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RECAP: Mandalorian Season 2 Chapter 15 - The Believer
Spoiler-Free Review:
This episode was written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa, whose previously work on the series includes "The Prisoner" from season one which still ranks as one of my favorites. On the downside, chapter 15 offers some iffy plot convenience writing, which I justify below. The upside is some of the best Star Wars dialog ever. Here is the boldest statement I will make about The Mandalorian: It is elevating all of Star Wars. No one loves the Original Trilogy more than I do, but I will admit to its occasional wince worthy moments. Those things that, should we choose to be embarrassed by our fandom, do embarrass us. The Mandalorian now says that Star Wars is better than those who mock it.
I promise you that while "The Heiress", "The Jedi", and "The Tragedy" are the darlings of season 2 so far, their luster will fade a little as they age. "The Believer" will be evergreen, and an episode I constantly come back to. Not all of the credit goes solely to Famuyiwa. The casting director deserves heaps of praise. First of all, Bill Burr is a legitimately good actor without having to add any additional qualifiers (i.e. no "good for a stand up comedian"). Second, the casting of Richard Brake cements this episode as much as the writing does.
I give this episode an A. It would be an A+ save for that one plot point that partially pulls me out of the story.
Spoiler Filled Recap:
The episode begins in a scrapyard where Migs Mayfield is serving out his hard labor prison sentence. He is remanded to the custody of Marshal Cara Dune. She leads him to Slave I where he is relieved to see that the Mandalorian he sees is Boba Fett and not Din Djarin. The relief is short lived because Din Djarin appears from behind Fett. They explain that Mayfeld is needed for his Imperial know-how, and he departs the prison planet together with Dune, Fett, Din, and Fennec Shand.
On board Slave I, they fill Mayfeld in on the specifics. They need the coordinates to Moff Gideon's cruiser, and Mayfeld immediately requests to go back to his Cal Kestis impersonation in the scrap yard. Finding out that the Imperials have taken Grogu softens Mayfeld’s tune a little. He informs them that he needs access to an internal Imperial console, and the closest one is on Morak, an Imperial mining facility. Fett immediately sets course. Am I the only one who thinks Fett is being a little too conciliatory? Why do I sense a double cross in tomorrow’s finale?
They Imperials are refining rhydonium, which is highly volatile. This will later involve plot points that are reminiscent of Rooster Cogburn where unstable nitroglycerin was transported via rickety wagons. On planet they devise a plan to hijack one of the rhydonium transports which all use a numeric “juggernaut” callsigns. The transports are very similar to the fan favorite Turbo Tank which was also called the Juggernaut. They begin to draw straws on who will co-pilot the transport with Mayfeld to get him inside. Dune and Shand are out because they’re wanted by the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB), and if they are genetically scanned, their cover will be blown. Fett is out with what is the line of the series so far. He says the Imperials might recognize his face. That leaves only Din. Mando scans one of the Juggernauts and realizes the pilots wear helmets, so he can don their uniform and not break his creed with respect to faces and showing them.
Inside tunnel T-12, the trio of Mayfeld, Dune, and Mando sneak on to Juggernaut-5. In the cockpit, Cara goes full WWE and bounces the drivers’ heads off the corner turnbuckles to knock them out. It’s pretty sweet, actually. Mayfeld and Mando put on their uniforms. Mando does so behind a modesty screen so no one can see his special purpose face. Mayfeld immediately ditches his helmet on board. There are monitors which watch the volatile rhydonium for explosion, but Mando says as long as Mayfeld drives steady, it will stay in the green. The helmet-less Mayfeld starts getting real with the Mando. First he opines that there is no moral high ground when it comes to waging war. Second, creeds are only in place when it’s convenient, but everyone’s morality becomes malleable when the chips are down, and he points out that Mando technically removed his helmet. Mayfeld concludes his sermon by saying that the ultimate goal is to be your own judge, and to go to sleep each day with a clear conscience.
At this point the comms erupt with Juggernaut-4 announcing they are meeting resistance. Their request for reroute is cut off by screams, and there is an explosion in the distance. A female Comms Officer announces that Juggernaut-4 has been destroyed. She then tells M&M (Mando & Mayfeld) to maintain current speed and course, and to proceed with caution. This sends Mayfeld into incredulous exasperation. This is followed by another explosion as Juggernaut-3 joins the fate of Juggernaut-4. At this moment, a group of aliens in a skiff set upon M&M.
