The Mandalorian Episode 1 Review - 6 Ups And 1 Down

3. The World Building Is Handled Perfectly

The fact The Mandalorian is set between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens is a major plus, sheerly because it's an era Star Wars fans are yet to see in either live action or animation, but it's the way in which the first episode handles its world building that deserves extra praise.

There's a whole unspoken history with the Mandalorian, a name that courts major interest amongst longtime Star Wars fans for two principle reasons: one, because Boba Fett boasted one of the most compelling designs in the Original Trilogy; and two, because they've had a major part to play in the Expanded Universe both before and after Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm.

The series thus finds itself having to juggle two very important responsibilities, in that it's the first piece of live action media to explore the gap between VI and VII, and also explore the history of Mandalore in a post-Original Trilogy setting. It satisfies all kinds of Star Wars fans in that respect, as those desperate to learn more about Mandalore will find themselves satisfied with the many nods to the planet's warrior culture, and those unfamiliar with the Mandalorians will get a concise education on one of Star Wars' most intriguing factions, as well as the state of the galaxy in the immediate years following the destruction of the Second Death Star.

The first episode handles both duties perfectly, never revealing too much and disclosing information organically rather than through contrived dumps of exposition.