It feels like the entire content of what was supposed to be this season was shunted into different properties or scrapped outright, and this is the hastily-dashed-together replacement season we get instead. The original plan for the season would likely have kept Mando and Grogu separate - Grogu would have stayed with the Jedi and developed his skills, while Mando's storyline would have made heavy use of both Bo-Katan and Cara Dune. But the studio edict that a) Grogu must remain with Mando b) Gina Carano's character can no longer be used made the plan for the season unworkable. Maybe the Mandalorian movie will contain the material originally intended for this season. In any case, what we have is a season almost entirely comprised of filler episodes and wheel-spinning - and not even the same kind of filler each week, but different filler in a way that feels completely haphazard. (E1-2: Mando bathes in the waters. E3: Side story on Coruscant involving two unmemorable minor characters. E4: Monster babies. E5: Pirates! E6: Robot chase and Lizzo tea party.)
Ever since it resolved its primary narrative arc at the end of season 2, this show has no idea what it actually is. I think The Mandalorian's problems were already in evidence before this, though, because season 2 - while good - derived much of its purpose from setting up other future shows and seasons. S2E1 is a backdoor pilot for a potential Cobb Vanth series, S2E5 is a backdoor pilot for the Ahsoka series, and S2E6 is a backdoor pilot for the Boba Fett series, while S2E3 exists to set up what would have been the next season of The Mandalorian. Other than the finale, the remaining instalments are filler (S2E2) or formulaic heist episodes (S2E4, S2E7). The middle of S1 also has a run of poor filler episodes, particular S1E6 with its terrible Suicide Squad-knockoff characters, most of whom we thankfully never saw again. It's a wonder that S2 handled its main storyline and characters as well as it did given the amount of screentime devoted to setting up spinoffs.
Going forward, this show needs to re-commit to its main characters and decide what it actually is. Not a vehicle for lightweight filler episodes, a commercial for Grogu toys or a mechanism for promoting other shows, but a compelling character-driven story in its own right. The last two episodes of season 1 got this just right.
Ever since it resolved its primary narrative arc at the end of season 2, this show has no idea what it actually is. I think The Mandalorian's problems were already in evidence before this, though, because season 2 - while good - derived much of its purpose from setting up other future shows and seasons. S2E1 is a backdoor pilot for a potential Cobb Vanth series, S2E5 is a backdoor pilot for the Ahsoka series, and S2E6 is a backdoor pilot for the Boba Fett series, while S2E3 exists to set up what would have been the next season of The Mandalorian. Other than the finale, the remaining instalments are filler (S2E2) or formulaic heist episodes (S2E4, S2E7). The middle of S1 also has a run of poor filler episodes, particular S1E6 with its terrible Suicide Squad-knockoff characters, most of whom we thankfully never saw again. It's a wonder that S2 handled its main storyline and characters as well as it did given the amount of screentime devoted to setting up spinoffs.
Going forward, this show needs to re-commit to its main characters and decide what it actually is. Not a vehicle for lightweight filler episodes, a commercial for Grogu toys or a mechanism for promoting other shows, but a compelling character-driven story in its own right. The last two episodes of season 1 got this just right.