The Mandalorian: The Prisoner
December 13, 2019 5:12 AM - Season 1, Episode 6 - Subscribe
The Mandalorian joins a crew of mercenaries on a dangerous mission.
I'm just enjoying the hell out of this show. Fun space adventure of the week without all of the mopey dour Jedi destiny stuff with the death star AGAIN and the emperor AGAIN and blahhhh.
SPACESHIPS and PEWPEW lasers and NYERRMMM speeder bikes and FUN.
It's scratching my Star Wars itch in a way the new movies really haven't.
posted by Fleebnork at 6:11 AM on December 13, 2019 [29 favorites]
SPACESHIPS and PEWPEW lasers and NYERRMMM speeder bikes and FUN.
It's scratching my Star Wars itch in a way the new movies really haven't.
posted by Fleebnork at 6:11 AM on December 13, 2019 [29 favorites]
It's a heist + double cross episode! With so many cameo roles! Ditto on the fun space romp, plus tricksy baby Yoda!
Gotta say, the budget on this show is unbelievable.
I figure this is a great way to sell Disney+ to Star Wars fans who would have otherwise skipped the platform. And with the broad ownership, Disney is mopping up at the box office, so you know they're good for it. HBO had its Dragon Money, but now Disney has All The Money.
posted by filthy light thief at 6:32 AM on December 13, 2019 [5 favorites]
Gotta say, the budget on this show is unbelievable.
I figure this is a great way to sell Disney+ to Star Wars fans who would have otherwise skipped the platform. And with the broad ownership, Disney is mopping up at the box office, so you know they're good for it. HBO had its Dragon Money, but now Disney has All The Money.
posted by filthy light thief at 6:32 AM on December 13, 2019 [5 favorites]
It needs more baby Yoda.
posted by ilovewinter at 7:06 AM on December 13, 2019 [9 favorites]
posted by ilovewinter at 7:06 AM on December 13, 2019 [9 favorites]
I see X-wings, I'm a happy guy.
posted by Zonker at 11:45 AM on December 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by Zonker at 11:45 AM on December 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
Yeah. This is what I want from Star Wars.
I care not one bit about the latest space wizard, or even really the grand battle of good and evil.
I want "Star Wars as a place" stories.
Make the Galaxy bigger. Have the New Republic exist as a big force who are a menace only because they are meddling do gooders.
Also I enjoyed Zero the robot.
"Exiting Hyperspace: We're Here. But should we have come?"
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 1:08 PM on December 13, 2019 [18 favorites]
I care not one bit about the latest space wizard, or even really the grand battle of good and evil.
I want "Star Wars as a place" stories.
Make the Galaxy bigger. Have the New Republic exist as a big force who are a menace only because they are meddling do gooders.
Also I enjoyed Zero the robot.
"Exiting Hyperspace: We're Here. But should we have come?"
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 1:08 PM on December 13, 2019 [18 favorites]
Ok only a few minutes in but I had to come and say that
posted by EndsOfInvention at 1:47 PM on December 13, 2019 [14 favorites]
"He's a former Imperial sharpshooter"got a hearty LOL.
"That's not saying much"
"I wasn't a stormtrooper, wise-ass!"
posted by EndsOfInvention at 1:47 PM on December 13, 2019 [14 favorites]
I was thinking the ending was a bit contrived, but then I realized Mando basically swatted his double-crossing boss. If you got cops to show up at your enemy's house right as he was pulling a gun the outcome would be basically the same.
BTW this episode more than any of the others really stretched the utility of the name "Mando." Presumably he has an actual name, Mandalorians are (probably) allowed to have names. "Mando" is serviceable as a nickname people give him because he's a Mandalorian, but it's really weird coming from old aquaintances who would know him better as "that Mandalorian I call Mando"
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 2:43 PM on December 13, 2019 [9 favorites]
BTW this episode more than any of the others really stretched the utility of the name "Mando." Presumably he has an actual name, Mandalorians are (probably) allowed to have names. "Mando" is serviceable as a nickname people give him because he's a Mandalorian, but it's really weird coming from old aquaintances who would know him better as "that Mandalorian I call Mando"
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 2:43 PM on December 13, 2019 [9 favorites]
...Unless, of course, he never told her his real name... which would be consistent with the character and the way his secret underground sect operates. If they tell everyone their real names, the whole "only come out one at a time to conceal their numbers" thing probably wouldn't work very well.
