One of the best things about this new season is that it had more free reign to introduce new and existing characters and stories, without being bogged down by its own infancy. Since we’re already familiar with many aspects of the show from season one, season two takes no time to dive into new waters. 

This season finds the titular character, Din Djarain, expanding his relationship with the so-called Baby Yoda, who actually gets a name in Chapter 13. We see a lot more of those little moments between the two of them, furthering their bond in a heartwarming and sometimes humorous fashion.

Finally, fan-favorites from animated series like Bo-Katan Kryze and Ahsoka Tano get their live-action debuts. Additionally, Boba Fett, a mysterious and rather underdeveloped character who found his origins all the way back in “The Empire Strikes Back,” gets an exhilarating return and a spin-off series of his own next year. After bringing new life to the long-dead Darth Maul in “The Clone Wars,” showrunners Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau prove once again that characters seemingly out of the picture can be resurrected in spectacular fashion. 

Overall, season two builds upon the strengths of season one to produce an exciting and action-packed addition to the Star Wars franchise. Visual effects are still top-notch, moving performances once again, especially from the Mandalorian himself (Pedro Pascal) and the treacherous Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) and the familiar, yet still uniquely fantastic score from composer Ludwig Göransson.

A major criticism that is also present in season one is what are called “filler episodes,” or the episodes that aren’t strictly necessary for the overall season story. Sure, nobody’s denying that these episodes exist, but many consider these episodes to still be good in their own right. Chapter 10, for example, is a lively and funny story that, while not fitting directly into the overarching plot, provides a nice and self-contained adventure with a lot of great moments. 

Season two of “The Mandalorian” brings new developments to the lovable cast of characters introduced in season one, while simultaneously telling a jaw-dropping story and stretching its limbs further into all the lore Star Wars has to offer.

While the show may be over for another year, fans needn’t worry; with a slew of new Star Wars series around the corner, including the long-awaited “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and spin-off “The Bad Batch,” the franchise has a bright future.