The Mandalorian
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Watching The Apostate, the third-season premiere ofThe Mandalorian, its easy to feel a little unstuck in time.
Thiscouldbe a flashback to a previously unseen chapter in Din Djarins origin story.
Naturally, this episode should pick up from that cliffhanger.
(Two years, to be exact.)
Kicking off the season with a flashback wouldnt feel surprising or out of place, in other words.
Except its not a flashback.
Even the Mandalorians powerful weapons flamethrowers, harpoons, machine guns, detonators, etc.
barely make a dent in its hide.
Could this be the end of the Children of the Watch?
Its a far cozier ride than theRazor Crest(R.I.P.
), but its a slick and effective fighting machine, as this episode proves more than once.
(No matter what the title of the series suggests, apparently.)
Din counters that the Creed teaches us of redemption via the Living Waters beneath the mines of Mandalore.
The only problem: Post-Purge, there arenoLiving Waters anymore.
But what if there were?
Din counters with an artifact that suggests all is not lost on Mandalore.
The Armorer takes a moment before replying, This is the way.
And with that, the premise ofThe Mandalorians third season has been established.
Its filled with evidence that, yes, years have passed since we first met Din Djarin.
Nevarros looking pretty swell!
(Their presence raises all kinds of questions about how they got there.
Are they just pets or a sentient spacefaring race?
And, either way, who would want them around?
But maybe its best not to dwell on that detail.)
Kids frolic in the street and a statue commemorating the heroic sacrifice of IG-11 keeps watch over the crowd.
Whats more, its a boom town, one Karga hopes Din will join.
But Din shuts him down, however appealing the offer.
His explanation: I have some matters to look after.
Specifically, he wants to erase his status as an apostate.
Why does this matter?
To Karga, its nonsense Din can ignore and live the good life with Grogu by his side.
And, frankly, it seems like a hard offer to refuse.
But maybe that Din is changing.
(In Dins own words, Its complicated.)
But first there are pirates to take care of.
Its a fair point in some respects, but Kargas not having it.
Nevarro, he wants them to know, is no longer friendly to pirates.
When the other pirates dont get the message, Karga and Din take them out.
(The exchange explains the absence of two characters, one of whom isalmost certainly not coming back.)
Din, he suggests, would be perfect for the job.
But something pressing keeps him from accepting.
(If hes tempted at all.
Its hard to tell whats going on under that helmet.)
This, it turns out, is far easier said than done.
Dins own skills can revive IG-11 but not the IG-11 he remembers.
(They sound familiar, too; like Babu Frik, theyre voiced by Shirley Henderson.)
New objective just dropped.
New antagonist just dropped.
Din immediately offers his services, but Bo-Katan tells him there is nothing left to join.
Without the Darksaber, her following dispersed and became mercenaries.
But Dindoeshave the Darksaber.
Surely that makes a difference?
It might, if Bo-Katan had not apparently lost the faith.
But Dinisntprepared to despair.
With that, a new season ofThe Mandalorianbegins.
And its off to aprettygood start.
), so theres plenty like here.
There are some interesting ideas here for the season to unpack, if it wants to.
Can Karga build a decent society on turf with such a dark history?
Is Bo-Katan right about the Children of the Watch contributing to the decline and fall of Mandalore?
Is Dins faith misplaced?
If Din thought IG-11 could be repaired, why not attempt it before?
And doesnt an IG-11 return from the dead kind of cheapen his sacrifice?
(Thats more an issue for those watching at home.
Im sure his friends arent worried about that if it means getting him back.)
Like Grogu, we can just enjoy the image with wonder if we want.
