Countdown To 'The Mandalorian And Grogu': 10 Episodes To Watch Before The Movie
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The Mandalorian and Grogu releases in two months, and this is the best time to start watching the series again from the beginning. If you haven’t done a rewatch in a while, you’re in for a treat. If you haven’t done one at all, or if you’re a Star Wars fan who’s new to The Mandalorian, these 10 episodes should be on your list of episodes to watch before the film premieres on May 22.
These episodes are some of the best of the show, and possibly the best of Star Wars television. Apart from that, they provide an excellent overview of what the series and its main character are about, and what’s happening in the galaxy during the New Republic (or post-Return of the Jedi) time period in which the show is set. Let’s get into the episodes:
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10. Chapter 23: “The Spies”
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Highly cinematic shots of the Mandalorian fleet and the ruins of Mandalore are a few highlights from “The Spies.” This episode is one of the best from Season 3, which was definitely not the best season of the show overall. Mandalorian clans all came together to reclaim their planet, but tragedy broke out at the end of the episode, when Paz Vizsla made his last heroic stand against Praetorian Guards and sacrificed his life to help the Mandalorians escape the Empire and Moff Gideon. This episode has excellent visuals, adorable Grogu scenes, and an emotional moment when a popular character dies. It may not rank among the best of the show, but The Spies is an episode you should watch before the movie to get a good idea of where Din Djarin and Grogu have been, as well as the current state of Mandalore.
9. Chapter 24: “The Return”
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The Mandalorians strike back and finally reclaim Mandalore in the Season 3 finale, partly thanks to The Armorer, to Bo-Katan, and to Din and Grogu. Every Mandalorian gets to shine individually in this episode, and the Mandalorian people reunite and light the Great Forge. It’s difficult to predict how long this truce between the different Mando clans will last, but one thing is guaranteed: Din and Grogu are inseparable. After a season where the duo didn’t get to have too many moments together, they finally show off the strength of their bond.
There’s a great Mythosaur tease at the end, and an emotional reunion with Greef Karga on Nevarro, who hands them the keys to their new home. Not everyone liked Season 3, but it’s hard to find fault with the final few minutes of the episode when Din and Grogu stretch their legs in their own place. It is a home they both never had before, but the break won’t last too long; the galaxy’s next big threat, Grand Admiral Thrawn, is on his way.
8. Chapter 2: “The Child”
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Season 1 of the show is so iconic that it seems unfair to pick and choose episodes to watch. If you want to see the best of The Mandalorian, you should watch every episode from its first season, but the Grogu enthusiasts are probably partial to Chapter 2. This is when we get to know Grogu and his little quirks. We learn that he can Force-heal people, has a voracious appetite, and enjoys watching his dad obliterate enemies. There are Jawas, a giant egg, and a Mudhorn confrontation that reveals Grogu’s force powers. This is essential viewing for everyone, and even casual fans have probably seen a few memes and gifs from this episode. Director Rick Famuyiwa and composer Ludwig Göransson combine for a glorious viewing and listening experience that is some of the best of Star Wars.
7. Chapter 1: “The Mandalorian”
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The only word that can best describe this pilot episode is ‘magical’. Directed by Dave Filoni, the first episode introduces us to the show’s hardened main character, who is affectionately known as ‘Mando.’ He doesn’t seem interested in correcting anyone; he is only interested in his next mission. This is a man who’s just trying to survive. Beneath the hardened exterior, Mando is an honorable man whose life is about to change when he finds a 50-year-old adorable bounty at the end of the episode. This is the most significant Star Wars reveal since the revelation that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father in A New Hope, and for that, all the credit goes to Jon Favreau and director Dave Filoni. Please watch this episode NOW if you haven’t already!
6. Chapter 9: “The Marshal”
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“The Marshal” is a must-watch episode if you want an idea of Jon Favreau’s potential as a Star Wars movie director. Favreau directed this episode and even experimented with IMAX aspect ratios for a fantastic season premiere. This episode also beats the “runtime is too short” allegations that are a common complaint every Star Wars live-action show has received, except for Andor. This is 50+ minutes of non-stop action and superb storytelling, cinematography, and music. “The Marshal” feels like a movie, and this is why you can’t underestimate Jon Favreau. There’s no way he’s capable of making an ugly movie. Favreau is a filmmaker through and through.
