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Mon: Hello and welcome to a new episode of Stereo Geeks, a bi-weekly pop culture podcast, and weekly newsletter. Today, we’re reviewing Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. I’m one of your hosts, Mon, an entertainment writer with bylines in Bam Smack Pow and Huffpost, to name a few.

Ron: And I’m your other host, Ron, a pop culture critic and managing editor at Women Write About Comics, now on hiatus. This is a spoiler-free episode.

Mon: Before we start our episode, we would like to acknowledge that the land we are recording on is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. It is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

Ron: While we are making this land acknowledgement, we understand that this is not enough and that positive action is required by the people of Canada to make substantive change for the Indigenous nations and communities whose lands we now reside on.

[Music]

Mon: We’ve had three seasons of The Mandalorian during which we’ve followed the adventures of Din Djarin and Grogu, who was his one-time quarry, but eventually became a son-figure.

Ron: The pair were hunted for many seasons by the Imperial Moff Gideon, but with the help of Mandalorian leader Bo-Katan, they managed to defeat Gideon. The last time we saw Din and Grogu, they were settling into their home on Nevarro. Din had left behind his life as a bounty hunter and was offering his services to the New Republic. Grogu had been granted the status of a Mandalorian foundling.

Mon: The Mandalorian and Grogu picks up some time after the events of the third season of the show. The pair are on the search for Imperial remnants, and they take them down in spectacular fashion.

Ron: But taking down war criminals isn’t enough. There’s something brewing with these remnants, and the New Republic needs answers from a particular target. The only beings who have info on this Imperial? The Hutts. They are always bad news.

Mon: Din and Grogu are dispatched to meet the Hutts and sent on a side-quest. But this ends up having far more lasting consequences on the two of them. Once you go up against the Hutts, you best know your way out.

Ron: The cast of The Mandalorian and Grogu includes returnees from the TV show. Din Djarin is once again voiced by and sometimes played by Pedro Pascal. In the suit is Brendan Wayne and the stunt suit performer is Lateef Crowder. The three of them make Din Djarin, the Mandalorian, and it’s great that all three were credited in The Mandalorian and Grogu. 

Mon: Sigourney Weaver joins the Star Wars universe as the New Republic’s Colonel Ward. Steve Blum voices Zeb Orrelios and Jeremy Allen White voices Rotta the Hutt. Also in the cast is Jonny Coyne, and Shirley Henderson is back to voice the Anzellans. There is an unexpected but enjoyable voice cameo who is included in the main credits.

Ron: The Mandalorian and Grogu is written by Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, and Noah Kloor, all of whom worked on the TV show. The film is directed by Favreau.

Mon: First up. Our thoughts on The Mandalorian and Grogu. I freaking loved this film. It continues the odd-couple dynamics from the show, but it has this 90s action feel to it. The film is like an extended action sequence. And that’s equally so dumb, and so fun. I cannot hate it.

Ron: I am honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Mandalorian and Grogu. My expectations are always so low these days that I honestly thought I’d find the film boring. But instead, when I realised the film was ending, I wanted it to keep going on. I wanted to live in the universe with Din and Grogu for much longer.

Mon: Me too. Parts of the film, for me, at least, were harking back to the Greek myths. Now, in my defence, I’ve been reading a loooooot of books on recontextualized Greek myths, so maybe that’s where my head’s at. But, watching some of Mando and Grogu’s journey, their side quest and perils, it was this glorious feeling of watching a Greek myth, but in Star Wars.

Ron: That’s such a nice way to put it. I didn’t see the mythology but the film felt like an homage to The Empire Strikes Back and Attack of the Clones. When you see it, you’ll know why I’m saying that. 

Mon: Oh the homages. Let’s not forget about those. Cynics will say the film basks in nostalgia – but I don’t think it does. There are a ton of homages to the franchise so far. And so many throwbacks. I know we probably missed a few. As a Star Wars fan, it’s so much fun to hear dialogue or see visual gags that tip the hat to previous films. But newbies will just… have a really good time. 