Oh, and I loved this episode... we live in a serialized TV world but it really shows how entertaining more episodic shows can be. The misfit gang of outlaws teaming up for a job is one of my favorite tropes... I'm hoping we see more of Twi'lek Harley Quinn, Bill Burr and Alien Satan.
posted by Green Winnebago at 3:38 PM on December 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
Oh, and I loved this episode... we live in a serialized TV world but it really shows how entertaining more episodic shows can be. The misfit gang of outlaws teaming up for a job is one of my favorite tropes... I'm hoping we see more of Twi'lek Harley Quinn, Bill Burr and Alien Satan.
posted by Green Winnebago at 3:38 PM on December 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
For a second I thought the Twi'lek was played by Lisa Codrington, the horny bartender from Letterkenny. It was all the more plausible for all the comics they've been casting.
Also, I can't decide if it's cool or stupid that Mando uses every single one of his gadgets in every fight. Maybe keep something in reserve, dude.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 5:32 PM on December 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
Also, I can't decide if it's cool or stupid that Mando uses every single one of his gadgets in every fight. Maybe keep something in reserve, dude.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 5:32 PM on December 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
Maybe keep something in reserve, dude.
Maybe he has. We wouldn't know.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 5:48 PM on December 13, 2019 [7 favorites]
Maybe he has. We wouldn't know.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 5:48 PM on December 13, 2019 [7 favorites]
This was quite a fun one, I figured the tracker was gonna come up at the end but was curious as to how it would play out.
posted by mrzarquon at 6:32 PM on December 13, 2019
posted by mrzarquon at 6:32 PM on December 13, 2019
I just realized tonight’s episode had Baby Yoda in pure mischievous mogwai mode.
posted by mrzarquon at 6:40 PM on December 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by mrzarquon at 6:40 PM on December 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
Adding to what I said above, this episode not only cements The Mandalorian as my favorite Star Wars thing since Disney took over, it also really makes the artistic shortcomings of Solo that much more apparent... This one half-hour episode manages to do the whole "Star Wars heist movie" thing better than Solo did, with a third of the run-time and probably less than a tenth of the budget. And it looks better, too! It's almost as making an entire movie dark blue for no apparent reason is a bad idea.
posted by Green Winnebago at 7:12 PM on December 13, 2019 [13 favorites]
posted by Green Winnebago at 7:12 PM on December 13, 2019 [13 favorites]
The use of both "hone in" and "homing in" took me out of the show briefly.
posted by detachd at 7:12 PM on December 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by detachd at 7:12 PM on December 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
Baby Yoda's face when for a moment they thought they had blown a hole in the droid with The Force, was all "did I do that, woooahh" and then mild disappointment when it turned out to be SpaceDad, so cute!
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 7:15 PM on December 13, 2019 [33 favorites]
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 7:15 PM on December 13, 2019 [33 favorites]
A crew this competent hasn't been assembled since the maiden and final flight of the S.S. Prometheus.
posted by codacorolla at 7:50 PM on December 13, 2019 [13 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 7:50 PM on December 13, 2019 [13 favorites]
Favorite episode so far. As a Bill Burr fan, I liked him playing a space mercenary who says what Bill Burr would. Every SW fan is in love with Baby Yoda. Bill Burr: Is that a pet?
Seems odd the X-Wings would open fire on the base without trying to communicate first, but not the ship leaving the base. But I also don't get why the armed forces for the government in power get to call themselves the Resistance.
At any rate, I love how a TV show about a bounty hunter who has no trouble killing people is still less depressing than any of the movies, since even before the Disney purchase.
posted by riruro at 9:32 PM on December 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
Seems odd the X-Wings would open fire on the base without trying to communicate first, but not the ship leaving the base. But I also don't get why the armed forces for the government in power get to call themselves the Resistance.
At any rate, I love how a TV show about a bounty hunter who has no trouble killing people is still less depressing than any of the movies, since even before the Disney purchase.
posted by riruro at 9:32 PM on December 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
As a Chekhov’s homing beacon, I’m gonna give space cops the assumption that it’s a “I’ve been compromised, shoot first, ask questions maybe” kind of tool.
A government formed by a legacy of dealing with spies, turncoats, order 66, space wizards who aren’t what they seem, probably developed a very strong paranoia around infiltration and sabotage.
I’d love to know more about the rise of the First Order in this universe, I’m assuming like what we see happening in real life, the messy politics of letting everyone have their voices heard, diplomacy, and democracy made some people pine for the good ole times of “law and order” space diplomacy.
posted by mrzarquon at 10:19 PM on December 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
A government formed by a legacy of dealing with spies, turncoats, order 66, space wizards who aren’t what they seem, probably developed a very strong paranoia around infiltration and sabotage.
I’d love to know more about the rise of the First Order in this universe, I’m assuming like what we see happening in real life, the messy politics of letting everyone have their voices heard, diplomacy, and democracy made some people pine for the good ole times of “law and order” space diplomacy.
posted by mrzarquon at 10:19 PM on December 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
Also Zero was voiced by Richard Ayoda (IT Crowd, Travel Man). I can’t think of a better voice for a droid with that attitude.
posted by mrzarquon at 10:31 PM on December 13, 2019 [12 favorites]
posted by mrzarquon at 10:31 PM on December 13, 2019 [12 favorites]
The Mandalorian needs to put a few more locks on his ship.
