Following on from Favreau's opening episode directed and written by himself focusing on the Krayt Dragon. We were left on a big ‘oooooo’ moment with the reveal of Boba Fett surely? Probably confirmed in this episode seeing Mando carrying fetts armour around. A blaster point is evident that happened after Han shot it in Episode 6. This series is really holding the franchise together, in my opinion and I’m loving the rich history that comes with Tatooine.
The episode picks up pretty much straight into the action. After all it’s a wretched hide of scum and villainy so there’s always a scoundrel hanging around waiting to make a buck. Mando is heading back with The Child, runs straight into a big snag - losing his Shriek-Hawk (speeder). We almost forget for a second after that opener the tracking devices, bounties, Empire that is on his heels with this brilliant CGI monsters and other storylines bubbling. But if there’s one thing a Mandalorian is good for its handling business of the scum kind.
This episode definitely came back to the great subtle comedy something Favreau writing is brilliant at with his jet pack sending the last bounty into the sky. It makes Mando’s character so much more humanly likeable rather than his emotionless metal face, a problem Favreau talks about often it’s so hard to express emotion so they have to make best of this in the script with actions and dialog. (Acting is in the eyes)
We carry on grueling onward to Mos Eisley to meet up again with the trusty mechanic Pelli Motto (Amy Sedaris). Another thing I’ve found so enjoyable how the franchise revisits those places that have such meaning in our original trilogy hearts, the everyday places, the cantina. Reaching the bone work of the episode info for cargo. You always pick-up living creatures to deliver in Mos Eisley right Han? Another stray where ever he goes but who has information to direct him towards his Mandalorian Family.
I did find a great moment in the hanger, well I thought it was for a moment well shot, worked with the soundtrack. The first time we focus back on our little green friend's force abilities properly, since the fire control. The Child analyses the spawn that soft music you can almost see him examining the midichlorians, the force and life, or is he just hungry? Those were my firsts thoughts, of course how silly I felt when Favreau’s comedy kicked in.
There’s no smooth sailing in space and dropping off cargo is never easy in the Star Wars Universe. But here we get our first look at The New Republic, a few x-wings pull alongside monitoring empty space for Old Empire. We’re at that point in the time line crossing between Luke and Rey (Sorry I had to mention) maybe a few years ABY. This had a great little moment 14 minutes in and who do you see but Trapper Wolf. A cameo from Dave Fillion himself, very Hitchcock and Jackson esc. We are reminded that Mandalorian’s hate the Jedi who were pretty much the cause of the Empire’s Fall a pretty prosperous point of Mandalorian’s so he tries to get away from the transmission check with a quick ’May the Force’
However nothing goes Mando’s way does it. We enter a wonderful display of CGI chase from the Razor Crest and X-wings until eventually they crash. I had someone tell me they weren’t too fussed on this episode but with this directorial concept of five individuals taking a chance at each episode. They felt it made detaches the storyline sometimes. I think it’s what makes this series special side quests, it focuses on those regularities of normal hero's journey. The big narrative isn’t always happening in life there's always days you’ve got to do the less memorable things. This is the way or style of the series similar to old Spaghetti Westerns, the cowboy isn’t always at the final shoot out? Or do you think they should just crack on get back to Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) the Empire and scrap these mini quests? Crash, bang, wallop, into an icy grave the Razor Crest falls, I’ve found that Fillion and Favreau have been true to showing you the scale of the galaxy. Giving us those the old formula or ice, sand and forest which was attempted in the (7-9) badly. The range of environments or what makes Star Wars almost real those gritty places you can find on Earth.
If you really love the conceptualization of this series I’d suggest watching the Dinsey+ Gallery of Mandalorian S1. It’s a terrific insight.
But back to our passengers stuck The Child is no Chewie. Stranded we get our first look at the Hoth/Ilum planet Frog Lady who’s the cargo seems pretty useless until this point. We get her first character development as she reprograms Zero (Richard Ayoade) explaining the importance of her starting life again for her species. A while passes but Frog Lady goes for a stroll, a great idea, Mando uses the infrared a really cool shot to track her down. Before we know it we are in a cave and The Child with eggs can’t resist taking life? A little dark side-ish no? Those Alien eggs were going to be bad news, I’ve seen Ridley Scotts work, ye you guessed it hey can’t hear you scream. ‘They’re coming out the god damn walls’ the white spiders originally made for Return of the Jedi sprout up from everywhere hungry for some flesh. But why are spiders always the bad guys, shouldn’t that be the flies, they’re the real bad guys spreading germs and diseases, from LoTR to Eight Legged Freaks these lot always get a bad rap. No acid blood though you got lucky there Mando.
Razor Crest is out and over run, very sad times. But I expected it to be the Death Watch saving the day however it’s the rebels and Fillion himself, Luke would be so proud. Rest in Peace to you Porkins this was all your work, giving pilots the good name they deserved. So, mission continued to episode reading on the next episode seems as if it will be getting back on track with Carl Whethers, Gina Carano and Giancarlo Esposito all back on the cast list.
Peyton Reid did a solid job directing a very tricky episode but wouldn’t say it's close to the first episode. But its Mandalorian guys good writing the Star Wars universe being held together by this single straw. Come on down Kenobi.
4.2/5.0