Shows To Watch While We Wait For More Of The Mandalorian
When Disney+ launched in November of 2019, fans were drooling at the promise of an expansion of the Star Wars universe. That promise was delivered in the form of the lone wolf bounty hunter known simply as The Mandalorian. Most of those who signed up for the streaming platform navigated straight to the new series and basked in all its glory. This charming space western tipped its hat to many aspects of the Star Wars world and spawned a legion of memes courtesy of Baby Yoda.
The itch for content from a galaxy far, far away may have been scratched with a slew of character references, blaster battles, and familiar bar booths, but once our binge session was finished we still felt hungry. The Mandalorian was a wild ride but a quick one. Upon reaching its final destination (and its surprising last scene), you may have looked around at your surroundings and realized that you don't have kids. Most of Disney+ is an ocean of nostalgia, not to mention a healthy dose of MCU action that will always have us cheering for the good guy. However, you may be looking for more of that sense of adventure that you felt with The Mandalorian. Fear not — we are here for you.
There is a charm to space westerns that can be hard to match without venturing into cheesy territory. Luckily, some amazing creators have ventured into the unknown and returned with visions of other worlds for our eyeballs to explore. We've compiled a list of our favorites — some about characters traversing the stars, some diving into the complex landscape of the mind, but all of them with that unpredictable adventure you long for. This is the way.
The Expanse
This science-fiction series on Amazon Prime is an immersive journey into a world of human space colonization. Hundreds of years in the future, humanity has colonized Mars, with outposts on various moons and asteroids at the edge of our solar system. The series bounces around each of those worlds as the heroes deal with the clashing of powers across millions of miles.
The Expanse's first season focuses primarily on Joe Miller, a detective (played by a very lean Thomas Jane) who resides in the asteroid belt. The residents are raised in zero gravity, and thus have tall, lanky bodies that are unable to handle the gravity on Earth. Detective Miller bounces around asteroid residences, clashing with space mafiosos while hunting for answers in the murder of a young woman named Julie Mao. Meanwhile, screen time is split with executive officer James Holden as he and his crew deal with the fallout of stumbling across a violent encounter between Earth and Mars during a mining expedition close to the inner planets.
The show creates a nuanced language among the "Belters" that can leave you puzzled at first, but you begin to follow it contextually as you dive deeper into the world of The Expanse. The social commentary with the political happenings on Earth can seem almost comical as they try to decide what to do with happenings among the stars — especially considering that the time delay in communication across the solar system. Prepare to be immersed in a vast new world that lends credence to its namesake in The Expanse.
Firefly
Fans of this cult series from Joss Whedon are still sour with Fox after cancelling it much too soon. Over the years it has developed a rabid fanbase that continues to grow in numbers as more people discover the adventures of Captain Malcom Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and the crew of Serenity. The show was ahead of its time — it won an Emmy for visual effects in 2003 — and creates an intricate world complete with its own unique slang and curse words. Science-fiction shows can lose their luster over time, but Firefly still feels shiny.
The short-lived series follows the crew of Serenity, who typically make their living by transporting cargo between planets, occasionally taking less-than-honest jobs. After failing to receive payment for a specific smuggling gig, the crew takes on some passengers to make extra money. Among them are River and her brother, Simon. It is revealed that River is a genius child prodigy who was being subjected to experiments in a secret government laboratory from which Simon had rescued her. They are on the run from the very organization Caption Malcolm had fought against in previous wars, and has been desperately to avoid ever since.
It's a fun ride that is worth the time, especially if you are only looking to dip your toes into something sweet and don't need a decade's worth of episodes to work through. But be prepared for the same heartbreak many fans felt as you reach the end and realize it's over. As a little bonus, though, we got the film Serenity, which is a fun way to branch off and get another taste once you are done.
The Boys
Perhaps you are looking for something a little darker after you've put the kids to bed with some of their favorite superhero films. Look no further than The Boys. This Amazon Prime Video series takes place in a world full of superheroes riddled with flaws and in pursuit of profit and glory. It's a gritty look into what human beings with godly powers might be capable of given the chance. The result may be far from altruistic, but it sure is fun to watch.
In the world of The Boys, superheroes are owned, marketed, and dictated by a powerful entity known as the Vought Corporation. Behind their public personas, most of these heroes are selfish and crooked. This is where the gang known as "The Boys" step in and take matters into their own hands. This ragtag group of hunters, led by Karl Urban's brooding Billy Butcher, track down and kill the superbeings that are up to no good. But how does one kill a superhero with diamond plated skin?
Most of the fun comes from the creative ways in which the antiheroes try to capture and kill their targets. The show can slow down and force you into feeling some truly uncomfortable moments that make it clear there are actually very few heroes on the screen. The first season finale left us wondering where it was going, and hungry for next season.
