The Mandalorian The Mandalorian 2.05 - Chapter 13 - Discussion Thread (Spoilers Allowed)

On a production side maybe but on a story side well they're basically doing the same plot over and over again. Now how much is that them or Disney mandate I don't know

Side Note I doubt you'll get Mark Hamil back now after TLJ but even if you do, you'd need to youth him and that had mixed results with De-Niro in the Irish man imo
Playing Battlefront 2 I did think it was funny they got Hamil back to voice a Villan character (Resurrection storyline) yet not for Luke in his scenesin the game

 

After seeing what we've seen so far of Filoni's live action directing skills, I put him on the counsel of great Star Wars creators but do not grant him the rank of master! (just yet)

 

When Grogu uses the Force to reach out to the Jedi, the Force is gonna be all, “the number you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please hang up and try again.”

 

https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2020/05/18-longevity-breakthrough-2020.htm

Josh Mitteldorf, Ph.D:
"I believe major rejuvenation has been achieved in a mammal, using a relatively benign intervention that shows promise of scaling up to humans. I'm going to stake my reputation on it."

Step right through Mr. Hamill, step right through.

Anyway, de-aging software/techniques have come a long way since, say, X-Men: The Last Stand. I'm willing to accept them trying it out. Hamill's voice does have signs of aging though, which may be beyond his skill to alter. I mean, as good as he is, he still has his limits.

 

The action and acting are as superb as ever. I feel spoiled because I’ve just become used to that with the series. I also have no problem with a side plot per episode, but we’re kind of nearing the end of the season, and it feels like we’re only getting more loose ends thrown in. We’re making notable strides in finding where the Child belongs, but we’ve been away from the Gideon, Boba Fett plots, and now we’ve got Thrawn thrown into the mix.

The only loose end in season 1 was the stinger that Gideon survived, which I think didn’t take away from the resolution. There was also the faintest hint of Boba Fett earlier, though I suppose that will be an overarching plot of the series as a whole through increasingly revealing teasers. I don’t want the series to turn into cramming in backdoor pilots; worthy spinoff characters just occur naturally. My worst fear is following the same trajectory of another Favreau helmed project, Iron Man 2. A great story was compromised by executive interference to set up future projects.

Minor nitpick, but beskar is getting a little too strong to hold off lightsabers (not just glancing blows). I bought into the prequel era advancement that energy-based weapons can stop lightsabers, but an unmodified piece of metal takes away from a lightsaber’s strength imo. Plus, weren’t Mandalorians using energy shields in the Clone Wars? And I know the original Boba Fett armor wasn’t meant to be lightsaber resistant; the jetpack has a huge gash in it. But the chest armor is now beskar in when it appeared in the Mandalorian? I wonder how they consolidate that

Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved the episode. It's an achievement that they managed to add depth to a character we only knew as a baby. I see some people (probably the usual suspects) complaining about Grogu's name, but how can you not be absolutely sold after seeing his response to hearing his name spoken? We're shown he's very much aware, which benefits the earlier episodes in rewatches. His skills in the Force weren't out of nowhere, they're just in the recess of his mind. And the little shoutout to the Coruscant Jedi Temple was a nice nod, too.

 

To each their own. I personally have no issue with recasts at all, as long as the acting is good. I wouldn’t even need the actor playing Luke to look that similar to Hamill, as long as he captured the spirit of the character. The aversion to recasting, though admittedly widespread in fandom, really limits the freedom of live-action Star Wars, in my view. We could get live action adventures of Luke, Han and Leia in between the OT films, and after ROTJ, if Lucasfilm didn’t feel shackled by the fan outrage that would ensue. I find that personally really disappointing, but accept that it’s a reality that can’t really be confronted without risking financial disaster.

 

Not necessarily. Luke did that after his temple was massacred. Shut himself off from the Force. So its already been established that Jedi have the ability to do that. I suppose we can assume Obi-Wan also did it when on Tatooine.

 

I’m aware it’s already a thing. I was simply saying that it may be a thing that’s been introduced as a part of Grogu’s story not just for the purposes of this show, but also for the purpose of explaining his absence during the ST era...so that he can re-emerge once again later. Perhaps in the post-ST world.

 

Not constantly checking in with the villains, as nearly all fantasy and similar genre products do, is one of my favorite things about the show. Reminds me of Lord of the Rings (the books) in that way. We spend nearly all of the time looking at the world through the protagonist’s perspective, and only check in with the villains when the villains are close on their heels. This allows for more natural and organic world-building, story and character development, IMO, as villains tend to flatten the narrative into a simplistic conflict. I hope that pattern holds up.

 

Makes sense, especially with Grogu's period of darkness and fear. I'm thinking Grogu was taken by an agent of Plapatine around Order 66 time, obviously before Anakin went on a full on murder spree. He might well be the first force sensitive child he stole away to experiment with. He was up to them tricks in Rebels and Pershing seems to still be at it and we know it plays it's part in the ST so it's a good little hook to unite the three era's of films.

 

Like what? What exactly from the OT has Filoni contradicted in his work?