Ron: Indeed. The life-long Star Wars fan will spend a lot of time pointing at the screen yelling that they understood that reference.

Mon: Aye. Now, the film is very obviously two episodes put together. I can even pinpoint exactly when the first episode was supposed to end. But you know what, I didn’t realize how much I wanted to see new Star Wars on the big screen again. It was a fabulous experience.

Ron: I didn’t get that feeling of it being two episodes. Favreau also denies its episodic nature and has said that this story was always written as a standalone film. 

Mon: Sure boo. We believe that. 

Ron: You’re so mean. I agree that the two halves were obvious, but it felt more like the end of the first part of Act 2 and the start of the second. I liked that.

Mon: Well, the two halves are tonally different too. Not drastically. But there’s a definite shift from the light-heartedness of the first part, to the darkness of the second.

Ron: The second half ups the ante in terms of action and stakes. And that’s saying something considering how much action is packed into the first half of the film.

Mon: Absolutely. Also, just because the film looks like two episodes as a film, The Mandalorian and Grogu doesn’t lack a cinematic feel. This is big screen fare for sure. The locations, the fight scenes, and creatures. You’re meant to be awed. And we were.

Ron: Definitely. From the first scene onwards, this is an action-packed film. I loved that about it. One of my biggest grouses with the show has been that it is too slow. 

Mon: Yes, but that’s because some people who insist on directing live-action Star Wars have no sense of pace. We’ll let listeners figure that one out for themselves. 

Ron: We all know who you’re talking about. This film is precisely the opposite. There are several action set pieces, and we often have back to back action scenes. I kept sitting forward in my seat because I was so intent on the action. And I wasn’t the only one doing that in the hall!

Mon: The action was glorious. But those scenes would have meant nothing were it not for the characters. They really got me in my feels, which I didn’t expect at all. The non-stop action scenes only make sense because there’s so much love between Mando and Grogu. And the people they meet along the way. You have to have heart; that’s what makes Star Wars so special. This film does the same. 

Ron: The central relationship is what powers this film. There is no weight without the impact on them. How they manage to convey so much emotion from a puppet and a helmet, I will never know. But they do an amazing job. I love Din and Grogu’s father-son dynamic.

Mon: Do you think much of our enjoyment for the film came from the fact that we didn’t watch any trailers? We only caught the Super Bowl spot, and I even wrote about it in Bam Smack Pow. But that wasn’t in the film, I don’t think. 

Ron: Oh yeah. Once again, not watching trailers has made the film viewing experience so much more fulfilling. We came home and watched the trailers, and they give away everything. All the best moments, the shocking moments, the heartfelt moments. It’s in the trailers. Once you see that, the film won’t be as exciting. I hate these trailers.

Mon: We have to talk about the music in The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Ron: Yes, because Ludwig Göransson really does not miss. His Mandalorian theme combines Star Wars’ sci-fi vibes with the Western aesthetic Favreau and Filoni were going for. We were bopping away to it during the film. But there are so many new pieces in this film that caught my attention. There’s a synth-EDM piece that I can’t wait to hear again. But later in the film, I was really touched by the score’s orchestral turn.

Mon: We gotta hand it to Ludwig Göransson and his team for being able to make distinctive scores, especially in genre fare. I mean, his Black Panther scores–both of them–are stupendous. He doesn’t just rehash The Mandalorian music in this film; he adds a bunch of other themes, and they’re really different and cool. 

Mon: This is a Star Wars film, so what did we think of the effects?

Ron: Special effects, creature effects, action scenes – the film is a spectacle for the senses. We all know that the new droids, vessels, creatures, they are all merchandising opportunities, but this is Star Wars. The worlds and species in it need to look varied. And they do.

Mon: Yes, I loved it. It’s easy to get immersed in the story when the effects are so realistic. The film felt more practical, didn’t you think?

Ron: It did. It feels like they shot on location. We know a lot of it is CGI; but there was a tangible feeling to the action that’s been getting lost in recent Disney properties. I was particularly impressed by the puppetry in this film. Especially with Grogu and the Anzellans, they have a bigger role than I expected and a fair amount of action to get through.

