The Mandalorian’s Deborah Chow made Star Wars history with the most recent episode
By Meg Dowell
The third episode of the Disney Plus exclusive series, The Mandalorian, is being praised as the best so far — but something else about it stands out.
On November 12, Star Wars as a franchise made history when it released the first episode of The Mandalorian — and not just because it was one of many shows to premiere at launch when Disney Plus became available for the first time in the United States.
The show is making history in all kinds of ways, and it will likely continue to do so as more episodes are produced. It is the first live-action Star Wars show ever made for the small screen (multiple animated shows have preceded it).
The second episode of the series was also directed by Rick Famuyiwa, who is the first person of color to direct a Star Wars project. Famuyiwa is just one of several notable directors you’re going to see Star Wars Twitter gush over in the weeks to come — heart-eye emojis and all.
And Deborah Chow, known for directing episodes of series such as Jessica Jones, Better Call Saul, Reign, and Fear the Walking Dead — is officially the first woman to direct a live-action Star Wars installment. What a way to make a name for yourself among Star Wars fans!
And this was just one episode. In just the first season, Chow will direct a total of two episodes in the eight-episode arc.
What has most people excited is that Chow will be directing all the episodes of the upcoming, untilted Obi-Wan Kenobi series, set to premiere on Disney Plus sometime in the next few years. From what we’ve seen her do with just one episode of The Mandalorian, it’s clear she’s going to take her role with this series seriously… and blow everyone’s expectations out of the sky.
Why does Chow’s status as the first woman to direct Star Wars matter so much to so many people? There are a few reasons — one being that women haven’t been seen prominently on-screen in this series yet (don’t worry — it’s coming), and it’s an important reminder that women are still working behind the scenes to make this show truly shine.
Another reason to praise Chow — besides the excellent job she did directing Chapter 3? Women are watching this series. Even young women. And seeing a woman credited as the director of such a critically acclaimed, highly anticipated, and brilliantly executed series in one of the longest-running and beloved franchises in Hollywood is a big deal.
Chow’s skill and passion for her work have earned her the opportunity to take on and absolutely nail such an important project. Though you may not realize it, this is a spark of true inspiration for aspiring female directors and filmmakers out there who may have previously believed they didn’t have a shot in the industry simply because of their gender.
Representation isn’t just about inclusion. It’s also about inspiration for fans at home with big dreams in even bigger industries. The more a female sees someone like them onscreen or in charge of various projects, the more that they will believe their hard work can pay off and that they might have equal opportunities to succeed.
The same goes for people of color, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented populations who aspire to work in film and television someday.
Yes, jobs should be offered to those who are most qualified to do the best work. But the point is that everyone with the same qualifications, regardless of gender, or race, or other factors, should have the same opportunities to do that work.
People like Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau are making great Star Wars things, and they also deserve praise for that. But now is the time to shout out diversity wherever you see it, even if it seems small and insignificant. Representation matters. Fans want to see themselves onscreen and behind the scenes, and they want to be seen. Let them be seen.
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