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The Mandalorian and Grogu has managed to bring a bit of fun back to cinematic Star Wars universe, picking up from where the immensely popular Disney+ series left off. Cleverly situated as an outer-space adventure that nods to both traditional American westerns and Japanese samurai narratives, the show (and movie) picks and chooses tropes from classic cinema genres in much the same way that the original Star Wars did.
In that spirit, here are 10 more streaming shows that draw from the same wells to watch next (because I’m going to assume you already know where to find other Disney+ Star Wars series, from Andor, to Ahsoka, to Skeleton Crew).
Killjoys (2015 – 2019)
What starts out as a relatively straightforward action show about space bounty hunters (the title’s “Killjoys”) develops surprising depth over the course of its five seasons. As officially sanctioned Killjoys, the trio at the the show’s heart (Hannah John-Kamen, Aaron Ashmore, and Luke Macfarlane) are bound to remain politically neutral at any cost. Initially, that’s a way to get them right into the heat of a fight, but as they develop ties of friendship and family in an exploited community, they come to understand the high cost of unchecked wealth and greed, and the ways in which neutrality always benefits the oppressors. The show’s creators make exceptionally good use of a limited budget, and offer up some impressive queer rep, which is still rare in pop sci-fi. Buy Killjoys from Prime Video or Apple TV.
Cowboy Bebop (1998 — 1999)
An iconic, effortlessly cool genre classic, Cowboy Bebop is one of the undisputed GOATs of anime, blending western, noir, and crime genres and setting the resultant mash to a killer soundtrack. The title’s “cowboys” are bounty hunters in a near-future in which humans have been forced to colonize the solar system after Earth became uninhabitable. Former hitman Spike Spiegel leads his crew on one nearly disastrous mission after another, their standalone adventures all building to a thoroughly memorable climax. Stream Cowboy Bebop on Crunchyroll or buy it from Prime Video.
Firefly (2002)
If you prefer your dystopias a little quippier, there’s this short-lived cult favorite following a crew of mercenaries led by Mal Reynolds and Zoe Washburne (Nathan Fillion and Gina Torres), two disaffected former soldiers who fought on the losing side of a galactic war for independence against the thoroughly conformist central government. The crew tries to stay just under the radar of law enforcement while engaging in activities that aren’t always strictly legal. Canceled after just a handful of episodes aired, the series didn’t get a chance to make much of that core conflict, but the sequel/wrap-up film Serenity (2005) is a good capper, and the crew is forced to take a stand to protect one of its own. Stream Firefly on Disney+ and Hulu.
Blake’s 7 (1978 – 1981)
Political dissident Roj Blake (Gareth Thomas) gets a second chance in the wake of his capture and conviction by the totalitarian surveillance state that is the Terran Federation. When his prison transport responds to a distress call, Blake and his fellow convicts take the opportunity to seize the advanced spacecraft they encounter. Renaming the ship Liberator, the borderline fanatical Blake convinces his reluctant new crew that the only peace for any of them will require bringing down the Federation. The series saw several significant changes in status quo over its four seasons (including a couple of swaps in main characters), giving it a sense of consequence and unpredictability—and it all leads to one of TV’s most memorable, shocking conclusions. Buy Blake’s 7 on Prime Video and Apple TV.
Farscape (1999 – 2004)
Ben Browder plays Earth astronaut John Crichton, hurled through a wormhole into a distant corner of the galaxy. Quite by accident, he winds up onboard Moya, a sentient prison ship that’s been hijacked by its cargo of convicts, and the euphemistically named Peacekeepers (think something like Space ICE). The mismatched crew, including political dissidents and more conventional criminals, plus one stranded Peacekeeper, becomes, by necessity rather than intention, the focus of resistance against an oppressive government. The Jim Henson Company and its Creature Shop handled the alien makeup, prosthetics, and puppets, giving the show a singular look and feel. It sometimes plays like a lost, dark episode of The Muppet Show…which is obviously a compliment. (The show was canceled before a planned fifth season, but concludes in The Peacekeeper Wars miniseries.) Stream Farscape on Peacock, Tubi, and Prime Video.
Lone Wolf and Cub (2002 – 2004)
Doubtless the biggest single influence on The Mandalorian, the 1970s manga Lone Wolf and Cub follows disgraced warrior Ogami Ittō, forced to become a wandering assassin if he hopes to survive long enough to restore his name or, at the very least, to avenge his murdered wife. Only his newborn son Daigorō survived the slaughter of his household, and he winds up growing up on the road as the father and son explore a violent world. There are several entries to the live-action worlds of these characters, including a 1970s Japanese television series and, perhaps most memorably, a sequence of films. I’m recommending the most recent installment here because it’s quite good in its own right—and it happens to be readily available on streaming. Stream Lone Wolf and Cub on Prime Video and Tubi.
What do you think so far?
The Witcher (2019 – )
Kicking off with a slightly overcomplicated timey-wimey narrative structure, The Witcher ultimately settles into a groove as a show about a big guy who fights creatures in a Tolkien-like fantasy kingdom. Played first by Henry Cavill and, more recently, by Liam Hemsworth, the titular Witcher is Geralt of Rivia, a genetically engineered (sort of) magical monster hunter who refuses to kill a young woman accused of monstrosity by a jerk of a mage—a decision that puts him on a path that involves protecting and mentoring Ciri (Freya Allan), a crown princess who lots of people want dead. Ciri is no child, but a powerful individual in her own right; she just needs a little mentoring, not unlike little Baby Yoda. Stream The Witcher on Netflix.
The Last of Us (2023 – )
Though the focus shifts a little (or, I suppose, a lot) in the second season, the adaptation of the video game The Last of Us starts out as a road trip two-hander of sorts, set in a frequently dusty, desolate America that’s been ravaged by the outbreak of a zombie plague caused by a cordyceps fungus. Pedro Pascal (Mando himself!) is Joel Miller, a hardened smuggler who reluctantly agrees to ferry teenager Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across several states, her apparent immunity making her a valuable commodity. Gradually, the two come to care for each other and, even more gradually, they become a formidable pair, defending themselves from both the infected and normal people looking to exploit Ellie. Stream The Last of Us on HBO Max.
The Expanse (2015 – 2022)
Set in a near-ish future, The Expanse (based on the book series by James S.A. Corey) imagines a colonized solar system into which we’ve carried all of our old familiar problems, and then some. Earth sits at the historical and cultural center of things, while Mars colonists, by virtue of having to survive in a challenging environment, have developed technological and military superiority, and folks living in “the Belt” have had to scrabble to survive. Greed, fear, and shortsightedness make conflict nearly inevitable, even if the series isn’t quite as cynical as it at first appears. Like Mando and Grogu, a spaceship crew led by Captain James Holden finds itself alternately inside and very outside of the system, depending on the political realities at any given time, and likewise doing the right thing, if only out of necessity. Stream The Expanse on Prime Video.
Samurai Jack (2001 – 2017)
While mostly not a tale of masters and apprentices, this justifiably beloved animated series places a traditional warrior in a futuristic setting, his code of honor running up against reality in every episode. Phil LaMarr voices the title character, a feudal Japanese prince who becomes lost in time due to the machinations of a shapeshifting demon. Jack (as he comes to be called) lands in a distant, dystopian future ruled by the same demon and his robot servants. Jack’s series-long quest is to return to his own time and prevent the horrible future he’s been forced to live through. Wildly stylish and smart, it’s one of the animated greats. Stream Samurai Jack on HBO Max.
