RECAP:  The Mandalorian S1:E4:  Sanctuary

SOME SPOILERS FOLLOW. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.


(this space provide to save you from spoileration in case you clicked through despite the spoiler warning)


The Mandalorian Chapter Four: Sanctuary

Another even numbered episode of The Mandalorian, another interlude, and another homage to Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 masterpiece Seven Samurai. None of these are bad things. Seven Samurai is, and I am not overselling it here, one of the greatest films ever made; and although it was previously adapted for the Clone Wars episode Bounty Hunters, The Mandalorian’s longer run time allows for a fuller exploration of some of the film’s themes, especially the idea of the warrior being tempted by the tranquility of farming village life.

The episode opens with an attack on the village. It’s well executed, the peaceful everyday life of the villagers being suddenly interrupted by the violent raiders. My only complaint here, and with the episode in general, is how utterly bland the costuming for the raiders was; it all seems to be the same color scheme and design for everybody, not the intriguing hodge-podge we got with Jabba’s guys. It is to this same planet that Mando and Baby Yoda come, seeking sanctuary from those who hunt them. In a cantina, Mando notices Cara Dune; she stands out from the planet’s native population, in fact Mando at first assumes that she is a bounty hunter pursuing them. After a hand to hand fight scene between the two of them (which once again emphasizes this show’s excellent fight choreography, they put just as much attention into the small scale stuff as they do the big set pieces), Mando learns that Cara is a former Rebel shock trooper. Now that the fight against the Empire is seemingly over, she has retired to this planet. Agreeing that both of them on this backwater planet may draw too much unwanted attention, Mando prepares the Razor Crest to leave; however, he is approached by two of the villagers. In a scene that, I feel really captures the spirit of Seven Samurai, they plead with him to help the village. He agrees, and recruits Cara to assist.

Upon their arrival in the village, Baby Yoda is immediately met with cult-like devotion and affection from the local kids. If I had to guess, I bet every one of those kids would have traded their hard earned credits for Baby Yoda merchandise had it been available to them upon (or shortly after) his arrival. Sadly, there was none. Mando seems to find himself strangely at peace in this place, and attracted to a local widow lady. Through his conversation with her we get more details about his past: after his parents were killed, he was found and raised by the Mandalorians; so, he wasn’t born Mandalorian. He also says he hasn’t taken his helmet off in front of anyone else since he was a kid. These peaceful moments and glimpses into the past are quite rewarding, and never stall the episode. You’re never thinking, “okay, when is the next fight.” While scouting out the area, Mando and Cara discover that the Raiders have an AT-ST. They’re curious as to how the Raiders acquired it, apparently ignorant of the existence of Best Buy. By the way, should I keep capitalizing Raiders? It feels like I’m talking about the football team. Hey, I bet if the villagers had waited long enough their raiders would have probably just moved to Vegas too. [Editor’s Note: Incredibly, Jimmy concocted this sports reference all on his own.]

Anyway, Mando and Cara confront the villagers about having lied by omission to them by not telling them about the vehicle (this idea, that the villagers can be deceitful, is another nice nod to the source material), and tell them that they’ll have to train them to help in the fight. Enter the training montage, which could have slowed the pace down, but doesn’t. You’re shown what you need to see, then we move on. What we move on to is Mando and Cara conducting a pre-emptive raid on the, uh, raiders (again, another plot point taken from Seven Samurai that I don’t recall seeing in “Bounty Hunters”). This provokes the raiders to attack and they are defeated by the combined forces of Mando, Cara, and the villagers. Baby Yoda does not get involved. Good thing, too; it would have thrown off his whole sleep schedule. Talk about a nightmare.

When it’s all said and done, Mando is sorely tempted to remain in the village, take off his helmet (like, literally and metaphorically) and raise Baby Yoda with the widow lady. What he decides to do, however, is leave BY in the care of the lady and move on. I guess, ultimately, he feels he is not ready to give up the Mando lifestyle (who would be?), and feels his life is not a good one to share with BY. This plan is derailed with the arrival of another bounty hunter who literally gets BY in his crosshairs. He’s stopped by Cara, and Mando sees that he and BY must continue together on this road.

Another winner from Favreau and director Bryce Dallas Howard. You get more character development for Mando, we see the bond between him and Baby Yoda deepening, and there’s no skimping on the action. As Mando and BY say goodbye to Cara and depart the village at the end of the episode, it occured to me that a lesser show would have had her joining up with the two, probably with IG-11 already on board, so the group could start to form their own version of a “family.” Not this show, though. This show isn’t afraid to give us a great character, provide some depth in regard to them, then allow them to remain behind as Mando and BY are forced to move on down the road; like the A-Team, the Incredible Hulk, or Caine from Kung Fu. Yeah, that’s good stuff.

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