The Mandalorian has had a good run, but it’s nearing the end of its natural run.
The Mandalorian was the most anticipated Star Wars title in 2019 and added a lot of depth to the galaxy far, far away. The series has introduced fans to a cast of new characters and returning fan favorites from The Clone Wars, novels, and even Rebels. The titular hero, Din Djarin, became what fans expected from Boba Fett until Boba Fett redeemed himself in the show’s second season, that is.
It feels like The Mandalorian has told a nearly complete story, with season three giving the main characters a seemingly happy ending. However, there’s expected to be a fourth season that will continue the adventures of Din Djarin and little Grogu. It’s hard for many fans to accept because The Mandalorian has shown an amazing little corner of the Star Wars galaxy that doesn’t focus on Jedi, but season four should be the end of it. Ending a show on a high note is better than coming to a close when it’s heavily disliked.
The Mandalorian Season 4 Could be a Satisfying Finale
Din Djarin and Grogu went through a lot together before they eventually claimed a parcel of land on the planet Nevarro, thanks to their friend Greef Karga. Din started the series as a fearsome bounty hunter until his path crossed with Grogu. That’s when he became a protective guardian and eventually a surrogate father to the force-sensitive alien. Together, they reclaimed Mandalore for the Mandalorian remnant in the galaxy where the battleminded humans can rebuild their culture and repopulate their planet.
However, making on home on Nevarro didn’t mean trading in their figurative swords for plowshares, as Din Djarin adopted Grogu (now Din Grogu) and took him on as an apprentice. Furthermore, the former bounty hunter accepted an offer to freelance for the New Republic, which is likely to become more turbulent with a certain Chiss arriving on Dathomir.
The third Mandalorian season seemingly gave everyone their happy ending, but there are clear story threads hanging around that Filoni and his crew need to tie up in its fourth season, such as Mandalore rebuilding under Bo-Katan Kryze’s leadership. Fans are eager to see Grogu become a capable Mandalorian and even perhaps capable of talking and fighting without the shell of an IG-unit under Din Djarin’s guidance. Tying up all these threads would give The Mandalorian a proper ending.
What is Left to Say after a Mandalorian Season 4
Fans can expect season four to have a more focused narrative while continuing the threads that it started in the previous season. Jon Favreau says he already wrote the fourth season during post-production of season three because they want to tell it as a continuation. He said in an interview with Film Stories:
So I was writing it during post-production, because all of it has to feel like a continuation and one full story.
It also seems that Favreau and Filoni are telling parts of the same story in different projects. There’s no doubt that the ending of Ahsoka will tie into The Mandalorian in some capacity. However, once the upcoming season end, there won’t be much else to tell in the story of Din Djarin. In the same interview, Favreau went on to say:
But it all depends on the audience if they like what we’re doing. As long as they’re digging it, we’re digging making it and it’s a fun gig that I don’t want to walk away from any time soon.
Unfortunately, a large chunk of the fanbase disliked certain aspects of the third season. Din Djarin seemed to take a backseat in his own series, no longer being the titular Mandalorian as he followed Bo-Katan around and put her in the spotlight. Perhaps, if the series continues after season four, The Mandalorian can follow different Mandalorian characters, creating a kind of pseudo-anthology series.
Once Din Djarin trains Grogu, they go on missions for the New Republic, and fans see the development of Mandalore, there’s not much else to tell. Moff Gideon perished in the season three finale, and bringing him back would be less than happily received by fans. It would be difficult to top him as a villain unless that villain is Thrawn. There’s really only one story to tell after season four, and that story leads into the Avengers-level Mandalorian movie Filoni is developing.
Mandalorian Season 4 can Help set up Dave Filoni’s Star Wars Movie
Despite not appearing at all, Grand Admiral Thrawn had a significant presence in The Mandalorian’s third season. Now, after the events of Ahsoka, the Grand Admiral is likely to play an even larger role in the show with his return to the main Star Wars galaxy. The New Republic is bound to go into full-on panic mode once they receive news of his arrival, and the Imperial remnant becomes more organized. Mando and Grogu will undoubtedly have their hands full in a good portion of season four with missions against the Imperials.
This would be the most opportune vehicle to kick off Filoni’s Star Wars movie. It would give the show that focus that fans missed with season three while simultaneously whetting their appetite for the upcoming film. It would also put Thrawn front-and-center as the primary antagonist, showing audiences just how dangerous he is even against enemies with all the resources they need at their disposal, unlike Ahsoka and crew. There’s a certain appeal to season four ending with Din Djarin and Grogu losing against Thrawn’s forces as it would paint Thrawn as the monumental threat everyone warned the New Republic about in Ahsoka.
