Just finished season 1 & 2 and this show is way better than anything else from the latest generation of star wars stuff. I hated TFA, and I turned off R1 half way through because it was so dull. I would have watched Lord and Miller's Solo, because I love those guys, but then KK interfered and got her stink all over it.
Then Favreau's creative team comes in with the Mandolorian and blows all that #### out of the water
It's amazing what can be accomplished by a team that: A. likes star wars B. likes star wars fans and C. wants to meaningfully contribute to the legacy of the brand. I always got the impression KK had nothing but contempt for the brand and thinks the fans would gobble down any garbage with the star wars brand on it.
Season 1 starts and the look and feel of the series is perfect right away. The characters, puppets and animatronics all scream Star Wars. The action is all inspired and engaging. I thought I was going to hate grogoo, but I liked him a lot. The season is plagued by bad writing, a side effect of trying to cram so much action in, moments of bad writing are usually pretty easy to forgive in this show, but it got overwhelming in the season finale and I found it really distracting and a disappointing way to end to an otherwise fantastic season. There was also too many "remember star wars?" moments like: whomp rat references and everything having to happen on tatooine.
Favreau was also really leaning on his references this season, so much so that we made a game of trying to figure what he was referencing and trying to come up with a cute name for the episode: Game of Fetts, Boba Wick, Boba: Warrior Princess, Boba Heat, etc. The best episode was the one with Bill Burr (Boba Heat), amazing that Bill has found his way on to 3 iconic shows (Chappelle Show and Breaking Bad).
Favreau must have known what I was going to think about the first season, because the second season went a long ways in addressing my concerns. The show has it's own unique feel now and did a great job building off what worked during the first season. The writing tightened up a lot and there were only a few points where bad writing annoyed me: just put on your ####ing helmet, Bill! Boba Fett fighting with a staff and the battle droids having a nap in space during the finale.
The finale to season 2 was a jaw dropper and a worthy way to get Luke onto the show., neatly tying together the grogoo story arc and setting up what I assume is the "King of Mandalor" story arc. I haven't liked Darth Fring much, his character makes no sense: he had his apprentice fight a jedi to a standstill and he dresses like Vader but he doesn't seem force sensitive at all, but he really worked in this episode and I hope they figure out his character a lot better.
Final note: Arrested Development has completely ruined Carl Weathers for, he was fine, but I cant look at him without thinking "you got yourself a stew, baby"
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