The penultimate episode of The Mandalorian season three is packed with developments of the Imperials, Bo-Katan, and the unified Mandalorians! Night, on Coruscant, here with the neon signs and flying speeders, looks very Blade Runner (1982)! Music plays in a foggy alleyway, walking them is Elia Kane, suspicious. An Imperial probe droid descends with a red eye. It scans her and she gives it a code. The probe droid raises up to project a hologram of - Moff Gideon! She reports to him about Nevarro that it didn’t have New Republic support, but saved by Mandalorians. Elia says the report had Bo-Katan, Din Djarin, and his covert, the Children of the Watch. Very thorough report, secret Mandalorians are not too secret. He is surprised that the two worked together, he says they were “sworn enemies.” He walks past a rocky wall, a triangular corridor, like the Vader’s castle? Red wall beams retract like the force fields in The Phantom Menace (1999). There are Imperial armored commandos on either side, with white, almost motorcross armor. Gideon passes the caskets of preserved Force wielders and then enters a council of people in holograms, the Shadow Council. They first appeared in the novel, Aftermath: Life Debt (2016).
They argue about not showing their strength to the New Republic, one of them is Captain Pellaeon (Xander Berkeley), he was an ally to Grand Admiral Thrawn and made his debut in Heir to the Empire (1991). Pellaeon was so recognizable from illustrations and comic books that he was instantly recognizable. He mentions the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn! Then, Pellaeon notes Commandant Hux (Brian Gleeson) and Project Necromancer. Gideon, Pellaeon, Hux and the others number nine. One of the most interesting book lapsing into forgotten canon (like all other Sequel-type material) was Servants of the Empire: The Secret Academy (2015) by Jason Fry. Hux’s debut. It followed Zare Leonis trying to find his Force sensitive sister, Dhara. He first appeared in the Servants of the Empire young readers series, but was seen in the Star Wars: Rebels episode, “Breaking Ranks” (2014). Hux’s plan was that clone troopers training to be soldiers at birth, but wanted the advantages of Jedi training combining them to be the next stormtrooper. Gideon notes Pellaeon’s loyalty to Thrawn, but his network has no word of Thrawn. He says resources are taken by Hux and Pellaeon.
Hux notes that he requested three Praetorian guards. These are the elite guards seen “protecting” Snoke, a very poor action sequence. Hux thinks Gideon needs protection from assassination. Also, TIE Interceptors, Gideon adds bombers. He brings up the Mandalorians and their plan to retake Mandalore. The rest of the Shadow Council agrees and Hux gives Gideon his requests. Gideon vows to destroy them and gives a cheer, “Long live the Empire!” They of course are putting him in position to be Emperor. Nevarro, the citizens are helping to rebuild the damage from the pirate attack. Overhead, the looming form of the Class 546 Cruiser! Greef Karga sees it and his Copper Droid notes a shuttle, the Nevarro skies are filled with Bo-Katan’s fleet! By the way, who exactly is protecting Plazir-15? He points out the Mandalorian symbol on the launch bay of the ship. Again, there is no planetary warning, no communication with ships. Greef says they are guests. Out of a tent, The Armorer sees the fleet, and the other Children of the Watch see the landing of the ships. In her Gauntlet fighter, Bo-Katan worries about the meeting of the two groups. Paz Viszla meets them with his Mandalorians. The new group is led by Bo-Katan and Din Djarin.
Axe Woves, Koska Reeves, and finally Bo-Katan take off their helmets. The Armorer clangs her two tools. She greets them and has a feast prepared as they make camp. Then, Mando is welcomed by Greef and the droid. He is given a bottle from Coruscant and also at his office, IG-11 awkwardly walks, piloted by an Anzellan in his chest. Greef says he is now IG-12. Grogu is amused. The Anzellan climbs down, his feet don’t really touch the table, and says, “Bad baby!” to Grogu. Greef puts Grogu into the IG-12 control. Kinda cool like a mecha. In the Han Solo Adventures novels by Brian Daley, there was a labor droid who had a computer interface unit named Blue Max. By the way, very simliar to Major Domo and Minor Domo in Captain EO (1986). Din thinks Grogu is too young, but Baby Yoda hits the “No” speech button! Mando wants him out, but the bad baby starts stumbling IG-12 around the office! Too funny! This is going to be sold as a remote control or other toy. Grogu smashes the “Yes” button, he is too happy. Later, they walk the Nevarro City streets, Grogu snatches up a snack box and then a fruit that he squeezes the juice as Din tries to get it back. Bad baby!
