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News from Elf, a digital creative agency at the intersection of the arts and sciences.
Filtering by Category: Industry Insight
Launching Disney+ has been a tremendous success for Disney, enabling the entertainment company to reach new audiences, share countless classics on demand, and ensure engagement in a world facing pandemic-related struggles.
Image via Disney+
Nominated for 15 Emmys and winner of 7 Emmy Awards, The Mandalorian, one of the most anticipated fall shows, is now back streaming every Friday on Disney Plus. With the romantic image of “ a lone gunfighter makes his way through the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic,” the original Disney+ show seduced us with its compelling hero, Mando. Season 1 introduced us to Baby Yoda and other main characters. The premiere last week on October 30 was a reintroduction to the easygoing, slow-paced yet action-filled pacing of this unique show.
The 45-minute first episode of Season 2, “The Marshal,” brings familiar elements from the first season: Mando riding along with baby Yoda, interacting with friends, some Star Wars treats and then uniting with locals to fight off a weird, destructive enemy creature and winning at the end. Director Jon Favreau, known for The Iron Man among many other successful movies, equipped Mando and all Mandalorians with jet packs, which you get to see in action in this episode. Set on the desert planet Tatooine, this episode invokes the original Star Wars trilogy with Jawas, Tusken Raiders and Krayt dragons from the sci-fi author Frank Herbert’s one of a kind, Dune series. The Star Wars franchise drew obvious inspiration from Herbert’s science fiction series set on a desert planet with nomads; scary sandworms; a passionate young boy who was eager to go on a quest to fulfill his destiny; a mysterious order with unknown powers; and an overarching story of an intergalactic war with an evil emperor. While George Lucas had not formally acknowledged his inspiration, director Jon Favreau has done so through his work in this series and thus completed transformed the characterization of the sand people.
Image via Disney+
The show starts off with a cyberpunk aesthetic in what appears to be an urban ghetto that nonetheless is appealing due to our Beskar-clad hero. Without giving the story away, we can share that there is some excellent hand-to-hand combat set to ‘80s guitar music till Mando and Baby Yoda or “The Child” head to Tatooine to find another Mandalorian, who is apparently living in the mining settlement of Mos Pelgo. Mando wants to find this member of his helmeted warrior clan to help him take The Child to the Jedi. At the end of Season 1, Mando promised to do this as part of his practice in the Mandolorian way.
When Mando and The Child arrive in Tatooine, they discover that the man Cobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphant) dressed as a Mandalorian is not a Mandalorian, which prompts Mando to retrieve the valued Beskar armor. In the first of many nods to prior Star Wars cinema, Cobb is actually wearing the armor of Bobba Fett. Choosing Timothy Olyphant, the star of Justified and Deadwood, to be the sheriff of this desert outpost in the space western world of The Mandalorian was an excellent choice as he provides just the right amount of swagger, ruggedness, easy charm and self-deprecation that you would want to see in such a world.
Image via Disney+
The episode ends with a close-up of a silent bounty hunter in the background wearing Boba Fett’s outfit, but the man is not Boba Fett. Boba Fett was the famed bounty hunter who first appeared on the big screen in 1980's Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and who apparently died in 1983's Return of the Jedi as he fell into a “sarlacc” pit.
Actor Temuera Morrison; original Bobba Fett costume
Who is he? Since Boba Fett was a clone, could this be the father of the clone, Jango Fett, played by the actor Temuera Morrison in Attack of the Clones possibly? Fan rumors tend to push this theory out, circulating with this image.
Well, we’ll have to wait till the end of this week to find out more.
You can watch The Mandalorian now streaming on Disney Plus.
Grade: B+
Image via Disney
Disney’s streaming show, “The Mandalorian,” an original spin-off from the Star Wars franchise, written and produced by Jon Favreau, known for “Ironman” and “The Lion King,” is action-packed while still offering strong characters. The series also has helped Disney position itself, along with its library of popular favorites, in the competitive world of streaming video today. The show ranked number one in online streaming in the United States in 2019, dethroning Netflix’s popular series “Stranger Things” and competing neck to neck with “The Witcher,” which ranks number one worldwide in streaming video. The last episode and season finale maintained the momentum from the prior week’s episode to end on a high note.
