TL;DR – A fantastic opening episode that brings us back to the world of Mando, but also the world of Star Wars.  

The Mandalorian: The Marshal Review –

One of the joys of last year was when The Mandalorian came out, and we got week after week space opera goodness. Sure not every episode landed, sure there was some filler, but when it was grand, boy was it grand. Well, 2020 has sort hit us for a curveball, and I was hoping there might be a little good in it and Season Two might be that.

So to set the scene, at the end of Season One, Mando (Pedro Pascal) was given his great commission. He had to return The Baby to its own kind, the Jedi. The only problem is the Empire wiped out most of the Jedi, and the Mandalorians and Jedi are ancient enemies. To find out where to take The Baby, he needs the help of other Mandalorians who just so happen to very good at hiding. But Mando received some intelligence as to where one is hiding and has to take a trip to Tatooine. Now from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.   

When they first said they were going to Tatooine, I do have to say I was a little disappointed. One of the weaker episodes of Season One was set there, and in a whole galaxy, it was frustrating that they dived back into the familiar. However, while there is a lot of familiar in this episode, they took it to new places with the story which sets this episode apart.

When Mando arrives in Mos Eisley, he is told there are no Mandalorians on the planet, but he has a location. Mos Pelgo can’t be found on maps, which is because it was always a small town, even before raiders destroyed it. Well, Mando is nothing but persistent and finds himself is what is a small but very much occupied settlement. It is here where Mando finds the titular marshal Cobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphant) wearing not just any Mandalorian armour, but the armour of one Boba Fett. Oh and if you think Boba Fett’s armour was the only old reference the show was going to throw at you this week, hold on to your hats because it has it incoming in every scene, and just when you think you are done, it pulls that last-second reveal.

This is an episode that takes a couple of critical shifts at the start to keep you guessing as to where it was going. I hadn’t read any of the books, so I didn’t know that Cobb Vanth was a known character and was unlikely to be offed on their first encounter. There was some real tension in that opening scene in the bar before the Krayt Dragon came in to steal the show. This was good because Timothy knows how to smoulder and work that western genre in every moment.  

It was at this point where the show leant into its Sci-Fi/Western/Chanbara origins. You have two opposing sides coming together to fight a common foe. While doing so, they find new respect for one and another and while not forging friendship in the end, at least a new level of admiration. Look, stories like these are 100% my jam, so I was on board with it from the word go, even without the Star Wars coat of paint on it.

This is an episode that takes a couple of critical shifts at the start to keep you guessing as to where it was going. I hadn’t read any of the books, so I didn’t know that Cobb Vanth was a known character and was unlikely to be offed on their first encounter. There was some real tension in that opening scene in the bar before the Krayt Dragon came in to steal the show. This was good because Timothy knows how to smoulder and work that western genre in every moment.  

It was at this point where the show leant into its Sci-Fi/Western/Chanbara origins. You have two opposing sides coming together to fight a common foe. While doing so, they find new respect for one and another and while not forging friendship in the end, at least a new level of admiration. Look, stories like these are 100% my jam, so I was on board with it from the word go, even without the Star Wars coat of paint on it.

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Have you seen The Mandalorian yet ?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day.    

Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of The Mandalorian
Directed by – Jon Favreau
Written by – Jon Favreau
Created by – Jon Favreau
Based On – Star Wars by George Lucas
Production/Distribution Companies – Lucasfilm, Golem Creations & Disney+
Starring – Pedro Pascal with John Leguizamo, Amy Sedaris, Timothy Olyphant & Temuera Morrison