Films and Fiction

*Spoilers ahead for The Mandalorian S3E5 ‘The Pirate’*

While The Bad Batch might have come to an end, The Mandalorian is still going strong, with lots of fun and surprises stuffed into this week’s episode.

Mando Ways

Greef Karga’s gift (or Din’s gift) of land to the Tribe is a good step for them. Now they have a place to settle down permanently, not having to hide away anymore, and it also works in Greef’s favour, providing him with a formidable fighting force at hand as a deterrent against other pirates and criminals.

The question now is whether the Mandalorians can put aside their differences and get back to rebuilding their society, or will their warrior culture bring then to war yet again?

Can Bo-Katan really unite the Mandalorians? Her now being a part of both ‘ways’ is a big thing, and maybe shows a softening of the Armorer’s attitude towards those who don’t walk the way of the Manda’lore. Who knows, maybe for once they will be united, possibly with the help of a graffiti-loving Mando, and return to their home world.

Nevarro

Great to see Gorian Shard showing up. He really is a great looking character. I’m sad he didn’t get more screen time before his death (someone should really check that wreckage, though), but he was still great, and let’s not forget that Vane fled the battle.

Greef really should have invested in some protection for Nevarro, especially after Vane showed up in episode one. A marshal, some police, or just a citizen’s defence force could have saved him and the people from a lot of destruction, suffering and loss.

New Republic/Old Republic

The New Republic is as bad as the old one, not recognizing the threat from the Empire until it’s too late, same as before, and Colonel Tuttle didn’t seem bothered at Kane’s suggestion Nevarro should suffer to make it turn to the Republic. Teva has a fight against bureaucracy awaiting him, that’s for sure.

Speaking of Kane, what exactly is her game? She’s obviously working for Gideon, or whoever Gideon is working for, but there’s something else about her. She has another role to play, I’m sure.

Who attacked Gideon’s transport? Was it Mandalorians, perhaps Imperial sympathisers among them, or is it just a cover up?

There’s also the ridiculous fact that the New Republic was transporting someone as important as Gideon in an old Delta. I mean, really? Would a couple of X-Wings as escorts have been too much to ask for? And why are the NR keeping his escape a secret? Shouldn’t they have been searching non-stop for that shuttle?

Karabast!

It was great to see the legendary Lasat again, even if it was only a cameo, I’m sure he’ll be in it a lot more, or at least in Ahsoka.

As far as his design goes, he looks great, one of the best animation to live-action transformations ever. I know he hasn’t done much yet, but still amazing.

Well, that’s about it. Not much Grogu this episode, so no chance of his first words, but soon! Soon!

Given the finale to The Bad Batch, I’m actually glad Mando was a much more fun and lighthearted affair this week.

All in all, this was a great episode that teases a *lot* of exiting things to come!

Thanks for reading!