The Mandalorian

[Aberzombie]

JoelF847 wrote:

Plus Titus Welliver! Shame he played a one-off character though.

Yes. I was bummed when they did that. He's good at playing villains, and I'd have loved to seen more of him.

[Haladir]

Aberzombie wrote:

JoelF847 wrote:

Plus Titus Welliver! Shame he played a one-off character though.

Yes. I was bummed when they did that. He's good at playing villains, and I'd have loved to seen more of him.

Agreed! I happened to watch this episode immediately after I'd watched an episode of the Amazon Prime series Bosch (a police procedural based on Michael Connelly's "Harry Bosch" series of detective novels). Welliver plays the title character in that series, and I was delighted to see him play a villain in The Mandalorian.

(Similar to how I felt when Ming-Na Wen played a villainous bounty hunter in the Season 1 episode "The Gunslinger".)

[lowfyr01]

Aberzombie wrote:

I saw a rumor today (and I'm not sure how long it's been floating around) that the TV wrestler Sasha Banks will be playing Sabine Wren. I'm taking that with a mine's worth of salt grains.

While I think it would be cool to bring in some more established characters to the show, I would not be crazy about this one. Of all the characters from Rebels, she was my least favorite. I think it was the whole artist thing. Not that I hate artists (much), it's just that I never saw the whole artist Mandalorian as making sense.

Being an artist was one of the things, that made her one of my favourites of Rebels. Made her different , but still the usual Mandalorian badass.

To see her showing up here or in another series seeing what she did after the Fall of the Empire would be great.

And Sasha Banks already showed up in the last episode Playing Koska under her real name Mercedes Varnado. So the rumour of her playing Sabine may be coming from that. Becuase you can't have someone playing a new character in Star Wars^^

[Mark Hoover 330]

So, anyone catch the show this past week? The classroom scene was adorable. I had one question though:

Spoiler:

why didn't Mando just jetpack in and out the main lava shaft the whole time?

Having only watched the movies I still feel like there's whole chunks of the show lost on me. Was there some major significance to what was being taught in the classroom, other than the words "trade routes," like from the novels or the cartoons or something?

Also I haven't watched all the First Order movies, just the first one. I think this show is supposed to be after Return of the Jedi, but before the movies with Rey, right? Just trying to orient myself so I can properly fan.

[CapeCodRPGer]

Show takes place 4 of 5 years after Return of the Jedi.

[Haladir]

I've not consumed any Star Wars media other than the movies (i.e. the three Skywalker trilogies, plus Rogue One and Solo), and I've really been enjoying The Mandalorian.

I'm guessing there are a bunch of Easter eggs for fans of the SW Expanded Universe, and if so, they're all going over my head. But I'm still really enjoying this space Western!

[Bjørn Røyrvik]

Haladir wrote:

I'm guessing there are a bunch of Easter eggs for fans of the SW Expanded Universe, and if so, they're all going over my head. But I'm still really enjoying this space Western!

A ton. Sadly, they're going with new canon so we're gonna get a bunch of First Order build-up and s!*$ like that.

[Freehold DM]

Bjørn Røyrvik wrote:

Haladir wrote:

I'm guessing there are a bunch of Easter eggs for fans of the SW Expanded Universe, and if so, they're all going over my head. But I'm still really enjoying this space Western!

A ton. Sadly, they're going with new canon so we're gonna get a bunch of First Order build-up and s$%* like that.

I'm excited.

[Mark Hoover 330]

Bjørn Røyrvik wrote:

Haladir wrote:

I'm guessing there are a bunch of Easter eggs for fans of the SW Expanded Universe, and if so, they're all going over my head. But I'm still really enjoying this space Western!

A ton. Sadly, they're going with new canon so we're gonna get a bunch of First Order build-up and s+~! like that.

So does that mean

Spoiler:

the clones they were trying to make with the child's force-sensitive blood are leading to Snoke?

[JoelF847]

Bjørn Røyrvik wrote:

Haladir wrote:

I'm guessing there are a bunch of Easter eggs for fans of the SW Expanded Universe, and if so, they're all going over my head. But I'm still really enjoying this space Western!

