On the surface, The Mandalorian and Grogu is just a movie. It doesn’t have to justify its existence. All it has to do is entertain us, help us escape reality for a little bit, and not make us regret the cost of a ticket. That’s all it, or any movie, really has to do to be a success. And, to that end, The Mandalorian and Grogu checks all the boxes. It’s big, beautiful, has a few laughs, great action, and a story with a beginning, middle, and end. By all measures, with those stakes, it’s a success. However, this isn’t just any movie. It’s a Star Wars movie. The first Star Wars movie in seven years, to be precise. And we’ve all seen Star Wars movies before. Star Wars movies that make us laugh, cheer, cry, and celebrate what going to the movies is all about. A Star Wars movie can be more than a movie. It can be a life-changing experience. Not every Star Wars movie is, and The Mandalorian and Grogu never had to be, but in the words of Yoda, it chooses “do not” instead of “do.” It doesn’t even try. With The Mandalorian and Grogu, co-writer and director Jon Favreau aimed to make a Star Wars movie someone could watch cold. Something a person could enjoy without needing to watch three seasons of the TV show it’s based on before seeing the movie. It’s a good thought, one inspired by Star Wars creator George Lucas himself, who famously dropped fans into Episode IV of a larger story. What Favreau neglected to do, though, is what Lucas later did with the prequel trilogy. He neglected to make a Star Wars movie for people who had watched the show. For people who have followed the franchise.