The Mandalorian – The Apostate review Chapter 17 – S3 E1
What The Apostate lacked in run time it more than made up for it with a reminder of why The Mandalorian is the foundation of the Disney+ Star Wars universe.
As compelling and fascinating as Andor and Obi-Wan Kenobi have been, there’s an inevitable final destination the series can’t deviate from — eventually Rogue One and that fateful encounter with Vader aboard the Death Star happens.
With The Mandalorian, everything is still wide open with no set future beyond the imagination of head writer/show runner Jon Favreau.
Based on The Apostate, Favreau has plenty of creativity left in the tank and the series has so much more to explore beyond the Jedi, the Rebel Alliance and the Empire. It’s that sense of the unknown and limitless possibilities that keeps The Mandalorian train operating so effectively.
When last we saw The Armorer and Paz Vizsla, they’re hanging out in a secluded section of the Niven Ringworld. They’ve since reconnected with more Mandalorians and they’re rebuilding their ranks as The Armorer is welcoming a youngling into the fold.
The ceremony gets crashed by a massive crocodile looking beast that’s set on devouring some Mandalorians. It’s an impressive and elaborately staged battle that’s becoming a signature element of Rick Famuyiwa-directed episodes.
This plays out like a more advanced version of the Season 2 premiere when Mando, Cobb Vanth and Tusken Raiders took on the Krayt Dragon.
Kicking off the episode with the big fight scene isn’t the norm, but suggests how eventful this season could play out. The Mandalorians and the beast battle to a standstill until a familiar Naboo Starfighter zooms in and quickly kills the beast. Pretty effective way to reintroduce Mando (and Grogu).
Favreau quickly lays out this season’s quest — Mando must bathe in the mines of Mandalore to restore his honor after removing his helmet. Only then will he be welcomed back into the fold. Given that it was Mando who killed the beast and none of the others, I’m wondering what he needs them for exactly besides some quality armor repair.
Along Mando’s trip through hyperspace, Grogu notices some Purrgil “whales.” The Mandalorian has effectively linked and connected all corners of the Star Wars universe with this potential tease/foreshadowing of events from Rebels that could connect to the Ahsoka series.
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For now, Mando is back on Navarro in amazement at the job Greef Karga, now the High Magistrate, has done in improving the space port. It’s a thriving metropolis and Karga’s intense renovations have completely enhanced the area.
Grogu and Mando even recognize a statue placed in the town center honoring their old ally, IG-11. Greef is thrilled to see his old pal offering him a sizable chunk of land to settle down as the area’s new Marshall.
What happened to Cara Dune? Well, she went off to special forces never to be heard from again. Sigh, is it really that hard to recast Gina Carano?
Before Greef can finish his pitch, a group of pirates led by Vane (Marti Matulis), seek to cause some trouble. While a prestigious and refined official, Greef shows his skills with a blaster haven’t atrophied as he and Mando take out Vane’s crew. Greef is fine letting Vane go to spread the word that Navarro isn’t populated by punks.
Mando isn’t ready for retirement and a cozy job dealing with the occasional rabble rouser pirate. He wants IG-11 restored to help him on Mandalore since he’s the only droid he trusts.
That gets tested quickly when Mando’s restoration efforts are only good for putting IG-11 back on kill Grogu mode. Greef has an idea on who can fix him and introduces Mando to some Anzellans — the same species as Babu Frik. This made for a funny exchange as Greef had to translate for Mando.
If Mando can secure the parts, the Anzellans can fix IG-11. That’s quest two. Grogu hugging one of the Anzellans seems ripe for meme and gif material for the next five years and was ridiculously cute.
Mando and Grogu’s space trek gets interrupted by Vane, who’s rounded up some reinforcements prompting a really well done dogfight. Famuyiwa covers a big beast fight, a Western style shootout and now a complex space dogfight in the span of 30 minutes. That’s the definition of maximizing the minutes.
Vane was attempting to set Mando up to get killed by his boss, Gorian Shard (Nonso Anozie), but Mando quickly avoids the trap and zooms off to hyperspace. Shard will clearly be playing a factor later on this season.
Mando manages to track down Bo-Katan. She’s over the whole wanting to rally and lewd the Mandalorians and is chilling in a palace in Kalevala brooding. She’s still annoyed Mando stole her thunder by defeating Moff Gideon and claiming the Darksaber. Bo at least offers some guidance on where he can find the mines — under Sundari’s civic center.
This was a fantastic kick-off to the season with a very effective way to establish all the quests in play this season. Will Mando be able to rally the Mandalorians? And will some old threats return to cause more problems?
The start of a new Mandalorian season always offers a number of exciting possibilities. If last season was any indication, we’re in for another thrilling and unpredictable ride.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Photo Credit: Disney