Review Summary: A couple of "filler" episodes aside, this story matches and sometimes improves in spades from the first season.
NOTE: Being a TV show, I'm breaking down Mandalorian into short reviews of each episode, followed by a few paragraphs of overview. I'm also avoiding major spoilers from the latter half of the season.
Chapter 9 - The Marshall
Unlike Season 1's near snooze-fest of a starter, Season 2 gets off to a much more entertaining start. The addition of Timothy Olyphant as Cobb Vanth provides some wit and a callback to Western movie tropes. And the return of Amy Sedaris as mechanic Peli Motto also brings in some needed light-hearted and fun moments.
The ending battle scene with the krayt dragon on Tatooine brings a big-budget, theatrical level of thrill that the series hadn't really been able to deliver so far. That being said, it's a bit of a shame it takes its' sweet time to get there. At 52 minutes (with credits), the episode does drag a bit. And the ending reveal (while significant for some fans) doesn't carry the same level of shock-and-awe as Baby Yoda did for the first season.
However, the clever dialogue, the exciting action scenes, and a couple of intriguing set-ups make this season premiere a very solid one. Favreau's directorial debut for the series (he stayed mostly a creative consultant most of Season 1 due to being busy with The Lion King remake) is definitely effective.
Score: 8.1/10
Chapter 10 - The Passenger
This episode, on the other hand, is definitely a filler and doesn't do much for the story itself. Sure, there are a couple of surprising developments (including Baby Yoda's very interesting dietary choices...). And, yes, I'm very happy that practical effects are used more here. However, the episode really doesn't go anywhere. The Frog Lady (voiced by cartoon veteran Dee Bradley Baker) isn't really a necessary character either.
This episode, on the other hand, is definitely a filler and doesn't do much for the story itself. Sure, there are a couple of surprising developments (including Baby Yoda's very interesting dietary choices...). And, yes, I'm very happy that practical effects are used more here. However, the episode really doesn't go anywhere. The Frog Lady (voiced by cartoon veteran Dee Bradley Baker) isn't really a necessary character either.
The episode thankfully doesn't overstay its' welcome mostly. And then there's the Spiders sequence, which is so out-of-place for Star Wars. This felt more like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter with a bit of Alien thrown in for measure. The use of insects here seems a bit too obvious of a choice as the episode's director, Peyton Reed, was involved with the Ant-Man films over at sister studio Marvel.
But, all in all, Passenger is easily the most unnecessary episode of the season, and not really a must-watch to keep up with the story.
Score: 5.6/10
Chapter 11 - The Heiress
I am happy to report that things do pick up considerably in the next episode, as Bryce Dallas Howard returns to the director's chair with a very strong outing (including a nod at one of her father's most iconic moments from Apollo 11). There's more emotional stakes, more characterization, and more Mandalorians introduced (well, sort of).
Katee Sackhoff returns from The Clone Wars as Bo-Katan, and she makes a decent cartoon-to-live action transition (though I have to be honest, I thought she was Mrs. Howard at first). Wrestler Sasha Banks does decently in her live-action acting debut as well. The ending heist, in the meantime, is so well-paced and shot that it succeeds in keeping you glued. Some nice callbacks to the Empire were nicely-placed as well. Heiress might only be a half-hour long, but that's a good thing in this case.
If there's one downside, its' that Baby Yoda does get left behind here...but he's still given a couple of memorable moments that follow up from his interesting choices in the last go-round. And the episode sets up some pretty exciting stuff to come as well. Overall, this is definitely one of my favorite episodes of the season.
Score: 8.5/10
Chapter 12 - The Siege
This episode wasn't a particularly good one...until the final 10 minutes. It's way too conversational to start out, even though it is nice to see Carl Weathers (who acts and directs this one) and Gina Carano again. And Baby Yoda gets one of his best moments of the season here too (looking like he's on a rollercoaster ride is priceless!). Then again, exposition also plays too large of a part here, including a plot point that implicitly connects with the recent trilogy as well here.
This episode wasn't a particularly good one...until the final 10 minutes. It's way too conversational to start out, even though it is nice to see Carl Weathers (who acts and directs this one) and Gina Carano again. And Baby Yoda gets one of his best moments of the season here too (looking like he's on a rollercoaster ride is priceless!). Then again, exposition also plays too large of a part here, including a plot point that implicitly connects with the recent trilogy as well here.
Besides Carano and Weathers' involvement, plot progression is minimal at best. Thankfully, Siege provides an impressive action sequence at the end that kept me at the edge of my seat. Like the first episode, it felt like a big-screen moment. I only wish the remainder of the episode had been as exciting.
Score: 6.5/10
Chapter 13 - The Jedi
This episode brought the long-awaited debut of Ashoka Tano (played very effectively by Rosario Dawson), as Dave Filoni's episode successfully brings in more of his Clone Wars cast. The conflict and tension are intense, and there's some really strong surprises and reveals here too. More light sabers and martial arts choreography successfully create suspense as well.