A ton. Sadly, they're going with new canon so we're gonna get a bunch of First Order build-up and s&&& like that.

If they do it in a way to actually make the last trilogy make a bit more sense, I'd be fine with that. Still won't like the latest trilogy, but if they can stealth retcon the First Order and Snoke, etc. to be merely bad instead of non-sensical and bad, that's okay with me.

[Aberzombie]

Yeah, I never bothered with the two other parts of the most recent trilogy, but I had heard that Snoke was some kind of clone. So I guess it makes sense all that would have to start somewhere.

Still, I hope Favreau and Filoni will mostly try to steer clear of trying to fix someone else's mess and just tell their own awesome story. So far this season has been pretty cool. I loved seeing that dude he captured in the first episode again.

I look forward to hopefully seeing everyone come together and fight it out. I just want to see Bo wielding the Darksaber again.

[Freehold DM]

Aberzombie wrote:

Yeah, I never bothered with the two other parts of the most recent trilogy, but I had heard that Snoke was some kind of clone. So I guess it makes sense all that would have to start somewhere.

Still, I hope Favreau and Filoni will mostly try to steer clear of trying to fix someone else's mess and just tell their own awesome story. So far this season has been pretty cool. I loved seeing that dude he captured in the first episode again.

I look forward to hopefully seeing everyone come together and fight it out. I just want to see Bo wielding the Darksaber again.

Wasn't that what the Clone Wars TV series was? It's not like the prequels are exactly good.

[Aberzombie]

Freehold DM wrote:

Aberzombie wrote:

Yeah, I never bothered with the two other parts of the most recent trilogy, but I had heard that Snoke was some kind of clone. So I guess it makes sense all that would have to start somewhere.

Still, I hope Favreau and Filoni will mostly try to steer clear of trying to fix someone else's mess and just tell their own awesome story. So far this season has been pretty cool. I loved seeing that dude he captured in the first episode again.

I look forward to hopefully seeing everyone come together and fight it out. I just want to see Bo wielding the Darksaber again.

Wasn't that what the Clone Wars TV series was? It's not like the prequels are exactly good.

That’s a good point. Although, I would say that, while not “exactly good”, the prequels weren’t exactly bad either. One of their biggest problems was they tried to tell too many stories, and so didn’t have enough time to tell any of them properly. The Clone Wars did help fix that, thankfully, but I’d rather not see them get into the habit of doing that.

[Freehold DM]

Aberzombie wrote:

Freehold DM wrote:

Aberzombie wrote:

Yeah, I never bothered with the two other parts of the most recent trilogy, but I had heard that Snoke was some kind of clone. So I guess it makes sense all that would have to start somewhere.

Still, I hope Favreau and Filoni will mostly try to steer clear of trying to fix someone else's mess and just tell their own awesome story. So far this season has been pretty cool. I loved seeing that dude he captured in the first episode again.

I look forward to hopefully seeing everyone come together and fight it out. I just want to see Bo wielding the Darksaber again.

Wasn't that what the Clone Wars TV series was? It's not like the prequels are exactly good.

That’s a good point. Although, I would say that, while not “exactly good”, the prequels weren’t exactly bad either. One of their biggest problems was they tried to tell too many stories, and so didn’t have enough time to tell any of them properly. The Clone Wars did help fix that, thankfully, but I’d rather not see them get into the habit of doing that.

In a property that has a habit of doing weird things in books and comics and then having to nervously laugh and say it wasn't c1anon that has its literal bacon saved by a computer animated experimental project/show, I think its they have left. And this was looooong before Disney was on the table.

[JoelF847]

Aberzombie wrote:

Freehold DM wrote:

Aberzombie wrote:

Yeah, I never bothered with the two other parts of the most recent trilogy, but I had heard that Snoke was some kind of clone. So I guess it makes sense all that would have to start somewhere.

Still, I hope Favreau and Filoni will mostly try to steer clear of trying to fix someone else's mess and just tell their own awesome story. So far this season has been pretty cool. I loved seeing that dude he captured in the first episode again.

I look forward to hopefully seeing everyone come together and fight it out. I just want to see Bo wielding the Darksaber again.

