The Mandalorian The Mandalorian 2.04 - Chapter 12 - Discussion Thread (Spoilers Allowed)

I might do that this week, in case the thumbnail shows Ahsoka, although it likely won't since the one for Chapter 11 didn't give away Bo-Katan.

 

Ahsoka would be too big a spoiler.

 

No I doubt it. Plus I don’t think that would be any good for your eyes

 

Gideon will get his moment. It kind of seems like he is a studier, kind of similar to Thrawn actually and realised he underestimated Mando first time around. He also didn't have confirmation Mando still had the child and with the NR popping up here and there, now isn't the time for him to go after the kid AND take on the NR. The last scene and the last episode showed he is building up his arsenal in the shadows, when he arrives, it will be with a bang. Just give the show time as the seeds have been laid for Gideon, he is going to become a big part of the back end of this season I feel with Bo-Katan and Ahsoka now in it.

 

I'm almost certain that he's going to be making an appearance in a very big way in the very next episode. We know that he is tracking the Razor Crest, so he knows exactly where Din and the Child are going to touch down, and we know that he unveiled his squad of Dark Troopers in last episode's cliffhanger ending. I think Din, the Child, and Ahsoka's meeting is going to come to a very abrupt halt when Gideon and his Troopers touch down to give them a hard time.

 

I think his first big appearance of the season will be the episode after this. As I think the next episode will be mainly focused on Ahsoka

 

Been there done that...But that was just reborn Sheeve and a rebuilt Empire trying to take back the Galaxy.

 

9/10 for me.

I was pleasantly surprised by this episode. I assumed we'd see Ahsoka but this was cool as far as building on the Child's purpose & Moff Gideon. Also, how can you not love an episode w/ Cara & Greef?

 

That was an episode. Stunning chase sequence, reminded me a lot RotJ with the speeder bikes, even down to some of the shots/angles. Nice surprises too that serve the story going forward. Well done to Carl Weathers for directing this one!

 

That speeder chase reminded me of RotJ too. Great scene. I said to my friend "at least they are good at driving those" right before they crashed themselves lol.

 

I wonder if the set up will be similar to Saruman, his Uruk Hai and the Fellowship/The Ring "Hunt them down!"

 

Well, Filoni does love his Tolkien! And with Ahsoka in play, we are guaranteed to see this upcoming episode lean heavier into the fantasy element than the show has done at any other point to date.

 

Yep. Sometimes some driving lessons would come in useful.

 

Does anyone know how the lead alien in red (that Cara Dune is fighting at the start of the episode) get a singed face?? I've watched that scene multiple times and can't figure it out

 

Honestly, it doesn’t seem any slower than most multi-season TV shows I’ve watched. I think Star Wars fans are just used to...films. Where plots start and are wrapped up a few hours later. This is a TV show. Instead of asking are we there yet, we should be enjoying the scenery.

I’ve found it refreshing to not be constantly cutting back to the villain twirling his mustache. I love Gideon, but I think he’s going to be most effective in small doses, as was Vader. That said, this last episode obviously telegraphed that his role is about to increase. I mean, did you watch the ending?

 

I also don't want a mustache twirling villain, which is what I feel like he is and that's all he is with a plot device strapped to him call the darksaber. Cause I don't need 45 minutes dedicated to him but so far he has offered little to the show, and his troops are nothing but cannon fodder. I know that is a Star Wars staple to have Stormtroopers that do nothing but it adds zero tension, that was one of my biggest disappointments in this episode, with all the hallway fight scenes they were taking them out left and right and offered literally is zero threat. So so far since the end of season 1 where they offered some Threat by killing the Droid and Nick Nolte's character now they're back to not being able to hit the broadside of a barn. it's disappointing at least to me. Vader had a presence about him, tarkin had a presence about him, so far Gideon reminds me of krennic from Rogue one a lame duck villain, who is no real threat at all

 

I give the episode a 9

Really fun episode, a couple small things I really liked...

Nevarro has become a really excellent location. I was expecting Karga to offer the Mandalorian a job, but this was a different kind of job, Greef Karga isn’t just interested in making money here like before, he sees an opportunity to rid the planet of the Empire, once and for all. He’s working to better the situation of the whole community, the whole planet. Sure it will probably benefit him personally but still the episode makes a point of showing how the town/planet has improved without Imperial occupation. I mean, the townies look happy, there are potted plants and such around, the community looks like it’s in a good place, a noticeable difference from when we first saw the planet. Karga recognizes this and is working to keep it that way.

And the second thing, I really liked the scene with Cara Dune and the x-wing pilot. Like, the x-wing pilot recognizes that there’s a disparity between the core worlds and the outer rim planets, he sees that there’s room for Imperial warlords, like Gideon, to grow and expand, a problem in the making. He recognizes that the New Republic is going to need the help of the locals to deal with the problem. It’s a short scene but really excellent at world building, and giving a glimpse into the galactic state of affairs.
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They infiltrated a semi-abandoned lab, not Gideon’s inner sanctum. And then would’ve been pulverized by TIEs if it wasn’t for Mando retrieving his ship. The threat isn’t meant to be overwhelming just yet.

 

I don't even want an overwhelming threat, I just want a threat at all. Besides the monsters of the week, there have been zero threats as Mando and his buddies walk through squadrons of people while yawning basically.

Please let the dark Troopers do something threatning, besides being non-humans for Asoka to EASILY slice through to keep the PG rating

 

Peter Sciretta from /film says Extraction director Sam Hargrave actually directed most of the last two episodes.

 

If you watch the concept art pieces at the end, there's one of the lava meerkat breathing fire on his face. It must have been cut for some reason, but I am assuming that's the reason even if it isn't in the episode...

 

I think it's also pretty clever. Gideon made a strong impression at the end of season 1, especially the "Oh crap" moment with the Darksaber. But going into this season, the show continued its firm focus on Din. I know I wondered about the lack of Gideon early on, but I like the effect of it -- wondering where he is, what steps he's taking, how much he's capable of, etc. Given his ISB background, he's used to gathering information, and probably not inclined to act haphazardly.

And going back to Chapter 8, there's still the question of him having been executed for war crimes. Was Cara simply mistaken/misinformed, or is there more to it?

 

One thing has been bothering me slightly about this episode. Ive only watched it the once so if I'm remembering wrong please correct me, but didn't they say and show on a hologram that the imperial base was on the other side of the planet to the settlement? Yet at the end chase it only takes them a few minutes to return back home? A planet that small is not believable for me. This (along with more non-warp travel between planets, and the same two x-wing pilots being used everywhere) makes the universe feel ridiculously tiny.

 

God i hope not.