SPOILERS: The Mandalorian Season 2 Discussion

[dreday3]

Thanks for asking!!

Sure!

I think part of the problem for me is I love discussing shows with others, and this one was no different.

The issue is I will watch an episode, be excited (or not), come here to discuss or read and realize i apparently knew nothing about what I thought I just watched. it gets frustrating that it feels like I'm supposed to know back stories and I don't.

I think I will just watch and enjoy at face value rather than trying to "figure it all out". And stop reading other people's breakdowns and getting confused.

 

[Screamface]

I think I will just watch and enjoy at face value rather than trying to "figure it all out". And stop reading other people's breakdowns and getting confused.

I don't think the show requires you to know all these back stories. It's definitely being made to cater towards them not being essential. They are just there.

 

[dreday3]

I don't think the show requires you to know all these back stories. It's definitely being made to cater towards them not being essential. They are just there.

I actually agree with you. It just makes it harder to join in on the discussion.

I will stick to threads discussing park hopping.

 

[21stamps]

Sure!

I think part of the problem for me is I love discussing shows with others, and this one was no different.

The issue is I will watch an episode, be excited (or not), come here to discuss or read and realize i apparently knew nothing about what I thought I just watched. it gets frustrating that it feels like I'm supposed to know back stories and I don't.

I think I will just watch and enjoy at face value rather than trying to "figure it all out". And stop reading other people's breakdowns and getting confused.

That’s how I feel. I came to this thread today because I figured this would be a good place to get simple descriptions/answers, then I scrolled thru the comments and realized we’re supposed to already know. Lol .. I know I’m not going to spend time googling and reading a lot articles or an entire character’s story.
Better to just enjoy it for what it is, we’ll try a few episodes out of the “20 essential Clone Wars”, maybe.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Baby Groot did “die” though. He’s teenage Groot now and by GotG likely young adult Groot

Indeed, baby/youth Groot is Groot's... offshoot as it were.

 

[MisterPenguin]

 

[21stamps]

This is great. Thanks!

 

[Joesixtoe]

Filoni did direct the worst episode (in my opinion) on season 1 after all, but he did redeem himself.

He directed episode 1 which i thought was great.. anyway everyone seemed to love this one which is good to see

 

[erasure fan1]

For me, last nights episode wasn't that great. My guy, who is a super fan, had to keep explaining to me why she was important, her back story which played into why she didn't want to train him, who the other guy mentioned was...then he kept getting calls from friends who needed explanations!

Personally, I don't think knowing her back story is needed. Mando was looking for a Jedi, he found one, the end. Is there another level of satisfaction knowing her back story? Sure, but is it necessary for this show? Not really. What the show does really well, is create an interest for people who aren't familiar to dig a bit deeper. But at the same time, if you just want to be invested in the here and now of the show, you'll be just fine. I can't see them alienating people from the show if they haven’t watched the animated shows or read some EU novels. So I think they will give just enough information for the story they are telling. And leave it up to the individual to seek out more information if they want it. My wife only knows Ahsoka because I'm a huge star wars nut. She's never watched an episode of clone wars or rebels and know nothing about the character aside from anakin trained her and she wasn't in the least bit lost. Maybe because of the hype around this episode, it has made people feel like they need more info than is actually necessary?

 

[dreday3]

Personally, I don't think knowing her back story is needed. Mando was looking for a Jedi, he found one, the end. Is there another level of satisfaction knowing her back story? Sure, but is it necessary for this show? Not really. What the show does really well, is create an interest for people who aren't familiar to dig a bit deeper. But at the same time, if you just want to be invested in the here and now of the show, you'll be just fine. I can't see them alienating people from the show if they haven’t watched the animated shows or read some EU novels. So I think they will give just enough information for the story they are telling. And leave it up to the individual to seek out more information if they want it. My wife only knows Ahsoka because I'm a huge star wars nut. She's never watched an episode of clone wars or rebels and know nothing about the character aside from anakin trained her and she wasn't in the least bit lost. Maybe because of the hype around this episode, it has made people feel like they need more info than is actually necessary?

