The fifth episode of “Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian” focuses on the use of practical effects during the making of the Disney+ smash hit series.

Using practical effects is something that Star Wars is known for, especially the original trilogy, which “The Mandalorian” uses as an inspiration.  While technology is obviously important and last week’s episode showcased what it can do, having something physically on the set for actors to interact with, does make a difference.

This show features some fascinating insights from many of the show’s creators including Jon Favreau, Taika Waititi, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, Deborah Chow and Dave Filoni.  As they sit around a roundtable, talking about how they dealt with the practical effects, while also getting small featurettes and explanations on how the special effects were made.

Some of the interesting stories include how IG-11 was directly affected by the use of a physical model and the detail that went into creating the Baby Yoda puppet.  That thing is incredible!  But you wouldn’t believe how many people it takes to operate it.

Hearing the creators talk openly about their love of Star Wars, their insight into the creation of the series, really shows how the future of Star Wars is going to be shaped.  People who are passionate about the world George Lucas created, pushing forward technology while still respecting the core principles of the originals.

I wasn’t a big fan of this series when it started, I thought it was a bit too fluffy and felt like a collection of featurettes that you would find on a DVD.  But as the series has progressed, the discussions have become more detailed and free flowing.  I’ve always compared the roundtable format as a “podcast”, where you want to listen to them talking openly and it feels like we are getting more of that.  It no longer feels like just a commercial for “The Mandalorian”.

Unless you are extremely interested in the behind the scenes of how shows and movies are made, this show isn’t for you.  But I’ve always been intrigued by the behind the scenes aspects, so I’ve been enjoying the show, with this episode standing out as one of the best of the series.

Episode 5 of the “Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian” is a great insight into the physical practical effects from the show, if you want to know more about “The Mandalorian”, this is for you, otherwise, it might just be best to wait for season 2.

Rating 4 out of 5

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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