Logline
"I've been quested to bring this one back to its kind."
Dramatis Personae
I already did the character run-down in the S1 post, so this time it'll just be the newer folks.
Peli Motto, the friendliest mechanic on Tatooine,
also a hustler, also a surprisingly decent Baby-Yoda-sitter
Koska Reeves, Bo-Katan Kryze, and Axe Woves,
The Mandalore and her court in exile
Moff Gideon, smooth as silk and thirsty for midichlorian blood
Ahsoka Tano, here to backdoor pilot her way into our hearts
Migs Mayfeld, former Imp and pretty dang mad about it
Boba Fett and Fennec Shand, most dangerous humans in the galaxy
Wherefore Art Thou
This season lacked the wonder of the first season, largely because there are THREE BACKDOOR PILOTS smack dab in the middle of it. FOCUS, my guys. That said, I enjoyed the heck out of every minute of it.
Season Two Episode Rundown
- 2.01 Chapter Nine: The Marshal
I just finished watching the first season of Justified, like, a minute ago, so this was a hilarious transition. Also, they cast Timothy Olyphant? Who is also of Deadwood? Did you...did you write this episode for him?
Seth Bullock, Deadwood
Raylan Givens, Justified
Cobb Vanth, The Mandalorian
Marshal Cobb Vanth enters the saloon wearing a helmet, and I remember reading at least one reviewer who clocked it was Olyphant just based on his specific posture.
But anyway, we start the episode with Mando searching for other Mandalorians and I'm like, didn't you just leave the Armorer? I'm betting she had some hookups, my dude. He ends up in a brawl and Baby Yoda, having learned one thing, sees the whistling birds cue up and nopes right into his armored shell.
"If this thing ever divides or buds, I will gladly pay for the offspring." It continues to weird me out how the treatment of Baby Yoda oscillates between "adorable child" and "clever pet."
I also watched Dune last night, so that Krayt Dragon, yeesh.
And YES YES YES Tuskens! The more we see them, the more we dispel the SUPREMELY offensive stereotypes of yore. (I mean, now they're only...mildly offensive?) "They've studied its digestion cycle for generations." Yessssss indigineous traditions are science.
"The Mandalorian is willing to help us slay the leviathan in exchange for returning the armor to its ancestral owners."
Ohhhhh man also problematic? Like, heritage objects aren't commodities, they're inherently immeasurably valuable. But then the metaphor breaks down because the armor in question does have a value in that it has a tangible and proven use? I do not have a solution to the quandary off the top of my head, but return the artifacts you stole, COLONIZERS.
The battle against the dragon is just an EXCELLENT use of the budget.
Also, BOBA FETT.
- 2.02 Chapter 10: The Passenger
ANOTHER band of brigands attempts to take Mando and the kid out. They fail, of course, but they DO rattle Baby Yoda enough that he toddle-runs back to Mando and MY HEART.
Then Peli gets an alien called, so says the CC, "Dr Mandible" to hook him up with someone who knows where to find some Mandalorians. All he needs to do is shuttle that someone to the next sector...sublight.
FROG LADY. FROG LADY. FROG LADY.
She's hauling a container filled with unfertilized eggs that she needs to get to her husband. Hyperspace would render the eggs unviable. LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW.
Baby Yoda won't let some light genocide get in the way of tasty, tasty snacks. This episode is traumatic, guys. I don't know how to deal with a galaxy wherein Baby Yoda EATS THE YOUNG. (Mando, you gotta feed the kid more, geez.)
Everything would have been fine, if not for the two New Republic X-wings pop up and ask to see Mando's license and registration. And, like a dumbass, Mando makes a break for it and they crash into an ice planet.
Like, okay, they twigged that he was involved in that incident where he broken into a giant prison station with a bunch of assholes and sprung another asshole out, WHATEVER. But seriously, buddy, you 100% could have sold them on letting you take Frog Lady and her spawn to the destination. It's a mission of mercy!
Anyway, Frog Lady is badass, because she finds the head of that asshole robot in a closet or something and wires it for translation. "These eggs are the last brood of my life cycle. My husband has risked his life to carve out an existence for us on the only planet that is hospitable to our species. We fought too hard and suffered too much to resign ourselves to the extinction of our family line."
OH GOD. Baby Yoda, you friggin' MONSTER.
