The Mandalorian Series 1 Review: 7 Ups And 2 Downs

Ups...

7. Action Sequences That Are Both Bombastic And Understated

Far removed from the sensory overload space battles and shootouts seen in the central Star Wars movies, Mandalorian's approach to action is refreshingly smaller-scale. If there's a space battle, it's one ship versus another. If it's a shootout, it's contained within a single building, corridor, or contained courtyard. You're never overwhelmed, making the viewing experience so much more enjoyable.

Emphasizing practical effects over VFX spectacle, you get a far greater sense of authenticity within this world and the stakes in each battle. The end result is ultimately something rather immersive, as nothing ever really threatens to take you out of the moment.

The series also resists the urge to revel in those action sequences, never going too bombastic or full Michael Bay-levels of explosions and shouting. Shootouts and bare-knuckle brawls are given proper build-up to build tension before exploding into chaos, something that recent Star Wars offerings have often lacked. Hopefully, the show maintains this style of action going into next season and doesn't feel the need to overdo action for the sake of being 'bigger.'