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:52 PM on December 13, 2019 [14 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:52 PM on December 13, 2019 [14 favorites]
Seems odd the X-Wings would open fire on the base without trying to communicate first, but not the ship leaving the base. But I also don't get why the armed forces for the government in power get to call themselves the Resistance.
I thought it was weird at first but I figure they'd already found the prison ship and discovered the human crewman dead and the distress beacon missing, and had decided that whoever had it must have murdered him.
The New Republic had its own military, the Resistance was a secretly funded guerilla force formed to oppose the First Order without the New Republic officially declaring war.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 1:25 AM on December 14, 2019 [3 favorites]
I thought it was weird at first but I figure they'd already found the prison ship and discovered the human crewman dead and the distress beacon missing, and had decided that whoever had it must have murdered him.
The New Republic had its own military, the Resistance was a secretly funded guerilla force formed to oppose the First Order without the New Republic officially declaring war.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 1:25 AM on December 14, 2019 [3 favorites]
Yeah, practically every episode we see someone rifling through his gun cabinet. Get that shit locked down, Mando - you’ve got a kid on board!
posted by adrianhon at 2:08 AM on December 14, 2019 [12 favorites]
posted by adrianhon at 2:08 AM on December 14, 2019 [12 favorites]
Parental anxiety I have experienced in this show:
- No child locks on gun cabinet
- Letting kid eat unwashed frogs
- That metal ball is a choke hazard omg
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:30 AM on December 14, 2019 [51 favorites]
- No child locks on gun cabinet
- Letting kid eat unwashed frogs
- That metal ball is a choke hazard omg
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:30 AM on December 14, 2019 [51 favorites]
okay so we've had guest appearances by horatio sanz, brian posehn, bill barr... WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE MAKE SURE PATTON OSWALT GETS A CAMEO? or is he persona nongrata for the "at midnight i will kill george lucas with a shovel" thing?
posted by entropicamericana at 5:10 AM on December 14, 2019 [9 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 5:10 AM on December 14, 2019 [9 favorites]
The 90s/00s sci-fi/fantasy action show feeling is still going strong with this show, Space Tonks and Space Clancy Brown could have popped up in an episode of Farscape and nobody would have blinked.
posted by jason_steakums at 5:15 AM on December 14, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 5:15 AM on December 14, 2019 [7 favorites]
But I also don't get why the armed forces for the government in power get to call themselves the Resistance.
Isn't the new government called the New Republic ?
posted by Pendragon at 6:47 AM on December 14, 2019
Isn't the new government called the New Republic ?
posted by Pendragon at 6:47 AM on December 14, 2019
The three X-Wing pilots were played by Dave Filoni (showrunner), Deborah Chow (director of prev. eps), and Rick Famuyiwa (director of this episode). The Twi'lek was Natalia Tena from HP and GoT. And the "muscle"? CLANCY M-F'ING BROWN.
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 7:27 AM on December 14, 2019 [13 favorites]
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 7:27 AM on December 14, 2019 [13 favorites]
The Resistance is named The Resistance because for some reason they decided The Force Awakens had to be a point-for-point remake of A New Hope and that required a scrappy group of freedom fighters going up against a monolithic enemy with the industrial capacity to build a planet-sized weapon.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 7:30 AM on December 14, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 7:30 AM on December 14, 2019 [6 favorites]
Only way to have one upped Clancy Brown was to have Ron Perlman wearing the horns and the red makeup.
posted by mrzarquon at 7:45 AM on December 14, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by mrzarquon at 7:45 AM on December 14, 2019 [8 favorites]
Yes, but this takes place after Return of the Jedi and before The Force Awakens... there is no The Resistance, only the New Republic.
posted by Pendragon at 8:59 AM on December 14, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by Pendragon at 8:59 AM on December 14, 2019 [5 favorites]
The three X-Wing pilots were played by Dave Filoni (showrunner), Deborah Chow (director of prev. eps), and Rick Famuyiwa (director of this episode)
Ah, I recognised Filoni and wondered if the other two were also cameos.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:15 AM on December 14, 2019
Ah, I recognised Filoni and wondered if the other two were also cameos.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:15 AM on December 14, 2019
The Mandalorian needs to put a few more locks on his ship.
