TV Discussion Who is Your Favourite Live-Action TV Director So Far?

Famuyiwa and Filoni

 

For me Deborah Chow and Taika Waititi.

 

They've mostly all been good, mostly. Though I'm a bit more reserved about Rodriguez. But then, I initially didn't care much for Howard's first episode, at first watch, but that much improved on rewatch (the AT-ST was really well shot). And her second episode was excellent, one of my favorite TM episodes. So maybe I'll feel the same about Rodriguez' episodes on rewatch.

I think I'll say Famuyiwa and Chow, for now.

 

Howard's first episode was the Kurosawa bandit one right? I seem to be in such a minority of loving that one. Had that great classic samurai feel to it mixed with, like, "the right kind of cheesy" 90s TV stuff like Xena or Buffy/Angel or whatever. All through a modern Disney+ relatively-high-budget lens.

 

Yes, that one. I did like that one upon rewatch. Her second one was the one where Bo-Katan was introduced.

 

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Filoni and Chow

 

This is a hard question. Lots of quality choices. Even though he's most known for the Ant-Man movies, Peyton Reed's best directing performance ever was that last episode of Mando Season 2 - he created Star Wars magic.

Overall though, I think Chow has done the best job - she is the only one with two top tier episodes in my opinion.

So Reed and Chow get my vote. Honorable mention to Dave Filoni though - I am so impressed at how well "The Jedi" turned out, considering it was only his second live-action Star Wars directing attempt and he had the added pressure of bringing Ahsoka to live action.

 

Third. He directed The Mandalorian pilot episode, The Gunslinger and The Jedi.

 

Dang I missed that, wishing I could revise my vote now. That one was outstanding.

 

You can change your vote, there's a button available

I thought The Jedi was the best live-action episode we've had so far, and not just for Ahsoka. Just visually stunning, beautiful photography, creative usage of lighting, interesting and different environment (not another desert or bog standard forest or gray imperial hallways) which had a narrative and thematic purpose, very magical atmosphere overall.

I felt like every other episode was way too similar to one another with nothing particularly memorable, and the finale I thought was a very ordinary episode, save for Luke entrance, which clearly carried it.

 

Rick Famuyiwa for me, but Dave Filoni directed my favourite episode so far - "The Jedi".

 

The Rick and Deb duo for me!

 

Poor Carl, hasn't gotten any votes

 

Filoni really did acquit himself with “The Jedi.” I also think he directed some of the best action sequences thus far. The opening of the Jedi, and the shootout with IG-88 in the inaugural episode of Mando. The latter really was an incredibly shot sequence, and doesn’t get enough love.

 

The material he had to work with didn't help. That was probably the least memorable episode of a very memorable season.

 

Filoni still has yet to fully win me over as a live action director. As rock solid as the pilot is, I'd frankly give Favreau co-directing credit there. Of course, he was present throughout the first season in assisting and guiding all the directors, but as Filoni's direct mentor I think he had extra interest in ensuring the pilot was as good as it could be. "The Gunslinger" remains the weakest live action episode to date for me, and while I've appreciated the nuances to "The Jedi," I still don't think of it as upper tier.

 

Steph Green is by far the best. That's the best action in SW in years, and amazing dream sequence too.

 

She did great, but IMO Famuyiwa and Chow are next level.

 

Filoni would probably be my pick so far, mainly for just The Jedi and the first ep of Mando (I particularly love its idiosyncratic love for ANH's cheap filming techniques, like the landspeeder shots). The Gunslinger is also a neat one, though nothing outstanding.

Second would be Rick Famuyiwa. The pacing around the corridors in The Prisoner, or cargo-transport chase and tense mess hall scenes in The Believer both exemplify what I like about his style, it's very reserved without losing any energy. He also directed my favourite shot in the whole show, in The Child, when we see the assassins tracking Mando jump across a reflection in his helmet:

 

Filoni and Howard

Filoni - Pilot, 1.05 “Gunslinger” and Chapter 13 “The Jedi”

Howard - 1.04 “Sanctuary”, Chapter 11 “Heirness”

it helps that Filoni specifically knew the care needed in reintroducing both Bo-Katan and Ahsoka Tano into SW. Sackhoff reprises her animated role and Dawson playing the beloved Tano. Gunslinger I believe is also one of the best from the 1st season