The Mandalorian: Redemption

“You don’t have that kind of firepower, you won’t make it past daylight.”
“That is not my objective.”

If there was one quibble with The Mandalorian that had any substantiation, it would be that it might be lacking depth. This show is a fast-paced, gorgeously shot, endlessly entertaining missile; it’s also my favorite of all the Star Wars tales, save maybe, The Empire Strikes Back. But while it’s true The Mandalorian is largely character driven, it may have come up a little short in terms of depth. Until now.

The Mandalorian: The Reckoning

“I can see why you didn’t want to harm a hair on its wrinkled little head.”

What goes around comes around. For an episode with a lot of set-up, this one still managed to be very engaging and exciting. This episode was like a big poker game with very high stakes. We’re not sure who has won yet, but we have a new key player in the game.

The Mandalorian: The Prisoner

“No questions asked. That is the policy, right?”

Well, that was a bit of a departure. This episode was all about darkness; it was shot mostly in the blackness of space and the ill-lit corridors of a prisoner ship, paralleling the darkness in Mando’s past. In the last few episodes, we’ve seen Mando as more of a hero – in this episode, we’re reminded he has some skeletons in the closet.

The Mandalorian: The Gunslinger

"I can bring you in warm or I can bring you in cold."
"That's my line."

This was an extremely well-done episode. We’ve returned to form. Fennec Shand is a worthy opponent, and Peli Motto, a desirable ally. It was extremely satisfying to watch Mando, the seasoned vet, show a novice bounty hunter how it’s done. Mando is perhaps the most dangerous person in the Outer Rim. Fennec is deadly; Mando is deadlier – thus the colossal gap in bounties on their heads.

The Mandalorian: Sanctuary

“So we’re basically running off a bunch of raiders for lunch money?”

This, in my opinion, was the first weak episode of the series. How many times have we seen this plot line been done before? Too many to count. But at least we’re now past the requisite “Why doesn’t the hero settle down and retire?” question.

The Mandalorian: The Sin

“They all hate you, Mando. Because you’re a legend!"

This was a jam-packed episode. So much great content! After the lull of the previous episode, this just cemented what we knew to be true: The Mandalorian is a stellar show and one that defies expectations. So many TV shows, it seems like, are afraid to give the viewers everything they want, because they want the viewers to keep watching. The Mandalorian, in contrast, says, “We’re confident enough to give you everything you want and we know you’re going to keep watching.” This episode, especially the end, was major wish fulfillment, and the audience is still chomping at the bit to know what’s going to happen next.

Little Fires Everywhere: Series Review

“Sometimes you need to scorch everything to the ground, and start over. After the burning, the soil is richer, and new things can grow.”

Little Fires Everywhere is a moving, beautiful, intelligent, and oftentimes heart-wrenching and disturbing portrait of life in suburban America when morals and ideals clash among its citizens. Based on Celeste Ng’s bestselling novel of the same name, more than anything, this series focuses on and explores the powerful bond of motherhood and the part privilege has to play in society. Over the course of eight episodes, this series pitches leading characters against each other, highlighting both their flaws and their strengths, as they navigate sticky social situations and breaches of privacy. The title is particularly apt; this miniseries is an intense slow burn.

Equilibrium

“Is it worth the heavy price?”
“I pay it gladly.”

Equilibrium is a 2002 sci-fi action film set in a dystopian future, starring Christian Bale as John Preston, the protagonist. This movie is a bit of a sleeper, in that it’s not well-known, but still generally very well-received among audiences. It’s true that movies like this have been done before, but there’s something fun and extremely watchable about this movie, regardless.

The Mandalorian: The Child

“I’m surprised you waited.”
“I’m surprised you took so long.”

Solid second episode. Mando’s character is absolutely magnetic, and so is his relationship with Baby Yoda. Any plot line would work with these two characters, in my opinion. This episode in particular introduced a few key themes for us to explore: the fact that Mando’s not invincible, Mando’s relationships with others, and of course, what we were hoping to see- Baby Yoda’s connection with the Force.

The Mandalorian: The Mandalorian

“We have you, four to one.”
“I like those odds.”

WHAT A SHOW. I was completely gripped from the moment Mando walked into the cantina in the first sixty seconds. I haven’t been this jazzed about a TV show since Lost was on the air. Jon Favreau certainly knows how to make hits, doesn’t he? Not only did he create The Mandalorian, he wrote and directed this pilot episode. Whatever the X factor is, he’s got it.

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

"Your protection is based on the people are scared of you. And Mr. J. But I'm the one they should be scared of. Because I'm Harley Quinn."

What a wonderful surprise. And what a well-needed dose of vigor for the DC extended universe. It’s no secret that cinematically, DC has been lagging far behind Marvel for the past several years (with the exception of Wonder Woman.) But there is one thing DC comics has on screen that Marvel doesn’t have locked down- and that is a continuing focus on a wealth of strong female leads. This movie capitalizes on that.

The Mandalorian

Season 1 | Season 2 |
Season 3 |
Related Links | Cast |

The Mandalorian is the first live action television series set in the Star Wars universe, with a focus on high-caliber action, memorable characters, and truly stunning state-of-the-art special effects. The story is about a Mandalorian bounty hunter and his relationship with a foundling child as they travel across the galaxy in a search to find others his kind: the Jedi.

Created by Jon Favreau, this show has already become a cornerstone in pop culture. It airs exclusively on Disney Plus. An additional spin-off, with ties to The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, aired in 2022.

Samantha M. Quinn is our current reviewer and reviewed seasons two and three. Valkyrie reviewed season one.

Season One

Chapter 1: The Mandalorian
Chapter 2: The Child
Chapter 3: The Sin
Chapter 4: Sanctuary
Chapter 5: The Gunslinger
Chapter 6: The Prisoner
Chapter 7: The Reckoning
Chapter 8: Redemption

Season Two

Chapter 9: The Marshal
Chapter 10: The Passenger
Chapter 11: The Heiress
Chapter 12: The Siege
Chapter 13: The Jedi
Chapter 14: The Tragedy
Chapter 15: The Believer
Chapter 16: The Rescue

Season Three

Chapter 17: The Apostate
Chapter 18: The Mines of Mandalore
Chapter 19: The Convert
Chapter 20: The Foundling
Chapter 21: The Pirate
Chapter 22: Guns for Hire
Chapter 23: The Spies
Chapter 24: The Return

Related Links

All Things Star Wars: a complete list of everything Star Wars at Doux Reviews.

Cast

Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian)
Katee Sackhoff (Bo-Katan Kryze)
Greef Karga (Carl Weathers)
Chris Bartlett (Nevarro Copper Droid)
Giancarlo Esposito (Moff Gideon)
Emily Swallow (The Armorer)
Brendan Wayne (The Mandalorian)
Lateef Crowder (The Mandalorian)