Absolutely.

I definitely got a bit overwhelmed by the hype and forgot to just "watch" the episode.

 

[Screamface]

But at the same time, if you just want to be invested in the here and now of the show, you'll be just fine. I can't see them alienating people from the show if they haven’t watched the animated shows or read some EU novels. So I think they will give just enough information for the story they are telling. And leave it up to the individual to seek out more information if they want it.

If we need to know more for the show, they will tell us. Din was been given some more context about Mandalorian's outside his sect. That will surely develop with more information as the show progresses. I'm sure those familiar and those not will surely enjoy it.

I'm sure Disney is aware how bad their expanded universe in different media approach failed with the sequels.

This is at least has a solid base of source material to pull from.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

If the fan service is done correctly, isn’t it kind of an insult to refer it to as fan service?

Absolutely. Franchises are built on fan service...not “subverting expectations”. That’s what they’ve gotten wrong from the start. The best Franchise “fan service” movie ever was Last Crusade. I don’t think anyone has ever done as good of a job of integrating fan weenies and different angles with the prime characters as that.

They tried with revenge of the sith...but the damage was done.

No. I've said before, there is nothing wrong with fan service. It shouldn't be a negative term. Like anything, it is how well it is done that matters. The reason it is considered negative, is more often than not it has been done poorly. I would argue that fan service is one of the most important things in a franchise like star wars. Hamburgers shouldn't be considered a bad food because of McDonald's. I get why it's considered negative, because we've seen more bad than good. But the Mandalorian shows it is not only positive, but necessary.

75% of each of the last 5+ marvel movies have been fan service. But people love them anyway even if they aren’t as good as some of the phase 1/2 movies.

People love characters they know/can relate too. It’s comfortibg and everyone needs that. That’s why we love sitcoms and theme parks and talk show hosts.

The original Star Wars characters were that to a T. We even put the bad guy on our t-shirts.

But Disney hasn’t gotten that...but they seem to be getting closer.

I don’t weep for me. It’s Disney that’s been hurt. The gamble that taking money from gen X wasn’t good enough is not working out. Silly mortals.

It was really driven home for me last night as I enjoyed "Red 2" (since I'd treated myself to re-watching "Red" recently - such an unappreciated and terrific pair of films!) - as I watched Lee Byung-Hun float with fluid grace through every action scene - he was pure art (and a beautiful man even when standing still! ). Fighting can be portrayed as brutality, but in Star Wars and especially in a post-Ray Park world, it should be nothing but a dance. And Rosario was clunky. Plus she kept repeating the same move with the two light sabers - even if it's a signature move, it was repetitive. 6 out of 10 for form.

View attachment 516117

The double slash was over done...too much “Conan” for the character

Also...not enough acrobatics...that character is all acrobatics...more than ray park...so there needed to be more evading and less clanking.

 

[erasure fan1]

You actually don’t need to know anything about the character except for two lines in the show:

“Fear/attachment leads down the dark path”

And “where’s grand admiral thrawn”

Beyond that...just another Jedi.

I'm not even sure you need to know that. The fear leads to the dark side line is fairly self explanatory. So if you know nothing of star wars and Jedi, the line gives enough context for that show. The logical thought process after hearing that is, I guess Jedi don't believe in attachment. The show is being told from the perspective of the mando, who knows nothing of the Jedi. So as he learns so will the viewers who don't know all the nerd stuff like a lot of us do.

As far as the, where's Thrawn line. Again it doesn't matter for the show. If they would have said, where's Tashik (made up name) people would still have questions. The only difference is by using Thrawn, some of us already know who he is so it gives it a great little, oh my God! moment for us fans. But for the other people, it's just a, that guy must be important, I bet we hear more from him later, moment. Now by the end of the season I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time) and it might be you need to know more about Ahsoka and Thrawn. I just really think enough disposition will be given and it will all make sense for the story being told.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I'm not even sure you need to know that. The fear leads to the dark side line is fairly self explanatory. So if you know nothing of star wars and Jedi, the line gives enough context for that show. The logical thought process after hearing that is, I guess Jedi don't believe in attachment. The show is being told from the perspective of the mando, who knows nothing of the Jedi. So as he learns so will the viewers who don't know all the nerd stuff like a lot of us do.

