About a year and a half afterThe Mandalorianseason 3 completed its run, I’ve found that my perspective on the latest - and most controversial - installment of the highly successfulStar Warsshow has changed over time.The Mandalorianwas, and still is, absolutely unbeatable in terms of its first two seasons, both of which completely revolutionized the wayStar Warsand even many other franchises would approach their live-action TV shows. For many, however, season 3 failed to meet that same bar, though that certainly wasn’t the case for everyone.
As one ofThe Mandalorian’s biggest fans, having followed the show ever since its premiere in 2019, I was initially one of the viewers who was avidly defending season 3 as it was released. This continued for months after it had already wrapped up, and I often found myself winding up at the heart of some heated debates about whether season 3 was truly a hit forThe Mandalorianor not. Over time, however, I’ve fully come to terms with my own feelings about this past season, and my perspective has almost completely changed.
As A Mandalorian Fan, I Hold High Standards For The Show
It Set The Bar High With Seasons 1 & 2
Even beforeThe Mandalorianseason 3 came out, I had high standards for the TV show’s third installment, mostly because of how incredible seasons 1 and 2 are. This show truly set a very high bar for itself with those first two seasons, and in the long wait between seasons 2 and 3 (well over 2 years),my standards for what was to come only grew more and more. Of course, before we even got season 3, we gotDin DjarinandGrogu’s story continuation inThe Book of Boba Fett, which is where problems started for many viewers - and for me.
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I hadn’t realized that at the time, either, but the way those moments inThe Book of Boba Fettadvanced the story ofThe Mandalorianreally put season 3 in a tough spot already.Much of what happens in that spin-off series, most notably the reunion between Din Djarin and Grogu, was expected to happen inThe Mandalorianseason 3, which made it hard to even create true expectations for the TV show’s next installment. Despite this, I still held high standards for what was to come, maintaining faith in my favoriteStar Warsproject.
This wasn’t about failing to meet expectations; it was about failing to meet its own high standards.
Unfortunately, these standards were not really met in season 3. It’s taken me a long time to reckon with that, but now, about a year and a half later, I’m able to recognize that. There were story choices that still utterly baffle me to this day, and the narrative didn’t feel nearly as cohesive and fluid as it did in seasons 1 and 2 - at least, not for me - and I even had a hard time buying into this season emotionally. This wasn’t about failing to meet expectations; it was about failing to meet its own high standards.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Let Down Its Titular Character
Din Djarin Lacked A Good Story Of His Own
Easily the biggest point of contention for me regardingThe Mandalorianseason 3 is that it completely let down its titular character, Din Djarin, in my eyes. Din Djarin has become my favorite character of all time, which means that I am, and always have been,veryinvested in his story. In season 3, however,there isn’t really a story for him at all. Instead, Din lives in the shadows ofBo-Katan Kryzeand his own son Grogu in season 3, losing character arc progress from season 2 in the process.
10 Things That Make No Sense About Din Djarin
The Mandalorian’s Din Djarin has quickly become one of Star Wars' best characters, but even his story hasn’t avoided embracing some true nonsense.
Again, this isn’t aboutThe Mandalorianseason 3 not meeting my expectations. I can often deal with that well, and it’s why I don’t set high expectations in the first place. I even tampered down my hopes about getting a trueMand’alorDin Djarin prior to season 3, despite many of my fellowThe Mandalorianmega-fans putting a lot of faith in that happening. What happened with Din Djarin is that the story of season 3 let him down immensely.After getting his redemption, he simply goes along for the ride, lingering at Bo-Katan’s side during her critical arc.
For me, Din Djarin getting his redemption was also a big letdown, after season 2 seemed to be setting up at least an exploration into Din’s faith and whether he truly wanted to continue forward in this specific Mandalorian Way or not.
Perhaps Din was indeed the key to the Children of the Watch trusting Bo-Katan, but that was completed once Din had accomplished that in episode 4. Afterward,the Armorertook up the role of being the Children of the Watch’s leader at Bo-Katan’s side, which left Din with no real purpose. He doesn’t even elect to stay on Mandalore after he and Grogu help to liberate the planet. All the while, Din doesn’t take off his helmet whatsoever, not that that’s necessarily needed in his story. All in all, Din was extremely static in season 3.
Season 3 Is A Good Star Wars Story, Not A Good Mandalorian Story
It Couldn’t Afford To Lose Focus On Its Two Main Characters
What I’ve come to embrace as my true outlook onThe Mandalorianseason 3 is that it’s a goodStar Warsstory, but not a goodMandalorianstory. There’s still so much in season 3 that I really do love, including the highly controversial episode “Chapter 22: Guns For Hire”, even if I still have lots of criticisms about other parts of the story.I will also still stand by my personal belief thatThe Mandalorianseason 3 isn’t nearly as bad as most other fans say it is, because itisstill effective as aStar Warsstory.
The problem is that it lacked what The Mandalorian seasons 1 and 2 had: a strong, emotional focus on Din Djarin and Grogu.
There are things outside Din Djarin’s arc and the overall narrative of season 3 that I have grievances with, including what feels like a recreation of Bo-Katan’s arc fromStar Wars Rebelsin live-action about 10 years later, butit overall is still an installment of television that I truly did enjoy. It disappointed me, yes, but given how many people still choose this season as their favorite, it clearly accomplished some impressive goals. The problem is that it lacked whatThe Mandalorianseasons 1 and 2 had: a strong, emotional focus on Din Djarin and Grogu.
It’s Not Too Late For The Mandalorian To Redeem Itself
The Mandalorian And Grogu Movie Can Fix Things
While my perspective onThe Mandalorianseason 3 may be changed to a more critical lens as of right now, it’s still not too late for thisStar Warssubfranchise to earn redemption. I have a lot of faith inThe Mandalorian and Grogumovie, even if we have so little to go off of at this time.All the movie has to do is return to the heart ofThe Mandalorianby giving Din Djarin and Grogu an emotionally driven storythat allows them to grow as characters and as people. Given the movie’s title, I have a lot of genuine faith that this will happen.
The Mandalorian & Grogu: All Confirmed Cast & Characters (So Far)
The Mandalorian & Grogu is the next Star Wars movie to hit theaters, the franchise’s first since 2019. Here are its entire cast and characters so far.
I initially defendedThe Mandalorianseason 3 because I honestly,trulywanted to love it so much. We had been waiting such a long time for it, and I wanted to be a good fan ofThe Mandalorianby proving that I could love it in any and all circumstances. Since then, however,I’ve learned how to balance my genuine, never-ending love for this TV show with the disappointment it’s brought me as well. It’s why I can still have faith in the future ofThe Mandalorian, no matter what may be in store next for our beloved heroes.
The Mandalorian
Cast
Released on June 16, 2025 The Mandalorian follows a lone gunfighter navigating the galaxy’s outer reaches after the Galactic Empire’s fall. As a skilled bounty hunter, he operates in a lawless universe, undertaking various missions on the fringes of the New Republic’s territories.
