First Reactions to Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu
I previously posted the official trailer here at Life After Gateway. Now, the film is upon us, and the question that torments Star Wars fans everywhere: Is it any good?
I have watched the show and also the trailer, and I strangely have not felt enthusiasm for this film. I plan on seeing it in theatres tomorrow, but I wasn’t blown away by the show and so I’m expecting a good effort, but nothing on the level of the original trilogy … or the sequel trilogy either, for that matter. I am a fan of Jon Favreau though, who is a great talent.
The Rotten Tomatoes official description of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu:
The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.
Now we have some first reactions to the new film, which features the bounty hunter and his child sidekick, Grogu. Here they are; they seem mostly fair and somewhat positive if you go in expecting The Mandalorian TV show:
First Reactions Are In
Variety’s Marc Malkin:
“The Mandalorian and Grogu is fun. I am not an intense know-everything kind of Star Wars aficionado, so this was kind of perfect for me. A stand-alone movie that felt like an amusement park ride. Now, I think it’s time for Grogu to have his own movie.”
Gizmodo’s Germain Lussier:
“#TheMandalorianandGrogu is as expected. A longer, bigger episode of the show. It has one or two stand out scenes, but it feels much more interested in developing the story to new locations with new creatures than the characters. Enjoyed some of it, left frustrated, but the rest.”
ScreenRant’s Kevin Erdmann:
“Just got done watching #TheMandalorianandGrogu After 7 years without a @starwars movie…This was DEFINITELY The Way. An incredibly fun time that will remind you why the Galaxy, Far, Far Away is so special.”
ScreenRant’s Molly Freeman:
“I went into The Mandalorian & Grogu as a casual Star Wars fan with no real expectations, and I really enjoyed it! Pedro Pascal is great, Grogu is gosh-darn delightful, and Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt is surprisingly cool. Some pacing issues, but a lot of fun overall.”
Fandango’s Erik Davis:
“#TheMandalorianAndGrogu is a thrilling adventure full of big fights, gnarly creatures and plenty of adorable Grogu moments. It’s less about the lore and more a fun, freaky romp across the galaxy. I really dug that about it … It reminded me how fun #StarWars can be when it stops worrying about canon homework and just cuts loose. Treat it like a pulpy Saturday matinee ride and you’ll have a blast.”
SlashFilm’s Peter Sciretta:
“The Mandalorian and Grogu: the marketing had me worried, but this movie is actually a lot of fun. Yes it does feel like a supersized high budget few episodes of the tv show – more of an adventure of the week than a huge galactic event story. If you like the show you’ll love this. If you didn’t, you probably won’t. The Anzellans steal the show.”
FilmOnTap’s Tom Chatalbash:
“The Mandalorian and Grogu is thankfully a Star Wars adventure worthy of the big screen that offers plenty of galactic fun for the whole family … Allen White’s Rotta The Hutt a huge standout. The set pieces have needed visceral flair and are brimming with that infectious Star Wars energy I’ve been missing, especially in theaters. It’s not out of this galaxy good, the story needing far more meat on the bone and the growth of our main duo lacking, but as someone who went in with relatively low expectations, I had quite a bit of fun with Mando and Grogu this go round the stars. Yes, Grogu is still adorable as ever. See in IMAX!”
SlashFilm’s Bill Bria:
“Mandalorian & Grogu: finally, they made a Star War for me to despise! Some cute moments can’t save it from feeling terminally dull & offensively inoffensive. Feels like marathoning the blandest episodes of the show that are also totally inessential. A waste of time & potential.”
Variety’s Courtney Howard:
“#TheMandalorianAndGrogu is a ton of fun! A perfect Summer movie. Action-packed with a lot of humor & heart. Not episodic. A fully cinematic journey. Grogu steals the show. See it on the biggest screen possible.”
As I write this, the Rotten Tomatoes score is:
Tomatometer: 60%
Here’s the trailer for you; the film opens Friday 22 May 2026. Are you planning to see it in theatres? Let me know in the comments below.
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A Blanket of Steel by Timothy S. Johnston and from Fitzhenry & Whiteside, LTD. is the recipient of the 2024 GLOBAL Thriller Award GRAND PRIZE and the 2024 CYGNUS Award First in Category.
