Payton Payne

🚨‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ has debuted with an impressive 87% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes🚨 #starwars #themandalorian #dindjarin #grogu #bobafett #fennec #bokatan #TheMandalorianandgrogu

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‘THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU’ debuts at 58% on Rotten Tomatoes. • First Star Wars movie in 7 years. Read our review: bit.ly/MandoDF

I’ve begun to conclude that Andor may have done more damage to Star Wars than The Last Jedi. Andor is unlike anything else Star Wars has done. It is undoubtedly a mature approach to Star Wars that targets adults and only adults. And therein lies the problem. One of the core issues that has plagued Star Wars fandom since the earliest days is the challenge fans have of letting Star Wars stay relevant for a new generation. Return of the Jedi was criticized by 1977 fans for being little more than a toy cash grab using Ewoks. The Prequels were blasted by Original Trilogy fans because it didn’t feel anything like what they experienced 20 years earlier. The Sequel Trilogy saw a completely new generation discover a galaxy far, far away with characters like Rey and Kylo Ren. Meanwhile, grown adults started hashtagging “Not My Star Wars.” And then Andor was released. A dark, grounded, mature Star Wars story that was powerfully written, brilliantly produced, and perfectly acted. And it was in no way for kids. Let me insert here that I love Andor. And I think Andor has a place in Star Wars. We need more shows like Andor. The problem is that too many seem to believe that Star Wars should only be like Andor going forward. If that happens, Star Wars won’t endure. #TheMandalorianandGrogu releases this week. It is clear that in leans into the elements from #TheMandalorian series that are more appropriate for families with kids. And that is exactly what it should be. And already there are those who are criticizing it because it doesn’t have a weight or feeling of a show like Andor. And some of us are trying to remind fans that Star Wars has always been for kids. Only to have fans (mostly adult men who can’t seem to get over the fact that Star Wars could possibly release something not specifically targeted to them) replying to posts with Andor gifs and episode mentions. And this divide is the true divide that Dave Filoni must find a way to navigate. A Star Wars fanbase not divided over The Last Jedi, but over the future of the franchise that was first and foremost a heroes journey mythic tale for children growing into adulthood. I have confidence in Dave Filoni. I think he will find a path through this. What I’m not so confident about is the fanbase’s willingness to accept that.