The Mandalorian Season 3 (2023)

Score: D+ (6.5/10)

Despite glimpses towards a bigger and more extravagant story, The Mandalorian Season 3 ditches the show’s well-beloved formula for occasionally boring and downright frustrating adventures unworthy of Mando’s assistance.

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When The Mandalorian arrived on Disney+ in 2019, Star Wars fans were skeptical about its quality. Luckily for them, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni were a fantastic combination. They produced two superb seasons following Mando and Grogu escaping the clutches of Moff Gideon. However, the show followed a more episodic adventure throughout the Star Wars galaxy while following its titular character and his bounty hunter status. In the second season, the people of Mandalore become the series focus due to Filoni’s characters from his previous Star Wars filmography. Going into the series’ third season, fans grew excited about more Mandalorian adventures. However, what fans receive is an unfortunate mix of cohesion and misrepresentation.

The Mandalorian’s third season continues the Mandalore storyline by having the Mandalorians return to their home planet. The season provides insight into what occurred in the events that followed the Mandalorian Civil War seen in Star Wars Rebels. The season also details the inner workings of the New Republic, which is incapable of maintaining galaxy-wide peace after the Galactic Empire fell. Moff Gideon’s return also hints at The Mandalorian’s future as a series uniquely and innovatively. There are many moments of brilliance throughout when detailing these events and conflicts. However, there are also many moments of frustration for new and returning Star Wars fans.

At times, The Mandalorian’s third season devolves into a mess, both episodically and as a package. The season focuses on reclaiming Mandalore before ditching the planet and its people to regain focus on Mando. Mando’s trip to a utopian-esque city is unnecessary in its cameos and “side quest” nature. Bo-Katan’s lore and background are never fully explored and are occasionally ditched for more “heroic and tragic” events of Mandalore’s downfall. The Darksaber’s lore is entirely misunderstood, leading to its now-defunct existence. Many of the third season’s overarching details misunderstand the Mandalorians and the Darksaber. It’s likely due to Dave Filoni’s attention lying towards Ahsoka, meaning he was unavailable to legitimize the lore portrayed. It often leads to a frustrating experience for those aware of their history, giving the series a newfound lack of cohesion.

Unfortunately, the third season leaves much to be desired for Star Wars fans and the franchise’s continuity. It’s unfortunate when there are glimpses of greatness in the season amidst the varied quality of it all. The Mandalorian also feels like it’s at an endpoint despite a fourth season being in the works. It leaves the series in uncertainty, leaving fans scratching their heads when discussing Star Wars’ future. Regardless, many look at future Star Wars content with optimism and excitement, making The Mandalorian Season Three another Achilles heel in the Star Wars canon despite its moments of solidarity and brilliance.