Wasn't that what the Clone Wars TV series was? It's not like the prequels are exactly good.

That’s a good point. Although, I would say that, while not “exactly good”, the prequels weren’t exactly bad either. One of their biggest problems was they tried to tell too many stories, and so didn’t have enough time to tell any of them properly. The Clone Wars did help fix that, thankfully, but I’d rather not see them get into the habit of doing that.

Until they replace Katherine Kennedy with Jon Favreau and/or Dave Filoni as the ultimate controller of Star Wars universe, they're going to have to keep cleaning up the weird and bad stuff that gets into Star Wars so it works better. It's clear that Star Wars strongly lacks a strong central vision the way Kevin Feige provides one to the MCU.

[Freehold DM]

JoelF847 wrote:

Aberzombie wrote:

Freehold DM wrote:

Aberzombie wrote:

Yeah, I never bothered with the two other parts of the most recent trilogy, but I had heard that Snoke was some kind of clone. So I guess it makes sense all that would have to start somewhere.

Still, I hope Favreau and Filoni will mostly try to steer clear of trying to fix someone else's mess and just tell their own awesome story. So far this season has been pretty cool. I loved seeing that dude he captured in the first episode again.

I look forward to hopefully seeing everyone come together and fight it out. I just want to see Bo wielding the Darksaber again.

Wasn't that what the Clone Wars TV series was? It's not like the prequels are exactly good.

That’s a good point. Although, I would say that, while not “exactly good”, the prequels weren’t exactly bad either. One of their biggest problems was they tried to tell too many stories, and so didn’t have enough time to tell any of them properly. The Clone Wars did help fix that, thankfully, but I’d rather not see them get into the habit of doing that.

Until they replace Katherine Kennedy with Jon Favreau and/or Dave Filoni as the ultimate controller of Star Wars universe, they're going to have to keep cleaning up the weird and bad stuff that gets into Star Wars so it works better. It's clear that Star Wars strongly lacks a strong central vision the way Kevin Feige provides one to the MCU.

Meh. There's a lot of nonsense in the Star Wars universe. Putting it all in the hands of one person to yoke it to a central vision has had its share of horrific failures, even when that person was the creator of the series. Noone is infallible.

[BigNorseWolf]

Freehold DM wrote:

Meh. There's a lot of nonsense in the Star Wars universe. Putting it all in the hands of one person to yoke it to a central vision has had its share of horrific failures, even when that person was the creator of the series. Noone is infallible.

You've got to at least be able to hold it together for 3 movies. Or at least keep it semi coherent.

[BigNorseWolf]

I liked the confirmation that this guys rather unworkable taboos were from being part of a cul....erm. Minority interpretation of his planets culture. (see thats the sort of world building you can do to have a thing and not ruin canon)

[Freehold DM]

BigNorseWolf wrote:

Freehold DM wrote:

Meh. There's a lot of nonsense in the Star Wars universe. Putting it all in the hands of one person to yoke it to a central vision has had its share of horrific failures, even when that person was the creator of the series. Noone is infallible.

You've got to at least be able to hold it together for 3 movies. Or at least keep it semi coherent.

Lucas didn't. Why should anyone else?

[BigNorseWolf]

Freehold DM wrote:

Lucas didn't. Why should anyone else?

Even if it wasn't planned it still worked. If it was all duct tapped together, the duct tape held.

I wasn't exactly thrilled with the prequels but there's a coherent story there. I don't think its particularly well done but I wouldn't call it incoherent.

Clone wars worked fine as a story.

Star wars rebels only had one or maybe two things that felt jarring or out of place. (and some of the better depictions of darth vader)

I love the mandalorian and don't see anything horrifically out of place with the rest of the universe.

The New Trilogy was JJ abrams usual mystery boxes, someone writing.. something in the middle without regard to the first one or the star wars universe and then trying to cobble an ending together from the first one ignoring the second.

[CapeCodRPGer]

All I have to say about the new episode today is WOW.

[Aberzombie]

If I could squee like a little girl, I probably would.

Spoiler:

Ashoka!!!!
Grogu!!!
Grand Admiral Thrawn!!
HK units!!!!!!

