If you live under a rock and are otherwise unaware, Lucasfilm and Disney released a one-minute Mandalorian special look during Monday Night Football last night. Despite its short length, the latest trailer for the upcoming season delivered a lot of imagery, and misdirection. The spot also presents more questions than answers, but one thing is certain: Season 2 is certainly going to be packed with action and suspense.
As with most trailers with voiceovers, the spoken words don’t correspond to the action on screen. That gives rise to the aforementioned misdirection. For one thing, Din Djarin declares he’s on a mission to reunite the Child with its kind. Who he is really talking too in the Mandalorian special look, though? That speech overlays images of him approaching Greef Carga and Cara Dune. They know his mission; they were there when the Armorer assigned it him. Was that the beginning of his conversation with the one-eyed ogre?
Mandalorian special look show much, offers little
Likewise we (presumably) hear a New Republic X-wing pilot saying “Razor Crest, stand down!” as the trailer opens. But…. Watch closer. Perhaps he just lost his pursuers in the ravine, but the X-wings are nowhere to be seen in the following sequence. Gut feeling says these are two, separate scenes from the second season, but the Mandalorian special look wants us to think they’re not. Besides, if rumors hold true, the ice planet could very well be Illum. Since the First Order later creates Starkiller base there unbeknownst, the planet wouldn’t even be on the New Republic’s radar.
What intrigues me most, however, and slightly concerns me, is Greef and Cara’s travelling companion. In the Mandalorian special look it appears that the Mythrol from Season 1, episode 1 is back. Why am I concerned? Star Wars has to walk a fine line with its comic relief. Use of the character to plug a reference to the original Holiday Special is one thing. That kind of character, however, is usually a one-trick pony. How he’ll now factor could be interesting…. Or annoying. We’ll see soon enough.
No answer to lingering questions
The Mandalorian special look did nothing further to confirm or dispel many of the rumors surrounding the second season, however. Frankly, I’m okay with that. Part of the show’s appeal is its return to the serial presentation of television show episodes every week. It gives us something to look forward to as we enter the cold winter months here in the northeast. And who doesn’t like a good surprise?
The Mandalorian returns in just ten days, October 30th, on Disney+.