The hype leading into the theatrical release of The Mandalorian and Grogu was nothing short of extraordinary. Everything from the posters and trailers to the merchandise and the Burger King collaboration had me living my best life, celebrating the next Star Wars movie! It's been almost seven years since the last one, so can you blame me for my enthusiasm? Today, I am here to share with you my spoiler review for The Mandalorian and Grogu. If you haven't seen the movie yet, reading past this point will spoil your experience.
Poster featured above created by the talented, Matt Ferguson.
The Mandalorian and Grogu gave me the same wonderfully nostalgic feeling of watching the Original Trilogy when I was a child, partially because of how many familiar elements there were from those movies, but also because of the heart and fun of it. The puppetry and practical effects absolutely added to the magic of the experience as well. I couldn't stop smiling!
The power of coming together to help someone in need was a beautiful recurring theme in the movie. I'm not sure this has been discussed as I've decided to stay away from most reviews until I've written mine, but it's something that stood out to me. Some examples include when we saw the Anzellans and Grogu work together to rescue Mando and Minch, or Grogu finding aid in an unlikely ally, Gatori, to help him nurse Mando back to health. Grogu and Mando risked going back to the palace on Nal Hutta to rescue Rotta, and even Rotta fought with his own family to protect Grogu. Sure, the fight was inevitable, but the first thing Rotta said when he came to was, "Leave him alone!". It was heartwarming to see several circumstances in which these characters were helping one another.
After my first viewing, I felt that the story didn't grasp me the way The Mandalorian series did, and my second viewing didn't change that. It was entertaining, and I really enjoyed it, but I think it lacked emotional pull and opportunities to raise the stakes. With the father-son duo being the central characters, I also expected their arcs to be further developed, but that didn't exactly happen, especially for Mando. I'll get into this more a little later.
While I really liked the movie, I wouldn't say I loved it, though I did love COUNTLESS things about it. It didn't have the wow factor that I typically experience when watching Star Wars films, but there's truly nothing for me to be upset about since I enjoyed it.
I grew up loving action in movies and TV shows, plus the action in Star Wars has always been one of the highlights for me, so I was enthralled by the amount of action in this movie! It was aggressive, exciting, and tactical, and not to mention visually impressive. A good mix if you ask me. Here are some of my favorite action sequences!
THE. HUTT. FIGHT. This was one of my favorite scenes in the entire movie! I never knew I needed to see what three Hutts fighting would look like until it happened, but I'm so thankful it exists. As a massive Rotta fan, I was slightly worried for him going head-to-head with his aunt and uncle, aka the meanie Hutt Twins, but I loved every second of it! Hutts have been around since the very beginning of Star Wars, so the fact that the creators are still coming up with new ideas for Original Trilogy concepts is worth applauding! I don't expect I'll ever shut up about this scene.
I really loved the opening action sequence on the "snowy planet," as The Mandalorian Visual Guide refers it. It probably isn't Hoth, but it felt like it, and we got all the elements that coincide with a snowy planet, including Snowtroopers, AT-ATs (and AT-AT Drivers!), the new AT-RTs, and even little Mouse Droids covered in snow. It was a visually epic experience! I think one of the coolest shots was after Grogu hopped on the AT-RC with Mando. They turned a corner, and suddenly, there were 3 AT-ATs right in front of them on the edge of a cliff. What a sight to witness that on the big screen!
The scenes showcasing Rotta in the arena on Shakari were also major highlights for me. I was so giddy over seeing him roll around the way he did to maneuver his enemy's attacks. Speaking of, my jaw dropped when I realized the actual creatures from the Dejarik game were going to be the ones fighting in the arena. That was the coolest surprise in the movie! I do wish Rotta used his axes like, you know, AXES. It seemed like a waste not to use the sharp side against his opponents. Perhaps they couldn't find a way to do that while keeping it family-friendly? The creatures didn't really take much damage from Mando or Rotta, which was surprising. I think the scene could've benefited with one or two of them getting taken out. I also thought it was a golden idea to design the arena to look like the Dejarik chess table from the Millennium Falcon. The attention to detail in this movie is incredible!
My other favorite action sequence was Din vs. the Amani (Return of the Jedi) and the Dragonsnake (The Empire Strikes Back) in the swamp waters beneath the palace on Nal Hutta. The creatures looked so impressive! I'm really eager to watch it again just to see them. The realism, the desperation, and the visuals made the stakes feel high in this scene. In fact, I think this was the only point in the movie where it truly felt that way. I feared for Din, especially when the Dragonsake got hold of him. Grogu and the Anzellans arrived just in time to help him out of there!
