The Mandalorian turns 5: Looking back on its enduring legacy

The Mandalorian premiered on November 12, 2019, and changed the trajectory of Star Wars forever. The show singlehandedly put Disney+ on the map and in the same conversation as streaming biggies, including Netflix and HBO Max.

A lot has shifted in the television world since its launch, and Star Wars has also seen its ups and downs. The fans have gone from being their most united when the show was new to being as divided as ever as we await The Mandalorian and Grogu. Perhaps feelings regarding the show aren't as positive as they used to be. Still, if Season 3 is its final season, The Mandalorian would be looked back on a successful series that carried forward George Lucas's vision.

Season 1 showed us how special the Star Wars galaxy is and that we can follow a character who has no connection to the rest of the saga without feeling bored and disconnected. As the season went on, the show shifted focus to the relationship between a small child and the man he hopes will be his father. His Force sensitivity and past seemed unimportant compared to his sweet interactions with a cold, faceless man, whose name remained a mystery until this season's finale. Slowly but surely, "Mando" began making friends, and his world grew. The growth was so seamless and gradual that it's still hard to decide if The Child changed his life or if he made a decision that changed his life forever.

The Mandalorian may have stumbled during Season 3, as the series had to expand on existing lore and introduce it to an audience that included many fans who weren't familiar with it. Regardless, certain elements have held the series together, including its emphasis on hope and family. Star Wars can grow and change, but it must always open the door for a sliver of hope, even in darkness. Looking back on every successful Star Wars story has taught us the same lesson, and it's hoping that these two characters still have much to offer that should keep their fans going.

The Mandalorian deserves to be credited for putting good parenting in the spotlight. This show taught us that being a good father is cool and something to be proud of. Being there for your child, protecting them, and providing for them against all odds, even if it means death, is true heroism. Being tough and mean doesn't make you a real man; being kind and gentle does. Through fatherhood, Din discovered his own heart, and in it, he found a well of unexplored feelings and vulnerability that wouldn't have come out without his love for Grogu.

Although Grogu's childlike antics aren't as appreciated as they once were, beneath it all, his story taught us an important lesson about children. At 50 years old, Grogu is similar to a human baby. He spent his infancy in the hands of the Empire, going from one cold room to another. He was likely tortured, a topic the show hasn't dived into, but something all of us should remember the next time we're annoyed by something he does. Star Wars has traditionally focused on the stories of traumatized, orphaned children. However, The Mandalorian offers a refreshing departure. By depicting Din Djarin's paternal care for Grogu, the series shows a child receiving a second chance at a stable life.

The Mandalorian's fate may be unknown, but its legacy is clear: Din Djarin and Grogu have forever changed the Star Wars landscape. Their stories have resonated with fans, and we're committed to joining them in their future endeavors, whether on Disney+ or the big screen.

The Mandalorian is streaming on Disney+.