Mando initially thinks they are pirates and departs the cockpit to deal with them. He dispatches them, and then realizes their true goal is to blow up the rhydonium to which Mayfeld gives a very Bill Burr-tasttic, “YA THINK?” Just and Din starts to return to the cockpit, two more skiffs join the pursuit. As members of the first of the two skiffs board the transport, Mando plunks off two attackers with his commandeered SE-14 Imperial blaster, but its power cell soon fizzles. He then engages in hand to hand combat, and his over-reliance on his near invulnerable Beskar armor is shown. He attempts to block one of the attacker's melee weapons with his gauntlet, but, unlike his Beskar, the plastisteel simply shatters. Nonetheless, the second wave has been dispatched. The third wave of attackers soon boards, and they offer a bit more resistance, even managing to plant a thermal detonator on the rhydonium. Mando manages to clear the deck of attackers, and tosses the detonator at the two pursuing skiffs destroying both. The ambush is relentless, however, as now FIVE more skiffs join the battle just as Juggernaut-5 is about to reach the base.
A weary and resigned Mando prepares for his last stand just as two TIE Fighters spring to the rescue and Mayfeld lets out an exhilarated cheer. We’re cheering for the Empire, and it brings home everything Mayfeld said en route. Juggernaut-5 is greeted with a hero's welcome, and the pair have successfully infiltrated the base.
Inside the base amidst a sea of back-slaps, M&M make their way to the officers' mess for the terminal. It’s in sight when Mayfeld spots Valin Hess, his former commanding officer. He declares the mission is off. Mando says he will go in his place, but Mayfeld informs him that the terminal needs to scan his face. Okay, I initially thought this was pure plot service. What good does merely scanning someone’s face do if it's doesn't also validate their identity? Heck, my phone can do that and I live on crappy Earth, and not some awesome planet in the Star War. At first I thought this was pure convenience to put Mando's loyalty to his creed to the test against his love for Grogu, but I’ve come to justify it. One, the scan could be merely exclusionary to make sure the person accessing the terminal is not a known member of the New Republic. Two, it could be Imperial hubris. Since all Imperials are human, it could merely be checking to make sure the person accessing the terminal is human with the assumption that they would have to be Imperial to get that far within the base. Anyway, true to Mayfeld’s point that creeds are only good when the times are also good, the desperation of the moment causes Mando to remove his helmet. He bent his morality fo the sake of his kid. He’s about to get away with the coordinates when Valin Hess stars interrogating him. Din isn’t very good at thinking on his feet, but at that moment Mayfeld risks identification and spins the fastest fast talk this side of Jack Tripper when Mr. Roper pops in announced while he's entertaining a lady friend.
Despite Mayfeld’s quick thinking, Hess insists the trio have a drink to celebrate the fact that they were the only transport to make it back that day. What proceeds is an absolutely brilliant table-talk scene. As Hess reminisces over past Imperial victories, a crisis of conscious visibly grows on Mayfeld’s face. As Mayfeld laments the brutality of Operation Cinder and the battle at Burnin Konn, Hess celebrates its effectiveness. Hess then declares that with the rhydonium they have delivered, the havoc the Empire can wreak will make Burnin Konn pale by comparison. In the chaos they create, the galaxy will crave the ORDER the Empire can deliver, and invite them back. Mayfeld snaps and plugs Hess where he sits. The jig is official up. Ya think?
M&M break out through a window, and make their way to the roof. Dune and Shand provide overwatch and snipe off the pursuing imperials. Fett arrives in Slave I for a rooftop evac. As they are departing, Mayfeld grabs Fett’s cycler rifle to blow up the rhydonium before the Empire can put it to their evil use. He needs to end the day with a clear conscience. For his deeds, Dune agrees to falsify his death in the explosion. Mayfeld is now a free man. The episode concludes on Moff Gideon’s cruiser where he receives a gram from Mando. Din repeats back Gideon’s own words from season 1. Gideon does not know what he is in possession of. He means more to Mando than he will ever know. Din’s coming for his kid. Cue Hair of the Dog by Nazareth.
Notes:
The Mandalorian is currently streaming on the Disney+ Streaming Service
comments powered by Disqus
This episode was written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa, whose previously work on the series includes "The Prisoner" from season one which still ranks as one of my favorites. On the downside, chapter 15 offers some iffy plot convenience writing, which I justify below. The upside is some of the best Star Wars dialog ever. Here is the boldest statement I will make about The Mandalorian: It is elevating all of Star Wars. No one loves the Original Trilogy more than I do, but I will admit to its occasional wince worthy moments. Those things that, should we choose to be embarrassed by our fandom, do embarrass us. The Mandalorian now says that Star Wars is better than those who mock it.