Mon: And we say this despite having to squint at the screen, because for some reason Cineplex screens are too dang dark.

Ron: Why is our Cineplex screen so dark? It’s annoying. 

Mon: Despite all this positivity, I definitely have some criticisms of the film. My biggest one is Jeremy Allen White. I’m shocked at how flat his voice-acting was. This guy was giving nothing. Or at least it sounded like it. Rotta may have an imposing presence, but his arc had no depth because of White’s monotonous delivery. What happened?

Ron: He was alright but I would have liked more emotion. He wasn’t on-set at all, apparently. All his lines were recorded before the film was shot; and you can tell. It would have been different if he was doing the Andy Serkis thing of motion-capture. It’s unfortunate, because Rotta was an interesting character in this film. I liked learning so much more about the Hutts through him.

Mon: Another criticism – don’t promise me bad-ass Alien killer Sigourney Weaver and then give her so little screentime. Come on! She’s magnetic. She always brings an attitude. And then we get nary a whiff of character from her. Boooooo.

Ron: I agree with you. You can’t include Sigourney Weaver and not have her in every other scene. She’s such a presence, and she fits right into this universe. It doesn’t matter if she’s in Alien, Avatar, or Marvel, Weaver has a way of making the role her own. But she barely gets much to do here. I haven’t even seen merchandise of Ward anywhere. We went to the Star Wars x Miniso popup and there were new toys and figures of Darth Vader and Chewbacca, but none of Colonel Ward. What a waste.

Mon: I guess that was a sign. In general, I felt the lack of female characters and creators filling out the worlds of this film. It’s a stark contrast from how far Star Wars seemed to have come. We recently rewatched almost all the live-action shows, and the many, many ladies of the franchise are the best part. Is this the way now? We’re back to 1977 of mostly male characters and only their stories being told?

Ron: What is it about the Mandalorian and the lack of ladies? The first season was just as frustrating, and then fortunately, Bo-Katan saved the day. Colonel Ward is the only female character in this film, as well. 

Mon: Well, don’t discount the twins. One of the Hutts is female. 

Ron: Don’t make me laugh! Having so few female characters in a film is such an odd choice in 2026. But aside from that, I really missed Din’s usual gang. It was so weird not seeing the Armorer or Peli Motto, at all. And, even though I realise Bo-Katan is on her own journey, part of me secretly wished to see her in the film.

Mon: Yeah, Mando and Grogu’s people – frankly, Grogu’s family given how much everyone cares for him – not being in the film was a stretch. They felt closed off. We felt closed off. I don’t understand that decision.

Mon: No film is perfect, and yes, the criticisms will irk. But I loved The Mandalorian and Grogu. That’s a strong word, and not one I expected to feel watching a film that’s had a lukewarm reception, to say the least. Is this film doing something different? No. Is it moving the dial in any way? Also no. But is it really, really sweet, and adorable, and full of so much action your muscles ache from the tension? Heck yes. And I loved it!

Ron: As C-3PO would say, I never doubted you for a second. Wonderful! The Mandalorian and Grogu is the complete joyful package of blue cookies. A healthy dose of action, all of which is creative and energetic, and most importantly, moves the story along. The central duo of Din and Grogu are adorable and have great chemistry. I love the new characters. I miss the old characters. The effects are incredible. I never wanted the film to end.

Ron: That’s all for our review of The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Mon: Join us in two weeks for our review of Spider-Man Noir.

Ron: You can listen to Stereo Geeks on stereogeeks.ca, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to rate us, and leave us a review; it helps other listeners find us.

Mon: And, get more exclusive content when you subscribe to our newsletter on our website, and follow us on Instagram, @stereogeeks_podcast. Plus, we’re also on BlueSky, @stereogeekspodcast.bsky.social. 

Ron: The Stereo Geeks logo was created using Canva. Our music is courtesy Audionautix. 

Mon: See you next time.