5. Chapter 8: “Redemption”
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“Redemption” is the underrated Season 1 finale, and it has something for everyone. This episode gives background information on the show’s main character and begins to define the unspoken bond between Din and Grogu. The Armorer gives Din the task of reuniting Grogu with the Jedi, but there’s a lot more going on here. The episode ends on a heartwarming note and foreshadows the return of the Mythosaur when Din lets Grogu keep his Mythosaur pendant. There’s a character death and the live-action debut of the Darksaber. Overall, Redemption is high on action, emotion, and entertainment, and it needs to be revisited before the movie.
4. Chapter 3: “The Sin”
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“The Sin” is a turning point for Mando as a character, as he makes a choice that will define the rest of his life, proving that he’s more than a hardened warrior. After handing Grogu over to the Empire, Djarin experiences guilt and a change of heart, after which he decides to retrieve the Child. Even though he is successful at taking him from Dr. Pershing, he is trapped on Nevarro until his covert team arrives to save him. This fateful choice proves that Grogu has broken through his tough exterior, and their relationship will only continue to improve from here. The Sin is directed by Obi-Wan Kenobi director Deborah Chow, and this is some of her best work. Chow revealed that she wanted Pedro Pascal in the suit for the scene in the Razor Crest where Djarin decides to go back for Grogu. Even without dialogue, you can tell how terrible Din feels about what he did. Give this underrated episode a re-watch before the movie, and re-live the good old days when Star Wars didn’t need long speeches to be impressive.
3. Chapter 16: “The Rescue”
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This episode may be higher up in your rankings if you’re a huge Luke Skywalker fan, but there’s so much cool stuff here to feast on apart from the Jedi’s heroic entry. Several characters, including Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Bo-Katan Kryze, Moff Gideon, and R2-D2 make an appearance on this epic Season 2 finale, which is still the highest-rated episode of live-action Star Wars TV on IMDb, after six years. One of the best scenes in “The Rescue” is when Mando removes his helmet so Grogu can see his face before he leaves with Luke. Pedro Pascal had his work cut out trying to make an impression in an episode where Luke freaking Skywalker showed up, but somehow, he managed to have his moment. This was the last time we saw Din without his helmet, but it’s a moment fans will never forget. A father’s love for his child that makes him break all the rules is what Star Wars is all about.
2. Chapter 13: “The Jedi”
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It’s tricky to bring a beloved animated character to live-action, balancing the show’s main plot and not letting anything outshine it. The Mandalorian Chapter 13 does all that and more, and is overall an excellent episode of television for anyone, even if they’re not big fans of The Clone Wars or Star Wars in general. Rosario Dawson makes a great debut as Ahsoka Tano, and we finally learn Grogu’s name and tragic backstory. There are some really sweet father-son moments, and seeing Din and Ahsoka team up to fight Morgan Elsbeth is pretty neat. Oh, and we can’t forget about the Grand Admiral Thrawn namedrop near the end! “The Jedi” is a reminder that Dave Filoni is an underrated director, and this episode can prepare you for The Mandalorian and Grogu as well as Ahsoka Season 2 later this year.
1. Chapter 15: “The Believer”
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All 3 seasons of The Mandalorian really saved their best for the end, but Season 2’s penultimate episode was a whole different level of class. No one knew what to expect from Chapter 15 after Grogu was kidnapped. We knew Din Djarin wouldn’t spare the culprits, but this episode proved that he was willing to go to any extent to save the kid. Chapter 15 is where we get to see how many reliable friends Din has gathered over the course of two seasons.
Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Cara Dune, and the space Bostonian Mayfeld all came together to help Din get the coordinates to Moff Gideon's ships. This episode feels reminiscent of Andor at times. The commentary that it makes no difference to the common man if the Empire or the Republic is in power is so expertly woven into an action-filled episode that it never feels preachy. There’s also a tension-filled, brilliantly acted sequence within the Imperial facility where Pedro Pascal, Bill Burr, and Richard Brake all get a chance to show off their acting chops, and yes, Pedro Pascal gets more than a few minutes to act as Din without a helmet. You can start your Mando rewatch from The Believer, which could arguably be the best episode of live-action Star Wars ever.
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