— Timothy S. Johnston, 21 May 2026
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Praise for Timothy S. Johnston’s A Blanket of Steel
“Fans of Clive Cussler’s NUMA Files will be delighted with Timothy S. Johnston’s undersea novels. Truman McClusky and Dirk Pitt are cut from the same adventurer’s cloth.” — Nick Cutter, author of The Deep and The Troop
“Action that ranges from close range combat to torpedo-fueled attacks. The result is a thriller that keeps moving from confrontation to confrontation … with constant danger and the vast depths of the ocean as a setting, there is always reason to keep reading.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Read the book and prepare to be blown away by one of the best writers I have ever had the pleasure to read. Timothy S. Johnston is simply amazing.” — FIVE Stars from Readers’ Favorite
“A Blanket of Steel is not simply a ‘daring do’ thriller … It’s prescient.” — Amazing Stories
“A priority selection. An action-packed story that is hard to put down. A Blanket of Steel is outstanding.” — D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“Innovative technology, Mac taking risks no one else would dare and thinking his way through to brilliant solutions … But the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been before. This is it. The countdown to the final battle … Johnston does an excellent job of keeping the tension taut as he plays with the reader’s perceptions of characters we thought we knew and trusted …” — SFcrowsnest
“Expect to be left breathless. Trust me here. Please. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.” — Michael Libling, author of The Serial Killer’s Son Takes A Wife and Hollywood North: A Novel in Six Reels
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A BLANKET OF STEEL is out now!
WATCH THE GRIPPING BOOK TRAILER HERE.
FOR PURCHASE OPTIONS CLICK HERE
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A Blanket of Steel from Timothy S. Johnston and Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Ltd.
Book Cover & Jacket Copy:
AN UNSTOPPABLE THREAT!
A mysterious assassin has murdered Cliff Sim, Chief Security Officer of the underwater colony, Trieste. Cliff was a mountain of a man, highly trained, and impossible to defeat in combat. And yet …
Someone brutally beat him and left his broken body in a secret Chinese facility at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
And included a calling card for Truman McClusky, Mayor of Trieste.
Taunting him.
Mac has led the underwater colonies in their fight against the world’s superpowers. Climate change has devastated the surface; nations suffer famine, drought, rebellion, rising waters, and apocalyptic coastal flooding. But now, as Mac leads the underwater colonies to freedom and independence, he’s faced with the gravest threat of his life: a Russian assassin, hellbent on killing Mac and everyone he cares for. Now Mac must uncover the identity of the killer, face him in combat, and at the same time lead people in battle against the largest underwater force ever assembled. It’s Mac’s final test, and to win the war, he must use every tool at his disposal, including the most surprising and devastating underwater weapons ever invented.
If Mac fails, all hope is lost for the future of human colonization on the ocean floors.
But the assassin could be anyone …
Watch your back, Mac.
A Blanket of Steel is the most gripping thriller yet in The Rise of Oceania.
FOR PURCHASE OPTIONS CLICK HERE
The other books in The Rise of Oceania series by Timothy S Johnston:
The War Beneath 9781771484718
The Savage Deeps 9781771485067
Fatal Depth 9781554555574
An Island of Light 9781554555819
The Shadow of War 9781554556007
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TSJ’s Awards
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THE WAR BENEATH: FIRST PLACE 2018 GLOBAL THRILLER Action / Adventure Category Winner, 2019 Silver Falchion Award Finalist, 2018 CLUE Award Semi-Finalist, 2019 Kindle Book Awards Semi-Finalist, & 2019 CYGNUS Award Shortlister
THE SAVAGE DEEPS: FIRST PLACE 2020 CYGNUS Award Winner, 2019 GLOBAL THRILLER Awards Finalist, 2022 Kindle Book Awards Semi-Finalist; 2019 CLUE Award Shortlister
FATAL DEPTH: FIRST PLACE 2021 GLOBAL THRILLER Award Winner, 2022 Silver Falchion Award Finalist (Best Action Adventure), 2021 CYGNUS Award Semi-Finalist
