The Mandalorian & Grogu Movie: Last Hope For Star Wars Franchise?

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The recent handling of the Mandalorian and Grogu’s storyline feels like a missed opportunity, making it doubtful that their planned movie will revitalize the Star Wars franchise. While shows like Andor and Skeleton Crew have been highlights, Lucasfilm needs a more sustainable plan for the future of Star Wars.

The Mandalorian has already revitalized Star Wars. When it debuted in 2019, following The Rise of Skywalker, it reignited fans’ enthusiasm for the franchise. Now, the question is whether The Mandalorian and Grogu can save it again, or if the series has arrived too late to make a real difference.

The Mandalorian’s Season 2 Finale Was The Perfect Ending For Mando & Grogu’s Story

While The Mandalorian and Grogu is billed as the grand finale of Din Djarin and Grogu’s story, many feel the series actually reached its highest point and natural conclusion over five years ago with the season 2 finale, ‘Chapter 16: The Rescue.’ That episode wasn’t just a peak for the show; it felt like a perfect ending to their journey.

At its heart, The Mandalorian is a story about a father and son – a lone protector trying to keep his adopted child safe from danger. Taking care of Grogu changed Mando, making him more caring. He abandoned his life as a bounty hunter to save Grogu, and he never regretted it.

I was hooked from the season one finale – it clearly showed what Mando needed to do: find other Jedi for Grogu. And season two was all about him trying to do just that, finally connecting Grogu with a Jedi nearby. But things really went crazy at the end! Grogu was kidnapped by what’s left of the Empire, and Mando assembled an amazing team to go rescue him. It was so intense!

Everything reached a climax in “The Rescue,” which is essentially a thrilling, extended action sequence. Mando and his team battle through Moff Gideon’s soldiers and manage to rescue Grogu and capture Gideon. However, things become dire when a squad of powerful Dark Troopers arrives, relentlessly attacking and seemingly leaving no chance for escape.

A lone X-wing lands in the hangar, and a cloaked figure walks boldly onto the ship. The figure activates a lightsaber and effortlessly defeats the Dark Troopers. Reaching the bridge and removing their hood, it’s revealed to be Luke Skywalker – a surprise most Star Wars fans had already predicted.

Some people might see Luke Skywalker’s appearance as simply catering to fans, but it was a genuinely special moment on television in 2020 – a year when uplifting moments were rare. More importantly, it doesn’t take away from the emotional impact of the finale. The scene where Luke takes Grogu for training, and Din Djarin removes his helmet to say goodbye, is truly moving.

Pedro Pascal delivers a truly emotional performance, especially in a heartbreaking scene where he says goodbye to a lovable puppet. It’s reminiscent of the iconic farewell between Elliott and E.T. – you genuinely feel his sadness. The episode ended perfectly, providing a satisfying conclusion to the story of Din Djarin and Grogu. However, the story didn’t end there, and continued beyond that beautiful moment.

Star Wars Hastily Reversed Mando & Grogu’s Perfect Goodbye In A Completely Different Show

“The Rescue” felt like a great way to end The Mandalorian, and it would have been satisfying if it had been the series finale. However, Disney had too much financial incentive to continue the show – with strong streaming numbers and the popularity of Baby Yoda – to wrap things up after only two seasons. This is the same studio that’s already planning a live-action remake of Moana.

It’s easy to see why Disney wanted another season of The Mandalorian. From a business standpoint, it made a lot of sense, and as a big fan of the first two seasons, I was really looking forward to seeing what Jon Favreau would do next. However, season 3 didn’t feel like a natural continuation of the story; it felt like a completely different show altogether.

Crossover episodes are common, but it’s a much bigger deal when a show uses one to significantly alter the plot of another. For example, imagine if Family Guy had permanently killed off a major character like Brian during their crossover with The Simpsons – that would have been a huge change!

Around the midpoint of The Book of Boba Fett, the show unexpectedly shifted focus to feel more like a continuation of The Mandalorian. We followed Mando as he visited Grogu at Luke Skywalker’s Jedi training academy, witnessed Luke make Grogu choose between the life of a Mandalorian warrior and a Jedi Knight, and saw Grogu return to being Mando’s adorable companion—a role that also sold a lot of toys.

Those story elements could have unfolded over the course of The Mandalorian‘s third season, or even been left out entirely. However, Jon Favreau surprisingly decided to pack them all into the final episodes of The Book of Boba Fett. I’m still amazed by how poorly the show handled the continuation of the story after the season 2 finale of The Mandalorian.

The Upcoming Mandalorian Movie Is Jon Favreau’s Last Chance To Salvage The Franchise

Season 3 of The Mandalorian didn’t quite live up to expectations, making the new movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu, crucial for the future of the series. How well the movie is received will determine if audiences still care about The Mandalorian and if Disney decides to make more seasons. It really needs to be excellent to recapture the popularity the show had during its second season.

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2026-01-25 15:14