The Mandalorian — Series 3 Episode 3 — Chapter 19 “The Convert” — A Review

12th June, 2023: “The Convert”.

Right … 

As I start writing this?   It’s a Monday afternoon.

But you knew that.

And that I’m doing dinner: with an episode of Yes, Prime Minister on in the background.

Sir Humphrey and the PM are up to their usual warring: extremely funny warring!

At any rate, once dinner’s done, I’ll be watching the next episode of The Mandalorian’s third series: and telling you about it, by tomorrow night.

I’ll be right back … 

~≈👽≈~

13th June, 2023.

Episode 3 — Chapter 19 — “The Convert” — opens with a summary of earlier episodes.

Then shifts … to show us brief scenes from series one and two of the show, reminding us about Dr Pershing (Omid Abtahi), and Officer Elia Kane (Katy M. O’Brian).

Then moves: to remind us the Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), the Mandalorian of the show’s title, has completed his mission, bathed in the Living Waters, and gathered the need proof.

Now all he and Bo-Katan Kryse (Katee Sackhoff) have to do?

Is get back to the Armourer (Emily Swallow) with the proof: without getting killed by the TIE interceptors bombing Bo-Katan Kryse’s home.

Post-titles, the scene shifts: to show us that former Imperial scientist, Dr Penn Pershing, is now working for the New Republic, and giving a speech to the New Republic’s science body.

However?

He’s no long working on cloning: as the science is something the Republic’s outlawed.

He is living in housing for rehabilitated Imperial staffers, living on Coruscant, the Republic’s capital.

And it’s there he meets former Imperial Comms officer, Elia Kane: who he’d last seen when they were both working for Moth Gideon’s Imperial Remnant.

And who he find’s very persuasive.

It’s not every one who can talk him into deciding to start his research, again.

Nor talk him into finding the kit to do so.

Nor breaking into an heavily guarded junk yard, to steal that kit.

Penn Pershing doesn’t know it: but he could get into trouble … 

~≈👽≈~

Now … what did I make of “The Convert”?

I’ve said — at least twice — that one thing I like about this series of The Mandalorian is its simple brevity.

Its habit of having episodes that are both short, smart, and well told.

They’re stories — or slices of story — that romp along at a good, economical pace: keeping themselves down to forty minutes, or less.

And, thus far?

Manage to tell an entertaining tale into the process.

You’d think “The Convert” — at some fifty-six minutes or so — would be different, wouldn’t you?

You’d assume I’d find that something of a turn off.

You’d normally be right.

You’d also be making an ass out of you, and me, both.

As “The Convert” manages to weave two very different stories — one, a questing knight, the other a political thriller — and tell them across fifty-six minutes of seat riveting action.

Questing knight?

Political thriller?

Yes: questing knight.

I know The Mandalorian gets described as a ‘space western’.

But?

Din Djarin’s arc, so far, has got me thinking he’s not an intergalactic cowboy in a space western: no.

He seems — in this series, at least — to be a knight on a quest: for redemption, or a holy grail.

One of the two.

So that’s one plotline.

The other … ?   The political thriller?

Was Kane’s honey trapping* of Pershing.

She gets access to information, and the mobile lab.

And makes sure the man she betrayed is no longer a threat.

And, in the process?

Provide us with more world-building: the New Republic seems happy to reuse Imperial techniques† on its enemies.

And shows us more of Elia Kane.

What — or who — is she working for?

Frankly?

I hope we find out!

“The Convert”.

★★★★

~≈👽≈~

That’s something I’m looking forward to.

Which is why I’ll be watching episode four — “The Foundling” — next week: on Monday, 19th June, 2023.

I’ll have my written and video reviews up on on Tuesday, 20th June.

Hopefully?

And if not before?

I’ll see you then!

*        OK: the phrase ‘honey trap’ is usually used to describe someone conned into something by a treacherous romantic partner.   But that’s how this part of the episode seemed to me: it was Kane getting emotionally involved with Pershing, in order to get something she wants.

†        The hideously evil device in question?   Is what the New Republic technician calls a ‘six-0-two mitigator’ … but what everyone else calls a ‘mind flayer.’   If it wasn’t for the fact Dungeons and Dragons introduced the term in the mid-1970s?   I’d call it a bit dramatic!