While Mando fixes the ship, Frog Lady finds a thermal hot tub in the middle of the ice cave. Baby Yoda finds a bunch of bulby-doodles that remind one very much of Aliens and, obviously, eats one and calls upon them AN ARMY OF ICE SPIDERS.
Things look pretty dim for Our Heroes, but thank god, the X-wings return and save them! Turns out there's a warrant out on Mando, but since he also turned in the Band o' Assholes while trying to defend a New Republic officer, they're calling it square. So Mando patches up the ship just enough to get them to their destination and that's where we tie things off.
- Chapter 11 The Heiress
So yeah, I had no idea what the big deal with Bo-Katan was when this ep first rolled around except that, y'know, IT IS KATEE SACKHOFF. Now, having watched all of Clone Wars and Rebels, YE GODS, the IMPLICATIONS.
Though the use of "heiress" is kind of weird. I mean, she's heir to the throne of Mandalore, but "heiress" sort of rings of wealthy flappers from the early 1900s, you know?
Anyway, Mando lands rough on Trask, much to the exasperation of this dude wearing a cable knit sweater and overalls, like, WHAT.
But they make it! And Frog Mama is reunited with Frog Papa and you guys, I love them. So much. I want to know everything about their kind, loving, completely generous lives.
FINALLY, Baby Yoda gets fed and kid, how does it feel when someone tries to eat you, huh?
The arrival of the other Mandalorians thankfully clears up a point of confusion with this show, because in Clone Wars keeping the helmet on all the time wasn't a thing. But if Mando's "a child of the Watch," who are supposedly religious zealots...uh, those dudes took off their helmets back then, too. What happened to you, Death Watch?
In exchange for the location of a Jedi, Mando agrees to help the Mandalorians to hijack an Imperial ship. Titus Welliver makes a cameo as an officer who is extremely put out by this turn of events.
This is the way.
Meanwhile, Frog Lady and her man, who are SAINTS, are watching Baby Yoda. And the tadpoles start hatching!
Bo-Katan is looking for the Darksaber, which we know from last season is being held by Moff Gideon. But more importantly, she tells Mando where to find AHSOKA TANO.
AHSOKA TANO.
- Chapter 12 The Siege
Mando. MANDO. Why would you try to have Baby Yoda do ship repairs? He's a fifty-year-old toddler! We don't even know if he has a sense of color! Anyway, we've got some strong Groot energy going on here.
Anyway, we head back to Nevarro for repairs and MAN, I miss being able to be excited when Cara Dune showed up. (Couldn't we have the Armorer instead? The Armorer was totally on Nevarro when last we saw her.) At least Greef, our good ol' grifter buddy, is around, too. And I kind of like Cara being the marshal for this cleaned-up podunk town.
Clearly none of these people have dealt with children before, because you do not DROP OFF a toddler at a primary school and assume everything will be chill. (Of course Baby Yoda steals some kid's cookies. Kid's lucky Baby Yoda didn't feel genocidey that day.)
The break-in to the Imperial base isn't super-remarkable, though Disney did scrub jeans guy from that one shot. (As seen below on the far left of this publicity still, heh.)
And then they find the lab where a Pershing-holo talks about not being able to find "another donor with a higher M-count" and oh, gods, he means midichlorians, doesn't he? UGH. And this means, of course, that the kid is still target number one for the Empire's remnants.
Seriously, what exactly does stormtrooper armor protect? Because it sure ain't stormtroopers. Mando disappears for most of the escape scene and we get to see an action setpiece of what would have been a Nevarro spin-off series if Gina Carano hadn't been a transphobe. (Have they considered one with Greef, Mythrol, and the Armorer? Make it happen, Skywalker Ranch.) Then Mando comes to the rescue in the now-repaired Razor Crest. Hilariously, while his friends were in the midst of a shootout, Mando stopped to check Baby Yoda out of school. And, of course, Baby Yoda vomits up his stolen blue cookies.
The dad from Kim's Convenience offers Cara a job with the New Republic and it's actually a really nice scene.
Oh, some mechanic on Nevarro tagged Mando's ship and gave Moff Gideon the trace. Uh-oh.
- Chapter 13 The Jedi
AHSOKA. IT IS AHSOKA TANO TIME. Have I mentioned Ahsoka stars in my two most favorite duels in the Star Wars universe overall? Against Maul in Clone Wars:
And against Vader in Rebels:
I mean, I guess after all these years, Ahsoka's given up the ghost on her whole, "I am no Jedi," schtick? Given there isn't a Jedi Council anymore, collapsing the meanings between Jedi-of-the-Order and Jedi-as-Force-user together makes sense in a way.
