Chapter 17: The Apostate

I really want to like the Mandalorian. S1 brought me back into StarWars after the sequel trilogy had ruined this franchise for me. S2 was good, tho a bit gimmicky. This first Episode is the worst bits of S2 and little of the charm of S1.

The issue is the story. Its just not moving. A lot of scenes are just there to showoff familiar characters, and add nothing to the story. Nothing happens in this episode that we already didn't know. Except the Mandalorian flying across the galaxy again & again to meet old friends & have meaningless conversations most of which we already knew.

If they think this is "fan service", I'm sorry but they are mistaken. Once or twice is fun. But they already overdid this "fan service" in S2 & Boba Fett. Now focus on the story please. Learn something for Andor, which is now my favourite StarWars content since Mandalorian S1.

The episode is short and sort of "MEH". I don't really have strong feelings either way about it, though it is nice to see the characters that I enjoy again, and the plot will pick up phase in later episodes. I'd like to discuss one thing though.

What angered me, is the structure that Disney+ pushes onto us. Why should anyone be expected to watch every other SW series in order to understand the continuity of this one? Now, I did see the Book of Boba Fett but I expected at the very least a short plot update for the people who haven't. If you finish Mandalorian Season 2 and go on to season 3, you will be lost. At the end of Season 2 Grogu goes off to be trained a Jedy and suddenly at season 3 they are together again and somehow, Din Jarin has a new fighter? Not even an attempt to sum up what has happened before. As stated, I personally have seen the Boba Fett series, but I am appalled by this precedence. What is the point of keeping track of seasons if they do not tie onto one another?

This isn't bad but maybe not as good as the first two seasons, still quite enjoyed it though. For this episode to make any sense whatsoever from the end of season 2 you really need to watch The Book of Boba Fett, at least episodes 5,6 and 7 some of which should really have just been tacked onto the end of season 2 of The Mandalorian. I hadn't watched this initially and really didn't know what was going on in this episode as it begins poles apart from the last episode of season 2 and doesn't really seem to make a lot of sense. Still pretty good though and worth a watch I think. Hopefully season 3 will improve and get back up to the standards set in the first two seasons.

I didn't expect much better, considering the quality of some of the recent Disney Star Wars shows, but I'm still ultimately disappointed.

I feel like there was no heart behind this episode, like no one involved, aside from the cgi artists, actually cared about what they were working on here. The cinematography, costume work, pacing, writing, and editing, were all let downs.

Each shot was very unimpressive (especially compared to the concept art shown at the end). The quality of most of the alien costumes immediately distracted me from the story (I swear it's somehow significantly worse costume work than the original Star Wars, like Lucasfilm is pretending poor costume work is a stylistic choice, in order to cut costs). The grass pirate guy looked especially laughable. The pacing was erratic at best, making for an awkward experience. The writing, in terms of story, was questionable, as too many different side quests were thrust upon Mando too quickly (and that monster attack scene at the beginning felt poorly implemented, like Mando just needed a cool looking entrance, and this random scenario is what the writers came up with). The editing was really distracting throughout the episode, but especially in the monster attack scene.

The two Mando episodes embedded in The Book of Boba Fett were very good (the rest of The Book of Boba Fett was awful), so I was hoping that some of what made those so good would have carried over to the third season of The Mandalorian. Unfortunately, only the questionable alien costume work (the low point of those episodes) appears to be the only thing that made it to season 3 of Mando.

I am not convinced, yet, that this season will be a loser, but this was not a good start.

I was so looking forward to beginning a new chapter of the Mandalorian. Especially after the spectacular end to Season 2.

This episode doesn't feel the same. It is more like Disney or Marvel fluff than the last two seasons. The actors say their lines woodenly and there are strange pauses as if they're being over-directed.

The action scenes are filler and serve no purpose. How does some random story about a group of pirates further the main story at all? This episode could have easily been replaced by a 5-minute recap from Boba Fett.

Mr. Favreau, are you ok? Blink once for yes and two for if you need a trip to the dispensary.