MLGG: Pop Culture News, Reviews & Interviews

Having been accepted back into his clan, Din Djarin – along with Grogu and Bo-Katan Kryze, who has also become one of the Children of the Watch, after her rescue of Djarin from the Living Waters – train with the rest of the clan. A hunt for a dangerous beast leaves Grogu in the care of the clan’s elders – and gives him the opportunity to think about his past while also becoming prepared for his future.

Last week’s episode proved divisive; I myself wasn’t a fan of the Andor-lite attempt to paint the fledgling, naive Republic in greyer tones.

Not that this isn’t an admirable aim to give more nuance to the post-Return of the Jedi political situation; it’s just that The Mandalorian doesn’t seem to have the ability to pull this off with the skill and depth that the creators of Andor did.

It also doesn’t help that, given previous form with The Mandalorian’s side stories, it doesn’t feel like this was being done to set up anything that might come back later in the season; if I’m wrong on that and this does prove to have been a diversion that reveals its importance later, I’ll be happy to admit fault there.

It’s a relief, then, that we spend all of our time with the core characters in this episode.

An early training scene is superb – and Grogu’s flashback is a thrilling sequence too. Despite going over oft-covered ground – Order 66 being carried out – it’s brilliant to see it unfold through Grogu’s eyes and see a vital part of his history.

It’s incredibly well done and even redefines a certain actor’s involvement with Star Wars.

The main plot, such as it is – the rescue of a foundling from a deadly creature – never really feels like anything more than a side quest, however. The stakes are high, but the way it unfolds just feels a little awkward – with the title of the episode being clunkily adhered to thematically.

There still seems to be a more video game like structure to much of The Mandalorian – quest, side quest, characters levelling up – which is a little odd. It delivers great action in spades, but doesn’t really know how to propel the plot forward in a meaningful and measured way.

When I referred to the show in previous seasons as feeling a bit meandering (The Meanderlorian – I’m proud of that one!), that feeling persists even now.

There’s good stuff happening in certain sequences – Grogu is handled well, as always, but it feels like – beyond the odd episode here and there – the showrunners just don’t really know what to do with the Lone Wolf and Cub-esque story.

Heading into the second half of the season, we’re barely ahead from where we were four episodes ago – and now that Djarin is redeemed, it feels even more aimless. Let’s hope that something special is pulled out of the bag – previous seasons have excelled in their last episode or two, so hopefully the same happens here.

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