Disney+ launched in Spain in March 2020 (late 2019 in the US) with only one ace up its sleeve. But what a winning card it was. The Mandalorian has brought nothing but joy to a platform that has since gained momentum, continuing to demonstrate that its catalog also has room for great original productions, not only from Marvel, but also from the galactic saga created by George Lucas. So it's time we talked at length about this fantastic Star Wars series . Get comfortable.
A Star Wars Story
The Star Wars universe was feeling a bit rusty, and Disney knew it. Han Solo hadn't performed particularly well at the box office, and the main saga only had one more installment left with Episode IX (which, as expected—and as it turned out—didn't win everyone over). Given this situation, the company's only option was to take a break from this major storyline, but they had an ace up their sleeve: a TV series that would premiere exclusively on their new platform, Disney+.
The Mandalorian arrived in mid-November 2019 in five countries around the world amidst great anticipation. It was a new and parallel concept to almost everything we had seen up to that point, but it promised to maintain the essence that had so captivated the story's biggest fans. In fact, that has always been the series' premise: something without grand pretensions and respectful of the Star Wars universe that enchanted so many in the 80s.
This is how this television series was presented to us, featuring two clear protagonists . The first is the Mandalorian (whom many call Mando ), a solitary warrior, reviled by many, who undertakes missions across the galaxy in exchange for large rewards. The second is Grogu , nicknamed Baby Yoda by everyone due to his striking resemblance to Master Yoda, and who happens to be the target of one of the important missions Mando accepts.
series synopsis
Disney's official synopsis of the series reads as follows:
Following the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, another warrior emerges in the Star Wars universe. The Mandalorian is set after the fall of the Empire and before the First Order emerged. In the series we follow the adventures of a lone gunfighter in the far reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic.
Who are the Mandalorians?
One of the biggest questions that arises when learning about the plot of The Mandalorian is precisely who exactly the Mandalorians are. They come from Mandalore, an Outer Rim planet that has been completely devastated by war. Their society was divided into Houses and Clans, locked in a struggle for power for centuries. The warlike nature of this people has also led them to fight beyond the borders of Mandalore, not even fearing to confront the Jedi, according to Disney.
After years of battle that transformed Mandalore into a desolate and barren wasteland, the Mandalorians were exiled to the moon of Concordia, with the expectation that they would eventually die out. In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, we see how a new society, the New Mandalorians, arose there, prioritizing pacifism and non-violence above all else.
Mandalorians are therefore characterized as great fighters, highly intelligent, and also tremendously respectful of their traditions, oaths, and creed. Among them, there is one essential one that is referenced in the TV series: never remove the helmet of their armor (at the risk of losing their honor), so that no one ever knows who is underneath.
When do the events of The Mandalorian take place?
The TV series takes place five years after Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983), in which Palpatine and the Empire are defeated at the Battle of Endor, and 25 years before Episode VII: The Force Awakens ( 2015), when the First Order has already been established.
The story therefore takes place in a post-imperial setting in which the dark side of the Force is not visibly active, although it will lead to the formation of the First Order led by Snoke.
Who is Baby Yoda?
That's the big question everyone asked from the moment it appeared on screen. Ever since Grogu first appeared in the initial season's first episode, the creature became a television and social media phenomenon. It didn't matter that Disney+ had only launched in five countries: everyone knew what this baby-like creature looked like (it's actually 50 years old, mind you) with its striking resemblance to Master Yoda – hence its name.
The boy , which was his official name throughout the first season and part of the second, has everything a character needs to capture everyone's attention. His features —large eyes, a round head, human-like hands, and rosy cheeks—are so distinctive that science has even shown they appeal to the human brain, generating feelings of protection and care. This, combined with his childlike voice and mischievous antics, has given the character the perfect aura to become one of the key elements of the series, as well as a sales phenomenon with countless dolls and figures based on him.
However, halfway through the second season, we finally discovered not only his origins but also his real name: Grogu . It was clear that, due to his resemblance, he belonged to the same species as Yoda—whose origins have never been revealed in the main Star Wars storyline despite its long history (and numerous installments)—but it wasn't clear exactly where he came from or why he was so valuable to many. His explanation undoubtedly marked one of the most important turning points in the entire plot, as it revealed his purpose: to train in the Force and master its full spectrum.
