Star Wars’ Next Movie Continues a 4-Year Reversal of The Mandalorian’s Best Stories (But How Bad Is It?)

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Star Wars doesn’t often let go of its past – and perhaps it shouldn’t, within reason. The franchise has a valuable history and tradition worth honoring, but it also needs to innovate and explore new ideas. Sometimes, it strikes a good balance, like with Andor. Other times, it focuses too much on what’s familiar – characters, planets, and storylines – instead of taking risks, as seen in The Rise of Skywalker. Now, as Lucasfilm gets ready to release its first Star Wars film since 2019, it once again needs to find that sweet spot between honoring the past and forging ahead.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is the film intended to revitalize the Star Wars franchise in cinemas. It’s a sensible, though predictable, decision considering how well-loved the TV series has become. However, alongside the announcements in the initial trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu, it was also significant that the movie was revisiting certain elements of the show that might have been left out otherwise. This isn’t unusual for Star Wars in general, but it’s a pattern that’s been developing with The Mandalorian over the last four years, with mixed results.

The Mandalorian’s Biggest Changes Have All Been Reversed

The Mandalorian Season 2 was full of important moments for the show, bringing in new characters like Bo-Katan Kryze, Ahsoka Tano, and Luke Skywalker. These additions also greatly impacted Din Djarin’s personal journey: he began to doubt the strict rules of the Mandalorian Way, which he’d always followed as a member of the Children of the Watch, and ultimately took off his helmet to bid farewell to Grogu, who left to train with Luke and potentially become a Jedi.

Some of the most touching scenes in the series were quickly undone… and surprisingly, not even on The Mandalorian. Instead, The Book of Boba Fett brought Din and Grogu back together, with Grogu ultimately choosing his adoptive father over Luke Skywalker and continuing his Jedi training. That show, along with The Mandalorian Season 3, also took Din’s story in a different direction regarding the Way of the Mandalore. Rather than evolving, he reaffirmed his commitment to the creed and sought forgiveness for breaking the rule about removing his helmet in front of others.

The Mandalorian and Grogu experience some smaller shifts, but they still matter. We see the Razor Crest return – the ship destroyed in Season 2 and then swapped for the N-1 Starfighter – along with Din’s pulse rifle that went with it. Just to be clear, these aren’t changes to the past, but rather new versions. However, the overall message is clear: the bounty hunter is revisiting what’s comfortable and familiar, and the film is drawing on imagery from the show’s most popular seasons.

Is Star Wars Undoing These Mandalorian Plot Points A Bad Thing?

It’s a little disappointing to see The Mandalorian and Grogu revert to the Razor Crest and pulse rifle. While it’s “just” a ship and a weapon – not a huge deal, perhaps – this felt like an opportunity to explore something fresh. Introducing new ideas, a different ship, or a new weapon would have fit Din Djarin’s character; he should be resourceful and capable of finding tools that work for him.

You know, as a movie buff, I get why Din kept returning to the Razor Crest. It’s just human nature to gravitate towards what’s comfortable and familiar. That ship was his home, and his pulse rifle was the tool he relied on – it’s like an extension of himself! And honestly, he needed something more spacious than the N-1 starfighter. That little thing just wasn’t built for the demands of a bounty hunting life.

What really compounds the problem is that this repeats a trend that started with The Book of Boba Fett, and those alterations were even more noticeable, particularly in how they were handled. Bringing Din and Grogu back together feels right, and it’s not simply a business decision to capitalize on their popularity with Lucasfilm. They have a genuinely strong, father-son relationship that still has plenty of potential for further development. Often, it’s only when something is taken away that you fully appreciate how much you value it – or them.

Everything was set up nicely, and it could have created a meaningful emotional connection, except it happened so quickly and messily in another show. Then, The Mandalorian Season 3 simply brought them back together as if nothing had ever happened. There was a real chance to explore that storyline in more depth, to let the separation and eventual reunion have a lasting impact, but it felt rushed and ultimately lacked any real significance.

I felt the same way about Din Djarin’s storyline with taking off his helmet and choosing a new path. It really seemed like that should have been the central point of his character, and I get that character growth isn’t always a straight line – sometimes it’s about *reaffirming* what you already believe. But honestly, that didn’t come across at all. It felt more like the writers had to work around the fact that Pedro Pascal was busy, meaning there weren’t many chances to show Mando without his helmet. It just seemed like the story was quickly put together to fit that situation. It didn’t feel organic or earned, and really let down the potential of that arc.

Let’s hope The Mandalorian and Grogu can help fix some of those issues. We know Pedro Pascal will be back – a picture of him on set in the costume (without his helmet) was shown at Star Wars Celebration Japan earlier this year, and that could connect to his character’s journey. However, there’s a feeling this movie will be a return to simpler storytelling, especially since Season 3 wasn’t universally loved and this film really needs to succeed. This might mean focusing on familiar elements and what fans already enjoy. Ideally, the movie will strike a good balance, but it’s still unclear which direction they’ll take.

The Mandalorian and Grogu will be released on May 22nd, 2026.

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2025-10-05 15:12