Psychgeist of Pop Culture
The Psychgeist of Pop Culture
The Mandalorian
Originally released in late 2019, The Mandalorian is a Star Wars spin-off series streaming on Disney+. As the debut Disney+ original programming, it has aired for two seasons and been renewed for upcoming third and fourth seasons - a testament to its enormous viewership, critical acclaim, and profound impact on the Star Wars fandom and science fiction genre, more broadly.
The series follows the laconic Mandalorian bounty hunter, Din Djarin, who is hired by Imperial forces to retrieve ‘the child’ Grogu, an orphan and member of a rare alien species with strong capabilities in the Force. Forging a unique bond, Din forgoes Grogu’s bounty and goes on the run, taking in the child as his adoptive son.
The series follows their journey amidst themes of good and evil, parenting and family, and nature versus nurture. In December of 2021, the world of the Mandalorian was expanded in the companion series, The Book of Boba Fett, depicting the titular bounty hunter as the lord of a crime syndicate, which wrestled with similar themes. This book explores the psychological underpinnings of The Mandalorian, including its narratives, primary protagonists, and secondary characters.