Do you want to know what is so good about The Mandalorian being back? We have something to look forward to on a Friday. Now, I know I’ve had my critiques regarding Chapter 9 and Chapter 10, but don’t let that sway you into thinking that I haven’t been enjoying the new Season. It’s Bantha fodder. I absolutely love it. However, Chapter 11: The Heiress launched the Season forward, not just story-wise, but also in terms of my enjoyment. Wow, what an episode.
Chapter 11: The Heiress picks up where we left off. Mando is taking The Passenger (dubbed Frog Lady) to her destination where he will learn of a contact who can guide him to some Mandalorians. I’m actually going to avoid saying anything else regarding the story.
As always, let’s get the negatives out of the way. Honestly, there aren’t any. Not for me, anyway. I think the one thing that could potentially hold the episode back is its reliance on prior knowledge. But this applies to certain audiences. To truly appreciate certain aspects of this episode, audiences need knowledge surrounding The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels. It doesn’t take much away from the episode. But to enjoy this episode to its absolute fullest you need to know certain things. Events, character names, characters, particular plot elements. But don’t worry, the episode does a brilliant job at explaining these things. You won’t be lost or confused. But the fans who have witnessed The Clone Wars are going to be incredibly happy.
Unlike the previous two episodes, Mando actually makes some progress in regards to his quest to return The Child. Not only does Mando make a big step forward but there are also seeds planted for the future. One story advances while a new thread is crafted. The potential of this new developing story line is incredibly exciting, particularly for fans who loved the latest season of The Clone Wars and the “Siege of Mandalore” arc.
Now, the lore surrounding the Mandalorians has always been very intriguing and vast. There is a lot to digest. But this episode actually deals with a “plot hole” created by the animated shows. So while this episode makes fantastic progress, it is also a really interesting insight into Mandalorian lore. It answers a few questions and sets the record straight. It’s also safe to say that the consequences of this episode will leave Mando feeling torn and conflicted about his upbringing. I hope that this is a story line that continues with Din Djarin. It would be great for him to learn more about Mandalore and the Mandalorians that came before him.
All of the episodes up until now have focused primarily on beastly enemies but this week we got some amazing Mando action. It was great seeing Mando face off against the remnants of the Empire once again. It really took me back to some of my favourite moment from Season One where the Stormtroopers are completely overwhelmed by the might that is Mandalore. The crew of The Mandalorian really know how to make the Mandalorian’s stand out in a fight. If you know your stuff about Mandalorians, you’ll know that not only are they hard to kill, but they can go up against the Jedi. They are not to be messed with and the action pieces in Chapter 11 ultimately confirm this.
I haven’t really commented on the special effects before. Everything in The Mandalorian has always looked fantastic. I’ve never seen anything that has taken me out of the moment. Which feels like an odd thing to say since everything is fictional. But when you are immersed in such a visual world, the only thing that can disrupt that is when the visuals falter. The Mandalorian has never suffered visually, and this adventure is a testament to that.
What separates this adventure is that Mando is in a completely new environment which isn’t reliant on harsh conditions or barren wastelands. We’re introduced to a populated port that is inhabited by some beloved and instantly recognizable beings. The entire thing looks fantastic and it is another example of stellar world-building. We get to see how things operate on another world. How do people live? What do people do? It’s a great exploration of life in Star Wars. It’s all very mundane, but yet charming nonetheless.
Chapter 11: The Heiress is an action-packed thrill ride that will have hardcore Star Wars fans grinning with joy. You’re in for a few surprises. By the end of the episode you’ll be counting the days down ready for the Chapter 12. This episode shows a clear level of respect towards Star Wars lore and the animated shows that were once considered “just for kids”. Their recognition of these shows displays a level of acknowledgement that should fill fans up with a lot of hope. If they are willing to bring forwards aspects from the animated shows, what else could they do? In addition to that, the little threads created throughout this episode sets up a very exciting future. Get ready for Chapter 12, you are in for quite a treat.
What did you think of this week’s episode? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Tune in next week for Chapter 12 of The Mandalorian! While you wait, you can check out more coverage right here. If you need a Season One recap, we got you covered! This Is The Way.
The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal, with guest stars Gina Carano, Carl Weathers and Giancarlo Esposito. Directors for the new Season include Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, Carl Weathers, Peyton Reed and Robert Rodriguez. Showrunner Jon Favreau serves as executive producer along with Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson, with Karen Gilchrist serving as co-executive producer.
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