The Mandalorian S2E3 - Chapter 11: The Heiress

Same energy:

 

Them troopers were by that elevator like..

Figures they missed or at least ineffective against all 4!

 

Solid episode! It answered some outstanding questions we've had, introduced some cool new themes, and brought back a fan favorite! There was one weak point (the second save was very underwhelming for me), but overall this was another great entry.

 

Ok as a Warhammer fan who plays a faction of Space Marines called the Deathwatch I particularly liked this episode

 

So it turned out there was an entire platoon on the Gozanti, not just a squad of troopers?

This is what the moff is doing, ah? Building some military power. Buying weapons on the black market. BlasTech Industries still playing the dirty game selling to both sides!

--- Double Post Merged, Nov 14, 2020, Original Post Date: Nov 14, 2020 ---

so there was a Captain and a Liutennat of board of the Gozanti? That was a very important shipment.

Guide to Imperial Ensignia.

 

That was definitley my favourite episode this season. I had been moaning, but this was clearlty inter-related with great aspects of the lore. We're going to see live action Ashoka, holy sheeeit.

I love seeing Imperial remnants scrambling, some still so devoted ot The Empire. Cool to see a port community of Quarrens and Mon Cal too

 

So if Din's group was a Death Watch group, descended from Maul's commandos, yes, it would definitely make sense that they'd want to hide their links to them. But wouldn't they know about the Jedi? Or at least Force users like Maul? Or does the Armorer know and she's just been playing everyone this whole time? (I would really hate that because I love the Armorer.)


I've got no answers here, but I did hear an idea last night on a podcast (The Mandalorian Watch) that I thought answered a lot of the questions. The hosts theorize that "the Watch" is separate from Death Watch, and that Death Watch was in fact a splinter group off of the Watch, rather than the other way around. The Children of the Watch are also a splinter group from the Watch, or at least what's left of it. (So Death Watch and Children of the Watch are kind of estranged siblings whose parent is the Watch.)

That would explain (sort of) why the people who rescued baby Din still use the shriek-hawk signet (it was the Watch's signet first). And because this makes the Children of the Watch an older group that would have been isolated for longer, it explains why they are so ignorant of Force stuff, not having been as entangled with the Jedi/Maul.

And, if Din's ignorance about the state of the planet Mandalore is based on the fact that his group didn't even know about the domes they built to live in like around Sundari, the group could be way older than we thought. Or maybe the idea of the planet being cursed was a story to keep them isolated from other Mandos.

There's also been kind of a problem with Din never having had his helmet off since he swore the Creed as a young 'un. This would have been roughly 15 BBY (I think), and Death Watch was still taking their helmets off like mad at about this time, so it doesn't make sense for Din, if he was a part of that, not to know anything about it. But if his group was already isolated from other mainstream Mandalorians at this time, he wouldn't know any different.


But as to what Bo said in this chapter...she seemed very keen on Mandos all being united. Obviously this is in part to solidify her play for gaining the rule of Mandalore, but I don't think it's only that, because she really seems to love and take pride in her people. But I wonder if this will bring a clash with Mando's Way/Children of the Watch folks, or be the thing that unites them? Very interesting...


BTW, I don't know if any of you saw this, but after Bryce Dallas Howard's chapter in season 1, she did an Instagram (I think?) post that showed the literal pages of notes Dave Filoni had given her on the history of Mandalore. Like a dozen pages with charts and stuff. You couldn't see much in the notes, but as she was doing the video, she got spooked about whether she was disclosing too much, and it was soon deleted. So I have no doubt that the answers to all this are written in stone somewhere in DF's handwriting, and we just have to be patient to find it all out. But the waiting is killing me.

 

Thoughtful response. My take on Bo's reaction was at first a slight annoyance with him for his beliefs, but Bo says later that they need to work together. This is true. If she wants to rule Mandalore she has to have these people with her. This is a clash of ideals, however Bo offers him a place fighting with her.

To someone like Din, the mandalorians lost because not following the code weakened them. He has a point. We know he has a point, we have seen the way of Bo Katan, and it lead to the purge. So the argument that we need to return to the moral codes and the ways of mandalore to return to strength has value. What I like about this, is that its going to challenge him, which makes for good drama. This is now the second time he has seen a "mando" remove his helmet. The first time, they were not mandalorian and he threatened to kill them. This time, he argues that Bo is not a true Mandalorian, but that's a hard argument to make. Bo clearly is a mandalorian. If follow the traditional rule of 3's in drama, the next time we see it, which could be next week with Sabine and Ahsoka, will be dramatically very important.

also there is a parallel. Ahsoka was raised a Jedi, which also have their own set of codes. She left the order because of that. This is why she is interesting to put with Mando for this reason. There has been no real demonstration that Mando is about to abandon the way. However he will be challenged to what that means. I hope he stays true to his character and helps Mandalorians see the strength and power of staying true to their heritage, but I might be wrong

 

You make some great points. Good reminder about the rule of three...now I'll be watching with extra attention for that next one.

There are indeed very strong parallels between the Jedi and the Children of the Watch/the Way we've seen based on Din's experience. Finding/rescuing at a young age, isolated, taught the strict ancient teachings in a spartan (and Spartan too in Din's case) lifestyle... And you're right, Ahsoka recognized the faults in her upbringing/order and was able to step away. It is interesting that she didn't chuck it all. She doesn't call herself a Jedi but she uses the Force and uses the moral code she got from her mentors and formed herself as she grew.

I would really hate to see Din abandon the Way entirely--unless, I guess, the Armorer or other leaders were knowingly lying to him all this time. (I don't sense that but who knows.) There are excellent things about it but some real and dire faults in it too.

Poor Din seemed kind rattled and lost in this episode. But I think he'll be able to sort out what it means to be a Mandalorian for himself and find a niche, maybe of his own making, somewhere in the middle. (I have a feeling this will take a lot of time for him.) Ahsoka would be a great person to walk alongside him in that...as long as he doesn't get all weird about her being a enemy sorcerer. Or a former one.

 

Awesome episode! Love the way they are linking this series to Rebels, glad we got an explanation about why some Mandalorians can take there helmets off and some can't. great fun mission at the end, answered questions and raised new ones, progressed the story and gave us great fun mission to watch.
Though I wish they would fix the Razor Crest it makes me uncomfortable!

 

While watching the episode, honestly I could see Bryce father's influence/style, but it's also true I didn't catch this incredible homage:

 

I think the Crest is supposed to be a metaphor for Din himself... And the way the Crest makes us feel so uncomfortable in its ramshackle state is giving us a good idea of how Din is feeling these days with all these bombshells being dropped on him.

 

I thought the same.
Overall I liked S2EP3. Bo Katan's acress is great and I am looking forward to see Ahsoka Tano.
And yes, I too am tired about the stormtroopers' poor aim. But I like the Empire more than the First Order.

 

@Choose Light That is a great theory, I had not thought of that. Hey do you know if Disney is going to continue "The Gallery" documentary series on the making of The Mandalorian? Would love to hear some of the discussions they had while building episodes, etc, for example if they discussed the metaphor of the Razor Crest...

 

I haven't heard anything either way. I hope they do since I will likely be craving Mando content in the off season!

 

I love this

 

Oh man I pride myself in being a US Space Program geek and I MISSED THIS tie-in!!

Superb!!!

 

I can't help but wonder if somehow Ahsoka will be involved in retrieving the dark saber from Moff Gideon and getting it to Bo Katan. ???