Grogu was raised in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and survived the attack it suffered at the hands of mercenaries. His destiny remains to control his powers, and to do so he must find people who can help him develop his full potential. That's where Luke Skywalker , a Jedi who answers his call, comes in during the epic season 2 finale to take him in and train him.
Seasons and episodes of The Mandalorian
Disney+ has released two seasons of The Mandalorian , consisting of 16 episodes divided into two seasons of eight episodes each. We'll have to wait for the third season in late 2022 or, most likely, early 2023.
These are all the chapters already available on Disney +:
Season 1 episodes
- Chapter 1: The Mandalorian
- Chapter 2: The Child
- Chapter 3: The Sin
- Chapter 4: Sanctuary
- Chapter 5: The Gunslinger
- Chapter 6: The Prisoner
- Chapter 7: The Reckoning
- Chapter 8: Redemption
Season 2 episodes
- Chapter 9: The Marshal
- Chapter 10: The Passenger
- Chapter 11: The Heiress
- Chapter 12: The Siege
- Chapter 13: The Gunslinger
- Chapter 14: The Jedi
- Chapter 15: The Believer
- Chapter 16: The Rescue
Here you can listen to the music from the first two seasons.
Cast and characters of the series
Undoubtedly, the biggest surprise when the main cast of the series was announced was the inclusion of Pedro Pascal . The famous Chilean actor thus joined the Star Wars universe as the protagonist of The Mandalorian . We barely see his face, but his voice couldn't be more distinctive.
The series features a large ensemble cast, with new characters appearing in each episode. This list reflects the most important characters who have the greatest impact over the course of the two seasons:
- Command/Din Djarin: interpreted by Pedro Pascal. Solitary bounty hunter gunman who will be offered a large amount of money in exchange for handing over Grogu.
- The Boy (Baby Yoda/Grogu): animated figure. Creature of about 50 years of age with the appearance of a baby and powers of telekinesis. His origin is unknown but he is sought after and desired by many.
- Moff gideon: Giancarlo Esposito puts a face to this character. Interested and obsessed with Grogu. Villainous warrior who will do anything to take Baby Yoda with him.
- Cara Dune: Played by Gina Carano. A former rebel soldier turned mercenary and friend of Mando. She fought in the civil war for the Rebel Alliance and will help the Mandalorian protect baby Yoda. Carano was fired from the series after the end of the second season, so it is not yet known if we will see her more in fiction.
- Green Karga: Carl Weathers is in charge of giving it life. He is about the leader of a bounty hunter guild who hires the Mandalorian to track down The Child. Karga will have received the order from a mysterious client (played by Werner Herzog) who protects himself with ex-Imperial soldiers.
- Kuiil: Under all the characterization of this character is Nick Nolte. He belongs to the Ugnaught species and is a former servant of the Galactic Empire who lives in solitude and who will also help the Mandalorian to protect the boy.
- IG-11: He is voiced by the versatile Taika Waititi. It is about a droid programmed to chase Baby Yoda that we already saw in The Empire Strikes Back.
- ahsoka tano (first appeared in season 2): played by Rosario Dawson, she is a former Jedi Padawan to Anakin Skywalker and now a spy for the Rebel Alliance. She will guide the Mandalorian on what to do with Grogu (whom she can communicate with).
- Boba Fett (Season 2): Temuera Morrison puts himself under the skin of this well-known bounty hunter who uses Mandalorian equipment and who we already knew from the main Star Wars saga. He will end up helping Din Djarin rescue Baby Yoda from Moff Gideon and has his own series on Disney+: The Book of Boba Fett.
- Bo Katan Kryze (season 2): Katee Sackhoff is in charge of interpreting this former ruler of Mandalore and leader of a small Mandalorian group called the Nite Owls. In the animated series The Clone Wars y Rebellious also appears. He will join the Mandalorian in his noble cause at the end of the season but with other motivations to gain in return.
