«The Mandalorian», Season 2: «Chapter 16: The Rescue»

Luca Fontana

18/12/2020

Responsibility for translation Jessica Johnson-Ferguson

«The Mandalorian, Chapter 16» is history-making. It's a final that couldn't have been any more epic. It thrills, corrects and reconciles – and you'll be talking about it for weeks.

First off: this discussion of the episode includes spoilers! So watch «The Mandalorian – Chapter 16: The Believer» before you read on.

That's it. The second series of «The Mandalorian» has come to a close. And – Dank Farrik – it packs a punch. The turning point of the series is about what has happened to Din Djarin, the eponymous Mandalorian, up until this point. Now Moff Gideon, the child snatcher, is going to feel the heat.

These are the episode's best WTF moments and Easter eggs.

Dark Trooper and the return of Darth Sidious

Djarin fights one (!) Dark Trooper and almost loses. Despite Beskar armour and Madalorian combat training. It's clear that Dark Troopers are foul killing machines. In the truest sense of the word. But what exactly are they? I've owed you that answer since reviewing the «Chapter 14: The Tragedy» episode.

The Dark Troopers were mentioned for the first time in the 1991 and 1992 version of the «Dark Empire» trilogy, which was a comic series originally published by Dark Horse. It told the story after «Star Wars: Episode VI – The Return of the Jedi», which was regarded as the official story until Disney took over the Star Wars franchise.

So Disney comes along and so do the new films. And «The Mandalorian». The «Dark Empire» trilogy moved from official canon to the category of «legends», just like all the other stories not yet told in films and series and written before Disney took over. Stories that inhabitants of the galaxy could retell by the fire, at a bar or at bedtime but that don't necessarily have to be true.

Basically, legends.

However, in the Dark Empire trilogy, Darth Sidious, who is suspected dead, actually survives. Just before he falls into the second Death Star's reactor shaft, he transfers his intellectual force to a much younger clone of himself and builds a new Sith fleet in hiding. This new fleet towers over everything the empire has made so far, both in terms of size and destructive power.

The galaxy's fate hangs in the balance.

In the course of the story, Darth Sidious even manages to draw Luke Skywalker over to the dark side. There’s a new prophecy. Something in the line of «Brothers and sisters have to unite against the darkness». In the final battle between good and evil, Sidious uses huge Force Lightning that threatens to destroy the entire rebel fleet in one swoop. Leia manages to pull Luke away from the dark side just in time, and the pair of them launch an attack on the Emperor and defeat him once and for all.

You see, The «old, grumpy Luke» despised by fans in «Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi» and the loathed Emperor story in «Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker» aren't 100% Disney inventions. They're just loosely based on what had already been written before.

What about the Dark Troopers? These are specially trained, elite stormtroopers that have been strengthened by blood transfusions from the Dark Side of the Force. They're not creatures of the Force, but they do use their power to do evil.

In «The Mandalorian», Moff Gideon talks about the third generation of the Dark Trooper programme. It involves people – the last weakness of the programme – being replaced by droids. Only the dark armour is left. Gideon says it's the ultimate weapon...

It remains to be seen whether «The Mandalorian» agrees that it was the Emperor himself who started the programme. It's possible. After all, the Imperial Pershing also makes a minor appearance in this episode. That's the guy who was classed as an expert on clone and gene technology on several occasions. And yes, even in Disney canon, Sidious is still out there somewhere, fine-tuning his comeback.

Djarin vs Gideon and the Darksaber

Let's refresh our memory. Whoever carries the Darksaber, which was forged thousands of years ago by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian Jedi, carries the symbol of the Force of Mand’alors. This gives the person holding the Darksaber claim to sovereignty of the Mandalorians.

I've penned the whole story behind it in the episode review of «Chapter 11: The Heiress», in case you're interested.

