IR TV Review: THE MANDALORIAN – EPISODE 10 (“The Passenger”)[Disney+-S2]

Using “Star Wars” lore, especially in “The Mandalorian”, is about defying expectation. What Favreau and company seem to be aware of which really makes the show worthy is that it is not rushing the story for a sense of where it needs to go but rather is about letting it be. While this might throw off some fans, needing something to happen, it allows for great re-viewing potential because every step means something and yet it doesn’t have to. Without giving too much away, after returning from the desert, Mando is still searching for more Mandalorians. The construct of the story involving a passenger (hence the name of the episode “The Passenger”) puts story restrictions on how travel can happen, what the themes are, and the problem solving that needs to occur. The true nature is that fixing problems is always messy, even in the “Star Wars” universe. Some of the more interesting textures involving the actions of The Child, which are both humorous but also telling, relate the paradox of the story. The episode also serves to widen the understanding of the galaxy Mando lives in after the destruction of the 2nd Death Star. And so the journey continues.

B+

By Tim Wassberg

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IR TV Review: THE MANDALORIAN – EPISODE 9 (“The Marshal”)[Disney+-S2]

The return of “The Mandalorian” has been an anticipation. While being more aware of its production process makes one look for the lines a little more, the texture is still interesting. Like the previous season, giving away too much of the plot belies the intention of the story. Needless to say after the end of last season, Mando is still on his path and his quest to reunite The Child with its own kind still stands. While not as thematically ethereal as the premiere episode, Episode 9 (“The Marshal”) keeps in tone with the Western motif while also still integrating into the lore. While a certain creature does create an interesting idea of why certain paces are the way they are, the reasoning behind this specific structure is not overtly clear (which is alright). The Marshal himself makes total sense as the misdirect serves well for later in the episode. The set piece for the episode also works well enough while paying harks to everything from “Dune” to “Game Of Thrones” while it treads on almost trying to scale up too much. There is an effort with some close ups and medium shots to make it more cinematic which makes sense since Jon Favreau directed this episode. The idea of shadows in the desert continues to be a motif but like last season with “The Mandalorian” it doesn’t feel the need to push or rush plot more than it needs to. The behavior of Mando especially with a certain species is telling but also makes one think if a deeper mythology is, in fact, authored by this.

B+

By Tim Wassberg

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