The Mandalorian is now back on our screens and we have missed it so much. The Book of Boba Fett provided us with a heartwarming reunion between little Grogu and Mando, and even teased Din Djarin’s next mission. After removing his helmet willingly, Din’s status as a Mandalorian is revoked. While The Children of the Watch take their creed very seriously, redemption is within reach… But it involves a dangerous and potentially suicidal return to the desolate planet of Mandalore.
Chapter 17: The Apostate is available to stream now on Disney+.
Synopsis
The Mandalorian begins an important journey…
Review
It’s so good to have Mando and Grogu back on our screens. While it hasn’t been long since their reunion in The Book of Boba Fett, their absence has definitely been felt. Seeing the duo together again was very much worth the wait, and what an opening episode it was.
In terms of storytelling, not a great deal actually happens to move the narrative forward. Ordinarily, this would normally be a bad thing. However, The Mandalorian treats this episode as if it were a metaphysical chess board. Certain pieces are put into play, others are moved strategically, and some are even briefly used to tease something much bigger. This opening episode is all about getting the board layed out ready for the full season, and there is a lot to unpack. We’ve got Pirates, The New Republic, Bo-Katan, a return of a friend, the threats on Mandalore, Mando’s redemption arc, and even an incredibly exciting tie to Star Wars: Rebels. The board is set and Star Wars fans are certainly in for a treat.
The Mandalorian has always excelled in expanding our understanding of the Star Wars universe, and while The Apostate is very much focused on establishing particular plot points it does not shy away from enhancing and exploring Mandalorian lore. We’ve known about different Mandalorian factions for quite sometime, but this episode really highlights just how the Children of the Watch operate and they certainly do lean into that extreme and cultist approach that Bo-Katan mentioned in Season Two. It may not have been the most integral part of the episode, but it was fascinating to watch.
This episode is full of classic Star Wars goodness. It perfectly merges the recognisable with the new and provides fans with an immersive journey through familiar areas and new planets. While it does spend a lot of time revelling in this celebration of all things Star Wars, The Apostate doesn’t neglect another key element that helped put The Mandalorian on the map.
This episode is jampacked with thrilling action sequences, mesmerising special effects, and exhilarating dog fights. The epic battle among the stars will have Star Wars fans gleaming with joy, there’s no doubt about it. Not only does it display Mando’s overall skill in a cockpit, it also does a fantastic job at establishing Mando’s new ship as a threat. Enemies of Mando will do well to watch the skies in the future. This epsiode may just be the biggest premiere out of all of the Star Wars shows on Disney+. That’s an incredibly bold statement, but this episode packs quite the punch. If each episode grows in scale, this third season may be the biggest yet.
Verdict
In true Mandalorian style, The Apostate makes an epic and grand entrace that’ll leave fans begging for more. Filled with exciting prospects and teases, this episode explores the Star Wars universe much further, perfectly blending aspects from various parts of the franchise. If this is just a taste of what’s to come… Season 3 is going to be something truly special.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Episode 1 of The Mandalorian is available to stream on Disney+ right now. Tune in next week on Wednesday March 8th for episode 2. Have you watched the first episode yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
The series stars Pedro Pascal, Katee Sackhoff, Carl Weathers, Amy Sedaris, Emily Swallow and Giancarlo Esposito. The directors include Rick Famuyiwa, Rachel Morrison, Lee Isaac Chung, Carl Weathers, Peter Ramsey and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Jon Favreau is the showrunner/head writer and serves as an executive producer along with Dave Filoni, Rick Famuyiwa, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson. Karen Gilchrist and Carrie Beck are co-executive producers.
