The Mandalorian is again, and you already know what meaning. Season 3 episode 1 is a concentrated burst of leisure showcasing all one of the best bits of Star Wars: laser gun shootouts, hovering area battles and tentacle-faced pirate captains.
Cling on, is that this nonetheless Star Wars we’re speaking about? It positive is — after season 1 and season 2 of the Disney Plus collection have been influenced by the cowboys ‘n’ gunfighters of the Western style, season 3 of the Mando’s adventures sails into uncharted waters: the type of monstrous swashbuckling we all know and love from the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Avast, me hearties!
Learn on for our recap of The Mandalorian season 3 episode 1 (or chapter 17 within the collection as a complete), full with Star Wars Easter eggs and a few first ideas on how the brand new season will form up. Beware spoilers, ye scurvy seadogs!
Pre-recap recap
OK, earlier than we get into chapter 17, let’s remind ourselves the place we’re as much as within the adventures of Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal, additionally at the moment searing the display screen within the acclaimed HBO collection The Final of Us), and his cute buddy Grogu (aka Child Yoda). Within the finale of season 2 the Mando dropped off Grogu with everybody’s favourite Jedi, Luke Skywalker. So why are Grogu and Din again collectively?
Properly, in between seasons, the celebs of the Mandalorian appeared in an episode of one other Disney Plus collection, The Guide of Boba Fett. It was top-of-the-line installments of the in any other case underwhelming collection and is nicely price a watch, however that does not change the truth that season 3 of the Mandalorian solely simply began and you have already got homework. Thanks, Disney.
The fifth episode of Boba Fett’s collection defined why Mando and Grogu acquired again collectively and why they’re touring in a brand new spaceship akin to the Naboo star fighters seen in The Phantom Menace. That episode additionally reveals a piece of backstory concerning the Mandalorian’s sect, the Youngsters of the Watch, and why they left Mandalore — take a look at our full Guide of Boba Fett episode 5 recap for extra particulars and hyperlinks to the Clone Conflict TV collection.
The brand new collection additionally opens with a short recap displaying droid IG-11 self-destructing in a battle with imperial stormtroopers in season 2. The story of that droid, voiced by Taika Waititi, clearly would not finish there.
As for the present’s different main characters, the villainous Moff Gideon has been carted off to face a New Republic conflict tribunal. And Cara Dune is now not marshal, having been recruited by New Republic particular forces. Given actor Gina Carano’s very public dustup with Disney, that is in all probability the final we’ll hear of Cara Dune.
That is the Approach
The episode opens with the sound of hammering. Just like the Mandalorian warriors themselves, their Beskar armor is cast in fireplace and repeatedly overwhelmed. Their chief, the Armorer, builds a brand new helmet in a fetching shade of turquoise, carried onto a seashore the place a teen feels the solar on their face for the ultimate time. “The phrases of the Creed shall be eternally cast in my coronary heart,” the youngling intones, however by no means really completes the vow to maintain the helmet on as a result of they’re interrupted by a huge area alligator. Woo, Star Wars!
That kicks off an intense battle within the air and beneath splashing waves, like the beginning of Saving Personal Ryan if it was, y’know, about area helmets and large aliens crocodiles. Fortunately the Mando swoops in to avoid wasting the day. Goodbye alligator!
Is the Armorer grateful? No, she’s nonetheless banging on about Din eradicating his helmet. She insists that redemption is inconceivable because the mines of Mandalore have been destroyed by the Empire, however Din gives some hope with a crystal that could be a relic of their house planet. Din reckons that is proof that Mandalore is now not poisoned, and the Armorer appears to comply with welcome the apostate again into the fold if he can show it. That seems like a quest to me!
Child Yoda again as much as the previous tips.
Disney Plus
Pirates of the Outer Rim
So as soon as once more the Mandalorian and Child Yoda head for Nevarro, the planet the place the Mando as soon as dropped off Child Yoda and subsequently rescued him in season 1. This scummy fringe planet has gone up on the planet beneath Justice of the Peace, sorry, Excessive Justice of the Peace Greef Karga, to turn out to be the “gem of the Outer Rim.”
