SERIES REVIEW – The third season of The Mandalorian continues where the second left off: Din Djarin and Grogu are separated after Luke Skywalker takes his little Jedi apprentice. However, there are still many dangers lurking in the galaxy, and Mando must face his own past and future. The season opener promises an exciting and spectacular adventure that provides a deeper look into Mandalorian culture and history. Thanks to Disney Plus, we were able to see the first episode on the big screen at the Mammut cinema, and the event was also attended by influencer Gergely Szirmai, who gave a presentation in his usual exaggerated, extroverted style before and after the episode was shown.

The new episode is called “The Apostate” and shows how Mando and Grogu travel to Mandalore, the lost planet that has been ravaged by wars for centuries. Here they meet Bo-Katan Kryze and Koska Reeves, who help them find a safe haven. But not everyone is happy that a stranger wears the precious beskar armor and possesses the coveted dark sword. And with the return of an old enemy, new conflicts erupt.

Western and science fiction hand in hand

The returning director of the episode, Rick Famuyiwa, did a great job with The Apostate, in which the essence of the western and sci-fi worlds are present at the same time. The episode starts with exciting action scenes in which a gigantic, bloodthirsty crocodile disrupts the Mandalorian ceremony. The western atmosphere is enhanced by a fast-paced gun duel between Greef Karga and a notorious pirate, during which Famuyiwa uses the style of Sergio Leone with alternating close-up shots. One of the most memorable scenes of the episode, however, is when the upper echelon of IG-11 turns against Grogu, and Mando does everything he can to protect the little boy.

The episode’s most important action scene is a spaceship chase, during which a gang of pirates try to capture Mando’s spaceship. Although the chase is extremely spectacular and fast-paced, unfortunately it was a bit short and did not bring the tension that viewers expect from a Star Wars space battle.

One bath and you’re a Mandalorian again?

It’s also a shame that the main plot continues to be neglected due to the series’ side quests. The premiere of the third season of The Mandalorian confirms the main story line: Mando and Grogu return after the events of The Book of Boba Fett. Din Djarin is no longer officially a Mandalorian, but he strives for redemption and to be back on Mandalorian. The first episode prepares viewers for Mando’s journey to Mandalore, where he can bathe in “holy water” and be forgiven by the Armorer for his transgressions against the Order.

The third season premiere was written by series creator Jon Favreau and continues the show’s annoying tradition of first episodes revolving around subplots. In the first scenes of the premiere, it shows Mando’s journey to become a Mandalorian again. However, before traveling to Mandalore, you must rebuild IG-11 to help you explore the planet. But before you can rebuild the IG-11, you first need a new memory card. The Mandalorian is never in a hurry to move the plot forward and bring the characters closer to their goals. But the story is not a goal-oriented narrative, the essence of the series lies in the dynamics of the two protagonists, the deputy father and son.

Returning director

Director Rick Famuyiwa established the relationship between Mando and Grogu in the first Mandalorian episode, “Chapter 2: The Child”, which every subsequent episode tried to recreate. Famuyiwa was the ideal choice to bring that dynamic back to the series after a short hiatus. His excellent direction brings some apt, imaginative shots to the table. A frame is captured on the helmet of a Mandalorian as they fly overhead looking down. As Mando arrives on Nevarro, the landscape is distorted through the curved glass of the N-1 starship’s cockpit as he races above the city and is guided through the winding streets by the astro-mechanic.

This moment is a significant turning point for fans of the series, as the opening episode of the third season of The Mandalorian features already well-known characters such as Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) or the protagonist Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal). During the exciting mission of the episode, during which the Mandalorian has to stop the aforementioned vengeful pirates, the fans manage to fall back into the emotions and atmosphere that are used to the series.

So the first episode promises fans another exciting adventure and already starts the thread for the ideological struggle between Armorer and Bo-Katan. Based on the first episode, we can say that the third season will certainly remain faithful to the previous seasons and will once again provide an engaging story, exciting actions and character development. New episodes are eagerly awaited by all Star Wars fans and are the best way to return to The Mandalorian universe.

THIS IS THE WAY!

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