REVIEWED: SEASON 1 (ALL EPISODES) | WHERE TO WATCH: DISNEY+
Disney+’s The Mandalorian has been gamechanger for the Star Wars franchise. It has shown that the high-budget and special effects-heavy appeal of the movies is finally possible on a TV budget. Of course, with such a ground-breaking show, fans want to know how it’s all been done. The Disney Gallery series happily obliges, taking the viewer behind the scenes in order to show off some of the show’s incredible achievements.
While The Mandolorian is an incredibly complicated show technically, at its heart it’s a simple spaghetti western/samurai story. The core of this behind the scenes show are the directors, actors, and producers simply talking about their work. This is fascinating in and of itself, the team behind the series are all highly accomplished people. We also get cutaways and voiceovers explaining various elements of production, but the audience is never talked down to. This is not a cheesy, back-slapping DVD extra. It’s a polished documentary designed to appeal to mature minds.
Various elements get their own episode. For example, a whole show is dedicated to exploring the special sets used for the show. We learn how modern video game engines have been used to create realistic CG environments rather than blue screen. Watching the show’s creators discuss the implications of the technology is fascinating, made all the more interesting by George Lucas’s own input. Practical effect fans are also well treated – there’s an entire section on make-up and puppets. Anyone who’s fascinated with the art of making movies, or just really into Star Wars, will love this series.
