Warning: The following review contains major spoilers for The Mandalorian, “The Jedi”.
Last week, we began the second half of The Mandalorian, otherwise known as the part of this season we have absolutely no idea about. The trailers gave nothing away beyond Episode 4. And I’ve never been more excited.
I’ve always been invested in the Star Wars universe. I’ve watched all the movies, of course, but I’ve also watched The Clone Wars and Rebels — but I’ve never been more invested than I have been with The Mandalorian these past few weeks.
Last season, The Mandalorian was an episodic Western-esque drama about an unsuspecting new parent trying to care for a small child with strange powers. The same can be said about this season, but the story begins to take a more solid shape.
I liked Season 1. I liked it a lot. What some found dull, I found the perfect Friday night show to wrap up my week. It was fun, cute, and always left me in a good mood. It provided a nice filler in the Star Wars universe. I didn’t think it needed any more to it.
But Season 2? Season 2 feels like pure genius. Of course, we still have a few episodes to go, but the first 5 boosted my excitement from a solid 7 to a 12 (out of 10). The anticipation for each Friday grows as the season goes forward. The fact that we know next to nothing about it makes it all-the-more exciting!
There were, of course, many theories and speculation about “The Jedi”. Considering Dave Filoni’s involvement, many expected that this would be the episode that Ahsoka Tano from The Clone Wars made her epic appearance. Sure enough, they were correct!
“The Jedi” opens up on the planet Corvus, where Ahsoka shines her white lightsabers as she battles the Magistrate at the gate of Calodan. Her fighting shows the true power of a fully-trained Jedi in a way we rarely get to see in the extended universe. Ahsoka is almost like a ghost — she fades in and out of the mist, slowly taking mercenaries down one by one until only she is left standing.
The Magistrate watches as Ahsoka annihilates the soldiers, yet refuses to give Ahsoka the information she demands. Instead, she threatens the civilians of the city if the Jedi does not leave her alone. Ahsoka does not give in, instead promising to return in a day.
Meanwhile, Din Djarin arrives at Corvus along with the Child. Their journey to find the Jedi is nearly complete. Mando heads to the city to figure out the whereabouts of the Jedi, and is quickly brought in to see the Magistrate. Her request? For the Mandalorian to find and kill the Jedi he seeks. She promises a long Beskar staff if he is successful.
Careful not to agree to anything, Din sets out to where the Magistrate said he might find the Jedi. Ahsoka is quick to ambush the Mandalorian (after the Child is safe and out of harm’s way, of course). Their fight is quick, but intense, and comes to a sudden halt when Din mentions that Bo-Katan Kryze was the one who sent him. It’s then that Ahsoka sees the Child watching the two of them.
Ahsoka and the Child communicate telepathically. This is when it is revealed that the Child was raised in the Jedi Temple and was hidden from the Empire when the Clone Wars became a threat. We also find out that the Child’s name is Grogu!
The Internet was in a mild uproar about the Child’s official name. Many lamented that they would still call him “Baby Yoda”, others complained that the name wasn’t as epic or cool as they expected. And part of it is true — Grogu is a pretty detestable name for such an adorable being. Yet, I wouldn’t be quick to say that Yoda is that great either. It’s only so great because we have associated it with the epic Jedi for many years now. I imagine that, in a few seasons’ time, Grogu will be used fondly. I also suspect that there will be a massive incline in pets named Grogu this holiday season (and for the rest of time).
Now, as much fun as it is to talk about Grogu’s name, it’s time to get back to the plot...
After a bit of convincing, Ahsoka agrees to train Grogu (I finally have a name to use!!!) to wield his powers — a.k.a. the Force. It proves to be a struggle when Grogu does not try to cooperate with Ahsoka. He doesn’t pass the rock back, so Ahsoka asks Mando to step in. After trying the rock, Mando instead takes out Grogu’s favourite toy: the ball from the pilot controls. Grogu enthusiastically summons it with the Force. Unfortunately, it’s a short victory, because upon seeing the connection that Mando and Grogu share, she decides that she cannot train the Child. She hints to Anakin Skywalker’s past when she tries to justify her stance.
Din becomes close to desperate at this point. He’s come all this way, suffered so much (his poor ship), all with the promise that a Jedi could help Grogu. He strikes a bargain with Ahsoka: If he helps her reach the Magistrate, whom Ahsoka would not be able to defeat on her own, she must help train the Child. Ahsoka hesitantly agrees to his terms, and together, they strike an unlikely alliance.
Once again, Ahsoka impresses audiences with her Jedi skills, (literally) cutting through the barriers to reach the interior of the city. She boasts to the Magistrate that she defeated the Mandalorian, throwing his beskar shoulder-plate with the insignia down on the ground. Ahsoka repeats her demands. The Magistrate refuses to concede.
What follows is an intense battle. Din pops up to help, but all-in-all, it’s Ahsoka who shines throughout. She battles the Magistrate — it’s a beskar staff against lightsabers. The fight is close, showing how powerful beskar can be against the Jedi. Their lightsabers usually cut through metal without issue, and the lack of such is throwing Ahsoka off! (The attention to detail has been amazing.)
In the end, Ahsoka pins down the Magistrate and demands to know the location of Grand Admiral Thrawn. It’s another nod to the Rebels series, as we can assume that Ahsoka is still looking for Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger.
After their victory, Ahsoka gives Mando the beskar staff in appreciation of his assistance. He later goes to retrieve Grogu from the ship. Ahsoka comments that they are like father and son — their bond is strong. She then, once again, refuses to train the Child, but offers an alternative solution: the seeing stone at Tython has a strong connection to the Force and may summon other Jedi who are more willing to train Grogu, if that is what the Child chooses.
And with that, Din Djarin and Grogu set upon a new mission.
The episode in all was a delight to watch. All the callbacks to The Clone Wars were immensely enjoyable — and in my two rewatches since the initial air, I’ve noticed more and more. Dave Filoni did a phenomenal job in writing and directing this episode, and I quite enjoyed Rosario Dawson’s iteration of Ahsoka Tano, though I am still apprehensive of the actress herself.
I eagerly await the next episode. We’re going in near-blind, with no trailer footage or even episode summaries. All we know is that it’s been written by Jon Favreau. It’s going to be a delight!
What did you think of the episode? Will Ahsoka Tano return? What do you think of the name “Grogu”? Leave a comment below!
The Mandalorian releases new episodes on Disney+ every Friday. Be sure to catch my reviews the following Sunday!
