5 non-Star Wars TV series like The Mandalorian

2. Doctor Who

One of the most talked-about aspects of the second season of The Mandalorian is the number of returning characters from all over the Star Wars franchise. From Boba Fett, to Bo-Katan, to Ahsoka, to Luke’s arrival at the end of the season, each moment seemed to be trying to top the return before. If you want to get excited about longtime legacy characters making their return, you need a franchise with a lot of legacy. Doctor Who began over 50 years ago, and the entire series has well over eight hundred episodes at this point, even more if you are counting spinoffs. The modern seasons of Doctor Who (the ones that have been airing since 2005) have had plenty of moments that have called back to earlier episodes and/or characters in the franchise. It’s the kind of show where a certain prop or sound effect can be a big deal to the right type of fan. Monsters and aliens from old classic episodes show up again, and on multiple occasions, the Doctor has even run into previous versions of himself played by his original actors.  It’s a lot to get invested in, but the payoff can be worth it.

From HBO Max:

"Doctor Who chronicled the adventures of an eccentric time-traveling scientist from the remote planet Gallifrey, home of the Time Lords. The Doctor, a Time Lord himself, traveled through time and space in his unique craft, the TARDIS, an acronym for Time and Relative Dimensions in Space."

1. Lone Wolf and Cub

Length: 3 seasons

Of all the shows on this list, this one is probably the hardest to track down, but it’s also one of the most interesting. Just like the original Star Wars film was inspired by the Japanese film The Hidden Fortress, The Mandalorian was heavily influenced by the story of Lone Wolf and Cub. Originally a manga, Lone Wolf and Cub tells the story of a Shogun executioner, who, due to a false accusation, is forced to take on the life of an assassin, traveling with his very young son, who is usually kept safe in a wagon pushed by his father. The story was very popular in Japan, leading to several movie adaptations, more than one stage play and also a television series that lasted from 1973 to 1976. Jon Favreau, the creator and showrunner of The Mandalorian, has gone on record stating that Lone Wolf and Cub is a direct influence on the idea of The Mandalorian in the behind the scenes show Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian.

From Amazon:

"Master swordsman Ogami Itto held the honorable position as the Shogun’s executioner. When rivals kill his wife and handmaidens, it is initially believed that it was to avenge a clan lord’s execution. However, the ghastly deed was designed by the envious Yagyu Retsudo to disgrace and frame Ogami in the eyes of the Shogun, giving him criminal status and forcing him to forfeit his lofty post. With his surviving one-year-old son,Daigoro, Ogami sets off to live as an assassin-for-hire until he can locate and exact revenge upon the Yagyu clan."

What show do you recommend The Mandalorian fans watch? Let us know in the comments!