Since it’s debut back in 2019, The Mandalorian has consistently pulled in glowing reviews from fans and critics alike.
But lately, the show has fallen out of the good graces of viewers.
The latest third season premiered to a well-received episode, but if the current Rotten Tomato scores are anything to go by, audiences have grown increasingly frustrated with the show.
In comparison to the past two seasons, which both have solid ratings in the 90s, the latest installment currently has a disappointing 50% Audience Score and 87% Tomatometer.
‘I really liked the Mandalorian, when it was about the Mandalorian. Now it’s about guest appearances, setting up spin offs for other shows and movies, and plot lines that replace the primary character with other characters that aren’t as interesting. The Mandalorian has lost it’s way and I’ve given up on the third season,’ one viewer noted.
‘The Mandalorian has lost it’s way’: Fans and critics alike have called out season three of The Mandalorian for a ‘massive drop in quality’
Another, who rated the current season just a half star out of five, wrote: ‘I used to like Mandalorian. I accepted the return of Grogu, I didnt saw Book of Boba Fett (I cant, it is too boring), I was willing to see the rest of this season but I cannot even complete the third episode.
‘It was so boring, so lazy, so tired. Plot holes, lazy writing, I will not see six episode to receive two mediocre episodes and everyone praises. I am done with the Mandalorian and I am done with Star Wars. Star Wars is truly dead.’
One reviewer noted Pedro Pascal’s character had been ‘sidelined and demeaned’, however were a little more generous in their rating, giving it two out of five stars.
They referenced a shift in focus in season three, with the series now largely focusing on Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) rather than Pedro’s Din Djarin.
‘It was a good 2 season story arc, with season 3 seeing a massive drop in writing quality and the main character sidelined and demeaned,’ the viewer wrote.
The slump in ratings are apparent on IMDb, where the April 5 episode, Chapter 22: Guns for Hire, received 6.4 out of 10. In prior seasons of the show, episodes never went below a 7.
Critics have also taken note of the changes, with a March 16 review from CNN’s Brian Lowry headlined, ‘The Mandalorian is experiencing an identity crisis in more ways than one.’
‘”The Mandalorian” is experiencing an identity crisis, and that goes beyond just the semi-religious question of removing his helmet. The third season, rather, has seemed to be flailing a bit in terms of its focus, as underscored by its third episode – an extended if tantalizing detour into the story of a peripheral character,’ he wrote.
MovieWeb did not hold back in its analysis, noting the aimless series had ‘no justification for continued existence’.
New star: Season three largely focuses on Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) rather than Pedro’s Din Djarin
Ouch: Collider was blunter, headlining an April 1 review, ‘Here’s What’s Killing The Mandalorian Season 3’
‘Disney’s most successful weapon in the streaming wars is failing miserably, as more than halfway through season three of The Mandalorian, the beloved Star Wars series is still struggling to find its footing, following too many poorly developed plot threads with no apparent overarching goal and no justification for continued existence, leaving viewers increasingly unsatisfied and leading to drastically decreasing viewership as the season continues.’
It cited The Book of Boba Fett as one of the primary contributors to season three’s downfall, as The Mandalorian storyline continued in that show, confusing viewers who had not watched it when season three returned.
‘Not many watched The Book of Boba Fett in the first place, and returning to The Mandalorian many fans were confused to see the iconic duo reunited without any kind of explanation offered.
‘It reeks of lazy writing, undoing all the progression of the last two seasons, laying bare that the show made the same mistake the sequels made, not having a plan,’ they wrote.
Collider did not mince their words, headlining an April 1 review, ‘Here’s What’s Killing The Mandalorian Season 3.’
Confusing: Cameos made by big stars such as Lizzo, Jack Black, and Christopher Lloyd ‘gave off campy Star Wars Holiday Special vibes,’ noted The Hollywood Reporter
Uh-oh: The plunging ratings are apparent on IMDb, where the April 5 episode, Chapter 22: Guns for Hire, received 6.4 out of 10
In addition, cameos made by big stars such as Lizzo, Jack Black, and Christopher Lloyd ‘gave off campy Star Wars Holiday Special vibes,’ noted The Hollywood Reporter.
Earlier this month, The Mandalorian’s executive producer Rick Famuyiwa addressed the changing dynamics of the show’s leads, with the focus now on multiple Mandalorians rather than Din and Grogu.
‘I think now with Bo possessing the Darksaber, I know that there was a lot of expectations that might have shifted both in terms of what it meant for Din Djarin, but also for Bo and what does it mean?’ he told IGN.
‘Who is the Mandalorian at this point? And so I think it could be anyone. And I think that’s what they’re trying to define in many ways, is what does that mean to be Mandalorian?’
There’s still time for things to shift.
The penultimate episode, Chapter 23: The Spies, which was released April 12, received an impressive 9.2 on IMDb. Space.com hailed the episode as ‘the show at its best’ in their write-up.
‘After last week’s disappointing and hasty Chapter 22, season 3 of The Mandalorian had a lot to figure out and deliver in the two remaining episodes. Fortunately, Chapter 23 is the show at its best, delivering spectacle, emotion, and surprises throughout a meatier runtime while looking stunning as well.’
The Mandalorian is arguably the Disney streaming service’s signature program.
The first season was met with widespread critical acclaim and commercial success upon its debut.
Its second set of episodes received a similarly positive response from reviewers and fans of the series.
The Mandalorian’s third season, which is expected to run for a total of eight episodes, made its debut on the Disney+ streaming service on March 1.
Favreau previously confirmed that he was working on the program’s fourth season in May of last year.
The show’s creator subsequently revealed that he had finished work on the new season in February.
Still could change: Space.com called the latest episode ‘the show at its best’
