The Mandalorian: Chapter 7: The Reckoning
December 18, 2019 1:58 AM - Season 1, Episode 7 - Subscribe

Mando joins forces with both his friends and adversaries in a bid to rid themselves of the common threat of the Imperial client, with an adorable carnivorous Force miracle worker becoming everyone's top priority.
posted by Anonymous (45 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Wait, is this one out early?
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:20 AM on December 18, 2019 [2 favorites]


It is out early. Cliffhanger!
posted by Fleebnork at 5:17 AM on December 18, 2019 [3 favorites]


Released today since Skywalker comes out Friday.

Poor Kuiil! But this was excellent, best ep yet.
posted by Frayed Knot at 8:39 AM on December 18, 2019 [5 favorites]


UNSUBSTANTIATED FAN THEORY:

What if Mando loaned Kuiil his chest armor and Mando wore some fake stuff to the meeting?

I just hope our little buddy ain't dead.

I have spoken.
posted by Fleebnork at 11:11 AM on December 18, 2019 [14 favorites]


Finally, FINALLY the Mandalorian gets a posse. Like he obviously needed all along.

I really liked this one.
posted by medusa at 3:47 PM on December 18, 2019 [4 favorites]


But he had spoken! *sulks*
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:45 PM on December 18, 2019 [8 favorites]


Want to play guess who is dead and who is not dead? My guess is the Client is dead but Kuiil is not dead, based on the foreshadowing that IG-11 was reprogrammed to protect.
posted by medusa at 5:58 PM on December 18, 2019 [4 favorites]


You can see daylight through the hole in the client's chest, so he is definitely dead. Besides, we got a new Big Bad.
posted by tofu_crouton at 6:05 PM on December 18, 2019 [1 favorite]


A week? I HAVE TO WAIT A WEEK FOR CLOSURE???
posted by cooker girl at 6:12 PM on December 18, 2019


Worse - 10 days.
posted by medusa at 6:14 PM on December 18, 2019 [7 favorites]


So was that a touch of the dark side in Baby Yoda force-choking Cara? I haven't kept up with what is and isn't canon, but wasn't that strictly a dark side power at least at some point?
posted by Zonker at 6:17 PM on December 18, 2019


It's a Disney show and we got Werner Herzog saying, "I see nothing but death and chaos."

Also, all the star wars droid ethicists now have to chew on the fact that you can raise a droid and instill it with morals.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 6:34 PM on December 18, 2019 [26 favorites]


FRING...IN....SPAAAAAAAAACE!!1!
posted by jquinby at 6:35 PM on December 18, 2019 [10 favorites]


I definitely agree that watching a character played by Werner Herzog defend fascism is a real pleasure.

I think that Jedi are never supposed to attack, but you could argue that Baby Yoda was just trying to save his Space Dad and so was defending at some level. Also, maybe possibly force-using babies need some fucking reasonable child care?
posted by medusa at 6:36 PM on December 18, 2019 [18 favorites]


I see opportunities for Los Porgs Hermanos franchises throughout the galaxy.
posted by ChuraChura at 7:05 PM on December 18, 2019 [38 favorites]


I refuse to search for it but I foresee a melding of the Baby Yoda memes and the "He attacc... He protecc" memes. Balance in all things.

So glad to see IG-11 up and about again. I came to The Mandalorian late and had already seen Baby Yoda, but it was IG-11 who completely sold me on the series...

I never read any of the Expanded Universe books or watched any of the animated series or played any of the video games, so this is the first Star Wars I've experienced outside of the theatrically released movies (and holiday special). But for some reason I was obsessed with IG-88 after Empire came out, even though he never spoke or even moved—just the character design and the idea of a droid bounty hunter were so evocative that IG-88 became my favorite action figure.

When, in the first episode, IG-11 showed up and was just such an amazing realization of an IG droid—from the janky way it moved and fought, to its lame simulacrum of a personality, to it being voiced by Taika Waititi—I realized that this show was going to expand on the movies in a really fun way.

