The Mandalorian Chapter 8: Season Finale Review

The recent trend in many tv shows is to use the season finale to pick up the pieces left in the wake of the penultimate episode. Luckily, Jon Favreau and Taika Waititi’s direction bucks the trend.

The Redemption adds layers to the trio of heroes (Mando, Cara Dune and Greef Karga), delivers cinema-quality action and proper usage of humor. Minus some minor quibbles with the end of the episode, the season finale fitting conclusion to The Mandalorian’s 1st season.

The opening moments of Chapter 8 takes place immediately following the events in The Reckoning. Full spoiler follows. You’ve been warned.

With the spoiler warning out of the way, let’s travel back to a faraway galaxy in a time long ago for the final time this season.

End with Horror, Begin with Comedy

After Kuiil’s death at the hands of Bike Scout Trooper at the end of the last episode, is a scene that represents Taika Waititi unique comedic voice. The two stormtroopers played by Jason Sudeikis and Adam Pally with Baby Yoda in tow stop to await further instructions from Moff Gideon.

In between checking in and receiving retorts about Gideon homicidal nature, the two troopers have a conversation about what they think Gideon’s intentions are with Baby Yoda. The scene also features some lovely targeting practice by both troopers in which they repeatedly miss the mark.

The final comedic element that takes a dark turn in this scene features Pally wanting to take a look at Baby Yoda. Since Sudeikis’s character is the trooper who scooped up Baby Yoda, Pally didn’t get to see the little fellow. Baby Yoda has been silent this entire time, so Pally decides to look in the pouch on Sudeikis’s side under the guise of making sure he’s ok.  Baby Yoda’s response is to use his bite attack on Pally’s finger, which Pally counters with a punch.

Mere moments after the horrific punch, IG-11 (again voiced by Waititi) shows up and dismantles the two troopers, then speeds back towards the town.

I loved this opening scene. Waititi’s use of humor at the beginning of the episode is an element that has been missing from the series. Furthermore, the rest of the episode is quite dour, so using comedy to open the episode helps balance the dark events that take up the rest of the season finale.

Mandalorian is a Creed, Not a Race

Giancarlo Esposito is just magnificent as Moff Gideon. The end of Chapter 7 gave us a glimpse into the demeanor of Gideon. In Chapter 8, Esposito simply devours the screen as Gideon.

He immediately sheds light on the backstories of Mando, Dune and Karga.

Karga’s backstory is the hardly surprising reveal that he’s a disgraced Republic magistrate.

Probably the most essential information for the series is the reveal of Mando’s name from before he became a Mandalorian: Din Djarin.

We also find out that the weapon Gideon is about to unleash on the hidden trio was used to wipe out swarms of troops back on Dune’s home planet: Alderaan. Yes, she’s from the same homeworld as Princess Leia. We don’t receive any clarification whether there’s a relationship between Leia and Dune, but at least for now we have a character that connects to the most important trio of characters in Star Wars.

Favreau and Waititi’s revelations provide some details about Gideon’s past without him having to verbally divulge anything. Based on the information at Gideon’s disposal, Mando quickly uncovers the identity of the man speaking as Moff Gideon. We also learn that Gideon was a member of the Empire’s intelligence agency, the Imperial Security Bureau and was involved in the Seige of the Mandalore.

Gideon is just a fantastic villain with some unique traits. Most villains use lies and deceit to gain the upper hand. Not Gideon though. He uses unflinching honesty like this as a weapon:

If you’re asking if you can trust me, you cannot. Just as you betrayed our business arrangement, I would gladly break any promise and watch you die at my hand. The assurance I give is this: I will act in my own self-interest, which at this time involves your cooperation and benefit.”

–Moff Gideon

 Even when things don’t go according to plan, Gideon remains calm and doesn’t act cowardly in the face of conflict. For example, the heroes briefly turns the tables, Gideon responds by outflanking Mando and triggering an explosion thanks to a well-placed laser blast that leaves Mando critically injured.

This well-placed shot leads to the first reveal of Pedro Pascal’s face and retreat to the underground part of the city where the Mandalorians were residing back in Chapter 3: The Sin.

Ultimate Sacrifice in the Season Finale

There are a few instances in this episode in which the heroes are willing to sacrifice themselves for a greater purpose.

The first one is the aforementioned explosion that left Mando with a serious head injury. Mando actually tasks Dune with protecting Baby Yoda. However, before Mando succumbs to his injuries, IG-11 as a nurse droid steps in to heal the wound. Mando resists the offer of help as the Mandalorian helmet isn’t allowed to be removed by another living thing. In response, IG-11 sweetly tells Mando he’s not a living thing, so Mando’s not violating his oath.

Once underground, the group discovers a pile of dead Mandalorians and eventually runs into The Armorer (Emily Swallow). She quickly explains that the stormtroopers are responsible for the dead Mandalorians. Interestingly, it took eight episodes, but the Jedi are finally mentioned by The Armorer after Mando tries to explain Baby Yoda’s abilities.

While Mando, Dune, Karga, IG-11 and Baby Yoda escape, The Armorer decides to stay behind. Before parting ways, The Armorer provides Mando with the Mandalorian jetpack. In a nice bit of subversion, what appears to be a sacrifice ploy by The Armorer turns into an awesome action scene. The Armorer single-handedly pummels 5 stormtroopers with melee attacks.

In perhaps the most emotional scene of the series thus far, IG-11 initiates the self-destruct protocol that was referenced back in The Pilot. In the scene, Mando, Dune, Karga, Baby Yoda and IG-11 take a boat down the lava flats through the tunnel. The stormtroopers at the direction of Gideon set up a trap at the opening of the tunnel, which forces IG-11 to detonate and destroy all of the stormtroopers.

Ludwig Göransson’s score especially in the leadup to IG-11’s sacrifice was beautifully haunting.

Gideon doesn’t give the gang any time to mourn. He descends upon the group in a Tie Fighter, which forces Mando to take to the sky using the jet pack. After some fun acrobatics in the sky, Mando is able to attach some explosive charges and blow the Tie Fighter out of the sky.

The episode ends with Dune and Karga staying on Navarro while Mando and Baby Yoda leave to find Baby Yoda’s family. This is the only part of the episode that I don’t like. The team dynamic among Mando, Karga and Dune was refreshing. Leaving those two characters behind has me worried that we are going to get a bunch of one-off episodes in season two.

Don’t worry. Gideon emerges from the Tie Fighter relatively unscathed and with a powerful weapon: The Darksaber!

Final Thoughts on The Season Finale

Such a fantastic end to a great first season. Favreau’s writing throughout this first season with the exception of episode 5 (which was written by Dave Filoni) was the guiding light throughout. Waititi’s presence gave the season finale a cinematic scope to the action, a strong comedic beginning to ease into the dark tones in the rest of the episode and a fantastic voice-over performance as IG-11.

I’m excited to see where the series goes next season, but I’m a little worried about the team of Mando, Dune, Karga and Baby Yoda going their separate ways. The small quibble takes little away from a fantastic conclusion to the season.

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