And her introduction into the series is just exxxxxxcellent as a spooky opener.
After a season and a half sans lightsabers, it's a pretty cool reminder of how impressive the Jedi can be. But also, did we know before that beskar can resist a lightsaber? Because that seems pretty significant.
"He was raised at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Many Masters trained him over the years. At the end of the Clone Wars when the Empire rose to power, he was hidden. Someone took him from the Temple. Then his memory becomes...dark."
GROGU. WHAT HAPPENED. (Also...Grogu? For real?) I enjoyed the little sequence of Ahsoka testing the kid, though--and even more, Mando's excitement when Grogu levitated the little metal ball.
Meanwhile, the Magistrate--Morgan Elsbeth--is supposed to be a Nightsister. A NIGHTSISTER.
Not quite as witchy post-wars, I guess?
Ahsoka's duel with Elsbeth was excellent and also SHE'S GONNA FIND THRAWN. And thus, we hope, Ezra. Ezzzzraaaaaa. (Remember that previous duel she had against Vader? The blue-haired kid from the start is Ezra. Ezra, last seen using SPACE WHALES to free the Rebels from Thrawn's pursuit.)
Also, Mando wins a good ol' quickdraw against some dude. When all is said and done, though, Ahsoka declines to apprentice Grogu. She claims that it's because Grogu's too strongly attached to Mando, fear leads to anger, anger leads to etc, etc. But she sends Our Protags off to another planet to an old Jedi artifact to contact another Jedi out there and, of course, the entire internet went, OMG LUKE?!!
Two things, however:
- There remains a lot of controversy due to the previous lawsuit against Dawson's family, which alleged some awful transphobic behavior. While the lawsuit was dismissed, it's not like the court system is legendarily fair? But also, it was easier to dismiss Gina Carano, as her statements were made on social media for everybody to see. With the Dawson case, the allegations are about past and private interactions, of which there is no public evidence. This isn't to say Finley's claims are true or false--it's just way murkier and, thus, thornier.
- This episode was allllll signifier and nothing signified and without all my previous knowledge of Ahsoka and her whole *waves arms* deal, it's possible none of this story would have felt cohesive?
- There remains a lot of controversy due to the previous lawsuit against Dawson's family, which alleged some awful transphobic behavior. While the lawsuit was dismissed, it's not like the court system is legendarily fair? But also, it was easier to dismiss Gina Carano, as her statements were made on social media for everybody to see. With the Dawson case, the allegations are about past and private interactions, of which there is no public evidence. This isn't to say Finley's claims are true or false--it's just way murkier and, thus, thornier.
- Chapter 14 The Tragedy
Yeah, that's not an ominous title or anything. And we open with Mando, under the guise of giving the kid a life lessons talk, trying to convince himself it'll be okay if Grogu goes off to become a Jedi. Y'all ain't fooling anyone, my guy.
When they get to Tython, Mando plops the kid down on the Jedi, uh, meditation globe? Or something? At first it's unclear what's supposed to happen, and then BAM.
The Force barrier is impenetrable while Grogu is, I don't know, connected? So of course, now is when Boba Fett and Fennec Shand appear. BOBA FETT AND FENNEC SHAND. Boba wants his armor back, simple as that. (Hey, did we all know Jango Fett was a Foundling before? That seems like a retcon.) In exchange for, y'know, a thing that is his by inheritance and heritage, Boba Fett tells Mando he and Fennec will safeguard the kid in exchange. Pretty generous, honestly.
Anyway, Boba Fett has been a figure of contention, I think? Like, he has cool armor in the original trilogy, but his end there is pretty ignominious.
Could there be, after all this time, any possible way this world-weary Boba Fett could live up to the hype that he's accrued over the years? Turns out, yes.
And Fennec doesn't do so bad herself.
But Moff Gideon's Dark Troopers manage to snatch the kid! NOOOOO. Plus, in the attack, they straight-up bomb the ship and nothing but the beskar survives. Boba Fett gets his armor back, and he agrees they'll help Mando get the kid back from Gideon.
So Mando, Boba Fett, and Fennec head back to Nevarro. Mando's got a plan. In the meantime, Grogu'll just be in his cell, Force-choking some stormtroopers.
