The Mandalorian – Chapter 20 – The Foundling review S3 E4
The Foundling helped provide some focus to this season as two series regulars get further indoctrinated into the ways of the Mandalorians.
Not that the first episodes have been underwhelming, but this installment proved exciting with the various possibilities now available for this season.
Firmly entrenched with The Armorer’s clan, Din, Grogu and Bo-Katan are settling in nicely. It seems like the clan has expanded its ranks as they train along the shore.
Grogu is nervous about his first sparring session using darts. It doesn’t go well initially, but he’s mastering the Yoda flipping attack style and eventually gets the win. The dynamic of Din and Bo-Katan serving as Grogu’s supportive parents is pretty fun.
Grogu’s opponent doesn’t get to sulk for long as he gets snatched by a raptor. I’m starting to think maybe The Armorer needs to rethink this particular headquarters especially after Paz Viszla mentions they keep losing folks to the raptor. Between raptors and dragon alligator beasts underwater, this terrain is definitely not the most serene of locations.
While Paz, Din and a few others pursue via jet packs, Bo-Katan chases the raptor in her ship, which proves the better strategy since the jet packs only have so much fuel. It feels like this was the first time we’ve seen them limits to the jet packs, which have only ever been used in short bursts.
Bo-Katan gets the honor of leading the rescue mission while Grogu has to stay behind as The Armorer crafts some new armor for him.
The forging sparks some PTSD moments for Grogu as he recalls the tragic night at the Jedi Temple when Order 66 was launched.
Grogu watches several Jedi fall trying to defend him before he’s sent to an elevator and greeted by another who proves far more effective at surviving the clone ambush.
In a very cool twist, the Jedi who saved Grogu — Kelleran Beq — was played by Ahmed Best aka the performer for Jar Jar Binks. Kelleran is the Jedi Master in Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge.
I always love seeing Coruscant as it’s such a unique location in the Star Wars Universe as a massive planet spanning city. Kelleran’s fights against the clones are very well staged.
Director Carl Weathers showcases Kelleran’s dual lightsaber prowess nicely and the chase through Coruscant felt like a desperate gambit that could fall apart at any moment.
This isn’t Best’s first live action appearance in this era. Previously he played a bar patron in Attack of the Clones while Anakin and Obi-Wan pursued Zam. Does this mean he was an undercover Jedi back then?
No, to further this rabbit hole I’ve gone down, in AOTC, Best played Achk Med-Beq, who Best said is related to Kelleran.
Kelleran and Grogu make it to a platform where Naboo officers are ready with a ship and fight off the clones while the Jedi escape. That’s not how Grogu got into Imperial custody so there’s clearly more of this flashback to come. Interesting.
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Back to the rescue mission, Bo-Katan guides the expedition to the raptor’s nest and the ideal campgrounds for the night.
Paz is thankfully not a jerk and fighting her for control showing proper respect right down to making sure she knows as the leader she can eat at the campfire while the others find a spot to eat away from each other. That helmet rule sure is a pain at times.
It also felt like the mandalorians sure weren’t rushing on this rescue mission gradually taking their time to get the young foundling.
Atop the nest, we learn that the kid is Paz’s son making his restraint and respect for Bo-Katan’s lead all the more impressive.
The nest doesn’t have his son, but three baby raptors who have an appetite when Mama arrives with the foundling.
Cue up another exciting chase sequence. While it was cool seeing a pack of mandalorians, visually it’s hard to tell them apart in wider shots unless they have very distinct paint jobs.
They fight the raptor and Din is finally able to save Paz’s son before a dragon beast snatches up the raptor, which felt like a nod to Qui-Gon Jinn’s “there’s always a bigger fish” line. Even if technically one was a raptor. That was a nice inclusion from writers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni.
Bo brought the three baby raptors back as foundlings, which is probably a good idea since they keep snatching mandalorians.
With the great victory, Bo gets an armor upgrade and opts for a night owl on one pauldron and the mythosaur. The Armorer doesn’t seem to believe Bo actually saw one when she rescued Din in the Mines of Mandalore.
I’m digging this Mandalorian journey storyline for Bo-Katan and Grogu as it’s showing viewers the way with two recent converts.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Photo Credit: Disney