Loved the Beskar spear, and I look forward to seeing him use it.

I was bummed, however, to see Michael Biehn as a bad guy.

Overall, I remain thoroughly impressed. This episode was cool, and the direction Favreau and Filoni are taking things is very promising.

[BigNorseWolf]

I think we've established beskar armor has the same EAC and KAC values.

[Bjørn Røyrvik]

Bleh. Not good. Fair warning, I hate Ahsoka Tano so my opinion is probably a bit colored by that.

For starters, Tano's headstuff is still a child's rather than that of an adult togruta. Makes her look really weird.

The HK droids don't even look like the meatbag killer and are barely a step up from B1s, not even up to the standard of B2s. Embarrassingly bad.

Grogu at least had some training, which was better than him knowing all this stuff instinctively, but Tano says he's full of anger and fear, and we haven't seen any evidence of that.

F$!~ing beskar everywhere. Has no one heard of cortosis? Or phrik?
Headcanon: beskar is merely cortosis-enhanced durasteel which Mandalorians think they invented and have a monopoly on.

The rest of the episode wasn't particularly interesting or impactful, but not too bad.

[CapeCodRPGer]

The women that played the Magastrate is Bruce Lee's God daughter.

[BigNorseWolf]

Bjørn Røyrvik wrote:

Grogu at least had some training, which was better than him knowing all this stuff instinctively, but Tano says he's full of anger and fear, and we haven't seen any evidence of that.

How about when he force choked Cara Dune? That had the internet convinced he was a baby sith lord. Not going to say BY was wrong under those circumstances, but pretty clearly scared and angry.

We've also seen yoda look scared.. alot. (rather understandably considering...)

[Bjørn Røyrvik]

There's a difference between a kid getting scared in scary situations (like the mudhorn and Cara) and trauma. Even those are weird since he shows little to no fear in any other situations like blasters going off all over the place.
Grogu's cheetful and happy and trusting around strangers all the time otherwise.

[Mark Hoover 330]

We've seen fear throughout the entire show. Think about it: even though Grogu doesn't ALWAYS respond to Mando correctly, he does respond which means he understands Mando's words. Now, carry that forward... every time Mando told Grogu to "stay here" or whatever, Grogu followed.

"But he's just a kid, doing what kids do in scary situations" I get that and I agree. But He's also showing an attachment to Mando, an attachment Ahsoka calls out. Attachment denotes feelings, and if that attachment is broken, like if Mando says "go with Ahsoka Tano, you're not with me anymore kid," Grogu displays anger and fear.

In other words, because him and Mando are tight, Ahsoka can't train him.

My only beef with Ahsoka Tano in the episode is that Rosario Dawson isn't a computer animated character. I only watched a couple episodes of the Clone Wars, didn't even know that Ahsoka wasn't Aniken's apprentice or an actual Jedi anymore, but the stuff I saw had Ahsoka fighting in a very acrobatic style with lots of leaps and flips.

Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka was using a lot of power moves with the light saber and saved all of her leaps for getting on top of buildings. I'm guessing without a lot of wirework and green screens there isn't a way to make a real life actress act like the cartoon Ahsoka I remember, but that's my gripe.

Otherwise this was another great episode. I really appreciate the small things of world building they do with this series: mando tapping the beskar spear on his own armor to hear the vibrations so he can assess the metal, the heartwarming callbacks to the screwtop lever handle Grogu plays with, or the episode before with the old bounty of Mando's saying he still can't see out of his left eye - a callback to Han's "Carbonite Blindness" from Return of the Jedi.

Also... that fast draw! That was SO cool! This IS the way dangit!

[JoelF847]

Mark Hoover 330 wrote:

My only beef with Ahsoka Tano in the episode is that Rosario Dawson isn't a computer animated character. I only watched a couple episodes of the Clone Wars, didn't even know that Ahsoka wasn't Aniken's apprentice or an actual Jedi anymore, but the stuff I saw had Ahsoka fighting in a very acrobatic style with lots of leaps and flips.

Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka was using a lot of power moves with the light saber and saved all of her leaps for getting on top of buildings. I'm guessing without a lot of wirework and green screens there isn't a way to make a real life actress act like the cartoon Ahsoka I remember, but that's my gripe.

Well, Ahsoka in the Clone Wars was still a teen, and not fully grown. In Mandalorian, she'd definitely a full adult, and therefore might have integrated more power moves and less acrobatic moves into her arsenal now that she has an adult's frame and height. In addition, it's been decades, so she could simply have adapted her fighting style with more and more experience. (I haven't seen all of Star Wars Rebels yet, so can't comment as much on her fighting style there as an intermediate point).

[PFRPGrognard]

Each episode gets better and better! It's so refreshing to see a Star Wars story created by a fan that doesn't hate Star Wars fans.

[TriOmegaZero]

Mark Hoover 330 wrote:

Also... that fast draw! That was SO cool! This IS the way dangit!

Dude didn’t know who he was messing with. Should have walked away.

[Freehold DM]

PFRPGrognard wrote:

Each episode gets better and better! It's so refreshing to see a Star Wars story created by a fan that doesn't hate Star Wars fans.

Hes been around for a while and created multiple series for Star Wars. This what...his 4th series?

Waitaminute.

I think aside from Gennady Tarkovsky, he is the ONLY person to create Star Wars series in modern day.

[JoelF847]

Freehold DM wrote:

PFRPGrognard wrote:

Each episode gets better and better! It's so refreshing to see a Star Wars story created by a fan that doesn't hate Star Wars fans.

Hes been around for a while and created multiple series for Star Wars. This what...his 4th series?

Waitaminute.

I think aside from Gennady Tarkovsky, he is the ONLY person to create Star Wars series in modern day.

Actually, Mandalorian is credited as being created by Jon Favreau, and it's his first Star Wars series created. Dave Filoni has been an executive producer and involved in the writing and lots of the lore, but didn't create Mandalorian.

[Freehold DM]

JoelF847 wrote:

Freehold DM wrote:

PFRPGrognard wrote:

Each episode gets better and better! It's so refreshing to see a Star Wars story created by a fan that doesn't hate Star Wars fans.

Hes been around for a while and created multiple series for Star Wars. This what...his 4th series?

Waitaminute.

I think aside from Gennady Tarkovsky, he is the ONLY person to create Star Wars series in modern day.

Actually, Mandalorian is credited as being created by Jon Favreau, and it's his first Star Wars series created. Dave Filoni has been an executive producer and involved in the writing and lots of the lore, but didn't create Mandalorian.

aaaahhhh...

[GM SuperTumbler]

I'm sure that there are Hollywood Politics involved, but I can't understand why Disney hasn't yet put Filoni in a position equivalent to Feige for Star Wars. I'm guessing Favreau has too many fingers in too many other pies. Star Wars needs a guiding hand that is a fan, can bring forward the best of the Legends stuff. I'm guessing, based on the reporting that we are hearing about the Mandalorian being the most successful thing on Disney+ by an order of magnitude that this change is coming.

[GM PDK]

GM SuperTumbler wrote:

I'm sure that there are Hollywood Politics involved, but I can't understand why Disney hasn't yet put Filoni in a position equivalent to Feige for Star Wars. I'm guessing Favreau has too many fingers in too many other pies. Star Wars needs a guiding hand that is a fan, can bring forward the best of the Legends stuff. I'm guessing, based on the reporting that we are hearing about the Mandalorian being the most successful thing on Disney+ by an order of magnitude that this change is coming.

If Disney+ can now produce a Marvel TV Show that's even half as awesome as the Mandalorian, I'll be a really happy customer! :)

[Freehold DM]

GM SuperTumbler wrote:

I'm sure that there are Hollywood Politics involved, but I can't understand why Disney hasn't yet put Filoni in a position equivalent to Feige for Star Wars. I'm guessing Favreau has too many fingers in too many other pies. Star Wars needs a guiding hand that is a fan, can bring forward the best of the Legends stuff. I'm guessing, based on the reporting that we are hearing about the Mandalorian being the most successful thing on Disney+ by an order of magnitude that this change is coming.