Where and when can you see The Mandalorian?
Interestingly, Mediaset España and The Walt Disney Company Iberia reached an agreement to broadcast the first episode of the series on free-to-air television on March 20, 2021 , at 22:00 p.m., taking advantage of the platform's launch in Spain.
But after that day, both that first chapter and the rest are available on Disney+.
The episodes have always been released in a measured way: week by week , to extend the influence of the fiction for a couple of months, unlike what Netflix usually does, which is to put them all out at once so that we can binge-watch them.
Dates of emission of the chapters of The Mandalorian in Spain with Disney +
Here are the dates on which the episodes were broadcast in Spain with Disney+:
1 Season
- Chapter 1 and 2: March 24, 2020
- Chapter 3: Friday, March 27, 2020
- Chapter 4: Friday, April 3, 2020
- Chapter 5: Friday, April 10, 2020
- Chapter 6: Friday, April 17, 2020
- Chapter 7: Friday, April 24, 2020
- Chapter 8: Friday, May 1, 2020
2 Season
- Chapter 9: Friday, October 30, 2020
- Chapter 10: Friday, November 6, 2020
- Chapter 11: Friday, November 13, 2020
- Chapter 12: Friday, November 20, 2020
- Chapter 13: Friday, November 27, 2020
- Chapter 14: Friday, December 4, 2020
- Chapter 15: Friday, December 11, 2020
- Chapter 16: Friday, December 18, 2020
Trailer The Mandalorian
We leave you with the official trailers for The Mandalorian and The Mandalorian 2 in both the original version and dubbed in Spanish – both options are available on Disney+.
Trailer The Mandalorian in Spanish (Season 1)
Trailer The Mandalorian in English (Season 1)
Trailer The Mandalorian 2 in english
*You can activate the subtitles (in English) if you wish.
Trailer The Mandalorian 2 dubbed into Spanish
The Mandalorian 3, the story continues
The third season of The Mandalorian was confirmed by Disney+ and was expected at the end of 2021. However , it was delayed, with filming wrapping in March 2022. Part of this change was due to Disney prioritizing the release of The Book of Boba Fett during this time . The Disney team has already stated that they wouldn't overlap with these two series, so we'll have to keep waiting. Furthermore, Pedro Pascal accepted a role as Joel in the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us , making it clear that The Mandalorian would have to wait. At the moment, there is no confirmed release date or official trailer for the series.
'The Mandalorian' actor Pedro Pascal will play Joel in HBO's The Last of Us https://t.co/zg3iKDyr0T pic.twitter.com/4MJVQlPaVU
— The Last of Us HBO – Status (@HBOsTheLastofUs) February 11, 2021
Regarding the season, there's a lot of uncertainty about how the plot will develop after the dramatic ending of the second season—spoiler alert—and what we saw in The Book of Boba Fett, where he plays a very special role in several episodes. While Grogu shouldn't be in this third season —at the end of the previous season, he left with Luke to become his Padawan—it's clear in the series about the bounty hunter that he returns with Mando to relive adventures across the galaxy, so they will continue to be the main duo.
Regarding the typical changes between seasons, there was speculation that Pedro Pascal had decided to leave the series. However, the Chilean actor isn't going anywhere for the time being. Gina Carano, who remains blacklisted by the studio for her social media comments about Jewish people, is definitely not returning. Nevertheless, there are rumors that Cara Dune, the former soldier, could return with a new actress, so as not to eliminate the character abruptly.
Giancarlo Esposito is also expected to return to the series as Moff Gideon. And, as the icing on the cake, Christopher Lloyd will join the production. The actor who played Doc in the Back to the Future trilogy has been confirmed by Disney as the star signing. Even so, he is expected to have a very minor role in the plot with rather sporadic appearances.
What we do know about the filming is that the season will again consist of eight episodes, exactly like the first two. In an interview with Screen Rant, Pedro Pascal didn't want to reveal any secrets, but he did hint that we'll see many new characters . He also ventured to say that many will be returning for this third season and that there will be plenty of action and an outstanding storyline. Even so, we shouldn't have to wait too long to see the first trailer for this new season, right?