SERIES REVIEW – The first two seasons of The Mandalorian brought a fresh and exciting take on the Star Wars universe through the adventures of a lone bounty hunter and a cute green creature. But the third season wants too much and can’t decide whose story it’s telling. Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) takes a back seat to the ambitions of Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff) and the fate of the Mandalorian people, as the series becomes more and more integrated into the Star Wars franchise. But the hit Disney+ series loses focus and atmosphere as it tries to tie up too many loose ends.

The third season of The Mandalorian picks up where the second left off: Din Djarin defeated Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) and handed Grogu over to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to train as a Jedi. But this was not only an emotional farewell to the most popular character in the series, but also a new conflict: Din Djarin is in possession of the Dark Sword, the symbol of the leader of the Mandalorian people. Bo-Katan, who has long coveted this weapon and the return of Mandalore, does not take this outcome lightly. Season 3 will focus on the relationship and mission of these two characters, while also making connections to other Star Wars series.

Mandalore or Death: Bo-Katan’s fight for his homeland

Bo-Katan Kryze is not a new character in the Star Wars universe, having appeared in the animated series The Clone Wars and The Rebels. However, the third season of Mandalorians takes a deeper look at him and the Mandalorian culture, which encompasses a wide range of beliefs and traditions. Bo-Katan is a warrior princess who will stop at no sacrifice or betrayal to reclaim Mandalore from the sweep that was the Empire’s genocide. The best moments of season three come when Bo-Katan is in action: whether it’s in a breathtaking space battle, a dangerous tunnel system or a massive stellar disaster.

Katee Sackhoff is superb as this strong and charismatic character, who also has a sense of humour, which she sometimes shows in the series. For example, when she explains to Din Djarin why she can’t take the Dark Sword from him, “It doesn’t work that way. The Dark Sword has no power. The story does.” Or when he shoots a separatist politician with a taser arrow after he talks too much: “Politics.” Bo-Katan is a character who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, and who has a sense of irony with even the most harrowing situations.

And as for Din Djarin and Grogu’s relationship, it is again the most touching and popular element of the series, just as it was in the first two seasons. In the third season, Grogu is back with Din Djarin after his return to him in the Boba Fett book. The reunion was not only a joyous reunion, but also an important step in Grogu’s evolution: he chooses Din Djarin as his master, and thus officially becomes a Mandalorian.

Moff Gideon: The evil genius

But Moff Gideon doesn’t give up easily. Although Din Djarin defeated him at the end of season two and handed him over to the New Republic, Gideon is not giving up. In season three, he makes several attempts to escape and seek revenge. Gideon is not only a ruthless and cunning adversary, but also a scientist with an interest in the Force. He is responsible for creating clones using Grogu’s blood and reviving ancient Sith rituals. Gideon’s goal is to create a new dark order that will subjugate the entire galaxy.

Giancarlo Esposito is brilliant as this evil character, who once again has an evil plan that he will not hesitate to carry out. Gideon is not only a physical threat, but also a psychological one: once again, he repeatedly manipulates and provokes the protagonists to achieve his ends.

Mandalorian season 3: The best or the worst?

The third season of The Mandalorian has divided many fans: some say it was the best season of the series, others say it was the worst. Positive reviews say the season was a great addition to the Star Wars universe and told an exciting story about the Mandalorians and Grogu. Negative reviews said that the season tried to cram too much into eight episodes and lost the original feel and simplicity of the series. However, the majority of critics were moderate: they acknowledged that the season had its weak points, but overall they enjoyed the visuals, music, acting and action. At the end of the season, many questions remained: what will happen to Grogu? What will happen to Din Djarin? What will happen to Mandalore? Perhaps the answers will come in the fourth season, which is already in the pipeline.

-BadSector-