Shirley
Da 5 Bloods
On the Record
I May Destroy You
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Though its character building leaves something to be desired, "Chapter 1" is a visual feast with enough sense of adventure to inspire hope that the force may be strong with The Mandalorian.
[The premiere is] good enough to keep me watching, forgettable enough that I doubt I'll want to watch this specific episode again.
39 minutes of mediocre Star Wars.
The impressive production values, however, can't cover up a relatively skimpy plot. "Chapter 1" of The Mandalorian is a thin piece of setup stretched over 38 minutes.
"The Mandalorian," though, is a well-crafted, compelling series that's the perfect ambassador for Disney Plus - an old favorite wrapped in a new story that leaves you hungry for the next episode.
Every screen shot locks you comfortably into the familiar "Star Wars" canon, but somehow it all feels fresh and new.
You won't go broke imitating The Walking Dead, but the climax of the Mandalorian premiere cut strangely between misshapen tones, from laser-cannon gundowns to a cute baby melting even the coldest heart.
"Chapter 1" is a visually stunning, solid season premiere full of potential, with director Favreau opting for a big budget original tale whilst expanding upon the SW universe.
As you would expect, the leading man, played by Game of Thrones' actor Pedro Pascal, is a gargantuan presence. The camera rarely strays from him as he blasts through dozens of enemies.
The complexity introduced by Pascal's performance, Favreau's writing, and Filoni's direction is enough to keep us engaged. Let's just hope the rest of the world firms up around him. In Filoni and Favreau we trust.
Visually, The Mandalorian looks simply fantastic, filled edge-to-edge with rich set details and cinematic, otherworldly vistas.
The Mandalorian is everything fans could have wanted from a live-action Star Wars TV show and with a killer performance from Pedro Pascal, it's already clear this is going to be appointment viewing each week.
This premiere episode is definitely good but it may be too soon to tell if it is good enough.