The Mandalorian’s fifth episode of season two finally delivers us the Jedi we’ve been waiting for: Ahsoka Tano, plus some other important factoids.
Warning: Using the Force, I can sense there are spoilers below.
The Mandalorian finally did it. After all this time, Rosario Dawson graces our screens as Ahsoka Tano.
Mando and the Child find their way to Corvus, a forest planet that sees Tano confronting Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto), the authoritarian ruler of the city of Calodan. Elsbeth has been torturing her citizens, and Tano seeks to end her reign of terror, in addition to finding out her master’s location. The Magistrate has one day to do so.
Enter the Razor Crest. The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and The Child land and go to Calodan, where they speak with the Magistrate. Elsbeth proposes that if Mando can kill the Jedi, she will give him a Beskar spear as a reward. Without confirming, Mando takes the coordinates and goes off to find Ahsoka. The Mandalorian finally locates Ahsoka and, after a brief skirmish, tells her that Bo-Katan Kryze sent him. Now in a truce, the moment we are waiting for finally arrives: Ahsoka meets the Child.
The Jedi spends some time with the Child, and it is revealed that she is communicating with him using the Force. Now comes something we didn’t expect but are happy to finally know: the Child’s name is Grogu! This is ballsy, in my opinion, because the pressure of revealing his name must have been heavy, but they seemed to hit the nail on the head. We find out his backstory too, as he was raised and trained at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. After the Republic fell, Grogu was hidden and has been concealing his powers over the years to not be found.
The revelation is so satisfying, but a wrench is thrown in Mando’s plans with the Jedi refusing to train Grogu. During a Force exercise, she tries to get him to use the Force, but he is disinterested. She asks Mando to try, and the Child happily participates. Because of this, Tano says she won’t train Grogu. His strong attachment to Mando worries her, due to the potential of Grogu going to dark side, since her master did the same *hint hint it’s Anakin hint hint.* Mando tries to convince her otherwise and makes a deal: if he helps her confront Elsbeth, she will train Grogu. She silently accepts.
The Jedi/Mando duo infiltrate Calodan, disposing of the Magistrate’s troops and liberating the city. This leads to Ahsoka to have her final confrontation with Elsbeth. The two battle, with lightsaber versus Beskir Spear. Finally, the Jedi prevails and questions a subdued Elsbeth about the whereabouts of her master, Grand Admiral Thrawn.
DUN DUN DUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNN
So now we have it: a freed city, an evil Magistrate defeated, and a deal to be upheld. Mando goes to his ship to retrieve Grogu and has to wake up the little fellow. It’s time for goodbyes, and it’s heartbreaking. I don’t care what anyone says, Pedro Pascal has been doing amazing work in this show. The amount of emotion he portrays through sheer body language and tone of voice is excellent. I really felt for him in the moment. But, it isn’t goodbye just yet (also we are like halfway through the season, so, yeah).
Ahsoka shows up to the Razor Crest. She says that Grogu sees Mando as a father so she still refuses to train him. He is upset she won’t hold up her side of the deal, but she offers him information as a consolation.
On the planet Tython, there are the ruins of an ancient Jedi temple. The Mandalorian must bring Grogu to the top of it so he can call out to another Jedi using the Force. She says this because, at that moment, Grogu will choose his fate: either he follows the way of the Force or sticks with Daddy Din.
With this knowledge, the Mando and Grogu are on their way.
Wow, what an episode. I think this is easily the best episode of season 2 so far, and it delivered on sooo many levels.
First of all, the action in this episode was amazing. It was really refreshing to see a lightsaber user feel competent again. Mando, of course, is phenomenal with his Western quickdraw dopeness and strategic use of gadgets. During his little skirmish with Tano, it was really cool seeing the two different fighting styles contrasting. But back to Tano, man, the two lightsabers was such a beauty to watch. This was highlighted in her final fight with the Magistrate, which gave me shades of a double lightsaber versus a double-bladed lightsaber fight.
In addition, this show just constantly reminds us how Star Wars is so visually compelling. The small details really sell every scene. I don’t care if I cause waves with this, but the show is the next best thing after the original movie trilogy (suck it Abrams).
Then, we have the little one, the Child, dear dear Grogu. I would die defending this bundle of joy. Finding out his backstory was a lot of fun, and it gives a bit of depth and levity to his actions. He has been forced to survive on his own and hide the Force, so naturally he enjoys the freedom of being with Mando and doing his thang. It is refreshing to see him in scenes that are not just played for comic effect. Love it, love it, love it.
Also, I think this episode essentially gave us the scope of the rest of the season and the set-up for the finale. I’m imagining Grogu on the top of the Temple making his decision while Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) arrives. He and Mando defeat the Breaking Baddie, and they choose to stay together as a Clan of Two. Uggh, can’t wait.