Karga even gives Mando a parcel of land to hold up his blaster. However it is not lengthy earlier than previous hassle finds them, as they face Vane, henchman of pirate king Gorian Shard. Vane and his thirsty pirates insist on a drink for previous instances’ sake, reminding Karga that he paid them for homicide and mayhem again within the good previous days. The Excessive Justice of the Peace is having none of it however reveals he hasn’t grown comfortable, drawing again his superb robes to disclose a blaster. A correct Western-style shootout ensues, and Vane is shipped packing with a message for the pirate king.
After a basic Star Wars asteroid-dodging dogfight, the Mando and Grogu encounter Gorian Shard in area. This seaweed-encrusted freebooter appears impressed by the fantastical creatures of the Pirates of the Caribbean, warning Mando that he higher begin believing in ghost tales as a result of he is in a single. Wait, incorrect film — really he calls for the Mando’s ship. However our hero sails away, leaving the pirate king cursing. We’re guessing we’ll see extra nautical naughtiness from the area pirates quickly.
IG’ll be again
Nevarro has raised a statue of the bounty hunter droid IG-11, which sacrificed itself preventing Imperials. It seems the statue is manufactured from the droid’s precise remaining components, permitting the Mando to resurrect the bot. He rapidly adjustments his thoughts when it defaults to previous programming and goes all Terminator on little Grogu. Go away Child Yoda alone! One other statue solves the issue, though there was no want for Mando’s dreadful pun.
Mando takes the stays of IG-11 to the Anzellans, jabbering animatronic mechanics in delightfully Star Wars fashion. It is nice to see the Mandalorian continues that grand Star Wars custom of delightfully fleshy aliens coming in all prosthetic shapes and animatronic sizes. It is a large squee from us when Grogu tries to offer the little cutie a squeeze.
Sadly IG-11’s reminiscence is fried, however we’re positive one thing will flip up.
Bo Katan’s citadel
Subsequent cease: Kalevala, a world within the Mandalorian system, full with a concrete-gray brutalist Mandalorian citadel. The helmetless and bitter Bo Katan is on a throne however overthrown, as with out the fabled Darksaber weapon her forces have melted away to turn out to be mercenaries.
Katan insists there’s nothing magic concerning the mines of Mandalore, and Din’s quest relies on superstition. However we’re positive her curiosity may very well be revived if Mando and Co. show her planet is not as ravaged, plundered and poisoned as everybody thinks.
Come again subsequent Wednesday for the subsequent Star Wars journey. The Mandalorian season 3 episode 2 streams on Disney Plus March 8.
Easter eggs and observations
The episode is directed by Rick Famuyiwa, a director often recognized for extra grounded tales like coming-of-age drama Dope, the true story Affirmation and the TV collection The Chi. That stated, he was initially set to direct DC’s The Flash film, however on condition that movie’s troubled historical past he is in all probability glad to be engaged on Star Wars as an alternative.Whereas in hyperspace, Grogu sees some type of… area whales? Creatures residing in hyperspace? Trippy.The pirates embody a Klatooinian, a Trandoshan and a Warthog.Klatooinian criminals have been among the many antagonists within the Guide of Boba Fett (and whose identify calls to thoughts the well-known alien catchphrase “Klaatu barada nikto” from the Fifties sci-fi basic The Day the Earth Stood Nonetheless).The Trandoshans additionally appeared within the Boba Fett collection. A notable member of the lizard-like race is Bossk, a recent of Fett on the bounty searching scene.A warthog is, er, a warthog.Look out for these Salacious Crumb monkey dudes in a tree.The Anzellan mechanics are voiced by Shirley Henderson, the award-winning actor who additionally lent her distinctive voice to Moaning Myrtle within the Harry Potter movies.Pirate king Gorian Shard is voiced by Nonso Anozie, who performed Xaro Xhoan Daxos in Sport of Thrones.Vane is performed by Marti Matulis, who performed the Monstrosity in 2022 horror hit Smile.For the scenes during which The Armorer forges Baskar armor, the credit listing a “forging double” — blacksmith and artist Heather McCarty.
2023’s Finest TV and Streaming Reveals You Cannot Miss on Netflix, HBO, Disney Plus and Extra
See all images