The Mandalorian - Chapter Five - The Gunslinger

[ctg]

The Mandalorian helps a rookie bounty hunter who is in over his head.

 

[ctg]

It was inevitable that the hunt would continue, even in space. But it is amazing to see Mando has skills as a pilot as well, because not all in Mandalore as skilled in the art of dog fighting. Although I guess that in his profession you'll have no choice but to develop those skills or you'll be toast.

I loved seeing the Dum droids still being the comedy relief. There are no better comedians than those things. And there is no wonder why Mando doesn't want them anywhere near his ship, because they would have uncovered the Child sooner than Peli Motto did.

I'm pretty sure she has never had kids before and it was her motherly instincts that took over as soon as the Yodaling walked down the ramp. She said, "Give me a second while I figure what it is?" which lead me to suspect her origins. Maybe the love doesn't work normal way in the galaxy that full of all sorts of species.

The curious thing is that humans are everywhere. So what's the problem?

I have to say that Mando got really lucky by walking in the bar and landing with the high value bounty with first asking. The kid didn't knew what he was doing and how far above he was for trying to bring in Fennec Shand. Maybe the problem with the bounty hunter is that there are all sorts trying to do the job that is suitable for only so few.

Toro strike me as a hustler rather than a bounty hunter the moment I saw him. And he continued on that road all the way to dunes and finding the mark. Then again we are all young once and we'll have to make mistakes. It's just the business he's is deadly in more ways than he can even imagine.

He didn't even understand the nature of the Sand People or the lessons Mando were trying to give to the young one. All in all, everything about the job said he would have been killed, if he had gone to dunes on his own. Doesn't he know anything about Tatooiene's history?

Maybe Hutt's really got decimated and they never regained the power in the desert planet because of it. It is however curious of how many high profile people chose to go to live in that location. I wonder if Old Man Kenobi knew what sort of place Luke was living in, when he delivered the baby to the adoption parents.

Still no target seem to be too much for Mando. He will hunt them down or he'll die trying. Curiously nobody trust his reputation or the fact that he can deliver. All they hear is the Mandalorian legends and they know nothing about the honour that binds them.

 

[Parson]

I thought that this was the weakest episode yet. It all felt like filler to me. Now, I am prepared and perhaps hopeful that I will be proven wrong. Perhaps this plays a significant part in the story arc. I hope so anyway.

By far the best part was the opening "dog fight." But for computer aided targeting his opponent seems near hopeless and his hits don't do a lot of damage. Although I understand the tactic of severe deceleration to cause the opponent to pass you and be forced into your "sweet spot," I was frustrated by the fact that Mando's ship seems to stop as the other flies past him. And if we're being realistic about space dog fights why not flip over while decelerating and bring the enemy into your sweet spot without giving him the chance of a strafing run? It was also curious how much stronger Mando's weapons seemed to be. He has a very old ship. Did he use a missle or something?

The whole meeting up with the rookie bounty hunter felt like an episode of Gunsmoke or something. The right bar, the right person, the right conversation all in the space of 3 minutes. --- I almost laughed out loud at the land speeder ride. I just kept seeing "Easy Rider" over and over again. I agree with @ctg down the line about how the rest of the story plays out.

The series so far is near 5 stars for me. (For me 5 stars are not given often or easily.) This episode would be low 4 star rating. (pretty good, but not at all in the "Should never be missed" category.)

 

[ctg]

It was also curious how much stronger Mando's weapons seemed to be. He has a very old ship. Did he use a missle or something?

No. It's about the technology and how much power it can put out. Mando carries and uses a lot of illegal and forgotten/banned technology. At first the Sith didn't trust light sabres. So they used old blades that they infused force magic. In terms of technology, the Old Republic was already in a state where they had forgotten more than they were currently inventing. The New Republic has no idea about all things that were under Darth Sideous fingertips. All they are doing is using what they have.

Another thing is that Mando's ship goes all the way back to Old Republic. It was used by the Clone Troopers and it is modified at the moment. We don't know how extensively, but it is a lot compared those troop carriers. In the terms of power, those weapons were more powerful than what the other geezer was carrying. Doubling the hit, he was toast.

We don't know for sure if he was going to eliminate Mando and the Child, or just eliminate the engines, poke a hole and drive them out of air. It would have forced Mando to surrender and to be boarded.

 

[Parson]

I'm a little foggy on the "history" here. I had placed this story line after Skywalker and the Rebels had defeated the death star and before "The Empire Strikes Back." I'm guessing that I need to really re-evaluate that idea.

 

[Margaret Note Spelling]

This episode is the point at which it occurred to me that Baby Yoda just has to be, whether consciously or unconsciously, using some of his Force ability to quietly convince all the people around him that he's the cutest thing alive.

 

[ctg]

I had placed this story line after Skywalker and the Rebels had defeated the death star and before "The Empire Strikes Back."

Yes, the story line is after the Return of Jedi, and the events of Rebels. But the technology Mando is using goes way back to the time of Old Republic. The days when Jedi's were strong.

 

[Parson]

This episode is the point at which it occurred to me that Baby Yoda just has to be, whether consciously or unconsciously, using some of his Force ability to quietly convince the people around him that he's the cutest thing alive.

Bingo! Great thought.

 

[ctg]

This episode is the point at which it occurred to me that Baby Yoda just has to be, whether consciously or unconsciously, using some of his Force ability to quietly convince all the people around him that he's the cutest thing alive.

It is interesting, because Darth Sideous was master of Force Manipulation. He too convinced people around him that he was the right choice for everything. We don't know however was it a natural ability... for him.

 

[Margaret Note Spelling]

Ah, yes. Although I think even Darth Sidious would have been somewhat hard-pressed to convince the Senators of the Republic that he was the cutest thing alive....

 

[Culhwch]

Ah, yes. Although I think even Darth Sidious would have been somewhat hard-pressed to convince the Senators of the Republic that he was the cutest thing alive....

Maybe Sullustans.

 

[Parson]

Maybe Sullustans.

Maybe not.

 

[Culhwch]

Okay, maybe Hutts then.

 

[Parson]

Wrong again.

 

[Culhwch]

True, they are generally immune to Jedi mind tricks.

 

[REBerg]

I haven't watched the whole season, having only recently added Disney to my entertainment services, but this is my favorite episode thus far.
Tatooine, a sleazy bar, land speeders, Banthas, pop-up-from-behind sand people, even a womp rat reference. This was a real trip down Star Wars IV memory lane.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Enjoyed seeing Tatooine again, especially Mos Eisley and the Cantina Bar. Negotiating with the Tuskan Raiders through sign-language was a nice touch - it's good to see Mando using brains rather than brawn for some situations.

Curious to see Ming Na Wen playing the bounty, especially when only on screen for a short time.

I did like the whole reversal that it was a trap for Mando. However, considering that the Baby Yoda is major target it didn't make sense for Mando to abandon him to help a complete stranger and rookie instead. Still, the story continues to develop Mando's human side - and his parental skills.