Except Mandalorian isn't Legends, its Canon. I think they are quietly employing the best people they can find to build up their new-ish universe. Unfortunately that comes with a few serious misfires, contractual issues(Disney is still a b&&@* to work for) and creative differences.

[The NPC]

Aberzombie wrote:

If I could squee like a little girl, I probably would.

** spoiler omitted **

Overall, I remain thoroughly impressed. This episode was cool, and the direction Favreau and Filoni are taking things is very promising.

How is

Character:

Grand Admiral Thrawn

there? Does that mean

Other Character:

Ezra

is around somewhere as well?

[BigNorseWolf]

fanboy squeees to a pitch only they can hear

Also

Spoiler:

She DID say there was a lot of anger in there...

[Aberzombie]

The NPC wrote:

Aberzombie wrote:

If I could squee like a little girl, I probably would.

** spoiler omitted **

Overall, I remain thoroughly impressed. This episode was cool, and the direction Favreau and Filoni are taking things is very promising.

How is ** spoiler omitted ** there? Does that mean ** spoiler omitted ** is around somewhere as well?

It’s possible Ezra is around somewhere. Although, apparently Dave Filoni was casting some doubts in a interview recently. He said something to the effect of the final epilogue scenes from Rebels weren’t clear on when they were happening. So the scene with the artist chick going off with Ashoka to find Ezra just MIGHT actually take place after The Mandalorian. We’ll just have to wait and see.

[Aberzombie]

GM SuperTumbler wrote:

I'm sure that there are Hollywood Politics involved, but I can't understand why Disney hasn't yet put Filoni in a position equivalent to Feige for Star Wars. I'm guessing Favreau has too many fingers in too many other pies. Star Wars needs a guiding hand that is a fan, can bring forward the best of the Legends stuff. I'm guessing, based on the reporting that we are hearing about the Mandalorian being the most successful thing on Disney+ by an order of magnitude that this change is coming.

I’m guessing Favreau is in charge for now because he’s got way more experience both behind and in front of the camera. There have been rumors (or so I’ve heard) that he will actually be the one to be the Star Wars version of Feige. I’d be satisfied with either one being in charge, personally.

[CapeCodRPGer]

"I was aiming for the other one."

Another great episode. I do wonder though.

Spoiler:

Did Mando get His jet pack back?

[Aberzombie]

What a great episode, and (as promised) some tragedy.

Spoiler:

I can’t recall ever seeing a gaffe stick actually used to such extent and great effect. That was pretty cool. And I think that’s the most fighting we’ve ever seen done by Boba Fett. It was well worth the wait.

Interesting that Jango was a foundling. I like it.

Glad to see Boba is a man of honor. And I look forward to seeing this team take on Gideon and his goons.

I had thought those were robots in that room the last time we saw Gideon. Glad to see that confirmed. Wish we could have seen them in action this time around, but I have a feeling we won’t have long to wait.

Looking forward to Mayfield’s return, as well. Hopefully, he won’t betray Mando like he did last time.

Looking forward to the last two episodes.

[BigNorseWolf]

scary thought:

are those robots made out of beskar?

[Marc Radle]

I love this developing pattern ...

Everyone posts all the things the love about each new episode, and generally give the episode in question (and show in general) praise ... and then a certain curmudgeon pops in each week to call it a ‘crap’ episode.

[Aberzombie]

Marc Radle wrote:

I love this developing pattern ...

Everyone posts all the things the love about each new episode, and generally give the episode in question (and show in general) praise ... and then a certain curmudgeon pops in each week to call it a ‘crap’ episode.

All I know is, for once I'm not the curmudgeon. And that's just fine with me. It gets exhausting after awhile.

[BigNorseWolf]

Sarlack latches onto his armor

He takes the armor off to escape.

Gets back to his ship.

10 years later sarlack poops out armor

Jaawas find armor in sarlack poop (they keep finding things there so its on their route)

Cob trades armor

Bobba doesn't get it back from cob because.... This is where I'm a little lost honestly. Did he just find cob recently? Was he letting cob have it because he was putting it to better use/was more deserving?

Cob gives armor to Mando, mando ..kinda gives it to Bobba.