5th June, 2023: Chapter 18 — “The Mines of Mandalore”.
Yes: it’s Monday night.
And … ?
Frankly, I’m going to be having dinner in a bit: whilst watching an old friend’s YouTube video about comics;
And after rewatching my nephew’s latest video;
I’m glad they’re both short.
It means I can get through them, whilst I’m eating … then watch “The Mines of Mandalore”, the next episode of The Mandalorian.
Once I’ve had dinner and stopped gossiping with the neighbours … !
6th June, 2023.
Reminding us that Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) — the Mandalorian of the show’s title — has to bathe in the living waters under the Mines of Mandalore, itself.
And then return to his people, with the proof he’s done so.
The scene shifts: to show us the Mandalorian arriving at the Tatooine workshop of Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris*). Instead of leaving with the IG memory circuit he wants?
Peli talks him into buying the aging R5-D4†.
As Peli puts it?
“R5-D4 is as good as the day it came back from serving in the Rebellion.”
~≈👽≈~
Post titles?
We see the Mandalorian heading for Mandalore, itself: giving Grogu a lecture on how Mandalorians were expected to navigate themselves out of anywhere, while they travel.
Something Grogu seems entranced by.
The Mandalorian then lands: at a set of ruins outside Sundari, the city built over the famous mines.
Once R5-D4 checks the atmosphere?
Our hero heads for the caves.
A set of caves … that are exactly where the Mandalorian’s troubles start.
As, after he is attacked and imprisoned by a hideous cyborg thing, he’s forced to send Grogu and R5 for help: from the only other person who Din knows will be able to help …
~≈👽≈~
Now … what did I make of this episode?
What did I think … ?
First things first: coming in at forty-two minutes and twenty-five seconds, “The Mines of Mandalore” is another, comparatively, short episode.
Something I welcome: the older I get, the more I appreciate brevity.
That’s a lovely word, isn’t it, brevity?
BREV ity … !
At any rate? Forty two minutes of well-told episode is fine.
The tale told to me, last night?
Is nicely done: we get at least one new character — if we can describe R5-D4 as a character — introduced.
We see an old friend — Peli Motto — re-introduced.
And we get to find out a little more about Bo-Katan Kryse.
It seems she’s a little more royal than those of us who aren’t huge fans of the franchise would have guessed.
The Star Wars franchise has grown, over the years, through comics and animated series: and both the Mandalorians, and Bo-Katan, have quite a lot of backstory to them.
It’s something I’ve not followed as extensively as some of my friends: so the way the writers have filled in her history is appreciated.
We’re not getting a huge chunk of information in one go: we’re just getting it in easily digestible parts.
Which is fine by me.
There’s a couple of other things, as well.
First? Sackhoff’s performance as Bo-Katan is very regal. Suitably restrained, and very unlike her performance as Starbuck, in the rebooted Battlestar Galactica.
Second … ?
The design work on the ruined Mandalore?
Is absolutely incredible!
Granted, the underground ruins of the Mines — and the city — reminded me a lot of Peter Jackson’s version of the Mines of Moria, in his turn of the century take on The Lord of the Rings.
But with far more money spent!
I can only hope the sort of the money Disney+ spent on “The Mines of Mandalore” filters through to Doctor Who!
Those sets, mattes and digital backgrounds … ?
Were utterly gorgeous: and made me feel I watching people on a whole other world, not wandering around a studio covered in green felt!
Frankly?
It’s that sort of design that can keep a body glued to a show.
~≈👽≈~
Which … ?
Which is why I’m going to be back, next week.
I’ll be watching episode three — “ The Convert” — on Monday, 12th June, 2023.
I will, I hope, see you then!
“The Mines of Mandalore”.★★★★
* Amy’s brother, David: has recorded a series or two for Radio Four.
† The Star Wars back story has evolved, over the years. To the point where the R2/R5 type robots have been called Astromech droids for years: and are apparently made by a (fictional) company called Industrial Automoton. That kind of world building’s not essential: but is nice.
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