A Star Wars Normie Watches the Mandalorian

I'm a total Star Wars normie. I did see both the original and the prequel trilogies -- but none of those movies really flipped the obsession switch for me. For me, they simply existed.

So why did I just sit down to watch all the available episodes of The Mandalorian? Well, because 1) I could do that quickly; 2) the buzz was making me curious; and 3) I'm actually fond of Jon Favreau for Iron Man-related reasons, so why not try another one of his projects?

The first bit of good news: as a normie, I was still able to follow the story. The Mandalorian is so small-scale that only a rudimentary knowledge of the original canon is required.

The second bit of good news: said story is solid! I can't say I've flipped and become an Official Star Wars Girl (TM), but I completely understand this particular show's appeal. I mean, duh: space baby! A space baby can bring everyone together!

Actually, there are so many things in this series beyond Baby Yoda that successfully hit primal buttons. The taciturn hero, for one, is the tall, dark, and mysterious type that many men want to be and many women want to date -- or at least crack open to access the hidden depths.

Even more importantly, Mando has committed himself to defending the vulnerable, which is the animating principle of traditional masculinity. Little boys jump off couches pretending to be Superman not because they want to lord their superior strength and power over women and children but because they naturally wish to protect those in their charge. That The Mandalorian highlights this reality is perhaps its most redeeming feature.

Final Verdict: Soft Recommend