Hotline Feature – Germain Lussier: The Mandalorian and Grogu Review and Pedro Pascal's Rough Stretch

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo joins Dave Weekley fresh off writing his review of The Mandalorian and Grogu, and he's not pulling punches. Despite being a lifelong Star Wars fan who has attended eleven franchise premieres, Lussier finds the film a two-hour plot delivery vehicle that fails to meaningfully develop its characters or justify its existence as a theatrical release — arguing that nothing in the movie makes it essential viewing before a potential Mandalorian season four. The two discuss whether the built-in Star Wars audience will show up regardless, how much the film's reception reflects on Pedro Pascal's recent run following Fantastic Four, and what Lussier would tell the franchise's creative team. Dave opens the segment with breaking news of the Cincinnati Reds trading Reese Hines to the Miami Marlins and West Virginia's Alec Manoah being outrighted to Triple-A by the Angels.