I promise you that while "The Heiress", "The Jedi", and "The Tragedy" are the darlings of season 2 so far, their luster will fade a little as they age. "The Believer" will be evergreen, and an episode I constantly come back to. Not all of the credit goes solely to Famuyiwa. The casting director deserves heaps of praise. First of all, Bill Burr is a legitimately good actor without having to add any additional qualifiers (i.e. no "good for a stand up comedian"). Second, the casting of Richard Brake cements this episode as much as the writing does.
I give this episode an A. It would be an A+ save for that one plot point that partially pulls me out of the story.
Spoiler Filled Recap:
(click for the full sized image)
The episode begins in a scrapyard where Migs Mayfield is serving out his hard labor prison sentence. He is remanded to the custody of Marshal Cara Dune. She leads him to Slave I where he is relieved to see that the Mandalorian he sees is Boba Fett and not Din Djarin. The relief is short lived because Din Djarin appears from behind Fett. They explain that Mayfeld is needed for his Imperial know-how, and he departs the prison planet together with Dune, Fett, Din, and Fennec Shand.
(click for the full sized image)
On board Slave I, they fill Mayfeld in on the specifics. They need the coordinates to Moff Gideon's cruiser, and Mayfeld immediately requests to go back to his Cal Kestis impersonation in the scrap yard. Finding out that the Imperials have taken Grogu softens Mayfeld’s tune a little. He informs them that he needs access to an internal Imperial console, and the closest one is on Morak, an Imperial mining facility. Fett immediately sets course. Am I the only one who thinks Fett is being a little too conciliatory? Why do I sense a double cross in tomorrow’s finale?
(click for the full sized image)
They Imperials are refining rhydonium, which is highly volatile. This will later involve plot points that are reminiscent of Rooster Cogburn where unstable nitroglycerin was transported via rickety wagons. On planet they devise a plan to hijack one of the rhydonium transports which all use a numeric “juggernaut” callsigns. The transports are very similar to the fan favorite Turbo Tank which was also called the Juggernaut. They begin to draw straws on who will co-pilot the transport with Mayfeld to get him inside. Dune and Shand are out because they’re wanted by the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB), and if they are genetically scanned, their cover will be blown. Fett is out with what is the line of the series so far. He says the Imperials might recognize his face. That leaves only Din. Mando scans one of the Juggernauts and realizes the pilots wear helmets, so he can don their uniform and not break his creed with respect to faces and showing them.
(click for the full sized image)
Inside tunnel T-12, the trio of Mayfeld, Dune, and Mando sneak on to Juggernaut-5. In the cockpit, Cara goes full WWE and bounces the drivers’ heads off the corner turnbuckles to knock them out. It’s pretty sweet, actually. Mayfeld and Mando put on their uniforms. Mando does so behind a modesty screen so no one can see his special purpose face. Mayfeld immediately ditches his helmet on board. There are monitors which watch the volatile rhydonium for explosion, but Mando says as long as Mayfeld drives steady, it will stay in the green. The helmet-less Mayfeld starts getting real with the Mando. First he opines that there is no moral high ground when it comes to waging war. Second, creeds are only in place when it’s convenient, but everyone’s morality becomes malleable when the chips are down, and he points out that Mando technically removed his helmet. Mayfeld concludes his sermon by saying that the ultimate goal is to be your own judge, and to go to sleep each day with a clear conscience.
(click for the full sized image)
At this point the comms erupt with Juggernaut-4 announcing they are meeting resistance. Their request for reroute is cut off by screams, and there is an explosion in the distance. A female Comms Officer announces that Juggernaut-4 has been destroyed. She then tells M&M (Mando & Mayfeld) to maintain current speed and course, and to proceed with caution. This sends Mayfeld into incredulous exasperation. This is followed by another explosion as Juggernaut-3 joins the fate of Juggernaut-4. At this moment, a group of aliens in a skiff set upon M&M.