The problem is that Din Djarin wants to free Grogu from the hands of Moff Gideon. The Mandolorian opposes this. And so a Beskar spear goes up against the Darksaber in a fantastically choreographed fight. Fans of the series can't do anything but chuckle. The actor who plays Din Djarin, Pedro Pascal, actually already has experience of spear fighting in series 4 of «Game of Thrones» as Oberyn Martell. The fight didn't go well for him.

But at that time, he still didn't have a helmet.

Djarin manages to overpower Moff Gideon. According to ancient Mandalorian tradition, the Darksaber now falls into his hands. Yes, it goes to him, not Bo-Katan Kryze, who is there when Grogu is freed. If she wants to assert a claim on the Darksaber and therefore on Mandalore, the home planet of the Mandalorians, the ancient tradition requires her to beat Djarin in a duel.

Not a staged duel, of course. It has to be a fight to the death.

Just as the situation threatens to escalate, the Dark Troopers attack. Until now, Djarin has only managed to beat one of them. Our Mando has no chance against 40 Dark Troopers.

Fortunately, it's at that moment that a lone X-wing approaches Gideon's cross. Maybe it's from the New Republic. But actually, it doesn't matter. It's not like it would have made a difference.

The pilot is Luke Skywalker.

A big day for Star Wars fans

I mean Luke Skywalker.

Luke bloody Skywalker.

The young, well-known version of Luke Skywalker from «Star Wars: Episode VI – The Return of the Jedi». He must have sensed Grogu's connection to the Force, when he sat on the seeing stone two episodes ago.

My heart races. My eyes widen.

Luke! Skywalker!

Oh man.

I'm going crazy over here.

OK, so what we're seeing obviously isn't actor Mark Hamill, even though he is listed in the credits. But unless Hamill has learnt to turn back time, that's just a computer animated version of his 30-odd-year-old self. And a bloody good one at that.

I mean, do you remember Moff Tarkin from «Rogue One: A Star Wars Story»? That was eerie. But Luke lives. He could be real.

The people in charge did much better work here. I don't mean it's perfect. But at first, I had to look closely to see if it was a CGI face or an actual person. Especially when CGI Luke isn't speaking. It's then that you realise what you're looking at is mind-bogglingly close to perfection. Now I know where the missing budget for «Chapter 14: The Tragedy» went.

On the set itself, actor Max Lloyd Jones who plays Luke reportedly had the face of Hamill superimposed instead. As far as the voice goes, I'm not sure if that's Mark Hamill. It sounds similar but much younger. So theoretically, it could be the voice of a double. Or Hamill's voice edited in post-production. Or just Hamill. After all, he’s also an excellent voice actor.

In the dubbed German version, you don't hear Hans Georg Panczak, who did the voice of Luke in every Star Wars film to date. Somehow it seems a shame.

But anyway, let's get to the point. How was Luke Skywalker's performance?

Powerful, yes. Powerful, that's true. Luke does smash his way through a whole load of Dark Troopers – I counted about 40 – as though they were toys. And as nimble-footed and elegant as we'd expect from a Jedi at the peak of his craft. Luke's hood doesn't even get knocked out of place. In the meantime, he makes his hand into a fist and squeezes a metal Dark Trooper into a tin can using the Force.

Luke is back, baby!

Saying goodbye

So, Luke Skywalker. The man with the green lightsaber has just pulled the most wicked «Hold my beer» move of the recent Star Wars years. But now he's there to take Grogu away – to make him his Padawan.

Luke holds his hand out.

«Come on, little one.»

Grogu looks at Djarin with uncertainty.

«He doesn't want to go with you,» says Djarin.

Luke's expression still looks friendly. But he turns his glance to Djarin.

«He wants your permission.»

Hmph. Something tells me this could be the moment Djarin and Grogu split ways. Once and for all. I've got more tears in my eyes.

«It's OK, little one», says Djarin audibly crestfallen, «you belong with him – he's one of your kind. We'll see each other again. I promise.»