Night, at the camp, some large beast is turning on a spit, Roast-Beast? It is still tense when Bo-Katan tells them that they have to take back Mandalore. She mentions the dangers, the creatures awakened by the bombs, “magnetic interference” that stops scans, so she wants to move the fleet in Mandalore’s orbit. Then, a recon group to search the area for the Great Forge and a perimeter. The rest can follow. Good plan without Gideon interference. Bo-Katan calls on both tribes to have volunteers. Reluctance. Din Djarin of course steps up and adds Grogu. Koska Reeves volunteers and then Axe Woves. Next, Paz Viszla, and others. Finally, The Armorer. Morning, Bo-Katan’s fleet launches, then drops out of hyperspace above Mandalore! She notifies that the recon party is headed down on her Gauntlet fighter. The Mandalorian drop troops are ready when the hatches open. Paz sees that the planet is damaged more than he expected. Axe says he was there during the destruction. Din watches them and then reports to Bo-Katan that they are ready. The Mandalorians drop! Paz Viszla keeps reminding me of Jesse Ventura’s Blain from The Predator (1987) with his heavy blaster cannon, “Time to let Ol’ Painless out of the bag.” He should team up with Greef Karga.
Bo-Katan leaves her ship, says they will search for The Forge, and set up there. Afterwards, the other settlers will be brought down. She says, “Form up” to the group and puts on her helmet. The group of thirteen warriors walk the bomb-flattened ground. Din points out a dust cloud on the horizon. Bo-Katan calls for the Nite Owls who move to the left flank. What rolls up is a massive skiff, with two long sails and two skis to guide the vehicle. A man calls from the skiff that Bo-Katan wears the Nite Owl crest. He asks if she is Lady Bo-Katan Kryze. A trio of these Mandalorians launch with their jetpacks to land in front of her. The survivors take off their helmet revealing scars, wild hair, and rough faces. They bow to her and the captain (Charles Parnell) says they didn’t think she would leave them. I thought I recognized Parnell, he was Admiral `Warlock’ Bates in Top Gun: Maverick (2022). The scout (Charles Barker) says they failed her, but remain loyal. Night on board the skiff, the captain explains that the Imperials destroyed ships and bombed the surface twice in the Night of a Thousand Tears. Bo-Katan admits she surrendered!
The others are stunned and Bo-Katan says that after their warriors were defeated, she met Moff Gideon. The Imperial Security Bureau negotiated for disarming in exchange for safety for the other cities and lives. She turned over the Darksaber to Moff Gideon. If he didn’t win the Darksaber in combat, Gideon wouldn't be able to use it like Din’s difficulty in using it. The scout asked about the Children of the Watch. The Armorer said they hid on the moon of Concordia. The captain asks if they are Death Watch, the assassins, but she says they don’t exist anymore. Bo-Katan says that the division of Mandlorian clans is what destroyed them. Alone, Bo-Katan stares at Concordia until joined by Din Djarin. He says that everyone, but their clan left the Way and that Bo-Katan was selfish. She admits that she was selfish. Understanding the Way, now, may give Bo-Katan what she needs to defeat Gideon. Din says they will rebuild Mandalore. Bo-Katan doubts that she can hold everyone together. He says he believes in honor, loyalty, and character which is why he serves Lady Kryze! Her formal title. Din adds, “Your song is not yet written.” This writing is so spot on. A powerful episode of The Mandalorian with Gideon and his Shadow Council and Lady Bo-Katan Kryze, Din Djarin, and the Mandalorians, this is the heart of the series!
Five Bars of Beskar Steel out of Five!
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