Contains Spoilers
Well I’m sad to say we’re officially at the halfway point of season two, but how great has this season been so far?! The central plot is definitely coming together with exciting characters teased and intriguing questions raised. Creator Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni are impressively connecting the series to the wider Star Wars universe, bridging the gaps between Rebels, Clone Wars and the more recent trilogy. Crafting a unique experience for all fans of the franchise, this is definitely one of the best shows to hit Disney+.
Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, Chapter 11 “The Heiress” is a real treat for fans of animated Star Wars shows Rebels and Clone Wars. With the introduction of Katee Sackhoff’s live-action Bo-Katan, along with two other Mandalorians and THAT name drop, there’s a lot to be excited about. Following the slight ‘side mission’ nature of episode two, “The Heiress” really progresses the plot, as Din finally meets more of his kin who help gives him the location of the Jedi in Corvus.
We also get a fascinating insight into Mandalorian lore, with Bo-Katan revealing to Djarin, who’s part of The Watch, that they are a cult of religious zealots who broke away from Mandalorian Society. It’s intriguing to see him conflicted about his past, particularly as Bo-Katan asks him to join her in her mission to take back their home planet. Oh and don’t forget the absolutely beautiful reunion of Frog Lady and her husband! Coming in at a slim 35 minute runtime, the only criticism I have is that it was over too quick.
Directed by Carl Weathers, Chapter 12 “The Siege” saw Din and The Child back on Nevarro for repairs to the Razor Crest. Following last week’s exciting episode, Weathers gives us exhilarating high speed Star Wars action, plenty of hilarious The Child scenes and an intriguing insight into why Moff Gideon is so hellbent on retrieving the baby. While repairs to the Razor Crest does feel like Favreau’s go to narrative crutch to steer the central duo, thankfully this episode is far more than an ‘adventure of the week’ type deal.
Thanks to The Child’s disastrous (but ever so cute) attempts to rewire the ship, Din helps Dune and Greef to attack a nearby “empty” Imperial garrison in exchange for repairs. Only the base isn’t empty at all, it’s revealed to be a mysterious research facility, setting up some intriguing cloning plot threads involving Dr. Pershing and the Imperial Department of Military Research, Moff Gideon and some potentially Snoke-esque strandcasts/clone bodies…
The two episodes also feature A LOT of thrilling easter eggs, name drops and connections to the wider cannon (particularly the Filoniverse). Bo-Katan’s introduction in the “The Heiress” teases a potential exciting showdown with Moff Gideon over the fabled darksaber, the ancient black-bladed saber which originated with Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian to become a Jedi. Considering Bo-Katan was the last wielder of the weapon before Moff Gideon got his hands on it, I imagine this will be high on her hit list to retrieve.
Also in “The Siege” the lingering final shot featuring Gideon and his reserves hints at the possible incorporation of Dark Troopers. Debuting in the 1995 video game Dark Forces, could the Imperial Department of Military Research be creating and cloning force sensitive troops? Or considering the Snoke like creatures we had a quick glimpse of in the vats, is Favreau setting up a potential connection to the latest Trilogy?
Verdict
There’s been so much for fans of all ages to enjoy in the past couple of episodes of The Mandalorian. Next week’s chapter, titled “The Jedi” has been directed and written by Dave Filoni, leading many to believe that we’ll finally see fan favourite Clone Wars character, Ahsoka Tano. I can’t wait!
Episode 3 Rating
Episode 4 Rating
