The Mandalorian's Bryce Dallas Howard responds to biggest season 2 criticism

The Mandalorian season two spoilers follow.

The Mandalorian season two delves into a deep treasure chest of Star Wars lore, introducing (or re-introducing) fans of the franchise to iconic characters from the wider universe, including Boba Fett, Ahsoka Tano and Bo-Katan Kryze, as well as mythology such as the Darksaber.

While many Star Wars fans loved the Disney+ show's exploration of the wider mythology of the galaxy far, far away, some Mandalorian fans less well-versed in the Star Wars universe might not have been as keen on these extra connections.

Bryce Dallas Howard, who directed season two episode 'The Heiress', has told Digital Spy in an exclusive interview that she feels the wider Star Wars mythology has been well-handled in season two of The Mandalorian, likening the added layers to the approach taken by the Jurassic World franchise she stars in.

Related: Star Wars super-fan Bryce Dallas Howard talks The Mandalorian and evil Baby Yoda

"I think it's a really fine balance, of course. As an actor, I'm familiar with those kind of questions, because, for example, with working in the Jurassic franchise, it's like, 'OK, we can have fun with some deep cuts for the fans, but, at the end of the day, it's about a good story, well told.

"'What is that balance? How might something that has been established in The Lost World or whatnot play a factor into the storytelling for Jurassic World: Dominion?'"

"By the way, that's not a spoiler. I'm just making that up randomly right now!" she added, laughing.

Howard added that she feels that the existence of a "larger world" while telling a story can be "a real asset", because it provides added depth and richness to events and characters.

Related: The Mandalorian actor's Star Wars future revealed

"If you're telling a story that is a biopic or something, and there's a bunch of characters that are smaller characters in that biopic, but you can go, and you can read about all of them, because they existed, and their lives are well-documented and whatnot, it's only going to better inform the biopic that's centring on the one character.

"Because you will have these fully fleshed out other characters that, even though it's not centralising on them, they're a part of the narrative."

As for The Mandalorian, Howard revealed that she is very aware of the need to appeal to both casual viewers and more devoted Star Wars fans, saying that "plate-spinning" is needed to provide a great viewing experience to both.

"I would liken that as well to The Mandalorian in that there are these stories of characters that exist, but even though they might not be playing a central role... Constantly in stories, there are new characters. But in this one, what's cool is, (if you are a super-fan), you will actually be caught up, and will have an understanding of the various layers of the scene," she said.

Related: The Mandalorian finale just changed the show forever

"But the scene needs to work for someone who's five years old and hasn't seen anything else. Again, that's the plate-spinning job of the series."

She added that she feels the involvement of executive producer Dave Filoni, who has worked on a number of Star Wars series, means that Star Wars fans expect "richer" storytelling and that the team try to incorporate this while keeping the action enjoyable for fans who are new to some established characters.

"I think to not connect The Mandalorian in any shape or form, especially with Dave Filoni's collaboration, it would personally feel like a missed opportunity," she said. "As a fan, when I see Dave's name on something, I want the storytelling to be that much richer.

"I want to feel the specificity of the Star Wars universe be brought to life, especially when it's live-action. It's definitely a fine line. But that's part of the joy."

The Mandalorian season 1 and season 2 are streaming now on Disney+.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and the entire Skywalker Saga are available on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K now, as well as on Disney+, while Rise of Skywalker is also on Sky Cinema Premiere and NOW TV.

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