Chapter Sixteen
Mando and Boba recruit some much needed help in their endeavor, tracking down Bo Katan and offering her a chance at the Darksaber. Once aboard Moff Gideon’s ship they find a fight that may be too much for them. As things turn hopeless, a single craft approaches carrying a chance of victory...
Going into this episode without spoilers was one of the best Star Wars moments I’ve had in a very long time. It wasn’t just Luke’s grand entrance. It was everything that built up to that scene. We knew our assorted soldiers and bounty hunters were more than a match for Stormtroopers and Imperial officers. But the Dark Troopers were a very formidable enemy, established by how much it took for Din to take out just one of them.
However, droids are simply not going to win against a Jedi at full power. So watching Luke mow through the entire platoon of those oversized robots was very satisfying. I also loved how his final reveal came in bits and pieces; first a green lightsaber, then a black gloved hand and that familiar Return of the Jedi belt buckle. Yet even Luke’s appearance didn’t take away from Mando and his final actions as a surrogate father to Grogu.
First he rescued our little green friend from Moff Gideon in a great fight utilizing the Beskar spear. Gideon’s defeat created a new problem which I imagine will be resolved in season three before Bo Katan gets her own series (just conjecture at this point, but passing on a Katee Sackhoff led series feels like a big mistake). The passing of the Darksaber isn’t just a matter of handing it over, it has to be won in combat. I wonder how they will dance around that little gem of a clause.
Secondly, we got Din jumping in front of the blaster fire saving Grogu’s life. Lastly, and possibly the most important, he revealed his face to Grogu. That act, the choice to share with the child the one thing that he can never share, means so much after being built up for two seasons. It was a heart-wrenching moment as the two of them said goodbye to each other. Even worse was watching Luke and R2D2 head off to places unknown to train, leaving Din behind.
That does leave a whole bunch of questions, but one thing that was answered is what happened to Boba and Fennec in the immediate aftermath. They went to Tatooine and took over Jabba’s Palace. With a big disclaimer that he would be back in The Book of Boba Fett (which we have reviewed!).
It was a wild ride of an episode with a lot of fan service and action. All our characters got a bad-ass moment and it felt like a proper season finale, and in some ways could’ve worked as a series finale. I think they did pull off the emotions well enough, and it was kind of wonderful to see Luke let loose to show us the Jedi Knight he claimed to be at the end of Return of the Jedi.
Yet, as great as all the moments were and the lovely emotional crescendo we got between Din and Grogu, there is something fundamentally missing from The Mandalorian. For one, they continually make these episodes too short, leaving any real character growth implied rather than shown. Things continue to lean on fun and action/adventure rather than any real depth or complex storytelling. Maybe that’s fine, but for how long? Can a series like this sustain for three seasons? Four? Five even? I’m not sure, but I hope it lasts long enough to live up to its full potential.
Bits:
I don't know if you would consider it pandering, but I absolutely loved that the assault on the ship started with four women.
This will likely be the last appearance of Cara Dune. The actress was fired for reasons I will not bring up here.
The way the Imperial ship was designed to launch Tie-fighters was really neat, and would make sense when most of your enemy ships were much wider. It also makes sense of the Imperial shuttle design, because the folding wings just seemed like they were there for show before.
The CGI on Luke's face was not the greatest, but it was actually Mark Hamill in shot. He didn't just ADR the dialogue, he actually got to wear the costume. That had to be surreal for him.
R2D2 did his trademark forward lean which is about the cutest thing he does, but his little non-verbal exchange with Grogu was just adorable.
They didn't kill Moff Gideon. Why do I think that might come back to bite them all in the ass in the future? (Mostly because Giancarlo is far too good to let go after just a few appearances).
Quotes:
Bo Katan: “You are a clone. I've heard your voice thousands of times.”
Boba Fett: “Mine might be the last one you hear.”
Moff Gideon: “You have an impressive fire team protecting you. But I think we all know, after a valiant stand, everyone in this room will be dead but me... and the Child.”
Koska: (responding to a ship approaching) “An X-wing.”
Cara: “One X-wing? Great. We're saved.”
Bo Katan: “Enough! Both of you! If we had shown half that spine to the Empire, we would've never lost our planet.”
Boba Fett: “Lower your shields, disengage all transponders, prepare for boarding.”
Dr. Pershing: “They're pirates. Shouldn't we fight?”
Co-Pilot: “I don't have a death wish, do you?”
This was a great finale, with just about everything I could ask for to cap off this season.
4 out of 4 Women with Blasters
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Samantha M. Quinn spends most of her time in front of a computer typing away at one thing or another; when she has free time, she enjoys pretty much anything science fiction or fantasy-related.
Samantha, thank you so much for finishing season two for us! This was a very special episode and I'm pretty much enjoying the series -- especially Timothy Olyphant, Katee Sackhoff and Ming-Na Wen. I agree that there's something about The Mandalorian that's lacking. I'll admit it bothers me a lot that we can't see the main character's face.
ReplyDeleteIt is an unusual choice to commit so hard to that storytelling gimmick. Our main character has to emote with body language most of the time, and his voice. It works, but would be a lot easier if he were unmasked.
ReplyDeleteThere was a rumor which I hinted at in the review that Katee Sackhoff will be getting her own show, so there's something. Now I get to start Boba Fett after it is already finished airing... silly me and my need to finish these reviews first.