The Mandalorian (Star Wars Live Action Series)

[TurdFurgusonsHat]

Was pretty cool seeing "the man in black" as a by all means necessary imperial.

Fun action packed episode but way too short!

 

[Asta]

From beginning to end it was "perfectly splendid".


Mon Calamari wearing traditional fishermens' patterned knitted sweaters was a bit odd though. A tradition that no doubt survived the eons from the days of Star Wars into our own history...


The food that fights back was a nice bit of retribution for the brat.

 

[jye4ever]

FREAKING MASTERPIECE EPISODE!

Just WOW!

WOW WOW WOW!

Is this really happening.

Did I just watch a 300 million dollar looking TCW in live action.

BY perfectly used AGAIN!

3 episodes with their own unique vibe.

Glorious.

It was so good it felt like it was the perfect length and not short changed.

Bryce holy crap.

This season is killing it.

 

[darth dennis]

Better come with a damn headsculpt.

Hmmmm. Knowing HT, this may NOT be the way...

 

[ZE_501]

First of all, Howard redeemed herself. I was shocked to see her name on this episode.

It very much felt like a $300 million episode of TCW or Rebels but in a good way.

Spoiler

While her Starbuck was kinda annoying, I'm now in love with Bo Katan . Loved seeing the DLT-19 in action. While it was unfortunate that the stormtroopers are totally incompetent again...errrr...what else is new? Din was having a rough time this episode. Compromised by The Brat repeatedly, getting trapped and smacked around, almost losing The Brat...(whom I was waiting on to straight-up murder the tadpoles)...

The Imperials were more like Space Nazis than ever, but there was one off-note that sticks out ... the atmosphere in the Imperial cockpit lacked tension, it was like they were discussing where to get drive-through. Down in the cargo hold except for the brief panic over which doors to close, they also didn't act like they were in battle. Took me right out of it...think it was the acting/direction plus lack of good musical score.

Where's George when you need him?

"Faster, more intense!"

Most important of all, we see a new direction for the Hero's journey wherein he will take off that dank farrik helmet. Turns out our boy's a victim of brainwashing.

 

[ZE_501]

From beginning to end it was "perfectly splendid".


Mon Calamari wearing traditional fishermens' patterned knitted sweaters was a bit odd though. A tradition that no doubt survived the eons from the days of Star Wars into our own history...


The food that fights back was a nice bit of retribution for the brat.

The Brat is what I call that thing now.

 

[jye4ever]

First of all, Howard redeemed herself. I was shocked to see her name on this episode.

It very much felt like a $300 million episode of TCW or Rebels but in a good way.

Spoiler

While her Starbuck was kinda annoying, I'm now in love with Bo Katan . Loved seeing the DLT-19 in action. While it was unfortunate that the stormtroopers are totally incompetent again...errrr...what else is new? Din was having a rough time this episode. Compromised by The Brat repeatedly, getting trapped and smacked around, almost losing The Brat...(whom I was waiting on to straight-up murder the tadpoles)...

The Imperials were more like Space Nazis than ever, but there was one off-note that sticks out ... the atmosphere in the Imperial cockpit lacked tension, it was like they were discussing where to get drive-through. Down in the cargo hold except for the brief panic over which doors to close, they also didn't act like they were in battle. Took me right out of it...think it was the acting/direction plus lack of good musical score.

Where's George when you need him?

"Faster, more intense!"

Most important of all, we see a new direction for the Hero's journey wherein he will take off that dank farrik helmet. Turns out our boy's a victim of brainwashing.

Compare this to her last episode night and day.

 

[ZE_501]

Compare this to her last episode night and day.

One thing about Howard though...based on 2 episodes she:

Spoiler

Tends to be a bit heavy-handed in the way she (or so I surmise) goes about 'humanizing' our hero by giving him vulnerabilities. What she's trying to do is fair enough but lacks subtlety, because this is a couple of episodes now where this hardened killer tends to freeze up or allow others to take the lead to a degree we don't often see. I get it, he can't be the Terminator all the time, but it's a little jarring. I don't know who wrote this episode so a great deal of the credit or blame goes to them as well.

The Brat gets swallowed by a monster and he spends his time flailing about helplessly, then sits there all morose and sends others to kill the beast and retrieve his charge for him? Quite a morale break. He wasn't even injured.

 

[The Buffinator]

If Hot toys are smart....
that figure alone will break the net like the Ashoka reveal figure a few weeks back.
So much goodness in today's ep!!!

Agreed. And then

Spoiler

a Rosario Dawson Ahsoka will do likewise a few weeks later lol.

Was pretty cool seeing "the man in black" as a by all means necessary imperial.

Fun action packed episode but way too short!

Given that actor's affinity for HT figures, maybe they make one of his character? Unlikely, but it'd be cool to see.

First of all, Howard redeemed herself. I was shocked to see her name on this episode.