As far as the, where's Thrawn line. Again it doesn't matter for the show. If they would have said, where's Tashik (made up name) people would still have questions. The only difference is by using Thrawn, some of us already know who he is so it gives it a great little, oh my God! moment for us fans. But for the other people, it's just a, that guy must be important, I bet we hear more from him later, moment. Now by the end of the season I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time) and it might be you need to know more about Ahsoka and Thrawn. I just really think enough disposition will be given and it will all make sense for the story being told.

I only say the attachment line because of who she’s referring to...which is kind of a “big deal”

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

I only say the attachment line because of who she’s referring to...which is kind of a “big deal”

Honestly, the whole 'oh yeah, she's Anakin's padawan' wasn't even in my head as I watched because again, not overly familiar with Clone Wars/Rebels and haven't watched the prequels in a long time so Anakin's obsessiveness wasn't foremost in my mind either. They're in a dark swampy place with trees and a Yoda-like creature while testing someone's Force skills. I went straight to Empire and Luke and his anger issues due to his fear and his vision of Vader and was good with the scene with just that most basic reference. Plus the more recent Kylo and his darkness and obsessiveness also was an image in my head. Then the reminder about Ahsoka and Anakin afterward was just icing on the cake. It worked with just knowing OT. Anything else was bonus/Easter egg.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Super fan: OMG it's Admiral Thrawn, who almost stopped the New Republic in it's tracks with a combination of genius, clones, and a long lost secret armada of ships.

Average fan: that Jedi lady knows her stuff, and she's echoing things about the Jedi and the dark side of the force from those older movies I remember.

Casual fan: why are they calling Baby Yoda Grogu? His name is Baby Yoda.

 

[dreday3]

Super fan: OMG it's Admiral Thrawn, who almost stopped the New Republic in it's tracks with a combination of genius, clones, and a long lost secret armada of ships.

Average fan: that Jedi lady knows her stuff, and she's echoing things about the Jedi and the dark force from those older movies I remember.

Casual fan: why are they calling Baby Yoda Grogu? His name is Baby Yoda.

Oh that casual fan...il pagliaccio!!!

 

[Screamface]

My partners not even a casual Star Wars fan. Never seen the sequels and never will. Seen the originals growing up and I think she saw TPM in cinemas.

She likes The Mandolorian though. She enjoyed this episode, no problem with Grogu being the name. No issues following the story, not knowing things etc. Her only criticism or issue with the latest episode was about the Ahsoka's head stuff didn't look all that great. She said she, "could tell it was designed for a cartoon." I didn't bother going into the minutia of the species actually coming from live-action.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

Super fan: OMG it's Admiral Thrawn, who almost stopped the New Republic in it's tracks with a combination of genius, clones, and a long lost secret armada of ships.

Average fan: that Jedi lady knows her stuff, and she's echoing things about the Jedi and the dark side of the force from those older movies I remember.

Casual fan: why are they calling Baby Yoda Grogu? His name is Baby Yoda.

Only slightly above average fan: So that's the Ahsoka chick everyone raves about mentioning the Thrawn guy everyone raves about. Cool. Hope they're as interesting as people say they are.

And we're going to a Jedi Temple - fun! (Pictures Tomorrowland Terrance Jedi Training Academy location.) Plus Empire throwbacks! And something about bad things happening to baby padawans - that's a prequels thing - don't think about those much but they had Maul and he's badass and young Obi-Wan who is getting a series, too.

Baby Yoda using the Force cutely - awww! And getting a weird name. Mmkay. At least it's not "Yappy" or "Yippee!" or "Yodelayheehoo!".

 

[dreday3]

If you have a pet, you know how names evolve...

Grogu has now become Gogurt or Gochujang in our house.