Reading this now, it feels ... judgemental.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:32 PM on December 14, 2019
Reading this now, it feels ... judgemental.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:32 PM on December 14, 2019
I think it's ok to judge this character who is supposed to be one of the greatest warriors in the galaxy but can't be bothered with basic ship security.
posted by medusa at 1:36 PM on December 14, 2019 [11 favorites]
posted by medusa at 1:36 PM on December 14, 2019 [11 favorites]
It’s Chekhov’s Gun Cabinet at this point. It’s happened twice now without consequence, so at some point it’s gonna cause a real issue or baby Yoda’s gonna get in there and save him with a blaster.
posted by chris24 at 3:07 PM on December 14, 2019 [12 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 3:07 PM on December 14, 2019 [12 favorites]
The New Republic had its own military, the Resistance was a secretly funded guerilla force formed to oppose the First Order without the New Republic officially declaring war.
But they are still not resisting anything, rather they are enforcing the status quo. They're a paramilitary organization secretly funded by the major power to fight a military dictatorship. That makes them the Space Contras. Princess Leia is goddamed Ronald Reagan!
posted by riruro at 3:14 PM on December 14, 2019 [6 favorites]
But they are still not resisting anything, rather they are enforcing the status quo. They're a paramilitary organization secretly funded by the major power to fight a military dictatorship. That makes them the Space Contras. Princess Leia is goddamed Ronald Reagan!
posted by riruro at 3:14 PM on December 14, 2019 [6 favorites]
It's pretty common in this galaxy and this time for revolutions to win and carry on indefinitely under monikers like The Revolutionary Party. See, for example, the PRI and PRD in Mexico or the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.
I enjoyed this episode, but I can't help but wonder if the writers cringed a bit while watching episode 3 of the current season of Rick and Morty, knowing that this episode was already wrapped and in the pipeline.
posted by 256 at 8:19 PM on December 14, 2019 [3 favorites]
I enjoyed this episode, but I can't help but wonder if the writers cringed a bit while watching episode 3 of the current season of Rick and Morty, knowing that this episode was already wrapped and in the pipeline.
posted by 256 at 8:19 PM on December 14, 2019 [3 favorites]
OK this episode was super fun. I've been on the fence about whether I liked this show or not but the writing really delivered here. Fun, snappy, lots of double cross. Lots of ridiculous character tropes. I loved the bit where the horned dude just picks up the levitating tank droid and throws it bodily into another tank droid. Take that, silly Star Wars tech! Also loved the ridiculous Twi'lek hissing lady, a throwback to the worst of the Star Trek Ferengi. Also a not-Cypher dude with double-wielding blasters who has a third blaster for a backpack? And a bug faced droid? More space adventures please!
My only slight complaint is that Mando needs a better agent. He sure has a bad track record picking contracts. Although what was with the aside to The Child at the end saying "I told you this was a bad idea?" Are we supposed to think the sweet little baby had this idea?
Bonus content: John Hodgman on The Mandalorian, from some public event yesterday. He defends The Mandalorian as fine middlebrow content, entertainment and enjoyment. Particularly interesting because he explicitly compares it to Hercules and Xena, a comparison I read here first on MeFi. He is Metafilter's own and I think reads us occasionally, perhaps we are part of the grist for his particular comedy mill.
posted by Nelson at 9:09 PM on December 14, 2019 [5 favorites]
My only slight complaint is that Mando needs a better agent. He sure has a bad track record picking contracts. Although what was with the aside to The Child at the end saying "I told you this was a bad idea?" Are we supposed to think the sweet little baby had this idea?
Bonus content: John Hodgman on The Mandalorian, from some public event yesterday. He defends The Mandalorian as fine middlebrow content, entertainment and enjoyment. Particularly interesting because he explicitly compares it to Hercules and Xena, a comparison I read here first on MeFi. He is Metafilter's own and I think reads us occasionally, perhaps we are part of the grist for his particular comedy mill.
posted by Nelson at 9:09 PM on December 14, 2019 [5 favorites]
My only slight complaint is that Mando needs a better agent. He sure has a bad track record picking contracts
He took back a "delivery" after getting paid for said delivery and killed his client, then killed a bunch of fellow Guild members. He's running away from the Guild, who I'm guessing are the main source of work for bounties, so I figure any paying job will do at this point.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:28 PM on December 14, 2019
He took back a "delivery" after getting paid for said delivery and killed his client, then killed a bunch of fellow Guild members. He's running away from the Guild, who I'm guessing are the main source of work for bounties, so I figure any paying job will do at this point.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:28 PM on December 14, 2019
I'm still bent out of shape about how many people call him "Mando"; it's the equivalent of being an Irishman and everyone calls you "Paddy" even though your name is Seamus O'Flynn.
posted by suelac at 11:07 PM on December 14, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by suelac at 11:07 PM on December 14, 2019 [6 favorites]
"OK this episode was super fun. I've been on the fence about whether I liked this show or not but the writing really delivered here. Fun, snappy, lots of double cross. Lots of ridiculous character tropes."