The Mandalorian
“The Mandalorian” is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order and follows the life of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy.
Notable for its distinct style, with a different director for each episode, “The Mandalorian” is a story about a lone gunfighter, nicknamed “Mando” in a lawless galaxy. Mando wears a metal mask that he does not take off — part of the Mandalorian tradition that Mando defends by saying, “This is the way.” The series is full of heroism, sacrifice, excitement and humor with enough adventure and surprise moments to keep your eyes glued to the screen.
The show introduced a baby Yoda character at the end of the first episode. Soon after the surprising reveal, Baby Yoda quickly stole hearts all over the Internet — attracting both diehard fans of the original Star Wars franchise as well as new audiences drawn to the charming and quirky character.
Image via Disney
Disney is also in the process of building out a Mando costumed character meet and greet at Disney Parks, according to In The Know.
“So, the reality is that we feel it’s really important for our guests at the parks to be able to meet all of our key characters on a first-hand, personal basis. And so it’s something we’re working on. We think it’s appropriate, and I think it’s something the guests at the parks can look forward to in the very near future.”
The first season of “The Mandalorian” builds upon the Star Wars mythology, but offers its own take with new characters and new worlds to explore. Instead of rehashing existing stories, the new series has its own refreshing perspective. One of the references to prior series and spinoffs is the dark saber, a favorite of executive producer Dave Filoni, known for his production of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” series. Revealed in the last episode, the dark saber is a unique black-bladed lightsaber that belonged to the first Mandalorian Jedi and well known to aficionados of that Star Wars series. The character of Moff Gideon played by Giancarlo Esposito, appears out of the fiery wreckage of a spaceship carrying the black-bladed lightsaber in his hand at the end of the episode, leaving some mystery and questions behind. What are his intentions towards Baby Yoda, whom he has been pursuing at all costs? The answer may be Machiavellian, but his uncanny knowledge of the Mandalorian creed leaves questions for audiences to think about before the next season. The ending hints at an impending struggle and suggests that Gideon’s mysterious relationship to the Jedi will also be revealed in Season 2.
Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) in “The Mandalorian.” Image via Disney
Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) in “The Mandalorian.” Image via Disney
The series introduces new characters in memorable scenes from the Child or Baby Yoda who uses the Force to stop a flamethrower to the droid IG-II who sacrifices himself to stop Stormtroopers and to protect the Child and of course, the Mandalorian, played by Pedro Pascal, whose face is obscured by his metal knight-like mask throughout the season until the very end, where both his face and name are revealed. He also gets to fly a jetpack, revealing director Jon Favreau’s skills in storytelling and entertainment, similar to his creation of “Ironman” in the Marvel cinematic universe. Just as Mando cuts down the TIE Fighter spaceship flown by Moff Gideon and flies away with his jet pack, Moff Gideon fights his way through out of the debris, holding the dark saber in hand. The last episode of the “The Mandalorian,” titled “Chapter 8: Redemption,” offers thrills and adventures, ending with drama and emotional rewards that leave you both curious and eager for the next episodes.
“The Mandalorian” offers a big budget, high adventure and live action streaming Star Wars series that is hard to match. Each character gets his or her time in the spotlight — enough to discover what makes the character tick and stand out. The series has a variety of diverse locations and battle scenes occurring outside, inside cramped locations and in the sky. From bounty hunters to droids, Storm Troopers, Baby Yoda and Mando’s Lone Ranger appeal, “The Mandalorian” entices with its range of compelling characters. The series had a few slow moments midseason, but recovered its momentum in the last few episodes to end with a spectacular finish. With a superb storyline and dramatic finish, “The Mandalorian” sets up high anticipation for Season 2 and enthusiasm for next installments.
Finally, it would be hard to not acknowledge the gorgeously designed credits for the series — works of art in and of themselves. Take a look!