(click for the full sized image)
Mando initially thinks they are pirates and departs the cockpit to deal with them. He dispatches them, and then realizes their true goal is to blow up the rhydonium to which Mayfeld gives a very Bill Burr-tasttic, “YA THINK?” Just and Din starts to return to the cockpit, two more skiffs join the pursuit. As members of the first of the two skiffs board the transport, Mando plunks off two attackers with his commandeered SE-14 Imperial blaster, but its power cell soon fizzles. He then engages in hand to hand combat, and his over-reliance on his near invulnerable Beskar armor is shown. He attempts to block one of the attacker's melee weapons with his gauntlet, but, unlike his Beskar, the plastisteel simply shatters. Nonetheless, the second wave has been dispatched. The third wave of attackers soon boards, and they offer a bit more resistance, even managing to plant a thermal detonator on the rhydonium. Mando manages to clear the deck of attackers, and tosses the detonator at the two pursuing skiffs destroying both. The ambush is relentless, however, as now FIVE more skiffs join the battle just as Juggernaut-5 is about to reach the base.
(click for the full sized image)
A weary and resigned Mando prepares for his last stand just as two TIE Fighters spring to the rescue and Mayfeld lets out an exhilarated cheer. We’re cheering for the Empire, and it brings home everything Mayfeld said en route. Juggernaut-5 is greeted with a hero's welcome, and the pair have successfully infiltrated the base.
(click for the full sized image)
Inside the base amidst a sea of back-slaps, M&M make their way to the officers' mess for the terminal. It’s in sight when Mayfeld spots Valin Hess, his former commanding officer. He declares the mission is off. Mando says he will go in his place, but Mayfeld informs him that the terminal needs to scan his face. Okay, I initially thought this was pure plot service. What good does merely scanning someone’s face do if it's doesn't also validate their identity? Heck, my phone can do that and I live on crappy Earth, and not some awesome planet in the Star War. At first I thought this was pure convenience to put Mando's loyalty to his creed to the test against his love for Grogu, but I’ve come to justify it. One, the scan could be merely exclusionary to make sure the person accessing the terminal is not a known member of the New Republic. Two, it could be Imperial hubris. Since all Imperials are human, it could merely be checking to make sure the person accessing the terminal is human with the assumption that they would have to be Imperial to get that far within the base. Anyway, true to Mayfeld’s point that creeds are only good when the times are also good, the desperation of the moment causes Mando to remove his helmet. He bent his morality fo the sake of his kid. He’s about to get away with the coordinates when Valin Hess stars interrogating him. Din isn’t very good at thinking on his feet, but at that moment Mayfeld risks identification and spins the fastest fast talk this side of Jack Tripper when Mr. Roper pops in announced while he's entertaining a lady friend.
(click for the full sized image)
Despite Mayfeld’s quick thinking, Hess insists the trio have a drink to celebrate the fact that they were the only transport to make it back that day. What proceeds is an absolutely brilliant table-talk scene. As Hess reminisces over past Imperial victories, a crisis of conscious visibly grows on Mayfeld’s face. As Mayfeld laments the brutality of Operation Cinder and the battle at Burnin Konn, Hess celebrates its effectiveness. Hess then declares that with the rhydonium they have delivered, the havoc the Empire can wreak will make Burnin Konn pale by comparison. In the chaos they create, the galaxy will crave the ORDER the Empire can deliver, and invite them back. Mayfeld snaps and plugs Hess where he sits. The jig is official up. Ya think?
(click for the full sized image)
M&M break out through a window, and make their way to the roof. Dune and Shand provide overwatch and snipe off the pursuing imperials. Fett arrives in Slave I for a rooftop evac. As they are departing, Mayfeld grabs Fett’s cycler rifle to blow up the rhydonium before the Empire can put it to their evil use. He needs to end the day with a clear conscience. For his deeds, Dune agrees to falsify his death in the explosion. Mayfeld is now a free man. The episode concludes on Moff Gideon’s cruiser where he receives a gram from Mando. Din repeats back Gideon’s own words from season 1. Gideon does not know what he is in possession of. He means more to Mando than he will ever know. Din’s coming for his kid. Cue Hair of the Dog by Nazareth.
Notes:
- Grogu did not appear in the episode.
- Boba got busy with the rattle can and gave his armor a fresh paint job.
- It was very cool seeing Slave I's gyroscopic cockpit working from the inside.
- Mayfeld refers to Grogu as Mando's "little green friend" in a call back to Episode III.
- The Transport Driver looks to be an Assault Tank Driver helmet on a Mud Trooper body. Merry Christmas, Hasbro. I look forward to seeing the Black Series figure on sale for $15 while we wait for one in TVC.
- Boba Fett uses one of the seismic charges from Slave I which were first seen in Attack of the Clones.
- We can no longer call them "Scarif Stormtroopers" as they are stationed on Morak too. The subtitles refer to them as Shoretroopers.
The Mandalorian is currently streaming on the Disney+ Streaming Service
comments powered by Disqus
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