story continuation in The Book of Boba Fett, which is where problems started for many viewers – and for me.

I hadn’t realized that at the time, either, but the way those moments in The Book of Boba Fett advanced the story of The Mandalorian really put season 3 in a tough spot already. Much of what happens in that spin-off series, most notably the reunion between Din Djarin and Grogu, was expected to happen in The Mandalorian season 3, which made it hard to even create true expectations for the TV show’s next installment. Despite this, I still held high standards for what was to come, maintaining faith in my favorite Star Wars project.

Unfortunately, these standards were not really met in season 3. It’s taken me a long time to reckon with that, but now, about a year and a half later, I’m able to recognize that. There were story choices that still utterly baffle me to this day, and the narrative didn’t feel nearly as cohesive and fluid as it did in seasons 1 and 2 – at least, not for me – and I even had a hard time buying into this season emotionally. This wasn’t about failing to meet expectations; it was about failing to meet its own high standards.

The Mandalorian Season 3 Let Down Its Titular Character

Din Djarin Lacked A Good Story Of His Own

Easily the biggest point of contention for me regarding The Mandalorian season 3 is that it completely let down its titular character, Din Djarin, in my eyes. Din Djarin has become my favorite character of all time, which means that I am, and always have been, very invested in his story. In season 3, however, there isn’t really a story for him at all. Instead, Din lives in the shadows of Bo-Katan Kryze and his own son Grogu in season 3, losing character arc progress from season 2 in the process.

Again, this isn’t about The Mandalorian season 3 not meeting my expectations. I can often deal with that well, and it’s why I don’t set high expectations in the first place. I even tampered down my hopes about getting a true Mand’alor Din Djarin prior to season 3, despite many of my fellow The Mandalorian mega-fans putting a lot of faith in that happening. What happened with Din Djarin is that the story of season 3 let him down immensely. After getting his redemption, he simply goes along for the ride, lingering at Bo-Katan’s side during her critical arc.

Perhaps Din was indeed the key to the Children of the Watch trusting Bo-Katan, but that was completed once Din had accomplished that in episode 4. Afterward, the Armorer took up the role of being the Children of the Watch’s leader at Bo-Katan’s side, which left Din with no real purpose. He doesn’t even elect to stay on Mandalore after he and Grogu help to liberate the planet. All the while, Din doesn’t take off his helmet whatsoever, not that that’s necessarily needed in his story. All in all, Din was extremely static in season 3.

Season 3 Is A Good Star Wars Story, Not A Good Mandalorian Story

It Couldn’t Afford To Lose Focus On Its Two Main Characters

What I’ve come to embrace as my true outlook on The Mandalorian season 3 is that it’s a good Star Wars story, but not a good Mandalorian story. There’s still so much in season 3 that I really do love, including the highly controversial episode “Chapter 22: Guns For Hire”, even if I still have lots of criticisms about other parts of the story. I will also still stand by my personal belief that The Mandalorian season 3 isn’t nearly as bad as most other fans say it is, because it is still effective as a Star Wars story.

There are things outside Din Djarin’s arc and the overall narrative of season 3 that I have grievances with, including what feels like a recreation of Bo-Katan’s arc from Star Wars Rebels in live-action about 10 years later, but it overall is still an installment of television that I truly did enjoy. It disappointed me, yes, but given how many people still choose this season as their favorite, it clearly accomplished some impressive goals. The problem is that it lacked what The Mandalorian seasons 1 and 2 had: a strong, emotional focus on Din Djarin and Grogu.

It’s Not Too Late For The Mandalorian To Redeem Itself

The Mandalorian And Grogu Movie Can Fix Things

While my perspective on The Mandalorian season 3 may be changed to a more critical lens as of right now, it’s still not too late for this Star Wars subfranchise to earn redemption. I have a lot of faith in The Mandalorian and Grogu movie, even if we have so little to go off of at this time. All the movie has to do is return to the heart of The Mandalorian by giving Din Djarin and Grogu an emotionally driven story that allows them to grow as characters and as people. Given the movie’s title, I have a lot of genuine faith that this will happen.

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I initially defended The Mandalorian season 3 because I honestly, truly wanted to love it so much. We had been waiting such a long time for it, and I wanted to be a good fan of The Mandalorian by proving that I could love it in any and all circumstances. Since then, however, I’ve learned how to balance my genuine, never-ending love for this TV show with the disappointment it’s brought me as well. It’s why I can still have faith in the future of The Mandalorian, no matter what may be in store next for our beloved heroes.

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The Mandalorian

The Mandalorian is set after the Empire’s fall and before the First Order’s emergence in the ever-growing Star Wars universe. The series follows the travails of a lone gunfighter named Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic. Acting as the first live-action Star Wars series, The Mandalorian has become incredibly popular on Disney+, partly due to Mando’s relationship with Grogu, which the internet dubbed “Baby Yoda” upon his introduction in season 1.

Release Date

November 12, 2019

Seasons

3

Streaming Service(s)

Dis

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