It very much felt like a $300 million episode of TCW or Rebels but in a good way.

Spoiler

While her Starbuck was kinda annoying, I'm now in love with Bo Katan . Loved seeing the DLT-19 in action. While it was unfortunate that the stormtroopers are totally incompetent again...errrr...what else is new? Din was having a rough time this episode. Compromised by The Brat repeatedly, getting trapped and smacked around, almost losing The Brat...(whom I was waiting on to straight-up murder the tadpoles)...

The Imperials were more like Space Nazis than ever, but there was one off-note that sticks out ... the atmosphere in the Imperial cockpit lacked tension, it was like they were discussing where to get drive-through. Down in the cargo hold except for the brief panic over which doors to close, they also didn't act like they were in battle. Took me right out of it...think it was the acting/direction plus lack of good musical score.

Where's George when you need him?

"Faster, more intense!"

Most important of all, we see a new direction for the Hero's journey wherein he will take off that dank farrik helmet. Turns out our boy's a victim of brainwashing.

Yes, Howard did a good job. Of course Favreau's story was also better this time around vs. her 1st episode.

I thought the pilots in the cockpit were panicked enough (it was a freighter so they probably were unaccustomed to on-board battles), but

Spoiler

Titus Welliver did play it a bit too stoic IMO.

One thing about Howard though...based on 2 episodes she:

Spoiler

Tends to be a bit heavy-handed in the way she (or so I surmise) goes about 'humanizing' our hero by giving him vulnerabilities. What she's trying to do is fair enough but lacks subtlety, because this is a couple of episodes now where this hardened killer tends to freeze up or allow others to take the lead to a degree we don't often see. I get it, he can't be the Terminator all the time, but it's a little jarring. I don't know who wrote this episode so a great deal of the credit or blame goes to them as well.

The Brat gets swallowed by a monster and he spends his time flailing about helplessly, then sits there all morose and sends others to kill the beast and retrieve his charge for him? Quite a morale break. He wasn't even injured.

I disagree. Remember

Spoiler

He made it clear that this wasn't his mission or fight, and it was also clear they had two different interpretations of "the way". But when things looked direst he was the boldest/bravest among them.

 

[Sassafras]

Agree:

Spoiler

Tends to be a bit heavy-handed in the way she (or so I surmise) goes about 'humanizing' our hero by giving him vulnerabilities. What she's trying to do is fair enough but lacks subtlety, because this is a couple of episodes now where this hardened killer tends to freeze up or allow others to take the lead to a degree we don't often see. I get it, he can't be the Terminator all the time, but it's a little jarring. I don't know who wrote this episode so a great deal of the credit or blame goes to them as well.

The Brat gets swallowed by a monster and he spends his time flailing about helplessly, then sits there all morose and sends others to kill the beast and retrieve his charge for him? Quite a morale break. He wasn't even injured.

Nail on the head for me, to the point I was asking myself what this character flip was. Mando may be "everyman" but don't remember him not fighting tooth and nail, to the end, never mind his affection for the Child. Also why wouldn't a bounty hunter be a lot more wary of these sketchy types?)

(OK, I'll just justify it by the man hasn't had a lot of sleep/stress but still felt kinda BS)

Stuff like that fell a bit flat for me; also to me it felt a bit rushed. Or tepid like the comment about Stormtrooper aim which *realistically* probably isn't always true and seems a bit tired.

So there was some WTF stuff for me, like this frog baby grew 3X in size in a few hours? Mando isn't more rattled by these other Mandalorians - dunno, thought maybe he'd have to take a bit more time before breaking bread with them. Howard, as a director, seems to be less sharp-edged than the others - which IMO worked in a rural village setting; not so much here. Tho appreciate Bo-Katan's gauntlet knife.

But, IMO the character nails it with his dry comments and Sackoff scored as the live action Bo-Katan, the rumored character I was looking forward to this season. Very happy to see 4 live action Mandalorians streaming through the air like that - and just more Mandalorians. Night Owls. My wallet is gonna be as empty as the Tattooine sands. Also effective scuzzy DAMP seaport and questionable seafood.

Possibly I'd be more energized about it all, if Disney hadn't been about an hour late dropping the episode. Tho Disney makes no promises far as I know. And don't know how their servers work internationally etc. Not like I won't rewatch.

 

[ZE_501]

[...]

I disagree. Remember

Spoiler

He made it clear that this wasn't his mission or fight, and it was also clear they had two different interpretations of "the way". But when things looked direst he was the boldest/bravest among them.

Spoiler

I'll give you that, he just wasn't that into it until things really hit the fan, but I stand by my observations about his odd flailing and check-out when The Brat got swallowed.

 

[ZE_501]

Agree:

Spoiler

[...] Or tepid like the comment about Stormtrooper aim which *realistically* probably isn't always true and seems a bit tired.