And it has! I loved seeing the Jawas again, especially loved that their way of repelling an attacker from the sand crawler was by throwing junk at him. It's so perfect. I loved the AT-ST Scout Walker playing the role of a dragon, I loved the X-Wing pilots in the previous episode being bored by-the-book cops as they destroyed the smuggler space station, I loved the Imperial speeder pilot rent-a-cops in this episode, I loved that Clancy Brown dressed as the Devil Alien that had a 2-second appearance in the first movie's Cantina scene took a flamethrower to the face without wincing. I know all this stuff can be dismissed as fan service, but to me it's a show that finally delivers on the promise of the amazing universe the movies created, by throwing all that annoying stuff about the Skywalker family and the Jedi and Sith in the bin, and concentrating on what's left with a masterful focus on detail.

That said, I have also enjoyed this season as a non-interactive version of a Bethesda/Bioware/Obsidian open-world game. A troubled protagonist with something to prove travels an expansive map fulfilling quests, upgrading armor, recruiting companions, and vanquishing mini-bosses until they're ready to face the Final Boss. I am aware that many people will bring this up as a knock against the series, but for me it's as comforting as the hoary spaghetti western tropes they bring in and re-skin for each episode.

That said: Did Mando seriously not realize that the trap they were walking into was not Werner Herzog's but Carl Weathers's? Come on, dude. I assumed that he and Cara were on top of it until it took Carl killing his guards to make them realize it.

Prediction: The bassinet Kuill made will house a weapon like the Whistling Birds to get our crew out of their jam.

Question: Were the flying monsters that attacked the campfire mynocks?
posted by ejs at 7:39 PM on December 18, 2019 [22 favorites]


Ejs: a meme is what you seek
posted by littlesq at 10:50 PM on December 18, 2019 [7 favorites]


No-one talking about the sheer awesomeness of that Tie Fighter landing? Such style! This show has exceeded my high expectations for production values and CG - I thought it’d all be on a single desert planet with barely any spaceships and look at where we are now.
posted by adrianhon at 11:35 PM on December 18, 2019 [17 favorites]


This series is seriously expensive. As in each episode could be an indie-film level expensive (15 million per episode), which you can see on the screen at a level of cinematic richness you usually do not expect on a TV show.

In this episode, I was surprised by baby Yoda force choking Cara though Mando was obviously not in danger. Also, why did Moff Gideon blast his agent and stormtroopers? I was intrigued because the Moff's troops looked all shiny and well maintained while the ones you usually saw were looking less than fresh. But mad props for seeing death troopers whose last appearance I recall from Rogue One.

I am going to miss Werner Herzog as the client. I am so going to have that clip of him seeing only, "death and chaos" since the success of the Rebellion as my ringtone.
posted by jadepearl at 11:52 PM on December 18, 2019 [4 favorites]


This is the only Star Wars I have seen other than the original trilogy once a few years ago and 2/3 prequels. And I was drunk for most of the prequels. I find myself a little lost and scared to ask anybody because I don't want the deluge of Star Wars information that would inevitably follow. I just want to know who the storm troopers in the black outfits were and if all Mandalorians are bounty hunters. I tried looking it up but found a bunch of info on Boba Fett that I don't really care about. I did figure out that Moff is a title and not a first name. I was also very proud that I remembered that Tusken Raiders always ride in single file. At least all the fan service is going way over my head so I can't complain about that.

I was fully expecting the pram to open up and fire. It took me a second to realize that wasn't what was happening when the Client was shot.

Mostly I'm just here for gun fights and Baby Yoda. I screamed when they showed him being snatched off the ground even though I KNEW the episode was going to end on a cliffhanger with him in peril.
posted by MaritaCov at 2:05 AM on December 19, 2019 [4 favorites]


Also notable:
This episode canonically establishes the name of one of the longest-unnamed Star Wars species; specificially, those very common fleshy hornless things with rounded ears and (usually) head and facial hair are called "humans."
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 2:50 AM on December 19, 2019 [13 favorites]


The transport those showroom fresh Stormtroopers piled out of had only been seen before as a mail-in toy.


I had that thing. I was squeeing. SQUEEING!
posted by Fleebnork at 5:44 AM on December 19, 2019 [8 favorites]


It had a recorded voice in it, too, IIRC.