- Chapter 15 The Believer
I'm not sure, given how many Imperial remnants are out there, why Mando thought he had to break Mayfeld out of prison in order to get to Moff Gideon. I mean, I guess they have a fair amount of leverage over Mayfeld, so there's that?
I kind of love that Boba Fett couldn't help with the break-in because he'd be, heh, a familiar face. And I guess he had his paints to touch up the lost armor at the ready! Good on you, friend.
Also, Mando is even bending the rules at the beginning--he's not planning on showing his face, but doesn't the switch in costume still count as, y'know, taking the helmet off? Which Mayfeld points out.
There's a whole thing with "pirates" (AKA freedom fighters, honestly), but who would have guessed the tensest moments of the episode would be in a cruddy cafeteria? (Why do they have internal databanks in the middle of the cafeteria? This is some shite base planning, EMPIRE.) Because OH GOD, Mando has to take off his helmet for a facial scan and he's stiiiiill kiiiind of not showing his face BUT THEN. An officer makes him speak and I just want to give him a hug.
Then the officer won't let them leave! WTF, dude. I hate when bosses do that. LET THEM DO THEIR TPS REPORTS.
Man, I wish I could be happier about having a pair of DANGEROUS LADIES hanging out.
I kind of love Mayfeld for killing that dude for Operation Cinder. Some good acting on Burr's part there, too. (Burr isn't a great dude, but one must acknowledge good acting.)
And, of course, offering Mando an out while handing him back his helmet. "You did what you had to do. I never saw your face." Then he takes an impressive shot from the ship in flight to blow up the entire facility. "We all need to sleep at night."
I'm glad they let him go. Or, well, reported that he died in the explosion.
And IT'S GO TIME.
- Chapter 16 The Rescue
We open with Our Heroes chasing down Pershing on a transport ship and, hey, wait, wasn't the data they stole on Moff Gideon, not Pershing? Whatever, one of the Imperials thinks taunting Cara Dune about the destruction of Alderaan is a good idea, so yeah, dude is dead and rightly should be.
Boba and Mando go to recruit Bo-Katan and Koska. It does not go well at first, as Bo-Katan very quickly pegs Boba as a clone. But they strike a deal. As long as, y'know, Bo-Katan gets to keep all the hardware for the retaking of Mandalore.
"They are no longer suits. The human inside was the final weakness to be solved," Pershing tells them about the dark troopers, rather poetically. "They're droids."
"Where are they bivouacked?" FENNEC. Uses "bivouacked." In a sentence! And thus Our Heroes hatch a pretty decent plan to take over Moff Gideon's ship.
Dangerous ladies everywhere, y'all! Once again, I mourn the crappiness of Gina Carano because I should have been able to revel in this more! ARGH. Things are going great until theCylonsdark troopers are finally booted up.
It takes our beloved Mando all his wiles and toys to take out one of them and it's terrifying. He manages to blow the rest out the airlock, though. (After an amusing gun jam, the Dangerous Ladies take over the bridge.) Mando, meanwhile, finds Grogu...who is being held at Darksaber-point by Moff Gideon. There is a duel.
Wait, if he defeated the Darksaber's wielder in battle, doesn't that mean that, uh, our very own Din Djarin is now the capital-M Mandalore? Bo-Katan does look prickly about it.
Then the dark troopers return! What shall Our Heroes doooooo?
Through the entire entrance of the Mysterious Figure (who Moff Gideon was TERRIFIED BY, for the record), I was like, Nah, it can't be. The green lightsaber flashes. Lots of Jedi have green sabers, I bet. The conspicuously gloved hand. Man, they are REALLY trying to fake us out aren't they? Up until the last reveal.
Uncanny fucking valley. BUT ALSO, I love Luke Skywalker, but can we be done with this dude already? It's a big galaxy.
But yeah, Grogu sent out his Force telegram and Luke caught it. AND GROGU IS LEAVING WITH HIM. Which brings us to the emotional climax of this entire goddamn series.
The helmet! It is off! Who are you Din Djarin? What do you believe now?????
Seriously, if Kylo Ren kills Grogu, we're all gonna RIOT, right?
Bottom Linee
Anyway, I guess Mando's gonna go retake Mandalore with Bo-Katan, while Boba and Fennec decide to rule Tatooine. I'm sure that'll be uneventful.
No comments:
Post a Comment