If there's one thing that doesn't work with this episode, it's the decision to use a Japanese garden for the villain's lair. It just doesn't gel with the rest of the environment, and feels like it's out of left field for Star Wars. However, otherwise, Filoni's episode does a great job of bringing character development, exciting action and story progression together.
Score: 8.3/10
Chapter 14 - The Tragedy
The shortest episode of the season might be one of the most impressive. Robert Rodriguez (director of the Spy Kids and Sin City movies) brings a unique angle to the action and character scenes here. And the awaited return of Boba Fett (a game Temeura Morrison) doesn't disappoint. I'm glad to hear Rodriguez will be involved with Boba Fett's series later on, as he clearly gave him an extraordinary entrance here. He gets some epic and very memorable moments here.
It's also nice to see Ming-Na Wen again as Fennec Shand, as she clearly shows herself as a formidable opponent as well. This all leads to a very strong cliffhanger that succeeds in creating suspense and dread as well as set-ups that have some incredible payoffs later on. Finally, getting to witness Baby Yoda experiment more with his Force powers makes for an intense ending as things start to heat up ahead of the finale.
Maybe a little more time to breathe and process everything in between the action would have been good to add in for balance. But otherwise, this is the most exciting episode of the series so far.
Score: 8.7/10
Chapter 15 - The Believer
This one is a couple of steps down from 13 and 14, but it's a relatively entertaining entry with a few surprises I didn't see coming. Bill Burr provides some interesting levity to the proceedings as Rick Famuyiwa brings a hint of the Suicide Squad-feel of Season 1's weakest episode (which he directed). Thankfully, however, he doesn't go all in, as it works more in a lighter dose here.
There's a couple of solid battle scenes, including one with planetary pirates. There's also an intense conversation with Empire leaders that works wonders for the plot. However, story-wise, there's very little momentum. And the lack of Baby Yoda entirely as well as too little to do for Boba Fett does not help matters either.
But it does push Mando into uncomfortable spots we haven't seen him go before. It's not dragged out nor does it quite feel like the filler of Episodes 10 or 12 thankfully. And the rising duo of Cara Dune and Fennec Shand make for entertaining action moments as well.
Score: 7.3/10
Chapter 16 - The Rescue
I have to say, it's so interesting how Peyton Reed is the only director to reprise his duty this season. When I first heard he was, I honestly wasn't happy about it. But, boy, did he have a 180 here. Reed delivered a terrific finale that starts off decent, but ends spectacularly.
I have to say, it's so interesting how Peyton Reed is the only director to reprise his duty this season. When I first heard he was, I honestly wasn't happy about it. But, boy, did he have a 180 here. Reed delivered a terrific finale that starts off decent, but ends spectacularly.
The beginning of the episode reminded me a little of Episode 3 from Season 1, which involved an extended heist. Thankfully, however, this is balanced out by the return of other characters (including Bo-Katan, Koska and Dr. Pershing) and a few eyebrow-raising developments. The battle between Mando's armor and Moff Gideon's (played with a terrifically-sinister feel once again by Giancarlo Esposito) Dark Saber has a few awkward angles, but it's still effective.
However, the last 10 minutes provide such an amazing ending that gives Mandalorian it's strongest ties to its' movie predecessors so far. Without spoiling anything, there's moments that may make you go for the tissues. It is so well-executed. Ludwig Goranson does a great job marrying the past and present of Star Wars in his score here too. Now, it does end a tad jarringly, but nonetheless with a sense of completion of this journey.
Score: 8.7/10
Overall Review
Following a buzzy first season that ended terrifically, Favreau was heck-bent on making Season 2 a more expansive, character-driven story. And of course, hopes were high from the fans. However, despite wrapping production right before COVID-19 shut down the entire world, the season was dragged down a little by some rumors of creative conflict between the actors and filmmakers. In the end, however, Favreau and Filoni were able to prove most naysayers wrong and keep the controversy from tainting the impressive storytelling this season provides.
Yes, there are obvious instances where it seems like the creative team does stretch the story out to fill in eight episodes worth of content. Two episodes of the season (which I discussed earlier) are pretty much unnecessary viewing in understanding how things ultimately play out. And, there are a few creative choices that don't really fit in this ever-expanding universe. But, for all the touches made from different corners of the universe, Favreau and Filoni keep things engaging for both hardcore and casual fans.
As for what the future holds, Season 3 will be taking a little longer to come to fruition, as the pandemic and a spin-off on Boba Fett (set for next December) delay overall production. But, in the end, however...despite a few somewhat expected bumps, Season 2 of manages to match (and in a few instances, surpass) the character-building, storytelling, and whimsical tone of the first season.
Overall Score: 8.2/10