Killjoys
A fun-filled jaunt through space as bounty hunters shoot their way from target to target is what is advertised in this SyFy adventure, and that is exactly what it delivers. Some critics claimed it lacked character depth in its first season, but fortunately, audiences gave it a chance to flourish into a successful run of five seasons of excitement. Anyone willing to take the ride will likely be drawn in by the science-fiction action and enjoyable personalities that will have you wanting to stay and learn more about the world of Killjoys.
The series focuses on three bounty hunters who work for the Reclamation Apprehension Coalition. Each member of the squad possesses a unique ability they use to obtain each of their targets. Their employment in the RAC calls for no loyalty to any other organization, or to any form of government or planet. Turns out that can be harder than it sounds once your past comes to light and your world begins unraveling around you.
It is refreshing to get exactly what you signed up for with this thrilling romp across the cosmos. The character dynamics are entertaining to watch, and with the end of each episode you will be excited for the next. Prepare to see this journey all the way through.
Westworld
Step into a western-themed environment populated by androids and prepare for intrigue as multiple creative genres blur together with Westworld. The HBO series boasts incredible acting chops from stars such as Evan Rachel Wood and Ed Harris, not to mention Anthony Hopkins. By the end of the first season, your world will be shattered right alongside the unwitting characters scrambling to make sense of their surroundings.
In the not-too-distant future, the Delos Corporation operates theme parks inhabited by robots that serve as hosts to the ticket holders that venture into the parks. The robots appear identical to their human counterparts, and therein lies the appeal. Guests can travel into Westworld and play out their desires without consequence, some sadistic and violent in nature. Several discombobulated timelines are presented throughout season 1, and with their alignment comes a sudden revelation that will leave you hungry for an immediate rewatch.
Originally created by the visionary writer Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park), Westworld boasts incredible cinematic shots with those bursts of action we all crave. The show begins in what appears to be a cowboy drama in a different package, but quickly makes it clear that you can't trust your own predictions. Westworld forces you to become more attached to the humanity in the androids than that of the humans they serve. Don't be afraid. Break your loop. Choose adventure.
Supernatural
Perhaps you aren't fond of the hunt for new content. If that's the case, then settle in with Supernatural and be satisfied with nightly viewings of this alluring CW show for the rest of the year. Finally ending with season 15, this charming show features attractive stars, witty dialogue, and a healthy dose of the paranormal. The stars of the show are known for being interactive with their fans through social media, which has helped nurture an entire culture around this exciting series.
The show starts with the introduction of two brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester, as they travel in search of their missing father. Their quest is fueled by the skills their father taught them in hunting supernatural creatures. The brothers face vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and a slew of other beings, all while learning about the extent of the power that lies inside them. The first season ends with a cliffhanger that nudges you off into season 2, after which your world will become all things Supernatural.
A quick dive into the culture around Supernatural will reveal an endless supply of audience interactions, scores of clever dialogue, countless memes, and a looming curiosity. There are few that speak negatively about the adventures of Winchester Brothers — there are only those that have seen and those that have not.
Mindhunter
A cast of magnetic killers speaking their truth into a microphone makes for an intoxicating trip into the mind of those we don't understand — or simply don't want to. This deeply intriguing Netflix show has two seasons of deep dives into the mechanisms that drive serial killers, delivered through chilling conversations and nuanced filmmaking that creates a constant tone of uneasiness.
Mindhunter centers around FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench in the early days of psychological profiling. Along with psychologist Wendy Carr, the crew attempts to establish validity in the research done to explain the reasoning behind truly horrific murders. The agents travel to prisons and interview serial killers, having to result in unorthodox methods of conversation in order to get their subjects to open up and reveal their true intentions. As the characters dive deeper into the minds of the psychotic, their personal and professional lives begin to bleed together with devastating results.
Last season boasted a climactic interview with Charles Manson (Damon Harrimon, playing the same role he did in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), as well as another appearance from the imposing coed killer, Ed Kemper (played skillfully by Cameron Britton). The series constantly seems to be in limbo as to its future, given short contracts for the actors and a busy workload for producers David Fincher and Charlize Theron. However uncertain we may be as to where the end truly lies, the tangled web of truth created by two seasons of mental combat is enough to have us waiting patiently for more.
The Witcher
If you have a hankering for some fantasy lore, then The Witcher is the perfect show for you. Henry Cavill stars as the titular character and is in prime form, worthy of carrying the torch for this much-loved video game adaptation. His husky, throaty voice and indifferent persona makes you uncertain at first as to whether you are correct in choosing him as a companion on your cinematic journey. After the first episode, you will be happy with your choice and continue on excitedly.