What a genius Ludwig Göransson is! He created one of the most iconic themes in Star Wars history for the Mandalorian himself in The Mandalorian series and has, once again, given us stellar new pieces in this movie that will be admired for years to come. I've seen so many fans already referring to multiple tracks as, the "hits of the Summer".
I don't think I've listened to a soundtrack this much after seeing a Star Wars movie since Attack of the Clones was in theaters. I especially love playing Rotta and Shakari multiple times a day. They're both such edgy and uplifting tracks. I can't help but move when I'm listening to them. I think the only thing I wish were different about them is that they were twice as long. They're just that good!
Overall, I think the music blended with the movie so well. The two felt like one, and as a viewer, I think that's exactly what you want when you go to see a movie that's part of one of the biggest franchises in film.
I had been so excited about Rotta the Hutt (aka Stinky from The Clone Wars) having a part in The Mandalorian and Grogu since we first found out about him. I'm a huge Jabba the Hutt fan, so witnessing his son get the spotlight was incredible. I had no idea he would be such a prominent character. I need every single piece of Rotta the Hutt merchandise.
Rotta's character design is so unique. His body is intimidating, but his face is gentler and unusually inviting for a Hutt. It's so wild to me that a buff Hutt who is kindhearted is part of the Star Wars galaxy now. He's so nice; he immediately shared his food with Grogu and even splashed around in the water with him. The cuteness of that scene just about killed me!
Honestly, I was completely thrown off by Rotta speaking basic. It felt foreign, and it was very distracting at first. I'm used to the idea after seeing the movie a couple of times, but I'm still not the biggest fan of that choice. I just love the uniqueness and nostalgia of the Huttese language. I mean, "De wanna wanga!" is one of the lines I quote from Star Wars the most.
Since seeing the movie, I can't help but envision Rotta in some sort of New Republic gear. I’m so curious about what Zeb has in storage after he told Rotta he had something that would fit him. I think it's clear that Rotta has become a fan favorite, so I hope this means we will see more of him in the future! I wonder if he could have a cameo in Ahsoka Season 2?
This movie featured the best action sequences involving Mando, whether it was hand-to-hand combat or escaping the enemies in the new Razor Crest; he didn't hold back. Oh, and that entrance? Fire (no pun intended)! It's easy to see how Mando has become such a revered character in all of Star Wars. The combined talents of Pedro Pascal, Brendan Wayne, and Lateef Crowder are up there with the best of them, as are the artistry of the team who designed and created Mando's armor/suit. It's a brilliant ensemble!
I was surprised that there was no significant character development for Mando. I do think we saw a little growth in that he had a calmer demeanor, especially in situations involving Grogu. I would even say he has more patience with him now. As important as these traits are, I don't think they were enough. There was no challenge that put him in a different place than where he started at the beginning of the movie.
I like that we got to see Mando without his helmet after the Bounty Hunter Embo (The Clone Wars), was ordered by the Hutt twins to remove it. The absolute disbelief on his face that someone had removed his helmet was heartbreaking, but I also loved seeing it instantly shift to "protect mode" when they mentioned Grogu. His dedication to Grogu has no end, and it's evident throughout the film.
I was so happy that Mando got hold of another Amban phase-pulse blaster. I think this blaster suits his style so well! I also enjoyed seeing him fly the STAP when he and Grogu went to rescue Rotta from the Hutt twins. If you can't tell, I like accessories.
Grogu, who is still very childlike, has matured in some big ways and developed new skills. I think the scene that depicted these changes the most was when he was taking care of his dad after he was poisoned. I felt this sense of pride watching him. He adapted to his surroundings, which seemed like second nature, and he used wisdom in every decision he made to protect Mando and nurse him back to health, while also doing his best to keep himself alive. Considering how young he is, it was very impressive for a little guy!
I adored seeing Grogu build the hut to protect Mando. Of course, my mind immediately wandered off to Yoda and his hut on Dagobah. In all my years of being a Star Wars fan, I never considered that Yoda built his own home. I love that it's an instinctual thing, like a Porg building a cliff-side nest.
It was adorable watching Grogu get himself ready with all the necessary accessories he would need to rescue his dad. The bravery of he and his Anzellan friends (Minch, Bai, Keeto, and Clang) was admirable! They made a good team, executing a plan to rescue Din and Minch. The shot where it shows all of them in the Anzellan's starship was hilarious! I could watch them interact with each other all day.