Yeah, I've been very disappointed with the show but this episode I thoroughly enjoyed. Where the other episodes were clunky and wooden, this was sharp and moved right along. The casting was perfect.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 1:00 AM on December 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I've been very disappointed with the show but this episode I thoroughly enjoyed. Where the other episodes were clunky and wooden, this was sharp and moved right along. The casting was perfect.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 1:00 AM on December 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
I half-expect that Mando will turn out to be his real name at this point.
posted by Zonker at 6:45 AM on December 15, 2019
posted by Zonker at 6:45 AM on December 15, 2019
> I'm still bent out of shape about how many people call him "Mando"; it's the equivalent of being an Irishman and everyone calls you "Paddy" even though your name is Seamus O'Flynn.
I was thinking about this in terms of the 70s/80s roaming gunfighter kind of dramas. Overlap that with the gangster cliches, and of course you're going to have the one Mandalorian called Mando by everyone else. Honestly it also works for Mando, because change his helmet, or take off his helmet, and he's no longer Mando the bounty hunter gone rogue. This also makes sense that he *wouldn't* do such a thing, since that is a sign of cowardice (hence the "has anyone seen you without your helmet" questioning in an earlier episode).
His character is always in a mask, always hidden, in many ways it lets us fill in the gap. It also lets others imaginations take over if they don't actually know what he's like under his helmet. I can see why the tradition of wearing the helmet at all times around others has stuck around for the Mandalorians. There is even a rotating cast of characters playing the Mandalorian, up to four body doubles have been used while filming the show.
posted by mrzarquon at 7:38 AM on December 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
I was thinking about this in terms of the 70s/80s roaming gunfighter kind of dramas. Overlap that with the gangster cliches, and of course you're going to have the one Mandalorian called Mando by everyone else. Honestly it also works for Mando, because change his helmet, or take off his helmet, and he's no longer Mando the bounty hunter gone rogue. This also makes sense that he *wouldn't* do such a thing, since that is a sign of cowardice (hence the "has anyone seen you without your helmet" questioning in an earlier episode).
His character is always in a mask, always hidden, in many ways it lets us fill in the gap. It also lets others imaginations take over if they don't actually know what he's like under his helmet. I can see why the tradition of wearing the helmet at all times around others has stuck around for the Mandalorians. There is even a rotating cast of characters playing the Mandalorian, up to four body doubles have been used while filming the show.
posted by mrzarquon at 7:38 AM on December 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
I'm finding the multiple body doubles really distracting. At least in this episode Mando sure seems to move differently than in previous episodes. Much smoother, more balletic.
I meant to say this up above, but part of what made this episode fun is it had characters! With faces! And goofy backstories and personalities! I'm really feeling claustrophobic inside Mando's helmet. I liked the other characters even made a joke of it, how boring he is to never remove his bucket.
posted by Nelson at 7:45 AM on December 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
I meant to say this up above, but part of what made this episode fun is it had characters! With faces! And goofy backstories and personalities! I'm really feeling claustrophobic inside Mando's helmet. I liked the other characters even made a joke of it, how boring he is to never remove his bucket.
posted by Nelson at 7:45 AM on December 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
I like that the helmet never comes off. The subtle tilts of the helmet.
I hate when they make the actors take off their characters' helmets or masks to do acting.
posted by yonega at 8:05 AM on December 15, 2019 [5 favorites]
I hate when they make the actors take off their characters' helmets or masks to do acting.
posted by yonega at 8:05 AM on December 15, 2019 [5 favorites]
How does he eat? Is there a slot or slurped through a straw under the chin strap... does he eat... secretly a droid?
posted by sammyo at 9:22 AM on December 15, 2019
posted by sammyo at 9:22 AM on December 15, 2019
How does he eat? Is there a slot or slurped through a straw under the chin strap... does he eat... secretly a droid?
It's covered in the episode two weeks ago on the Krill farm: he takes it off normally to bathe and eat, but never in the presence of another being.
posted by codacorolla at 9:23 AM on December 15, 2019 [4 favorites]
It's covered in the episode two weeks ago on the Krill farm: he takes it off normally to bathe and eat, but never in the presence of another being.
posted by codacorolla at 9:23 AM on December 15, 2019 [4 favorites]
I'm enjoying the series, but the dialogue often feels like a rough draft.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:12 PM on December 15, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:12 PM on December 15, 2019 [3 favorites]
I will say that I quite enjoyed Bill Burr just being Bill Burr in the Star Wars universe. I'm glad they didn't kill him off and I'm really hoping that we see both him and Amy Sedaris again.
