Star Wars keeps getting bigger, but The Mandalorian and Grogu work because it doesn’t

Star Wars has spent decades making its universe bigger. Every show/movie introduces more planets, more factions, crime families, and political conflicts than most people could reasonably keep track of. That’s part of what makes the stories so much fun, but it can also make some entries feel like homework.

The Mandalorian and Grogu take a much simpler approach to its storytelling. The movie has the New Republic, former Imperial warlords, Jabba the Hutt’s kids, and plenty of connections to the wider Star Wars universe. But Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) still has a very easy mission that doesn’t require pre-existing knowledge of any previous lore.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is basically a Western in space

Din just needs to get the job done

The setup for The Mandalorian and Grogu could almost be another episode of the popular Disney+ series, which debuted in 2019. Din gets a new job from Commander Ward, who wants him to track down a mysterious warlord named Commander Coin. In exchange for information, the New Republic asks Din to rescue Rotta, the son and heir of Jabba the Hutt.

Din agrees because that’s what he does. He gets a new Razor Crest, heads to Shakari, and discovers that Rotta is a popular gladiator who has no interest in going home. Rotta wants to escape his father’s shadow and earn his own freedom, which makes Din’s simple rescue mission a little more difficult.

He can’t just drag Rotta back to the New Republic and call it a day. Each part of the story leads naturally into the next one, which makes The Mandalorian and Grogu feel more like a Western than a typical Star Wars story. Din gets a job, travels somewhere he hasn’t been before, meets people who want something from him, and usually ends up in a fight before the job is finished.

Grogu gives the movie a story that goes beyond the mission

Din isn’t traveling alone anymore

Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm

Din Djarin would still be an interesting character that doesn’t really require a sidekick. He’s a Mandalorian bounty hunter with impressive armor, a jetpack, plenty of weapons, and a habit of getting into situations that require all of them. But the character changes when Grogu enters his life during the series.

When Din first meets Grogu, he’s supposed to deliver him to the people who hired him. Instead, he decides to protect him. That choice turns a bounty hunter who was used to working alone into someone who has to think about another being before making decisions. That relationship is still at the center of The Mandalorian and Grogu.

And the movie doesn’t invent a more complicated explanation. Din cares about Grogu, and Grogu cares about him. It’s that simple. Their relationship also gives the movie some of its lighter moments. Din can walk into a dangerous situation and start shooting. Grogu can use the Force, get into trouble, and somehow manage to make Din’s already difficult job more complicated.

You don’t have to know all of Star Wars to enjoy The Mandalorian and Grogu

The lore is there if you want it

Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm

There’s loads of Star Wars lore in The Mandalorian and Grogu. Rotta is Jabba’s son. The Hutt Twins are trying t eliminate him. The New Republic is dealing with former Imperial forces. The Force is still majorly significant because of Grogu. Longtime fans will recognize all those connections. But the movie doesn’t require you to know any of them.

You don’t need Jabba’s history to understand why Rotta is important. He’s the heir to a powerful crime family, and his relatives want him dead. You don’t need to go back and study every detail about the Empire to understand why the New Republic wants Commander Coin found. And you don’t need a complete explanation of the Force every time Grogu uses it.

The movie gives you the information you need when you need it, which is particularly useful for Star Wars now because there are so many movies and shows to keep up with. A new story that depended on everything that came before it would make the franchise increasingly difficult to enter. The Mandalorian and Grogu has managed to avoid that problem.

Everyone will enjoy The Mandalorian and Grogu

The movie has a lot to offer, even for those not into Star Wars

The Mandalorian and Grogu is also the kind of movie that can appeal to people for completely different reasons. Even with most of his face hidden behind a helmet, Pascal gives Din enough personality that he doesn’t need to constantly explain what he’s thinking. Then there’s Grogu, who brings a pretty irresistible cuteness energy to the movie.

When the two are put together with the story’s mix of aliens and droids, there’s always something visually interesting happening. That variety adds to the appeal of the movie. Some viewers will be there for the action. Others will want more Din and Grogu. At the same time, the movie’s scale and visual spectacle give it the feel of a proper science-fiction blockbuster.

It’s also nice to have a Star Wars movie that can simply be enjoyable without needing to become the most important story in the franchise. The Mandalorian and Grogu has enough personality to stand on its own. And now that it’s available on Disney+, there’s a much easier way to appreciate that.