I love everything about this post. These were exactly my thoughts as I was watching the episode a 2nd and a 3rd time. I am sorry and I know some people don't want to admit that yet because they somehow have an aversion for Filoni's work, but the man just delivered an episode of extraordinary quality in direction and film making. He is now more ready to take over as much as they would give him, than Luke was in ROTJ.

And I love everything about this too. If Ahsoka had uttered a different name for a planet, people would not even flinch, in fact, EVERYONE would be excited, because it is a very exciting and sensible prospect for the story. I mean, Mando is looking for the Jedi, so he should go where the Jedi would be, And yet, if the name happens to be Tython (which means consistency with all supplemental SW material), for whatever reason:



I really don't understand that one bit. Why would anyone have a problem with Tython? I think it's great if we get to see Tython.
Btw the game is not a failed videogame. It is one of the SW video games with the best story arcs. People make up all kinds of stuff apparently.

 

I have to admit, I'm hoping little Grogu reaches out into the force and it's some sort of force hunter for the dark side feels it and turns up. I was a massive fan of the old Infinite Empire and Tales of the Jedi EU so when I heard Tython mentioned it was all oohhhhhhhhh, what they going to do here. Love all the dives into the old EU and bringing them into canon and can't wait to see what next week brings.

 

I wouldn't be shocked if Gideon is the jedi that feels it and comes looking for him. what a twist that would be? no one would see it coming. everyone is expecting to see Luke, Mace, ezra or someone but i think it would end up all star jedi at that point, especially after Ahsoka just had her episode.

I mean we only have 3 episodes left and they have to start picking things up with Gideon. who predictably will probably get the child somehow and Mando has to save him.

 

See I think that's only a problem when the villain is flat themselves and One note kind of like Lord of the Rings villains, they had one goal to take over the world there was nothing more to them than that. Villains can be some of the most interesting characters, if they are developed right. but Star Wars has a problem with that in this show. For instance in Jedi Fallen order the girl Inquisitor was wonderful as a villain and fleshed out and once again she was not in the game all that much but it was Pitch Perfect.

The whole reason thrawn is so beloved is his character development in the old books. Same for Sloane in all the new Cannon.

 

I've had a suspicion that Gideon has some force thing going on for a while. Maybe not enough to be a full on Jedi or Sith but certainly enough to be a Jedi hunter. I have a deep hope he's a former purge trooper and was part of the original Jedi hunt after Palpatine got power. But Gideon does have a tracker on Mando's ship so could track him that way and maybe's another new character answers the Grogu call. Think it's a given that we have to see him front and centre pretty soon, can't wait to see him go at it with the Darksaber.

 

Are you serious ! Rebels pretty much contradicted everything in the OT while belittling Luke and his role. He literally pulled the writer equivalent of the hand of God to keep Ahsoka alive

 

We all knew this day was coming, and we finally got a name! I was really nervous about this, but they pulled it off. Grogu’s a fine name. Now I’m just nervous about if/when he starts speaking.

I was a little disappointed that this episode ends with Din getting yet another quest to now go to Tython. It just kinda feels like the writers don’t really know what to do with the kid and they’re just kicking the can down the road some more. Then again, if Ahsoka just took him , the show would basically be over, apart from resolving everything with Gideon. I just have this horrible feeling that he’s gonna get to Tython and yet another person will say “I can’t take this child. You must now go to Ach-To (or Jedha, or some new planet) to find the long lost Jedi master blah blah blah.” Who knows. Teasing Thrawn kinda makes me wonder if Ezra’s going to wind up taking Grogu (possibly to the unknown regions?) All I know is I really hope Luke doesn’t show up in this series.

 

Tyrhon will be cliffhanger with a new or old jedi character coming next season.

 

They go to Tython, (insert famous fan-loved Jedi here) answers the call, Mando hands Grogru to them, the Jedi looks at him with deep emotion...

Then we get an awkward cut where the Jedi's face changes entirely and they toss Grogu over their shoulder!

It's like poetry, it rhymes!

 

Palpatine shape shifts like in Rebels!

 

And the person who disagrees strongly with your view on recasts is Kathleen Kennedy. She has stated that there will be no recasts for the major characters within their existing (onscreen) timelines.

 

Another enjoyable episode. Highlights off the top of my head were the introduction of Ashoka, in particular that trademark pose she struck with her lightsabers. Her being ruthless at the start. The imagery of the city gates with walls stretching far and wide was straight out of some biblical epic. Similarly you had the prisoners in those street on the road made me think of Spartacus. Grogu’s little bit of backstory. Michael Biehn just exudes coolness, a pity he was killed in a western gunfight. The planet visuals were bleak and as with many things in Star Wars it made me want to know what had gone on there for the town to be walled and protected, similarly what was the magistrates and michal biehns backstory too. That’s a real strength of Star Wars I think.

I wonder if Ashokas Thrawn quest now becomes a side story separate to the Mandalorian for another series or if they’ll tie in again at some point?

Were those 2 droids the same as the clone wars droids that used to crawl walls?

 

These droids were actually based on old, unused McQuarrie art. And if I'm not mistaken, the HK in their name given in the episode is a reference to a type of droid in the KotOR games.