Also, Pedro Pascal must be collecting one of the easiest paycheques in the history of acting. Getting that Disney money with no hair and makeup, speaking about 20 words an episode (mostly in an emotionless monotone), and it's not even him in the suit most of the time.
posted by 256 at 12:44 PM on December 15, 2019 [4 favorites]
Also, Pedro Pascal must be collecting one of the easiest paycheques in the history of acting. Getting that Disney money with no hair and makeup, speaking about 20 words an episode (mostly in an emotionless monotone), and it's not even him in the suit most of the time.
posted by 256 at 12:44 PM on December 15, 2019 [4 favorites]
I'm almost thinking that the metal knob/ ball is the Chekhov’s weapon - The Child using force powers to turn it into a missile.
Does the kid get a first kill before the end of the season?
I'm ok with the dialogue - this is maybe trying to evoke (much) older, simpler, tropes rather than trying to pull a Deadwood or something.
Like, this is fun and simple and satisfying like fast food - but the ingredients are first grade, instead. If someone throws this much money at an intellectual take on SW, I'll probably be the first to sign up.
Nice display of athleticism by Pedro Pascal in the fight scenes.
The mini anti-bullying message worked well?
lol the pilot droid flipping off Mando.
posted by porpoise at 5:29 PM on December 15, 2019
Does the kid get a first kill before the end of the season?
I'm ok with the dialogue - this is maybe trying to evoke (much) older, simpler, tropes rather than trying to pull a Deadwood or something.
Like, this is fun and simple and satisfying like fast food - but the ingredients are first grade, instead. If someone throws this much money at an intellectual take on SW, I'll probably be the first to sign up.
Nice display of athleticism by Pedro Pascal in the fight scenes.
The mini anti-bullying message worked well?
lol the pilot droid flipping off Mando.
posted by porpoise at 5:29 PM on December 15, 2019
huh. apparently Pascal wasn't playing mando at all for an entire episode (Sanctuary) , because he was off doing rehearsals for Lear on Broadway.
posted by lazaruslong at 6:26 AM on December 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by lazaruslong at 6:26 AM on December 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
I was enjoying this series in the first episodes but each episode seems to have less and less point as far an overall direction. Maybe the show doesn't have a direction? It's just Mando getting suckered each episode while demonstrating poor caretaking skills with fan-service references thrown in to keep us watching?
posted by kokaku at 8:21 AM on December 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by kokaku at 8:21 AM on December 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Guess I’m in the minority but this episode felt like the weakest yet. Like kokaku I feel like it’s losing direction. That kind of sneaking around corridors thing gets old so quickly, especially when the droids are made of tinfoil. The prison cell escape was the only creative element to me. Maybe knowing those actors from other contexts added a lot more?
posted by mrcrow at 11:46 AM on December 16, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by mrcrow at 11:46 AM on December 16, 2019 [6 favorites]
Guess I’m in the minority but this episode felt like the weakest yet. Like kokaku I feel like it’s losing direction. That kind of sneaking around corridors thing gets old so quickly, especially when the droids are made of tinfoil. The prison cell escape was the only creative element to me. Maybe knowing those actors from other contexts added a lot more?
Yeah, it was entertaining, but I'm finding it hard to get excited about episodes. If this was a 20 episode Farscape season it would make a lot more sense, but altogether the Starwars universe and famous cameos just aren't enough of a hook for me. All of these plots feel very by the books and unsurprising, just reskinned with SW references.
posted by codacorolla at 12:41 PM on December 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Yeah, it was entertaining, but I'm finding it hard to get excited about episodes. If this was a 20 episode Farscape season it would make a lot more sense, but altogether the Starwars universe and famous cameos just aren't enough of a hook for me. All of these plots feel very by the books and unsurprising, just reskinned with SW references.
posted by codacorolla at 12:41 PM on December 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
It's become almost a spiritual adaptation of the old Expanded Universe tie-in, Tales of the Bounty Hunters. Which I am absolutely down for, but is not really what we were led to expect from the introduction.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:07 PM on December 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:07 PM on December 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
Yeah I thought this was weak. Super predictable. Oh look a cast of aggressively hostile criminals! Will they double-cross him?!? Who can tell? Also, please get a car seat dude.
posted by bq at 1:12 PM on December 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by bq at 1:12 PM on December 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
don't care baby yoda and occasionally gina carano hurting people
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 1:21 PM on December 16, 2019 [19 favorites]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 1:21 PM on December 16, 2019 [19 favorites]
Well I didn’t say I wasn’t going to watch it. I’m just going to bitch about it. Isn’t this like the third episode in a row where BY hits the floor? This poor kid is going to end up with a concussion.
posted by bq at 2:36 PM on December 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by bq at 2:36 PM on December 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Our family really liked this one. We didn't see the end coming, and it was a nice surprise. We could have done without Space Harley Quinn. It was like being back at uni watching somebody play Vampire: The Masquerade really badly.
posted by some little punk in a rocket at 3:28 PM on December 16, 2019 [9 favorites]
posted by some little punk in a rocket at 3:28 PM on December 16, 2019 [9 favorites]
Fun trivia: The Twi'lek prisoner in this episode was played by actor Ismael Crúz Cordova, who also appeared for a couple of seasons on Sesame Street as Armando, aka "Mando," which isn't confusing at all. He even got to sing a song* about his character's name: What Rhymes With Mando?
