Star Wars’next movie,The Mandalorian & Grogu, will be massive for the franchise, but not only because it’s leading their charge back to the movie theater. Based on the hugely successful Disney+ TV showThe Mandalorian, this movie will beStar Wars’first that takes inspiration from a TV show rather than vice versa. It’s certainly not the first timeThe Mandalorianfranchise has made history forStar Wars, as it did so plenty of times back during season 1.

Din Djarin and Grogu, who are now renowned as some ofStar Wars’best characters, made a huge impact with their debut inThe Mandalorianseason 1, which makes their first big-screen appearance seem even more promising.The Mandalorianseason 1 especially has become such a hallmark ofStar Warscontent, serving as the prime example for all the live-actionStar WarsTV shows, and even animated shows, that have followed in its footsteps. Because of this, the movie absolutely must feel like season 1 again, should it truly wish to succeed.

Din Djarin stares ahead in his helmet, edited over Grogu watching something with surprise.

The Mandalorian Season 1 Is Still Star Wars' Biggest TV Show

In Terms Of Hype, Viewership, & Audience Ratings

While the title ofStar Wars’best TV showcould certainly be debated, the numbers make it obvious thatThe Mandaloriancontinues to beStar Wars’biggest TV show, particularly season 1. In terms of hype, viewership, and even audience ratings,The Mandalorianseason 1 is an absolute juggernaut, setting the bar so high that it has yet to be reached again. There was something very special aboutThe Mandalorianseason 1 that allowed it to accomplish such feats, and while season 2 wasn’t far behind, it still wasn’t quite the same.

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Grogu levitates a frog using the Force while Din Djarin sits in front of his house, watching, in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 8

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The Mandalorian and Grogu Updated Logo

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The TV show has only continued a downward trend ever since, especially with season 3, the installment that will lead directly intoThe Mandalorian & Grogumovie. It’s become increasingly clear thatThe Mandalorianseason 1 is truly a standard, and that the future of this story ought to take a deeper look at what exactly helped it to not only be a huge success, but also resonate with audiences the way it did. IfThe Mandalorian & Groguwants to capture audiences the way the franchise did five years ago, then it’s absolutely essential that it models season 1.

The Mandalorian Has Strayed From What Made It Such A Hit

Din Djarin & Grogu Are Out Of Focus

This is even more true after seeing just how controversialThe Mandalorianseason 3 really was, all because it strayed quite far from where it had started in season 1. In essence,The Mandalorianseason 1 was entirely about the growing bond between Din Djarin and Grogu, with the lone gunfighter putting his old ways behind in favor of protecting the child he had come to care for deeply. In comparison, season 3 sees Din Djarin and Grogu mostly assisting inBo-Katan Kryze’s efforts to retake Mandalore from theImperial Remnantunder theDarksaber.

I’ve Changed My Mind: Why I’ve Become One Of The Mandalorian Season 3’s Biggest Critics

As one of the biggest fans of The Mandalorian out there, I initially defended season 3 passionately. Now, I’m one of its biggest critics. This is why.

It’s easy to see how the focus has almost entirely shifted away from Din Djarin and Grogu themselves inThe Mandalorian, with season 2 falling somewhere in between these two ideas. The Mandalorian and his adopted child have been the heart of the TV show ever since the beginning, andthe more they stray from the center of the storyline, the worse off the story itself becomes. Season 1 made Din Djarin and Grogu the hearts and faces of this TV show, and with the movie already promising them a starring role,Star Warshas to remember that even more.

The Title Promises A Tighter Focus On Din Djarin & Grogu

They Have To Follow-Through The Way Season 1 Did

BecauseThe Mandalorian & Groguis quite literally named after Din Djarin and Grogu, it’s even more important thatStar Warsbrings back the tight focus season 1 had on the duo. That’s not to say season 1 failed to explore stories and characters outside these two; it’s clear, however, thateven amidst these alternate explorations, Din and Grogu’s relationship and storyline were at the heart of it all. This trend continued loosely in season 2, which is what helped it to stay not far behind season 1, even if it wasn’t quite as strong.

What the movie truly has to do, in essence, is craft its narrative around Din and Grogu rather than simply create a story that they’re a part of.

What the movie truly has to do, in essence, is craft its narrative around Din and Grogu rather than simply create a story that they’re a part of. The title already promises this, but the follow-through will be a much different story. The title ofThe Mandalorian, for example, seemed to promise something similar as far as Din Djarin is concerned, but the creators began to say that the titular “Mandalorian” could refer to something more generic than Din himself - an idea that was, of course, met with contempt from the audience. This certainly won’t work for the movie.

Their Star Wars Movie Is A Chance To Formally Reset The Story

Going Back To The Heart Of Things: Din Djarin & Grogu Themselves

Perhaps above all else, however, the biggest reason whyThe Mandalorian & Groguneeds to feel like season 1 is because, like the TV show’s inaugural season itself, this movie is a chance forStar Warsto reset itself - particularlyThe Mandalorian. At the time of its release,The Mandalorianseason 1 was a live-action reset from theStar Warssequel trilogy, which had been (and continues to be) a major point of contention amongst fans. Now,in another era whereStar Warsfandom infighting is on the rise,The Mandalorian & Grogucould be another reset.

8 Things Star Wars Has Revealed About The Mandalorian & Grogu Movie

While Star Wars has kept details about The Mandalorian and Grogu tightly under wraps, there are still 8 key things we know about the upcoming movie.

On a smaller scale,The Mandalorian’s story itself needs a reset with this movie after the mixed response it received in season 3. The displeasure with the story truly began when Din Djarin began to double down on his helmet rule after breaking it twice for Grogu in season 2, in addition to Din and Grogu’s quick reunion inThe Book of Boba Fett. This beloved duo taking more of a backseat in season 3 added yet another layer of contempt that caused many audiences to somewhat withdraw from the story altogether.

IfStar Warswants to preserve what they created withThe Mandalorianback in 2019, then this movie has to deliver by returning to what worked in season 1. Din Djarin and Grogu must be at the heart of the story no matter what, and while other characters are certainly allowed to shine,everything must come back to the duo that’s motivating most viewers to go to the movie theater in the first place. That wholesome yet compelling magic surrounding Din Djarin and Grogu in the TV show’s debut must make a return forThe Mandalorian & Groguto succeed.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

Cast

The Mandalorian and Grogu is a Star Wars movie directed by Jon Favreau that continues Disney+’s immensely popular TV Show, The Mandalorian.