Chapter Twenty-Two
Mando and Bo-Katan travel to Plazir-15 to find the Mandalorians that abandoned Bo-Katan when she refused to challenge Mando for the Darksaber. They are brought before the Duchess and her husband Captain Bombardier who task them with finding out why their reprogrammed imperial droids are misbehaving. This leads them into the darkest corners of the planet where they discover a plot crafted by an old enemy of the Republic and the Empire...
Sounds impressive, doesn't it, a mystery plot focused on malfunctioning droids and a Dooku faithful separatist? Well, in a way it absolutely was impressive. This was a wild episode, one part stand-alone adventure and one part full major story arc piece. I mean, what other episode could take us to a droids only bar and end up in a knock-down drag out fight between two Mandalorians?
The bulk of the episode was one humorous scene after another, as Mando and Bo, without Grogu this time, go off on what I might describe as a Mandalorian date. They get charged with solving an intractable problem, where droids are suddenly and inexplicably acting violent. The underlying implication being that these are former imperial droids, and if some are malfunctioning, how long would it be until they all are? I really liked that it wasn’t an easy or simple solution, that it required somewhat brazen tactics and out of the box thinking.
It was also kind of interesting that the task required both Bo and Din’s skills working in tandem. Without Mando they wouldn’t have gotten past the Ugnaughts, without Bo’s diplomatic skills they wouldn’t have succeeded with the Droid bartender. This back and forth of tiny wins was endearing, and highlighted a growing familiarity and trust between Bo and Din, reinforced by their banter throughout the episode, which was a lot of fun.
Adding Bo-Katan to the mix feels like a positive change, even if it has pushed Mando to the side a bit. Because I’m starting to think they are now telling a more complete story, not just about a lone protagonist traipsing around the galaxy with his child. It is about the Mandalorians, and their return to prominence, not just recapturing former glory. Mando’s actions have facilitated a chance at a real restoration of Mandalore.
That kind of grand political and cultural shift needs a leader, and let's be honest, as much as fans have wanted Din to be the king of Mandalore, he isn’t a leader. He just doesn’t have that frontman quality to him. However, he would be an amazing second. He can get a task done like no one else once he sets his mind to it, proven by how he and Bo-Katan attack the mystery of the droids.
Whether that means he is Bo-Katan’s trusted right hand or General, or something else, remains to be seen. Because at this point I’m not discounting something romantic here. Din and Bo have a natural chemistry on screen. I don’t know if that would translate into something more, but it is clear they trust one another now. If the show does establish a more intimate relationship between Din and Bo, it would also fit the final piece into the Mando-Grogu dynamic, a mother figure.
That mother figure idea was highlighted in a humorous way in this episode as Grogu latched onto the Duchess. But we have seen Grogu sitting in Bo-Katan’s lap on more than one occasion, something he had only done with Mando up until this point. Showing the child literally throwing himself at the Duchess feels like a soft way of introducing that need (even if he was following his stomach as usual). Obviously nothing has really been presented on that front yet, but the signs are there.
Now with Bo-Katan finally getting the Darksaber and claiming her place as a leader of the Mandalorians, it is clear we are moving into the end-game of the season. I am really curious where things are going, and I’m excited to see the destination.
Bits:
This episode was full to the brim with Easter eggs and Star Wars lore. I’ll rein it in a bit and only name a few.
Harry Holland (Tom Holland’s brother) was the voice of Mon Calamari, the noble the Mandalorians captured at the beginning of the episode.
Joanna Bennett played the Quarren captain. She is a very busy stunt woman who has done work for Katee Sackhoff and Emily Swallow on this show as well as for various actresses in the MCU all the way back to Captain America: Civil War.
Koska Reeves (Mercedes Varnado) was last seen in the second season finale. Looks as though the Mandalorians still hold control of Moff Gideon’s imperial cruiser.
In Star Wars, Nepenthe is a droid lubricant that prevents wear on mechanical parts. It also updates the core programming to fix programming errors for droids. On Earth it has two meanings: a drug described in Homer's Odyssey that can push away grief or trouble from a person's mind, or a pitcher plant. On Star Trek it is a planet where Riker and Deanna settle to help their troubled son.
Quotes:
Bombardier: “What are you doing with Commissioner Helgait?”
Mando: “We found the cause of your malfunctions."
Duchess: “Is this true?”
Helgait: “I'm afraid it is, M'Lady.”
Bombardier: “Despicable.”
Helgait: “If that isn't the Quacta calling the Stifling slimy.”
(Only Christopher Lloyd could deliver that line with a straight face)
Bo-Katan: “There's no way out, Commissioner. Give yourself up?”
Helgait: “Give up? I never gave up. I didn't give up to the corrupt Republic, I didn't give up to the Empire, and I won't give up to you."
Mando: “You're a Separatist.”
Helgait: “Separatist is a pejorative term. I support democracy. Count Dooku was a visionary. He was cut short in his prime by the Jedi enforcer...” (Bo tazes Helgait)
Bo-Katan: “Politics.”
I have seen some negative reactions to this one and I do get it, but I enjoyed it all. Star Wars has always been weird and a bit silly, and I’m glad the show isn’t afraid to have some variety.
3 out of 4 Ill fated romances between squids... no offense to the Mon Calamari.
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.
The guest cast was amazing -- Christopher Lloyd, Jack Black, Lizzo. I laughed a lot, the hardest when Grogu threw himself across the room at the treat. There's nothing wrong with having a somewhat silly episode now and then.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, I loved it. Great review, Samantha, thank you. And Billie, I loved the guest cast, too. I thought it was generationally funny that my son geeked out over Lizzo, I geeked out over Christopher Lloyd, and we both geeked out over Jack Black. You just know laughs are in store if Jack Black guest stars.
ReplyDeleteI loved Mando passing the dark saber to Bo Katan. I’d wondered about that technicality of her using it to save Mando, and apparently Mando had thought it over too.
Also loved Bo Katan tazering Helgait at the very instant he was gonna say Anakin Skywalker. Makes me wonder if Bo Katan knows the Skywalker family secret and wasn’t sure which name Helgait might say?
(And I guess I’m the only one who accidentally, at some point or another, thought hellmouth instead of Helgait.)