Ahsoka is a bold new Star Wars TV show on Disney+ that combines both familiar and new elements as a true Star Wars experience. The show has stellar space battle sequences, intense lightsaber duels and possible redemption for its villains while also adding new ideas like leaving the main galaxy and live-action Thrawn. Ahsoka does plenty of things that shows like Andor and The Mandalorian don't, but that goes both ways.
Right now, Ahsoka and The Mandalorian stand out as two of Disney's best Star Wars shows, each one focusing on a powerful, prominent hero who explores the galaxy with their faithful allies. Looking back, The Mandalorian was ahead of its time, even more so than Ahsoka, and it did plenty of cool things that Ahsoka didn't. That helps make Din Djarin's adventure feel fresh in the current Star Wars canon, giving him a unique voice without needing the Force.
10 The Mandalorian Focuses on Found Families
Most Star Wars movies and shows depict the lovable heroes forming tight-knit groups of friends and allies, from Luke's original trio to Andor's squad of Rebel heroes in Rogue One to Ahsoka Tano's team in Ahsoka. Still, the "found family" trope is surprisingly rare in canon Star Wars, so The Mandalorian helped check off that box.
That show didn't just make Din Djarin and the young Grogu a dynamic duo of heroes. They are like a foster father and son, and even the stoic, pragmatic Din couldn't resist becoming emotionally attached to "The Child" early on. As a bonus, that helped offset Star Wars' trend of absent or cruel fathers, giving The Mandalorian fans a hero who's in touch with his paternal side.
9 The Mandalorian Features Yoda's Species
Jedi Master Yoda's species is still a mystery to this day, which is no accident. It's more fun if this species is an enigma, allowing its members to speak entirely for themselves. Usually, it's Yoda or Yaddle who represent this mysterious species, but they can't always be around to represent their kind. So, now it's Grogu's turn.
Grogu is by far the youngest member of his species to appear in the current Star Wars canon, and he was the breakout star of The Mandalorian. He is powerful, mysterious and a cuddly mascot all in one, giving The Mandalorian the edge over Ahsoka, which lacks such a character.
8 The Mandalorian Stars Non-Jedi Heroes
The Jedi are so prominent in Star Wars that any movie, show, book or comic about the franchise can be categorized in one of two ways: it's about Jedi, or it isn't. The nine main movies are all about the Jedi, such as the Skywalkers, and Ahsoka also focuses on Jedi with Ahsoka Tano and the Jedi trainee Sabine Wren. But even Jedi might overstay their welcome sometimes.
That's why Star Wars has non-Jedi adventures like The Mandalorian and Rogue One to explore the galaxy through fresh eyes. It's much more rewarding and relatable when heroes like Din Djarin and Jyn Erso win the day without lightsabers and the Force to magically get them out of every sticky situation.
7 The Mandalorian Involved Luke Skywalker
Even if The Mandalorian was designed to be a refreshingly non-Jedi adventure with more grounded heroes like Din and Bo-Katan Kryze, there was still room for a cameo from the great Jedi Luke Skywalker himself. Ahsoka didn't have room for Luke -- instead, Ahsoka Tano mentally sparred with Luke's father, Anakin.
This means that Ahsoka is more closely tied to the prequel trilogy era, while The Mandalorian is more grounded in the original trilogy. It was a welcome sight to see post-Emperor Luke still fighting in his prime before his tragedy with Ben Solo and self-exile to Ahch-To. Fortunately, Luke didn't overshadow The Mandalorian's non-Jedi hero for long.
6 The Mandalorian Has Strong Wild West Themes
The Wild West movie genre was one of several influences on the Star Wars series from the beginning, including the desert setting of Tatooine and Han Solo's pistol-toting, swashbuckling cowboy vibes. Such themes were subtly included in Ahsoka, such as Baylan and Shin patrolling a new world on horse analogs, but The Mandalorian took it further.
That show doubled down on the Wild West themes in many ways, with Din being a cool loner type with pistols and a bounty hunting career in the most remote frontiers of the galaxy. He also helped save towns from savage outlaws and made friends with local mayors and magistrates on planets like Nevarro and Tatooine.
5 The Mandalorian Visits Tatooine
Aside from being the world where Anakin and Luke Skywalker, the desert world Tatooine really isn't that important in Star Wars. It really is a forgettable backwater that no one likes, but it has strong nostalgia thanks to the original movie trilogy. So, Star Wars keeps going back there, filling out the map with new towns and characters.
Ahsoka had no reason to visit that miserable world, but The Mandalorian did to keep up its Wild West themes. The main example was when Din convinced the townsfolk to cooperate with their Tusken Raider rivals to take down a gigantic krayt dragon, a beast no one could slay on their own.
4 The Mandalorian Explores Mandalorian Society in Depth
Sabine Wren represents the Mandalorian people in Ahsoka, but her story focuses more on her Jedi training and her friendship with Ahsoka Tano than her Mandalorian origins. Meanwhile, The Mandalorian goes far more in-depth with the Mandalorian people and their ways, such as their rituals, language, weapons and history.
Din Djarin embodied many of his people's most cherished values, such as immersing himself in water on Mandalore to redeem himself. The Mandalorian also showed what it's like to become a Foundling in Mandalorian society and reach certain life milestones while growing up among those people.
3 The Mandalorian Uses an Episodic Narrative
Some Star Wars storylines need a smooth and cohesive narrative to make sense, such as Ahsoka and the movies, but other Star Wars adventures are more fun when they're broken down into episodic adventures. Such was the case for The Mandalorian, whose hero was a wanderer with few long-term goals in mind.
That allowed The Mandalorian to freely explore a variety of settings, characters and events, and it fit Din's lifestyle as a roving bounty hunter and warrior for hire. A few times, Din was encouraged to settle down and put down roots, but that life wasn't for him, tempting as it can be.
2 The Mandalorian Often Uses Betrayal
The main Star Wars movies frequently use betrayal as a plot device, from Anakin betraying Mace Windu to Vader turning on the Emperor to Kylo Ren assassinating his master, Snoke. In Ahsoka, the characters tend to be more loyal, despite Sabine's deal with Baylan Skoll, so fans can take a break from all the betrayals.
Meanwhile, a grounded show like The Mandalorian,with all its gritty characters, must feature scenes of betrayal to feel complete. In Din's line of work, people are liable to backstab one another for money or revenge, as Migs Mayfeld once showed. Even Din turned traitor, turning on his client to save Grogu rather than hand that child over.
1 The Mandalorian Has Powerful Droid Villains
Both Ahsoka and The Mandalorian feature droid protagonists, including Huyang, Chopper, and IG-11, the assassin droid. However, it's only The Mandalorian that uses droids as proper villains. Neither show takes place in the Clone Wars with the Confederate droid army around, but evidently, droid villains are still in vogue.
Instead of cheap Trade Federation battle droids, Moff Gideon unleashed the terrifying Dark Troopers, which were a real threat even to Din's squad in The Mandalorian. Those Dark Troopers were like a platoon of murderous Terminators who would have slain Din if it weren't for Luke's aid, and that battle made for an excellent conclusion to The Mandalorian's second season.