The Mandalorian Just Gave Us A Perfect Series Finale, But Season 4 Has Already Been Written
This post contains spoilers for the season 3 finale of "The Mandalorian," "The Return."
After the penultimate episode of "The Mandalorian" season 3 aired, there was visible anxiety about the concluding episode, especially in relation to Din Djarin's (Pedro Pascal) fate on Mandalore. Would Mando be able to make it out unscathed, and would Grogu be okay in such a dangerous, high-stakes situation? Director Rick Famuyiwa, who helmed the final two episodes of this season, cranked up things to 100 after a string of middling-to-good episodes in a largely uneven third season. On the bright side, we got a ton of lore progression and "Star Wars Rebels" tie-ins, setting up the events to come in "Ahsoka."
Thankfully, Famuyiwa found a way to end season 3 on a rather lovely, wholesome note. The Mandalorians fight against the beskar-armored Imperial Super Commandos valiantly, Din is able to escape his captivity (with the aid of IG-Grogu), and Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) appears to have been burnt to a crisp. This episode has all the markings of a solid season finale: Din and Grogu take on three Praetorian guards and defeat them; a timid droid (R5) helps save the day; and Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff) engages in an intense stand-off with Gideon, Darksaber at the ready. The finale concludes with the now officially adopted Grogu and his dad enjoying domestic bliss in their new home on Navarro — a fairytale ending they truly deserve.
There's just one problem. Series creator Jon Favreau has confirmed that season 4 of the show has already been written, since it needs to feel "like a continuation and one full story" (via Esquire). And there's also the major "Star Wars" film set to be directed by Dave Filoni, which will tie the various live-action shows together.
The burden of furthering the story
During this year's Lucasfilm Studio Showcase at Star Wars Celebration, a new Dave Filoni movie focused on the New Republic was announced. This yet-to-be-titled project is set to connect the overlapping stories in Disney+ shows such as "The Mandalorian," the upcoming "Ahsoka," and "The Book of Boba Fett," among others. Although there are no details beyond that, it is likely that remnant plot points from "The Mandalorian" will feature in this Filoni project, with Djarin and Grogu showing up in some capacity during a crossover event featuring characters from other Disney+ "Star Wars" shows.
The plan for every Disney+ storyline to feed into one massive showdown in a big-budget "Star Wars" film does make sense from a certain point of view, as it paves the way for a cohesive primary narrative in an epic crossover event. However, part of the reason why "The Mandalorian" enjoyed overwhelming success was its laidback, episodic adventure structure, where the stakes (although meaningful) were never too high. The consequences were never galaxy-encompassing, at least not in the way "Andor" sets up a world where even the smallest acts of rebellion can help dismantle the foundation of a fascist superstructure. "The Mandalorian" has always been a chill space Western, with Din embodying the "man with no face" trope and his bond with Grogu an overt ode to "Lone Wolf and Cub."
If a show is only developed with a future crossover showdown of massive proportions in mind, the storytelling is bound to be rushed and mired in missteps. For instance, the decision to immediately reunite Din and Grogu — in "The Book of Boba Fett," not even in the main series — was a baffling one, as it undercut the emotional nature of their separation at the end of season 2.
An ending that's already perfect
It goes without saying that the core appeal of "The Mandalorian" is the Mando-Grogu dynamic, as a chunk of viewers tune in to solely witness their shared shenanigans. However, after the end of season 2, their separation could have potentially led to better fleshed-out storylines. After all, Din Djarin is interesting enough to carry a few episodes on his own, and the Mandalore-intensive arc of season 3 proves that we do not always need Grogu to ensure enjoyable, emotionally-resonant episodes. If Grogu had been allowed to explore his Jedi powers with Luke Skywalker a little longer, and then given the choice to return to Din, the reunion would have held much more emotional weight than the one we got instead.
This brings us to season 3 of the show, which, to be frank, is a tonal mess, and shoots off in too many directions before pulling itself together for the big finale. Although I personally enjoyed the buddy-cop nature of episode 6, even the most dedicated viewers found it too bizarre, as it set a languid, directionless pace that cast doubt on the primary arcs of this season. The final episodes, however, do not disappoint, and deliver on every front while also tying up loose ends. The big bad is defeated, the Imperial base (along with Gideon's clones) is destroyed, Mandalore is reclaimed, and Din Djarin officially adopts Grogu as his son. Furthermore, the Dins are given a private cabin on Nevarro, and the final iris shot of him and Grogu at peace completes their shared arc.
This is the wholesome ending they deserve, and this feels like the true ending to an adventure-laden found-family story. As "The Mandalorian" season 4 will undoubtedly pop this bubble, how can the next chapter tell a fun, meaningful story without repeating the missteps so far?
The power of self-contained adventures
Fortunately, the season finale sets up the potential for season 4 to revert to the episodic adventure structure that works best for "The Mandalorian," with Din approaching Carson Teva (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) and asking for bounties assigned by the New Republic on a case-by-case basis. All of this has to be unofficial, of course, as Din needs to be extra careful about training Grogu as his apprentice now.
The best way to keep season 4 on track would be to focus on the present, and not spend too much time teasing future storylines. I do feel exploring Grogu's past is okay, even essential, as the Order 66 flashback in season 3 filled some gaps in his history and paved the path for the return of a familiar face. After all, Grogu is part Jedi, and diving deeper into that aspect of his identity will only allow us to better understand his place in the wide, wide galaxy. That being said, self-contained, standalone adventures where Din and Grogu go on little side quests to fulfill a mission or secure a bounty, could be the core of season 4. Episodes such as "The Marshal" and "The Heiress" have allowed the duo to shine in the heart of the action while also introducing secondary characters that helped deepen the world of the show.
Remnant threats still exist: The Shadow Council remains, the triumphant return of the Mandalorians poses a major threat to Imperial power, the seeds of the First Order are being sown. I'm hoping that these major developments are reserved for another show or a movie that will be able to do justice to these plotlines, leaving space for Din and Grogu to be the father-son duo we know and love.