Dads aren’t very cool, are they? In fact they’re the antithesis of cool.
Dad rock, dad dancing, dad jokes: terms which are hardly a ringing endorsement of fatherhood’s innate hipness.
Even telly adverts trade on “father’s an idiot” themes. Watch a few the next time you tune into Coronation Street and at least one advert will feature a dad looking like a big wally.
The classic Western era of Shane or True Grit is possibly the last era when a paternal role model was a positive thing, so maybe that’s why the Mandalorian feels like a welcome throwback.
The second series kicked off on Disney+ last week and the masked gunslinger is once more cutting about Star Wars’ Galaxy Far, Far Away, shooting space varmints and living up to his single dad duties.
It’s a Saturday morning romp which is unapologetically earnest. The acting is a bit ropey, it’s mostly about puppets and the names are deeply silly. Someone’s called Fennec Shand – presumably they are related to Jimmy?
At the centre remains the relationship between the Clint Eastwood figure and his ward, who is the adorable Baby Yoda. That might not be his character name, but that’s what we’re calling him.
At the centre of the gunslinging adventures is a sweet father and child relationship. And it’s a joy.
This dad rocks.
The Mandalorian Disney+, streaming now
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