*EDIT: Which I see now was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda!
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:22 AM on December 17, 2019 [13 favorites]
*EDIT: Which I see now was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda!
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:22 AM on December 17, 2019 [13 favorites]
The Mirandalorian?
posted by kokaku at 1:15 PM on December 17, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by kokaku at 1:15 PM on December 17, 2019 [5 favorites]
Im sorry but Bill Burr’s accent in star wars implies some sort of space Boston
posted by Etrigan at 1:16 PM on December 17, 2019 [10 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 1:16 PM on December 17, 2019 [10 favorites]
All of these plots feel very by the books and unsurprising, just reskinned with SW references.
On the contrary, I've been complaining that most of the previous episodes failed to follow the very straightforward by-the-book recipes of their genre models, the sorts of things you learn in screenwriting 101. This was the first one that managed to actually stick to the script and deliver a perfectly fine piece of B-grade entertainment, the sort of forgettable, mid-season episode you would expect from a middling show from the pre-golden-era. Competent B-grade plotting with Star Wars looks is all I ask!
posted by chortly at 8:40 PM on December 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
On the contrary, I've been complaining that most of the previous episodes failed to follow the very straightforward by-the-book recipes of their genre models, the sorts of things you learn in screenwriting 101. This was the first one that managed to actually stick to the script and deliver a perfectly fine piece of B-grade entertainment, the sort of forgettable, mid-season episode you would expect from a middling show from the pre-golden-era. Competent B-grade plotting with Star Wars looks is all I ask!
posted by chortly at 8:40 PM on December 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
On the contrary, I've been complaining that most of the previous episodes failed to follow the very straightforward by-the-book recipes of their genre models, the sorts of things you learn in screenwriting 101.
What? I'm not sure about you, but I've been able to call pretty much every twist, betrayal, and plot point before it happens. This isn't like me bragging - anyone who's ever seen any sort of action-based movie before should be able to. Whether or not it sticks to some formula... well, who cares? The point is that the plots are generally boring and have zero surprises in them.
posted by codacorolla at 7:52 AM on December 18, 2019
What? I'm not sure about you, but I've been able to call pretty much every twist, betrayal, and plot point before it happens. This isn't like me bragging - anyone who's ever seen any sort of action-based movie before should be able to. Whether or not it sticks to some formula... well, who cares? The point is that the plots are generally boring and have zero surprises in them.
posted by codacorolla at 7:52 AM on December 18, 2019
I've been able to call pretty much every twist, betrayal, and plot point before it happens.
I feel as though that's part of what makes it comfort food, though. It's like watching a Golden Girls and knowing exactly what Dorothy's comeback is going to be to an obvious setup, but laughing anyway.
posted by condour75 at 3:51 PM on December 18, 2019 [3 favorites]
I feel as though that's part of what makes it comfort food, though. It's like watching a Golden Girls and knowing exactly what Dorothy's comeback is going to be to an obvious setup, but laughing anyway.
posted by condour75 at 3:51 PM on December 18, 2019 [3 favorites]
Plus... it is a show for kids. Most of them won't have seen all the movies and TV shows that we have.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:41 PM on December 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:41 PM on December 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
I've watched stuff I'd describe as 'comfort food' and that has been aimed primarly at children that still managed to be written well. You can deal in common storylines and ideas and still write in a way that's fresh to the audience.
posted by codacorolla at 6:08 PM on December 18, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 6:08 PM on December 18, 2019 [3 favorites]
if anyone has ever wanted werner herzog or carl weathers emoji / messaging stickers, your wishes have been granted
posted by entropicamericana at 3:31 PM on December 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 3:31 PM on December 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
Plus... it is a show for kids
It’s a show for 50-year-old kids like Baby Yoda ... and me.
posted by chavenet at 3:42 PM on December 29, 2019 [9 favorites]
It’s a show for 50-year-old kids like Baby Yoda ... and me.
posted by chavenet at 3:42 PM on December 29, 2019 [9 favorites]
This one half-hour episode manages to do the whole "Star Wars heist movie" thing better than Solo did
No argument here, just a note that this ep is 43 minutes long. Ep 5 was 35 minutes. [This is good.]
I'm going back to watch this episode again with full awareness of its intrusion into the Ayoadeverse. For a supposedly quick-witted Droid it sure takes him long enough to shut the heck up after comms go down with the team.