The show follows a white-haired Cavill and his piercing amber eyes as he slashes through a medieval fantasyland, seeing to whichever task he deems worthy of his skills. Geralt of Rivia only hints to his supernatural powers, mostly relying on his skills as a gifted swordsman. As we are introduced to Princess Ciri and Yennifer, three separate stories develop across several timelines. It's an exciting adventure that fills in any story confusion with hypnotic action sequences.
The various timelines all come clashing together as the first season draws to an end, and everything you have been shown gains clarity. If you need a totem through it all, just always remember the fall of Cintra. The Witcher set the internet ablaze when it was released, solidifying our love of Henry Cavill and leaving us eagerly awaiting a second season.
Watchmen
Fans of the original Watchmen comic got much more than they bargained for in this HBO series. The series proposes an interesting take on the role of superheroes, wherein law enforcement personnel protect themselves by wearing masks. The character development in the show is top tier, with a few individual episodes that focus specifically on each character's backstory. By the time you reach the central plotline's climax, you're bound to feel connected with each person on the screen.
This alternate reality takes place 34 years after the comic book and the 2009 film of the same name. The story follows detective Angela Abar as she attempts to make sense of a disturbing sequence of events that leads to the death of a close work associate. Adrian Veidt, a.k.a. Ozymandias, seems to be on his own planet grappling with his sanity throughout most of the show. All the while, a group of white supremecists wearing Rorschach masks are terrorizing Abar's hometown.
There is no need to have knowledge of the comic or movie in order to enjoy this take on a classic, but subtle hints to the source material will give fans a reason to smirk. While some may find themselves searching the screen for more blue, you will become invested in the characters presented. Watchmen follows suit with a few others in grounding our superheroes and injecting them with humanity, flaws and all.
His Dark Materials
Before wizard fever swept the nation, the fantasy escape for many came in the form of Phillip Pullman's book His Dark Materials. Beginning with the well-received Golden Compass, the book series chronicles a timeless clashing of parallel universes. While the previews for this HBO show can come across as another grasp at Narnia magic, a venture inward proves it is anything but juvenile.
The show follows Lyra (Dafne Keen) as she is exposed to a world far beyond her understanding. The unknowing Lyra ventures off in search of a group of kidnapped children, and on the way learns of the mysterious substance known as Dust. Her adventure also pits her against ancient machinations and introduces her to the concept of daemons — creatures that operate in an alternate reality as an extension of the human soul.
The first season finished up with eight episodes that presented a complex world that had previously seemed impossible to bring to the screen. While many posit that the source material is a complex metaphor for alternate takes on religion, philosophy, and physics, the show allows you to enjoy it however you see fit — most notably in imagining how cool it would be to ride an armored polar bear across the Arctic.
The Umbrella Academy
This comic book adaptation shows us what you can truly do if you have enough money — for instance, pay to adopt seven kids from around the world and attempt to assemble a superhero team. The Netflix show features a cast that fills each unique role well and visual effects that help establish a reality much more grounded than it would seem on paper. No matter your personality, you are bound to connect with at least one of the various characters in this extremely dysfunctional family.
The show begins with a seemingly healthy non-pregnant woman diving into a pool, and a moment later rising up out of the water in labor. As it turns out, 43 woman from around the world, who showed no signs of pregnancy whatsoever, all go into labor at the same time. A billionaire named Sir Reginald Hargreeves attempts to adopt as many of these children as possible, and gets seven of them. He raises them as a superhero team he calls The Umbrella Academy but only succeeds in pushing each of them away and transforming them into tortured young adults desperate to run from a past that won't let them escape.
There is a lot to unpack in The Umbrella Academy, but the storytelling is quite seamless. Don't be foolish in thinking you've seen the superhero team dynamic play out in all its forms. There is one form you haven't seen yet, and it's not going to be the family reunion you expect.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
It's hard to binge through The Mandalorian and not crave more Star Wars. Lucky for you, there is an expansive storyline already packaged and ready to go in the form of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Some may have underestimated Clone Wars because of its status as an animated TV series, but fear not, there is a delicious amount of storytelling to absorb in this magnificent addition to the Star Wars canon.
Much of the story takes place in the time between Episode II and Episode III, with Anakin and Obi-Wan as our heroes fighting against the dark side while General Grievous and Count Dooku attempt to gather more troops for their sinister cause. Ranking the films themselves continues to be a source of division among Star Wars fans worldwide, but the one thing that always remains is love for the universe itself. Clone Wars stands as its own source of lore, while also doing an efficient job of tying itself into the movies we all love. If you are looking for more Star Wars, there are few that won't recommend dipping into The Clone Wars.