The previous episode of The Mandalorian took us on a bit of a journey, and we didn’t actually get to spend a lot of time with Mando and Bo-Katan. While the world-building on Corusant and that rather suspicious dive into modern life post Empire really helped develop and tease what’s to come, we’d be lying if we said that we didn’t miss our favourite Mandalorians. However, they are back in this brand new episode which is available to stream exclusively on Disney+ right now.
Synopsis
Din Djarin returns to the hidden Mandalorian covert.
Review
Last week’s episode gave us something a little different, didn’t it? Currently, the events of Chapter 19 seem somewhat inconsequential, however, just hold on because these paths will eventually align. We have so many different ideas and theories whirling around, it’s tricky to work out what this season is building up to. Episode 4, The Foundling, saw us back with Mando, Grogu and Bo, and while the previous episode’s exploration on Corusant was incredibly engaging, it felt nice to have the trio back together for the entire episode.
This episode had a bit of everything in it. Everything that we love about Star Wars and The Mandalorian was sprinkled into this episode and it was beautifully executed. We had action, visually awesome creatures, a deeper look into the Mandalorian mythology, Grogu cuteness, and even one of the best Order 66 sequences we’ve seen since Anakin’s march on the Jedi Temple. Now, this had a dual effect. A pro and a con. While this episode, directed brilliantly by Carl Weathers, was busy juggling these components it somewhat impacted the overall plot of this episode. Unfortunately, The Foundling enters “fetch quest” territory. Not much ground is gained in terms of the narrative, simply because Mando and Bo participate in their own little sidequest. That’s the biggest and only criticism for this episode. Based on what else this episode offered… It’s impossible to be even remotely mad or disappointed.
This entire episode feels like a giant love letter to Star Wars as a whole. More specifically though, it feels as though this episode was designed more for those who grew up with the prequels. The flashback to Order 66 is of course the big telltale sign, but the overall feel and aesthetic of the episode felt very prequel-esque. From the Clone Troopers, to the lightsaber combat and visual easter eggs, all the way to the high-speed chase through Corusant, this episode is a gracious and respectful tribute to the prequel era. And as a prequel child, the smile on my face was immeasurable and my heart was full of adoration. All of a sudden, I was a kid sat in front of the TV watching Revenge of the Sith and Attack of the Clones.
The Mandalorian has essentially transformed into a gateway between eras. Episodes such as The Foundling connect roots together in a way we never thought was possible. We’ve had Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, a casual Grand Admiral Thrawn name drop, and a more vicious return to Order 66- all because of The Mandalorian. However, this week’s episode felt drastically more special because of the context. In terms of surprises, this may be the best from Disney… So far.
Outside of the magnificent flashback, this episode provides us with a lot of Mandalorian action. It’s not just combat… We actually get to witness a lifestyle. We see the Mandalorians train, integrate and interact with each other. This created a lot of fun and utterly adorable moments for Grogu who also happens to be a Foundling. He’s definitely not the most skilled Foundling in the pack, but he’s trying his hardest. The most interesting part of this episode however, was seeing Bo-Katan digest everything. She still seems incredibly uncertain, but there’s this flicker. Bo-Katan hasn’t really belonged since losing her home. This is the first time she actually feels close to her people, and it’s with the extreme cultists that were originally shunned for reestablishing the ancient ways. That introduces a strange dynamic. There’s conflict there, and Bo isn’t really sure what to do.
This episode may be a simple fetch quest with some incredibly cool sequences, but under the surface… Something else is brewing. With 4 episodes left, The Mandalorian really needs to start connecting the dots. It is doing everything else perfectly, and this episode is proof of that, but we need to start moving towards something more definitive.
Verdict
Full of epic sequences, amazing special effects, and a full dose of that Star Wars goodness, The Foundling is an episode to remember. While it does delay our characters from progressing narrative wise, we do get a lot of substance that allows us to further explore our favourite characters. We learn more about Grogu’s past, we also get to see him trains as a Foundling which is both hilarious and adorable, and we get to see Bo-Katan in uncharted waters. What will Bo do next? That is the all important question, isn’t it?
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chapter 20 of The Mandalorian is available to stream on Disney+ right now. Tune in next week on Wednesday March 29th for episode 5. The end is in sight… Doesn’t time just fly? Have you watched this week’s episode yet? Let us know what you thought 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.
