The Mandalorian
Overview
The Mandalorian is a 2019 space Western television series created by Jon Favreau for Disney+, set in the Star Wars universe. The series takes place five years after the events of Return of the Jedi and twenty-five years before The Force Awakens, during the chaotic period after the fall of the Galactic Empire. The series follows a lone bounty hunter known only as "The Mandalorian" or "Mando" (Pedro Pascal), a member of a warrior culture that wears distinctive T-shaped helmets and never removes them in the presence of others. The first season follows Mando as he takes a job from a mysterious client to capture a "50-year-old" target. He finds the target is a baby of the same species as Yoda, whom fans quickly dubbed "Baby Yoda" and later named Grogu. Mando cannot bring himself to turn Grogu over to the client, who is an Imperial remnant led by the sadistic Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito). Instead, Mando goes on the run, protecting Grogu and trying to find the Jedi, who are the only ones who can train him. The series is a return to the practical effects and "used future" aesthetic of the original trilogy. Favreau insisted on using real puppets, real sets, and real creatures, with Grogu being a combination of animatronic puppet and CGI. The series is also a Western: Mando is a lone gunslinger who wanders from town to town, getting into trouble, making friends, and righting wrongs. The Mandalorian has won numerous awards, including seven Primetime Emmy Awards, and has spawned spin-offs including The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka.