And then Djarin takes off his helmet. In front of everyone. For the first time, Grogu looks into the face of the Mandalorian, who has become like a father to him. It seems as if Djarin is leaving the old ways of the Mand’alors behind him for good. I crack and burst into tears.

There's a heaviness in my heart. I don't want Grogu to go with Luke Skywalker. Just as little as Djarin wants him to go. But… but that's it – that's the way.

When R2-D2 enters the scene and is pleased to see the little green thing, who looks so similar to the other legendary Jedi Master, the heaviness eases a bit.

Luke, Grogu and R2 go on their way. We have a last glance back at Djarin. The turbolift doors close. Grogu is out of Djarin's life. Cut to credits. This time without any concept design. It doesn't feel like the finale of «The Mandalorian». More like the the finale of a single series.

Was that the end of the story of Din Djarin and the infant?

The post-credits scene that announces a new show for December 2021

That can't be right. I don't want to believe it. It needs to continue. After all, there are still enough stories to tell. For one thing, what about the Darksaber? Does Bo-Katan claim Mando's sword in a duel to the death? And what about Grogu's training? Luke will surely take him to his Jedi Academy on Yavin IV. This is the place where a certain Ben Solo will soon start his training... and finish it.

But there's hardly chance to think about that. Because for the first time in «The Mandalorian», there's a post-credits scene.

Scene: Tatooine. The twin suns over Jabba's old palace give it away. Boba Fett and Fennec Shand go into the former throne room, where Leia was once held as Jabba's slave. Jabba the Hutts' former henchman, Bib Fortuna, now sits in what was once his throne.

Bib isn't so pleased to see Boba again. But Boba makes quick work of Bib, shoots him and takes the throne for himself.

Cut to black. Then there's yellow text.

THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT.

Coming December 2021.

Wait, what? The creator of the «The Mandalorian», Jon Favreau, recently confirmed they'll start filming series three soon. So there shouldn't be anything standing in the way of a December 2021 start.

OK, so what does that mean? Will we get two Star Wars series in December... or is «The Book of Boba Fett» the third series? I’m confused.

Verdict: I could cry

So, that's it. The ending of the second series leaves it wide open as to whether it was the end of that series or the end of «The Mandalorian» as a whole. I could cry.

Of happiness, because the director Peyton Reed and series creator Jon Favreau mastered the appearance of Luke Skywalker brilliantly And of sadness, because the farewell scenes between Djarin and Grogu hit me right in the heart. And because I don't even know if I should get excited about a real third series of «The Mandalorian» or if the focus is now on Boba Fett.

Whatever comes next, we can hold onto the fact «The Mandalorian» managed to do something that George Lucas and Disney never managed at the same level in the space of 20 years, namely making the fans happy. This is mostly thanks to «The Mandalorian» creator Jon Favreau and his helper in the background, Dave Filoni.

It was an extraordinary effort.

I'm yet to find another franchise that has as complicated a relationship with its fans as Star Wars. It's pop culture that's loved and hated. Often in equal measure. Fans seem to know that it's the prequels where Star Wars creator George Lucas committed treason against his own people. And the sequels that exposed Disney as the real evil empire. It's only the classic trilogy that remains the fandom's untouchable Holy Grail.

Crazy.

But «The Mandalorian» is different. Especially the second series. It weaves personalities that we're fond of even further into the Star Wars myth. The series awakens beloved characters from series and books and puts them into live action life. It arranges the initially «short» stories into overriding epics, without making any mistakes. It practically does the impossible. Just ask the fans. Favreau and Filoni definitely pulled it off. The series is outstanding.

This is the way.

And, that's it. There won't be an episode review next week. But I do have a question for you while you're here. Did you like the weekly format for these episode reviews? Should we carry on and do the same for «WandaVision», for instance? Or would you rather have a review at the end of the series?

Apart from that, let me know what you thought of the episode, and if I missed anything. The comments section below awaits...

Luca Fontana

Senior Editor

Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.ch

I'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.» more

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