"There's one. Set for stun."
posted by jquinby at 5:53 AM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]


Mynocks fed on power cables, I don’t see them going for fleshy things. I got a Pitch Black vibe going on from them being picked off at the campfire.

I see the next episode being either everyone except Mando and Baby Yoda sacrificing themselves to save those two, or the development of a close knit group of IG11, Mando, Gina, maybe Carl, and Baby Yoda who venture in space together.

Or It’s the first three trying to find Baby Yoda.
posted by mrzarquon at 6:24 AM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]


I just want to know who the storm troopers in the black outfits were

Death Troopers: "Death troopers were an elite variant of the Galactic Empire's stormtroopers designed for stealth, espionage and lethality. Operating under Imperial Intelligence, they served as protective details and bodyguards for significant Imperial officers and members of the Tarkin Initiative, as well as special-assignment commandos. They wore black suits of body-armor and specialized helmets with vocal scramblers, micro-motion sensors, and heads-up displays with data on enemy and friendly positions on the battlefield. Death troopers were trained in unarmed combat, heavy weapons, demolitions, improvised weaponry, guerrilla warfare, and marksmanship. They were experts at covering their tracks, leaving little to no evidence of their missions."

if all Mandalorians are bounty hunters.

No.
posted by cooker girl at 6:32 AM on December 19, 2019 [6 favorites]


The bad guys once again performing at the very highest tactical levels by sending their stealthiest dudes dressed up in black to sneak through an entirely taupe neighborhood in broad daylight and fire high-powered weapons through a building with no sentries posted and no one even looking outside.
posted by Etrigan at 6:37 AM on December 19, 2019 [19 favorites]


I am going to miss Werner Herzog as the client. I am so going to have that clip of him seeing only, "death and chaos" since the success of the Rebellion as my ringtone.

Oddly enough, Herzog-as-ringtone occurred to me partway though the episode as well, mere seconds after the line you mention. Herzog saying, “I would like to see the baby,” seemed a perfect ringtone to me. Then, as with watching an Olympic event where a new world record is established and then broken four minutes later, I realized that the perfect signal for a call would me my phone muttering in Herzog’s voice, “Don’t think me to be rude. I must take this call.”
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:51 AM on December 19, 2019 [25 favorites]


A week? I HAVE TO WAIT A WEEK FOR CLOSURE???

You could cue up the end of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:54 AM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]


It had a recorded voice in it, too, IIRC.

"There's one. Set for stun."


I had the cheaper Sears version with no electronics.

Don't care, still had fun.
posted by Fleebnork at 8:15 AM on December 19, 2019 [4 favorites]


Finally, FINALLY the Mandalorian gets a posse. Like he obviously needed all along.

Yeah, when I realized many of the previous episodes were actually background for new members of Mando's crew, it really helped to feel that this is a long story arc being created instead of just some lone gunfighter episodes.

The friend I was watching with agreed and added that the only character he now missed was BountyBot and a few minutes later ...his wish was granted.
posted by vacapinta at 10:11 AM on December 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


They missed a trick by not giving Herzog the line “It’s not significant” after being shot.
posted by mwhybark at 11:17 AM on December 19, 2019 [7 favorites]


It had a recorded voice in it, too, IIRC.

"There's one. Set for stun."

I had the cheaper Sears version with no electronics.

Don't care, still had fun.


Wait, you were able to say, "There's one. Set for stun." ON YOUR OWN?!? Careful, your privilege is showing.

Yeah, that was about the only one of the 1978-era toys I did NOT have*. It seemed like a weird thing that would have turned up in the Marvel Comics continuation of Star Wars**, so I dismissed it as (although I likely did not know the word) non-canonical. By the same token, I felt no pangs for my lack of green bunny bounty hunter action figures.

*That and Vader's TIE Fighter, I think.

**It may well have, but I cannot recall it.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:36 AM on December 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


The transport those showroom fresh Stormtroopers piled out of had only been seen before as a mail-in toy.

