‘The Mandalorian’ Episode 4, ‘The Siege,’ Gave Fans Some Explosive New Information While Delivering Its Now-Classic Hijinks — REVIEW
After the very exciting appearance of Bo-Katan on last week’s The Mandalorian, Din Djarin and The Child were off in the Razor Crest this week, with information on the Jedi that he’s seeking out: Ahsoka Tano. However as many hypothesized, Mando didn’t go directly to Corvus. Instead, he needed help with his wreck-of-a-ship after Episode 2’s run-in with the gross army of arachnids.
So, where would he go but back to Nevarro where everything started, of course. He has friends there, as well, in the form of Cara Dune and Greef Karga. And a major find waits for him and the audience later in the episode. [Spoiler alert: Spoilers ahead for The Mandalorian Season 2, Episode 4, “The Siege”].
There was some good father/son bonding time and a long pit stop before Corvus
Even though The Child can’t speak words, yet, there is a level of comprehension there for him. At what level? It’s unclear. However, Din is convinced that it’s enough to help him fix his ship. There’s a very endearing and funny scene where Baby Yoda is in a small compartment full of wires, and Din Djarin is trying to instruct him to connect, or not connect, certain wires to fix his problem.
Things… don’t go as planned. It’s a really sweet and lighthearted moment that brings levity to this Space Western in a way that the show does often. Because even though Mando is a pretty serious guy, he’s getting more and more attached and outwardly caring with The Child, and this scene is one of these instances. But he’s still very much a no-nonsense Space Dad. Overall, it’s very much giving viewers the vibe that the scene from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 gave. The one where Rocket Racoon is trying to get Baby Groot to bring him something while they’re in a jail cell. Gotta love clueless babies.
When Mando and The Child do arrive on Nevarro, it’s a very different vibe than when they were last there. Things feel brighter, more vibrant, and there are children about. And smiling citizens. It’s a welcome sight, even if they won’t share their food with Baby Yoda.
Greef Karga was a shady guy last time, but now seems to really care about the people since the Empire is gone and he doesn’t have to bend to their will. Or, so he thinks.
Even though the town on Nevarro is ‘freed’ from Imperials doesn’t mean they’re gone completely
At the end of last season, Mando and his friends ran Empire sympathizers and Stormtroopers out of their town on Nevarro. It doesn’t seem like the town had to deal with any stragglers or any troopers at all. However, there is still a base on the planet, fully operational.
It’s a bit fishy, especially considering the Imperials haven’t tried anything on the town since. But Cara and Greef Karga want Mando’s help blowing it up and getting rid of it for good. Plus, Greef Karga explains that he believes it’s just a forwarding operation, which would explain why they think the Imperials haven’t attacked the town since.
The Mythrol that was a part of Din’s introduction in Season 1 is back too, bringing that comedic relief, as stated before. Greef Karga owns him because of something the Mythrol did, so he’s on the mission with them, against his will.
A major discovery at the Imperial base leaves major questions for The Child, along with safety concerns
There are tons of Stormtroopers at the base, but the mission is going pretty well. However, the group makes a discovery. They find tanks of large specimens, and Cara notes that it’s a military lab facility, not a forward operating base as Greef Karga thought.
There’s a lot to unpack here, and it doesn’t seem like they gave audiences all the answers they’re going to this season just yet. However, Dr. Pershing makes another appearance in a hologram the Mythrol pulls up, and he states the specimens in the tanks are failed clones. He doesn’t say as much, but they look like Snoke, and Dr. Pershing works for the Kaminoans, as seen from his uniform last season.
And since Snoke is a confirmed Strand-Cast (aka a clone), this looks like early forms of what would go on to be the stand-in leader of the First Order. Especially when Pershing talks about not being able to replicate M-cells? Aka midi-chlorians cells, perhaps? Very likely, indeed.
Basically, what alerts Mando to trouble is the fact that Dr. Pershing is referring to needing The Child to continue successfully creating these things in the tanks. Because they no longer have valid tissue or cells to replicate more Strand-Casts. So Din knows he needs to leave to save the kid and get off the planet. Because not only is this experiment still going on, but Moff Gideon is still alive and he’s tipped off to the fact that Mando is here with The Child.
The New Republic makes another appearance, tying in with some sympathy for Cara and Alderran. But Din is off to Corvus again. His ship’s repaired and he needs to get away before Moff can get on his tail. However, one of the aliens who repaired his ship put a tracker in it for the Empire. So… Ahsoka Tano is about to get not only a Mandalorian and a Baby Yoda (if that is what happens next week), but also a visit from the not-so-defunct Empire.
