Chapter 24: The Return

I used to tell my friends that this show was one of my all-time favoriter just two years ago. I would absolutely not say that after this season. Was it enjoyable? Yes, but the writing is lightyears away from the greatest shows currently on TV. Compare this to Succession's writing - it's day and night.

This show has got a bad case of the Disneys. It's too childlike and playful now. The writing is not smart. Things just happen and for the most part the things do not make sense. There are so many dumb decisions made by the bad guys too. If the writers want something to happen, it will happen. It doesn't matter if some other actions would be more logical.

Despite the problems the visual effects are impressive. It looks like a movie. The fight choreography is also very good. I think everyone involved is very talented, but they have to sacrifice the writing in order for it to be more Disneyesque.

While the season 2 finale was one of the best episodes of any season I have watched and therefore a tall order to match, 'The Return' ties up the loose ends from season 3 nicely while setting the precedent for many more adventures to come for Din Djarin and Grogu.

Din Djarin and Grogu get to show what they're really capable of throughout this episode, something that has been lacking throughout season 3, and something I am excited to see a lot more of.

There were a lot of fan theories floating around about how this episode would wrap up the many subplots throughout this season, and the fact that many of these were off the mark doesn't make it poorly written in my opinion. It did however feel a little safe and there were no real surprises that emerged, but the simplicity of the Mandalorian was what made the first two seasons so brilliant. I hope this is a sign of things to come (and Jon Favreau has confirmed a script for season 4 has been completed!)

While the season as a whole was a letdown this episode was not the worst... but it deffinetely could have been better! Some great and intense action scenes! I enjoyed the fights, more than I thought and they were a bit creative at times! It was cool to see them all unite and fight! Sometimes you just wanna see something cool and this episode gave us that!

The ending was... idk, but I cannot say i am as excited for season 4 as I was for season 3 after season 2!

I still feel like there are missed opportunities this season! A lot of the elements from this and the previous episode should have been the focus throughout the whole season! Introduce Gideon sooner as well as the other Mandalorian warriors, to make this episode even better! Instead It feels half baked once we get to the end! Still some plotlines left open, but maybe we get answers if we get a season 4 or in Ahsoka!

I really hope Ahsoka will deliver, and not another Kenobi disaster!

I enjoyed this episode and the rest of this season, and by the looks of it, a lot more than other people. This show is just surface-level, easy going entertainment in the Star Wars universe, and that's what it always has been. I don't know why some reviewers are comparing this show to Andor - did you really ever think The Mandalorian was ever on the same level of storytelling as Andor? And that it's somehow dropped in quality? No, The Mandalorian was never like Andor, so why act like it? It's not a bad thing that this show isn't like Andor - The Mandalorian is just a fun Star Wars show to watch, that's all it needs to be and ever has been. I wasn't a huge fan of the first two seasons because I didn't feel like a lot happened in them - mostly just Din Djarin hopping around doing odd-jobs, which is fine, but nothing for me to rave about. I really enjoyed this season because there was a lot more going on in the plot and we focused more on other characters - it was a breath of fresh air. People need to stop giving this season stupid 1/10 reviews and acting entitled like they have been betrayed by the writers, when really their memories are betraying them. It is good to see that more people have a higher standard of TV shows though - I certainly would like more Star Wars shows like Andor, so please push for it. But not everything has to be the new Breaking Bad of shows.

After the astonishing episode last week, that not only set this show back on track but also connected all the storylines of this season.

The last episode concludes this rather rough season as good as it can. The action is top quality, the effects are masterclass and the plot is solid but not unexpected. It was great not to see Bo Katan girlboss but Mando, Grogu and her fighting together. Sure there are some plotholes and therefore this finale is the weakest so far, but it was the best Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni could do after Kathleen Kennedy made some fatal decisions.

Now this show is back on track without having wasted all of the season. Ahsoka has to deliver so the audience will return, but there is no disaster created by the Mandalorian.

The difference between Star Wars and the other Disney franchises is, that all the others are already dead, Star Wars still survives because the people working there love Star Wars and therefore will never give up making good quality stories for there belived franchise. Kennedy cannot ruin everything!

Now I want to talk a bit about the plot so Spoiler Warning here!

The darksaber is now destroyed in which may be the most powerful scene of the episode. This should prevent a lot of conflicts in the future.

Mando is now settling down with Grogu on Nevarro. This is great to see and they can now relax for a bit.

I think Moff Gideon survived because his "death" was not really shown. This is by far the most controversial part of this episode and I do not know yet if I like it or not.

Mandalore finally gets reincarnated and I hope to see progression in future seasons.

However I want them to focus more on Din and Grogu and their adventures.

All in all a solid season finale, that is satisfying but lacks of the big reveals and plottwists. All the hope lies now on Ahsoka which is produced by Dave Filoni.