I believe it was in Star Wars: Rebels before this, but it did originate as a toy.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 1:09 PM on December 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


The one in Rebels was inspired by the toy, but was a bit different.

Anyway, the mail order toy with electronics was a 1979 release. I got the later Sears 1980 release of it that was cheaper and had no electronics. Still, it had a lot of play features for a relatively small toy. Two opening cockpit doors with seats for figures, as well as 6 side pockets that could carry more figures, and then the back opened up and you could shove a whole pile of figures in there!
posted by Fleebnork at 4:36 PM on December 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


"Can I offer you a libation to celebrate the closing of our shared narrative?" is the most Paul F Tompkins as Werner Herzog thing I've ever heard the real Werner Herzog say.

Also there's an alternate world where Carl Weathers came on board the franchise as Greef Karga way back in the original trilogy and we had many more years of his stentorian awesomeness in space, and it's a better world.
posted by jason_steakums at 6:46 PM on December 19, 2019 [32 favorites]


I am so going to miss Werner Herzog in this role. At the same time, though, I can totally imagine Moff Gideon has been just looking for an excuse to off Herzog's character for ages. He must've been really sure Baby Yoda wasn't in that room to just light it up like that, though.
posted by mstokes650 at 10:00 PM on December 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


"There's one. Set for stun."

So wait, is it canon that in Star Wars you can set a blaster for stun or not, because I have not seen many characters avail themselves of that setting
posted by ejs at 11:41 PM on December 19, 2019


I mean, the stormtrooper rifles can at least do it. They do it in the first movie. The blue rings that knock down Leia.
posted by Fleebnork at 3:59 AM on December 20, 2019 [6 favorites]


So wait, is it canon that in Star Wars you can set a blaster for stun or not, because I have not seen many characters avail themselves of that setting

Yes, it's used frequently in Clone Wars and Rebels. You can tell it's set for stun because the blaster shoots out blue rings.
posted by synecdoche at 4:22 AM on December 20, 2019 [3 favorites]


I'm enjoying this show, but I'm getting progressively more pissed off about the gender representation. In seven episodes, there have been five women with speaking roles. It's fucking ridiculous. It's the most thoughtless, transparent tokenism.

I feel like a producer is asking, every week, "do you have a woman in it? You got one? Great."

It's extra disappointing because Filoni had great, strong, female characters in Rebels.
posted by smoke at 12:31 PM on December 20, 2019 [10 favorites]


I am so going to miss Werner Herzog in this role. At the same time, though, I can totally imagine Moff Gideon has been just looking for an excuse to off Herzog's character for ages. He must've been really sure Baby Yoda wasn't in that room to just light it up like that, though.

Yeah, I get the feeling Moff Gideon knows when Baby Yoda is close. His last words to Herzog made it pretty clear that he knew Baby Yoda wasn't in the pram, even if Herzog somehow didn't.

And I figure from the shabby setting and the ragtag bunch of half-ass troopers (especially now that we know there is a remnant of the Empire that's still fully intact and can keep their equipment shiny and new) that for Herzog, getting Baby Yoda for Gideon was his ticket back into the good part of the Empire, with regular meals and stuff like that. It was business for him, important business but business. It's something much more for Gideon. I assume we'll find out what next week.
posted by Naberius at 5:41 PM on December 21, 2019 [3 favorites]


So there's a gas leak at the center of this galaxy, right?
posted by codacorolla at 9:41 PM on December 21, 2019 [1 favorite]


I had an Imperial Troop Transport (that unfortunately got stepped on and slightly squished by a friend as he suddenly stepped down from a piano bench), and I believe it had six separate audio clips, activated by one of the six red buttons (arranged in a circle) to play each one.
posted by blueberry at 7:01 AM on December 22, 2019


I was shouting at my TV about that, smoke. So many characters that could be female with absolutely no changing the scrip -- just have a damn female voice come out of that face. It feels like it's a deliberate choice to not include girls or women, at this point.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:14 AM on December 23, 2019 [3 favorites]


Ending this episode on a cliffhanger with the pair of heroes outnumbered and pinned down inside a building gave me real Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid vibes.
posted by mbrubeck at 7:55 PM on July 13, 2020


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