Baby Yoda is an inherently manipulative Disney product -- if it weren't, The Mandalorian would fall apart

Variety

"The Mandalorian evolves from a perfectly acceptable Western to something more (ironically) human by the end of its first episode, when The Mandalorian realizes he has to look after this teensy space weirdo with his life," says Caroline Framke. "This charge eventually inspires him to buck his shady orders and take off into the sky as the galaxy’s most sought after fugitive — a big swing for The Mandalorian as a character, one who’s so concerned with keeping his true emotions in check that he steadfastly refuses to remove his helmet. (This, despite The Mandalorian being played by Pedro Pascal, an actor with a famously great face). This twist on the initial premise just wouldn’t work if Baby Yoda weren’t immediately charming enough to make viewers understand why the Mandalorian would risk everything in order to save it — or better yet, share his kneejerk instinct to shield it. Baby Yoda has to be, in the words of renowned documentarian and Mandalorian star Werner Herzog, 'heartbreakingly beautiful.' It’s fun to watch a shrunken Yoda in voluminous robes slurp up frogs, but more importantly, it’s meticulously calculated to serve a larger narrative. So, sure, Baby Yoda is an inherently manipulative product of the most powerful media conglomerate on this or any other planet. It is also undeniably, desperately cute for very real reasons, the most crucial of which is that uncontrollable protective twinge you feel the second it flicks across your screen. That it also makes it a perfect meme no matter what the occasion is just a glorious bonus."

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