Speaking of, what caused the lapse in communications? Baby Yoda, is that you?
posted by carsonb at 9:27 PM on January 10, 2020
No argument here, just a note that this ep is 43 minutes long. Ep 5 was 35 minutes. [This is good.]
I'm going back to watch this episode again with full awareness of its intrusion into the Ayoadeverse. For a supposedly quick-witted Droid it sure takes him long enough to shut the heck up after comms go down with the team.
Speaking of, what caused the lapse in communications? Baby Yoda, is that you?
posted by carsonb at 9:27 PM on January 10, 2020
I believe the comms was them patching into the Republics ship, part of them needing Mandos ship is it had no affiliation associated with it, so could be somewhat stealthy. Once Mando got control of the bridge he cut their access to the ships system that was providing comms (and motion tracking, cameras, etc)
posted by mrzarquon at 10:17 PM on January 10, 2020
posted by mrzarquon at 10:17 PM on January 10, 2020
Baby Yoda's face when for a moment they thought they had blown a hole in the droid with The Force, was all "did I do that, woooahh" and then mild disappointment when it turned out to be SpaceDad, so cute!
That reminded me of Volkswagen's Kid Darth Vader Super Bowl commercial.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:31 PM on January 14, 2020
That reminded me of Volkswagen's Kid Darth Vader Super Bowl commercial.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:31 PM on January 14, 2020
Got some strong Doctor Who vibes from all of the "running down the same corridor repeatedly" scenes in this one.
posted by schmod at 8:11 PM on March 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by schmod at 8:11 PM on March 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
The series took an abrupt turn here from Magnificent Seven to Furious 7.
posted by mbrubeck at 12:29 PM on July 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by mbrubeck at 12:29 PM on July 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
Just watching through this now. I actually kind of like the episodic nature; makes me feel a little less like it’s a big project to watch.
That having been said I also like reading through comments here and “watching” along with y’all even though I am way late; and the “next episode” button here jumps all the way to the next season! Argh. Were the last two episodes this season just so bad y’all didn’t even want to talk about it? (I don’t think so, just watched #7 and I went looking for the thread).
posted by nat at 10:13 AM on February 10, 2021
That having been said I also like reading through comments here and “watching” along with y’all even though I am way late; and the “next episode” button here jumps all the way to the next season! Argh. Were the last two episodes this season just so bad y’all didn’t even want to talk about it? (I don’t think so, just watched #7 and I went looking for the thread).
posted by nat at 10:13 AM on February 10, 2021
That’s weird, I definitely remember there being threads for those two episodes, but they don’t show up on the list of threads for this series. Maybe a mod can figure out what’s up?
posted by skewed at 11:26 AM on February 10, 2021
posted by skewed at 11:26 AM on February 10, 2021
It appears those two episodes were posted by a user who later deleted their account and all their posts.
posted by mbrubeck at 8:03 PM on February 10, 2021
posted by mbrubeck at 8:03 PM on February 10, 2021
Huh. It's a little annoying that takes the comments with. I'd prefer the text of the post being deleted and other people's comments being left intact. People removing their own information is one thing, and probably good, but they shouldn't be allowed to delete other people's.
posted by tavella at 8:41 PM on February 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by tavella at 8:41 PM on February 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
The threads still exist, I found links to them. I don't really understand what the rules are here... Are we supposed to pretend they don't exist? Is it okay to share the link?
posted by skewed at 6:12 AM on February 11, 2021
posted by skewed at 6:12 AM on February 11, 2021
Hi, this is a known issue but unfortunately it's going to take a little time to resolve. In the meantime, it's ok to share the links.
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:50 AM on February 11, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:50 AM on February 11, 2021 [1 favorite]
Thanks, LobsterMitten. I'm hoping it's okay to share these in-thread, and that they can be anonymized and undeleted at some point:
Chapter 7: The Reckoning
Chapter 8: Redemption
posted by mbrubeck at 8:21 AM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]
Chapter 7: The Reckoning
Chapter 8: Redemption
posted by mbrubeck at 8:21 AM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]
I was shouting "Droids' rights NOW!" at the screen a lot.
posted by kyrademon at 2:21 PM on March 9, 2021
posted by kyrademon at 2:21 PM on March 9, 2021
a user who later deleted their account and all their posts.
Totally off-topic, but: You can delete your posts?
posted by Saxon Kane at 1:50 PM on March 20, 2023
Totally off-topic, but: You can delete your posts?
posted by Saxon Kane at 1:50 PM on March 20, 2023
Mod note: A user may request an account wipe or to delete a post, via the Contact Us form. If anyone has further questions about this, free free to contact or take it to MetaTalk, thanks!
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 6:15 AM on March 21, 2023
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 6:15 AM on March 21, 2023
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Gotta say, the budget on this show is unbelievable.
posted by adrianhon at 5:44 AM on December 13, 2019 [5 favorites]