I can’t be the first viewer of The Mandalorian Star Wars TV series to be reminded of classic troupes from classic Westerns and Samurai movies. It’s not a surprise as these plots are classics revisited repeatedly, and the original George Lucas’ Star Wars: A New Hope drew on influences from several sources such as John Wayne’s Western The Searchers.
Lone Wolf and Cub vs. The Mandalorian
See if these two descriptions sound a wee bit simular.
The LONE WOLF AND CUB series chronicles the adventures of disgraced Shogun assassin Ogami Itto and his infant son Daigoro, who sell their services to people in need while traveling the countryside in search of revenge against the hit squad who killed Itto s wife.
The Mandalorian chronicles the adventures of disgraced assassin Din Djarin and his “adopted” infant son, Grogu. He is hired by Imperial remnant forces to retrieve the child Grogu, but instead goes on the run to protect the infant.
Lone Wolf and Cut – https://amzn.to/4fAM2P3
Chapter 4 of The Mandalorian vs. Seven Samurai (also The Magnificient Seven)
Watching Chapter 4, “The Sanctuary,” of The Mandalorian, I immediately thought of Akira Kurosawa’s classic Seven Samurai or the US version, The Magnificent Seven with Yul Brener.
“The Mandalorian and Dune train the farmers in combat and set traps in the krill ponds for the AT-ST.”
“desperate inhabitants hire the eponymous warriors to protect them from invading bandits.”
In both stories, poor farmers are being raided by hordes of evildoers. Hopelessly outnumbered and unschooled in the ways of warfare, the farmers seek assistance from a hired gun. But a single gunfighter can’t hold off a horde of baddies so they recruit a few other tough guys/gals. Two in The Mandalorian and seven total in the Seven Samurai — Still outnumbered they have to teach the reluctant, timid, and peaceful farmers how to defend themselves by turning anything they can find into weapons and traps.
Seven Samurai (1954) – https://amzn.to/3VZcmLu
The Magnificent Seven (1960) – https://amzn.to/4gYD52S
I wonder how many contemporary viewers of The Mandalorian might someday run across the classic Westerns and Samurai movies and recognize the plots?
Overall I find The Mandalorian entertaining if not middle schoolish as its target audience should expect. Hopefully, it will inspire people to seek out the classic for a more mature experience. One of the LONE WOLF AND CUB movies is one of the bloodiest movies ever in Lone Wolf and Cub: White Heaven in Hell (1974) with over 150 kills.