5 Things I Noticed While Watching The Mandalorian

The stay at home mandate – courtesy of Quarantine 2020 — has given me even more time for my second favorite activity: binge watching television series. I finally had time to get on the bandwagon for the only decent show on Disney+: The Mandalorian.

I know. I am late to the party…

It was the ONLY thing anyone at work talked about when it premiered, but I wasn’t ready to subscribe to another streaming service when I knew I didn’t have extra time to commit to watching yet another show. After COVID-19 changed all that, burdened with an overabundance of time, I gave in and subscribed. 

Here are 5 interesting observations I made about series after watching it several times around: 

1. The Mandalorian has a backstory similar to another character from the Star Wars universe.

The first time I watched the Mandalorian and they flashback to how he became a foundling, I was like, I have seen this happen before… but I couldn’t think of which movie I had seen it in. I thought, it would be too coincidental if it was in another Star Wars movie, but sure enough, by the second time I finished watching the season through, (and after asking my son) turns out it takes place at the very beginning of the movie Rogue One. 

Din Djarin (The Mandalorian, aka Mando for short) shares the same orphan backstory as Jyn Erso from Rogue One. Right down to the setting and how it unfolds. 

How it happens in Rogue One:

*Spoilers WITHIN - read at your own risk*

Jyn Erso is being hunted by the Imperial troopers who have arrived on the planet to retrieve her father Galen Erso and take him back to finish building the Death Star. She evades capture by following the exit strategy previously rehearsed by her and her parents — hiding inside an underground bunker cleverly disguised as a cave rock. When the coast has cleared and her savior arrives to retrieve her, we see the hidden compartment door lift as Saw Gerrerra beckons Jyn to come out of her hiding place.

How it happens in The Mandalorian:

*Spoilers WITHIN - read at your own risk*

(As pieced together through a series of flashbacks) Din Djarin is being carried by his parents as their colony has come under attack from a droid army platoon. When they realize that there is no escape his parents decide to hide him in an underground cellar space. They lower him into the space, the doors above him close. At which point he hears the fighting come to a climax and then the doors open and he sees the face of his savior: an unknown Mandalorian. We know his parents must be dead, so he is now alone. He is taken out of the hiding place and off into the unknown to be raised as a foundling.

Is it an homage? Maybe. I hope they don’t assume that we haven’t put two and two together to come up with Rogue One. In either case, both Jyn and Din eventually are orphans to some degree and find their own new families of their choosing. 

2. The Mandalorian has quality casting.

I have to give it to the casting directors for The Mandalorian because they got good people to play these roles. I prefer not having an entire cast of “breakout” actors who then play iconic roles but secretly they actually suck .

I refer you to the unfortunate casting choice for Anakin Skywalker: Hayden Christensen. I am sure he is a fine actor, but not for this character and not for that role. Whoever decided to choose him for the role needs to reevaluate their life choices. He was not a very believable Jedi and even less believable as a Sith Lord. So unfortunate…

Therefore casting is important, and I believe they did a good job for The Mandalorian. Some actors of note:

Carl Weathers, others may remember him as Apollo Creed, is now a Bounty Hunters Guild leader, Greef Karga. My other favorite movie with this actor: Predator (the one with Schwarzenegger)

Julia Jones, found a better role aside from the pouty she-werewolf, Leah Clearwater, from the Twilight series as she plays the skilled marksman, capable villager, and single mother, Omera on the planet Sorgan. 

Clancy Brown, there can be only one… Kurgan, ex-Highlander is now playing Burg – an alien mercenary. He does a good job playing a crazy character with too much power/strength. Excellent choice.

Bill Burr, plays (ironically) Mayfield, an ex-Imperial sharpshooter turned mercenary. Less ironically seen in Breaking Bad, and his many comedy specials. Gives this character the necessary gravitas.

Richard Ayoade, better known as Moss from The IT Crowd, gives life to Zero the droid pilot. This was probably my favorite cameo since he plays one of my absolute favorite characters from television. No surprise Zero is understandably haughty about his mental computing prowess.

3. The Mandalorian gives salute to the Browncoats of the universe.

This show reminds me of another much loved series featuring space cowboys: Firefly

Firefly is a space Western/cowboy saga, as is The Mandalorian. Although in Firefly, the captain has a crew of 8 aboard his ship doing jobs throughout the galaxy, and in The Mandalorian, Mando operates as a lone bounty hunter with supporting players who join forces to clear through the situation.

Mando, much like Capt. Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds, also operates outside of the norms established for guild bounty hunters. He lets his conscience decide. I assume that Jon Favreau must be a Joss Whedon fan. 

4. The Mandalorian – Browncoat salute number 2.

The other similarity I noticed is that the spacecraft that The Mandalorian uses reminded me of the ship from Firefly. Yet another Browncoat similarity. Mando’s ship is called the Razor Crest, and it bears a slight resemblance to the ship from Firefly, the Serenity. 

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The ship from Firefly (Serenity) has twin boosters as does the ship of the Mandalorian: the Razor Crest. The Razor Crest is a much smaller vessel and is not meant for smuggling like the ship Serenity, but they share some characteristics. They may not be exactly alike, but they look somewhat similar to me.

5. The Mandalorian theme song sounds like a Spaghetti Western

Lastly is the song that burred its way into my mind. It is deliciously adThe theme song burred its way into my mind. It is deliciously addictive and evokes the spirit of the old Spaghetti Westerns. It reminds me of classics like the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Considering that the show is a space cowboy saga, I am certain this is on purpose.

Good thing it’s on Spotify so I can listen to it on repeat somewhere other than on the TV. 

Have you given in and watched The Mandalorian?