I also loved seeing Grogu use the Force. I wondered if he would stop practicing, but he literally saved Rotta from his demise by lifting him up, who is like a million times bigger than he is. If anything, I'd say he's stronger! We also saw him in what I think was the most beautiful scene in the movie, when he peacefully meditated on a tree branch. It was so pure, and yet another indication that he didn't cut himself off from the Force.
Something I thought a lot about in this film is how good a friend Grogu is. If you're someone with a kind soul, Grogu will recognize that, and he'll instantly be your buddy. This is very similar to how babies and children see right through us. They choose who they're comfortable with. I was happy to see that Grogu listened to his dad about behaving around the Anzellans, and by doing so, he was able to be friends with them. He earned their trust! I also thought it was endearing to see how Grogu and Rotta instantly bonded. I think it's safe to say that they're besties.
After watching the first season of Ahsoka, I wished Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios could've been a part of that story, not only because I like his character but because I wanted that feeling of witnessing the Ghost Crew back together (RIP Kanan). So, I was very excited to see him again in live action after his brief debut in The Mandalorian Season 3 finale. I was amazed at how realistic he looked and happy that he was in multiple scenes, but I truly felt he was underutilized. I wish he had a more significant role where he could have been a part of the bigger missions. He's extremely agile, which complements his impressive combat skills, so it didn't make sense to me that his role was primarily the pilot who picked up the crew when the job was finished.
I did love his hallway scene when he assisted Mando, Grogu, and Rotta in capturing Commander Coin, even though it was interrupted by switching back and forth between scenes. As epic as they are, I know every character doesn't need a hallway scene, but I think it would've been cool and unexpected to allow him to shine more in that moment.
This will probably be a very unimportant topic to most, but I've been trying to figure out which of his outfits I liked best. I really appreciate the way the royal blue jumpsuit, combined with the weathered white pilot's vest, complimented his purple coloring. It's a prominent, vibrant look. However, the brown leather jacket is also such a showstopper. What do you think?
Sigourney Weaver's character, Colonel Ward, is another character I felt was underutilized. She had a commanding presence about her, but her scenes were so short-lived. The scene when she showed up on Nal Hatta in the X-Wing with the fleet was a great surprise! She seems like a level-headed Colonel who knows what she's doing, but most of her time was used to provide Mando with his next jobs...and a new Razor Crest. I unfortunately don't have much to add about her character. Perhaps the marketing, which featured Sigourney Weaver quite a bit, led me to believe she had a bigger role.
It was really sweet to watch how Mando and Grogu worked together in this movie. They seem to have a better understanding of each other's capabilities and roles in the missions they undertake, and they are constantly looking out for each other.
The hardships that Mando and Grogu overcame to get to this point are numerous, which is why I think the movie could've benefited from giving the audience a small taste of their backstory and showcasing their deeper connection. I could be wrong, but I don't recall one mention about them being father and son. Mando's paternal instincts make it clear that he loves him and is his guardian, but knowing specifically that he adopted him is an important detail, in my opinion. You wouldn't know for certain without watching Season 3 of The Mandalorian. In hindsight, this could be someone's segue into the franchise, hopefully leading them to watch the series. They would just be watching it backward like so many of us did with the Original Trilogy and then the Prequel Trilogy, even though it was intended to be released that way.
I've seen the narrative that you don't have to know anything about these characters to enjoy the movie. I agree with that, but I still believe the story would've been richer if it had delved deeper into the bond between Mando and Grogu. The heartwarming scenes on Nal Hutta weren't enough in my opinion.
There were so many other things I didn't even mention, like the awesome new droids on Nal Hutta (my favorite are the Mercenary Guard Droids), the fun cameos on Adelphi Base, Dave Filoni, Deborah Chow, Doug Chiang, Lee Isaac Chung, and Rick Famuyiwa, and how about that clever easter egg, which was an actual egg, the Mudhorn egg? If you didn't catch that, Martin Scorsese's character, Hugo Durant, uses egg yolk to make a delicious flat meat fry on Shakari while being questioned by Mando. Now you know! I was also really happy to see R5-D4 on Adelphi Base!
I hope that my enjoyment of The Mandalorian and Grogu came through in this blog post. I have plans to see it a third time this week, and I'm curious to see if I'll take away anything new.
What did you think of the movie? Did you agree or disagree with any of my thoughts? Please be kind and respectful. You can get in touch with me by leaving a comment below or following me on my social media channels: Instagram, X, Threads or Bluesky.
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