‘The Mandalorian’ fans realize the show doesn’t have real stakes anymore

Image via LucasFilm

The Mandalorian season 3 is almost over, and Din Djarin’s latest exploits have left Star Wars fans feeling somewhat dissatisfied. Most of them would be hard-pressed to tell you exactly what’s wrong, but one user on social media may have cracked the case by casting light on a very odd season 3 phenomenon.

While the story’s third outing is reaching a blood-pumping climax, the last couple of episodes have been all over the place in terms of plot developments and character arcs, to a point that it still remains unclear if the story is about Din Djarin, his sense of identity, the fate of the Mandalorians, Bo-Katan’s quest for the throne of Mandalore, or even the return of the Imperial remnants under Moff Gideon. And then there’s Baby Grogu, who is undergoing a growth journey of his own.

If you feel like The Mandalorian has lost its sense of coherence and purpose, maybe it’s because the show is taking one step forward and two steps backward. Or perhaps it’d be more accurate to think of it as trying to run a race with one foot dragging you in the other direction. In the case of season 3, that foot is the plot undoing everything the show wrought in its second season.

As one user points out, The Mandalorian is no longer a high-stakes story because we’re right back where we started in season 2. Grogu is back with Din Djarin without having accomplished anything of value, the Darksaber is in the hands of Bo-Katan, and even Moff Gideon is running free.