The stories we tell ourselves as a culture today serve as both cause and symptom of how little we value the contribution of men. Over and over the families on the silver and small screen feature bumbling, self-centered fathers with mothers picking up their slack. Every character has flaws but when every sitcom dad is a moron, writers aren’t engaging in well-rounded character development. Instead, it’s a sign we’ve given up and settled for mediocre men in fiction and reality.

When a cultural sensation emerges, we may not fully understand why we’re drawn to it. The Star Wars franchise foundered for years doling out flimsy, girl-boss stories. Then in late 2019, fans new and old celebrated The Mandalorian. The best of Lucasfilm combines groundbreaking special effects with deep themes and the first two seasons of this series chronicle a loner reluctantly rising to accept the mantle of fatherhood. It’s easy to miss because he is covered in shiny armor and his child is a pointy-eared puppet but hero’s journey matures from merely donating to support “foundlings” from earnings to directly accepting family responsibility.

Back in the first three decades of the franchise, mentoring was a primary Star Wars theme. We meet Luke Skywalker, a brash, impulsive young man who slowly learns to appreciate the lessons of his elders, be they man, or pointy-eared puppet. In the original trilogy climax, rather than victory through combat, Luke reverses father-son roles to call out his father’s dormant masculine capacity for sacrifice and nobility.

The theme of male mentoring appears in other genres. 2023’s most streamed show was Suits, breaking records previously held by The Office. While many came for an actress who eventually left the show to marry British royalty, they stayed for male mentorship. This aspect of fatherhood resonated deeply with the audience. The series follows a successful lawyer showing the ropes to a protégé. A young man who squandered vast amounts of talent until a mentor finds potential he can no longer see in himself. Unfortunately, other aspects of mature fatherhood are conspicuously absent, as sex outside of marital commitment is the norm. But even a glimmer of what fathers ought may stir audiences craving the best aspects of masculinity. The stories we share among ourselves should reflect what a life well lived means. Whether high-rise offices or outer space we can draw audiences by encouraging the best in manhood. Deep down we still want a healthy serving of male heroes to serve the important roles for which men are created.

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