For two months, we all diligently watched The Mandalorian every week. We cheered on Din Djarin, feared for the safety of Grogu, watched some eggs get eaten and were thrilled by the many returns of fan-favorite characters.
And then, just like that, it was over. Luke took Grogu away, Boba Fett took over Jabba’s palace, and we were left wanting more, but there are no new Star Wars shows on Disney+ for a year. Now we’re all trying to find another perfect space western, with compelling characters, great action and memorable moments to fill the time until The Mandalorian comes back. While the perfect show might not be out there, we do have some pretty great alternatives to check out if you’re looking to scratch that Mandalorian itch over the next year or so.
Quick side note: Firefly is not on this list. Yes, it’s the perfect example of a space Western to follow The Mandalorian, but you’ve already seen it. You have seen Firefly right? Quick, watch Firefly, and then check out these other five shows that compliment The Mandalorian.
5. The Witcher
Length: One season
Netflix’s hit series based on the series of Polish novels is a fantastic companion series to The Mandalorian if you want the same type of TV show in a fantasy setting. Both series star a loner character who comes into town looking to do a job, get paid, and get out. In both cases, the lone warrior is compelled to protect a child and form emotional bonds, despite his desire to come off cold and heartless. Both series focus on a smaller story set in a much bigger universe that we only get glimpses of as the show progresses. And in both, when you get to the end of the show, and you’re impatiently waiting for the new season, there’s a wealth of books and video games you can explore to expand the universe even further.
From Netflix:
"The story of Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, who struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than monsters and beasts."
4. Kung Fu
Length: Three seasons
Despite being a sci-fi show, The Mandalorian is heavily inspired by both the Western genre and samurai films. Perhaps the best example of this is in the thirteenth episode where Ahsoka takes part in what is essentially a samurai showdown with a lightsaber, while the Mandalorian has an old west duel right outside the door. One of the first shows to really combine these two aesthetics was Kung Fu from the 1970s. The show starred the late David Carradine as a Shaolin monk who would travel through the old west, using his martial arts skills to help those who could not help themselves. It’s a dated series to be sure, but it gives you a feel of what a show like The Mandalorian may have been like back before the original Star Wars movie was ever released. If you don’t want to watch something quite so old, you can just wait until the remake version of the series is released later this year.
From Apple:
"David Carradine stars as a Buddhist monk and hunted man who wanders the American West in the 1870s fighting intolerance and injustice with his mastery of an ancient form of high combat known as Kung Fu."
3. Dark Matter
Length: Three seasons
If what you’re looking for after The Mandalorian is another high-concept space adventure with characters who often clash with authority (and you’ve already seen Firefly and Cowboy Bebop), you should try Dark Matter. The series opens with the crew of the starship Raza waking up with no memory of who they are or why they’re together on the ship. As the series unfolds, and we learn about the character’s pasts one by one, we watch them deal with the consequences of actions that they have no memory of. Mysterious backstories and characters that don’t know if they can trust each other set up a mystery in space with plenty of moments in each episode to satisfy your desire for hard-hitting sci-fi action.
From Netflix:
"The story of the crew of the derelict spaceship the Raza, awakened from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they got on board. Facing threats at every turn, they have to work together to survive a voyage charged with vengeance, betrayal and hidden secrets"
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!