Spoiler

Yeah, I get it, but it's the heavy-handedness I've come to accept. I don't want the Zero Dark Thirty vibe of Rogue One, but it'd be nice to make these guys a credible threat from time to time like they were on the Tantive IV.

So there was some WTF stuff for me, like this frog baby grew 3X in size in a few hours?

Seen this little flick called 'Alien'?

Speaking of which, The Brat deserved that face-hugging. And if this were a very different kind of show that would have had...er...consequences.

Mando isn't more rattled by these other Mandalorians - dunno, thought maybe he'd have to take a bit more time before breaking bread with them.

They did save his ass twice...and the plot required it.

But, IMO the character nails it with his dry comments and Sackoff scored as the live action Bo-Katan, the rumored character I was looking forward to this season. Very happy to see 4 live action Mandalorians streaming through the air like that - and just more Mandalorians. Night Owls. My wallet is gonna be as empty as the Tattooine sands.

Sackhoff is an excellent choice for that character. I don't know if she's always had it or if it comes from playing Starbuck, but she's completely believable as a badass fighter. Seeing her as a redhead, I almost may have preferred her as Black Widow. But having seen her many incarnations in comics I'm not as tied to the Scarlett Johansson version, MCU notwithstanding.

Possibly I'd be more energized about it all, if Disney hadn't been about an hour late dropping the episode. Tho Disney makes no promises far as I know. And don't know how their servers work internationally etc. Not like I won't rewatch.

I woke up and watched it in bed, 7am local time.

 

[Sassafras]

I woke up and watched it in bed, 7am local time.

I hate you.

 

[The Buffinator]

Spoiler

I'll give you that, he just wasn't that into it until things really hit the fan, but I stand by my observations about his odd flailing and check-out when The Brat got swallowed.

Spoiler

Regarding the mission with Bo-Katan & associates, they'd already proved themselves quite capable, it was their plan and was supposedly just a smash & grab vs. a full-on hijacking, so following their lead made sense. But even after B-K changed the terms of their agreement, he still followed through and saved the day even though he could have justifiably bailed on them.

As for The Brat's being swallowed (LOVE the new name, BTW ), IMO his flailing away is understandable given he was trapped & trying to swim with beskar and a cape dragging him down. I think we were to believe Mando had almost drowned, so expecting him to leap into action immediately afterward when others could perform a rescue better (in that moment) is kind of nit-picky.

 

[ZE_501]

Spoiler

[...]
As for The Brat's being swallowed (LOVE the new name, BTW ), IMO his flailing away is understandable given he was trapped & trying to swim with beskar and a cape dragging him down. I think we were to believe Mando had almost drowned, so expecting him to leap into action immediately afterward when others could perform a rescue better (in that moment) is kind of nit-picky.

Spoiler

This is where it falls down for me and causes me to nerd-pick: he almost drowns but Bo's people can move and breathe just fine underwater? What makes their helmets and armour different? I might accept it as a plot device if I thought it was necessary, but I'm not seeing it.

 

[Sassafras]

Spoiler

IMO his flailing away is understandable given he was trapped & trying to swim with beskar and a cape dragging him down. I think we were to believe Mando had almost drowned, so expecting him to leap into action immediately afterward when others could perform a rescue better (in that moment) is kind of nit-picky.

Well, OK, I feel better tho wasn't my original post.

Spoiler

It'd also synch with Mando being 1) quick thinking even when hurt and 2) willing to delegate to save the Child, e.g. telling Cara to take the Child and leave. Picking the best man for the job under stress = good military training.

The insta-bond between other Mandalorians IMO was a nice touch. At least until the helmets came off. Am sure more explanations will come later. For myself also felt like the difference in the rigid culture of Din D'jarin vs. the Night Owls was sharply drawn simply by the interaction, which I appreciate. Things moved along without stopping for a half hour conversation to get Din D'jarin up to speed.

Which is also a good thing, because in theory why would he believe he was talking to the head of all Mandalorian society all of a sudden.

 

[jye4ever]

The jet pack flying in this looked freaking amazing the far away jet trail shots were gorgeous.

The flying looks so much more realistic in this season.

 

[ZE_501]

Well, OK, I feel better tho wasn't my original post.

Spoiler

For me it still begs the question as to why water is his Kryptonite but not for his new friends. Purely as a nerdy academic exercise, I won't lose sleep over it.

Spoiler

It'd also synch with Mando being 1) quick thinking even when hurt and 2) willing to delegate to save the Child, e.g. telling Cara to take the Child and leave. Picking the best man for the job under stress = good military training.[...]

The above point I'll concede to you and Buffinator. It's the *cause* I have more of an issue with than the consequences.

 

[ZE_501]

The jet pack flying in this looked freaking amazing the far away jet trail shots were gorgeous.

The flying looks so much more realistic in this season.

Bigger budget = real jetpacks.

 

[jye4ever]

Bigger budget = real jetpacks.

I still can’t believe this level of cgi is even possible on a made for tv show.