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Sean Martinez\u00a0<\/strong> | Copy Editor<\/span><\/p>\n So, I\u2019m a huge \u201cStar Wars\u201d fan \u2014 and yes, I will even defend the infamous prequel and sequel trilogy \u2014 but I can still empathize with the people who are bothered by them. And after Rian Johnson\u2019s \u201cThe Last Jedi\u201d essentially rendered the fanbase divided, it seems as if most people have hopped off the Star Wars bandwagon and climbed aboard the Marvel Cinematic Universe express.<\/span><\/p>\n However, Disney+, the new streaming service for all things Disney, has just provided \u201cStar Wars\u201d fans with an original series that just might restore fans\u2019 faith in the franchise: \u201cThe Mandalorian.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Rest assured, there will be no major spoilers for \u201cThe Mandalorian.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The show takes place inbetween episodes six and seven, and follows a bounty hunter \u2014 the same race as Boba Fett \u2014 as he attempts to retrieve an incredibly valuable bounty. But he becomes a wanted man as every bounty hunter is after the same prize. What\u2019s interesting about the Mandalorian is that he has a reputation to fulfill, but he also has a complicated and complex moral code.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Now, we\u2019ve only seen the first three episodes of \u201cThe Mandalorian,\u201d but each episode keeps us pondering over what will happen next. One of the great things about this show is that it cleverly alludes to the main \u201cStar Wars\u201d films, without overdoing it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Just one of the many problems I have with the new trilogy is that it tries too hard to call back to the originals. When they force (no pun intended) connections from the original trilogy into the sequels, it makes the universe smaller than it can be. For instance, Rey\u2019s parents don\u2019t have to be characters we\u2019ve already met.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But in \u201cThe Mandalorian,\u201d the references are subtle and don\u2019t overstay their welcome. They appear on-screen for a few seconds before the attention shifts back to the actual story.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the biggest mysteries in the franchise is actually essential to the story. It remains a constant plot point that drives the series. So, not only does this show allude to previous films, it also expands the universe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The other relieving aspect of the Disney+ series is the absence of \u201cDisney-forced comedy.\u201d It\u2019s very apparent that the newer films have a significant amount of jokes and one-liners. It feels very Disney, if that makes sense. Watching \u201cThe Mandalorian,\u201d however, does not feel like Disney material; there aren\u2019t a lot of cheesy jokes throughout the series \u2014 and that\u2019s a good thing. It genuinely feels like the director, Jon Favreau, takes the matter seriously.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So if you haven\u2019t yet seen or refused to watch \u201cThe Mandalorian,\u201d I implore you to give it a chance. The \u201cStar Wars\u201d franchise can be so much more than just adding onto the Skywalker saga; there\u2019s so many other characters to explore, places to see and stories to tell. There\u2019s so much of this universe we haven\u2019t even uncovered yet. This show can be the turning point in the future of \u201cStar Wars\u201d media. And hopefully, the passionate \u201cStar Wars\u201d fans will be given \u2018a new hope\u2019 before they watch the last installment of the current-day trilogy, \u201cThe Rise of Skywalker.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Contact the author at <\/span>smartinez17@wou.edu<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n