‘The Mandalorian’ Season 2 Premiere Is a Slow Burn but Delivers a Great Ending and Foundation for the Season — REVIEW
Season 2 of The Mandalorian is finally here and it really fills that little Star Wars void in all of our lives right now. And, just like the first season did, the show still feels like its own unique thing within that galaxy.
The episode does start off a bit mysterious and is a bit of a slow burn. But the ending is exactly what The Mandalorian sets out to give. Heroic antics, massive monsters, and quick thinking from Mando. [Spoiler alert: Spoilers ahead for The Mandalorian Season 2].
‘The Mandalorian’ picks up right where it left off, or it feels like it does
When the episode opens up, Mando (aka Din Djarin played by Pedro Pascal) and The Child — who we’ve all missed very much — step into a venue that’s hosting a fighting ring. Jon Favreau’s early Season 2 hint of a Gamorrean followed through since that’s the type of alien fighting.
Mando’s there to find more information on other Mandalorians. He hopes that finding them would lead to help in searching for The Child’s people. They’re scattered throughout the galaxy and keep a low-enough profile that no one really knows. Gor Keresh, played by John Leguizamo, is an Abyssin who Mando thought would help, but he tries to barter Mando for his Beskar armor.
Needless to say, things don’t end well for Gor Keresh, who Mando leaves to die after he tells him a Mandalorian is on Tatooine. It’s a moment that reminds fans that Mando isn’t afraid to kill and will give someone what he thinks they deserve.
Everyone wants to go back to Tatooine
Going to Tatooine is an interesting move. It seems that with every turn in the Star Wars galaxy, somebody has to go back to this desert planet for one reason or another. It’s where Anakin Skywalker’s from, it’s where Luke grew up, and it’s where Rey leaves Anakin’s lightsaber.
It’s also not the first time Mando took a trip to Tatooine. He did so last season, when he met Peli Motto played by the hilarious Amy Sedaris. She has a mechanic spot in the well-known Mos Eisley spaceport.
Anyway, it was nice to see her again and her attachment to Baby Yoda is felt by all at this point. It’s nice to have a character so invested in the baby alien and voice the viewers’ no-doubt constant adoration out loud.
One reason why Tatooine isn’t too repetitive here is that fans get to see a new version. Or at least spend time with a different perspective on the barren planet. Mando takes a speeder to Mos Pelgo, which is even more deserted than the planet as a whole. He’s told that the Mandalorian is there, but really it’s just the Marshall, Cobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphant) in a found Mandalorian armor.
It’s always interesting to see massive Star Wars events shown from other perspectives. Like the many looks at Order 66 that hurt every time, this episode showed Cobb Vanth and the people of his town celebrating the destruction of the Second Death Star. They only had brief relief from the occupation of the Empire before another militant group took them over and made them slaves.
However, it’s such a new experience on Tatooine you forget it’s such a formative place of the past
The biggest divergence of the Tatooine fans have always know is the role of Tusken Raiders in this episode. They’re always aggressive and don’t really pose any role other than agitators, in the past. Or target practice for Anakin. However, this time around Mando actually can barter with them and align with them in order to defeat the Krayt dragon terrorizing that part of Tatooine.
First off: Mando being able to speak Tusken is perfect. And apparently something Pascal did himself. And it opens up a new experience for Star Wars fans. Because instead of the throwaway, scary Tuksen Raiders fans usually get, there’s room to see them act alongside the main characters. Obviously, they were always capable of this, but it’s definitely a standout moment for the show.
Of course, the Krayt dragon is defeated in a very last-minute, all-or-nothing move from Mando. And along the way, Baby Yoda sat and watched and occasionally cooed. It was a fine episode and a really great jumping-off point for the rest of the season.
Oh, and that final shot of Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) just adds to that overall hype for more episodes.
