Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: The Mandalorian

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 14 Primer

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 14 Primer

    In the latest episode of The Mandalorian Chapter 13, “The Jedi”, a lot of exciting stuff happened. The Child got a name, which I think we all love. I have been waiting for him to get a name for a while now and I was expecting something closer to Yoda, but Grogu is pretty cute, too. We got Ahsoka! Her first live-action appearance happened in the first few moments of the episode; she was so awesome and powerful and it felt pretty cool to see an awesome female Jedi character in the show. We also learned that beskar, which is the material Mando’s armor is made out of, can’t be cut with lightsabers. Ashoka gets a beskar spear which she gives to the Mandalorian. Ashoka says she won’t train Grogu, she sends them off to an old Jedi temple on the planet Tython to let Grogu choose his own path.

     

    There are only three episodes left and there are a lot of things that have been set in motion along the way in Season 2, but the question is how many of them are going to be resolved before the end of the season. Some of the things that could possibly get resolved before the end of the season are:

    • Boba Fett is alive!
    • Bo-Katan is after Moff Gideon
    • Moff Gideon has created Dark Troopers and is tracking Mando to get Grogu’s blood
    • Grogu has to contact other Jedi and determine his future.

    Any of those things could be followed up on in the next few episodes or they could become arcs in other Disney Plus Star Wars streaming series or in Season 3 of The Mandalorian.

    Arlyn’s Assumptions

    We can all agree that every time that the Mando tries to make it somewhere, there is a bump in the road. So I think this week’s bump in the road is going to be that Moff Gideon will find the Mando and the two will face off in a brutal battle for Grogu! We have learned that the beskar spear can’t be cut by lightsabers, but maybe the Darksaber can break it. If this happens and Mando gets defeated, Gideon can steal Grogu, changing the game and putting Din Djarin back in the position of hunter instead of hunted!

    The Mandalorian Chapter 14 streams tomorrow!

     

  • ‘STAR WARS’: How Pierce Brosnan Became a Fancasting Favorite for Thrawn

    ‘STAR WARS’: How Pierce Brosnan Became a Fancasting Favorite for Thrawn

    Besides introducing Ahsoka to a Star wars live-action project, Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian made way for yet another character to emerge from a Star Wars animated series. It was revealed that Anakin Skywalker’s former Jedi Padawan is searching for Grand Admiral Thrawn, most likely because finding him might help her get to her missing Jedi friend Ezra Bridger. So being, this seems to indicate that, even though it probably won’t be on The Mandalorian, Thrawn is now also set to make a transition to live-action.

    Ever since the character first appeared on Star Wars Rebels, there have been several ideas on who should play the part, should it ever make its way to a non-animated project. British actors were pretty much on the forefront, as most of the Imperial Officers we’ve gotten so far in Star Wars movies have had that common characteristic, going back to Peter Cushing in the ’70s. Benedict Cumberbatch (who played the similarly stoic Khan in the Star Trek franchise), Jason Isaacs, and Hugo Weaving were amongst the names that surfaced as being popular choices for the role.

    In April 2019 another name managed to gain traction amongst fans, mostly due to the mural unveiled at Star Wars Celebration Chicago. The massive mural portrayed the entire saga, as well as the rest of the more prominent projects in the Star Wars Universe (Rogue One, Solo, The Clone Wars, and Star Wars Rebels). An interesting feature of the said mural was that all the animated characters were depicted as photorealistic figures, and not as their animated counterparts. In the Rebels section, taking his place alongside Kanan Jarrus, Hera Syndulla, and the aforementioned Ezra Bridger was Grand Admiral Thrawn, and his resemblance to actor Pierce Brosnan was uncanny.

    This led many to believe that Brosnan could have turned out to not only but the frontrunner for the part but he could actually already have signed onto some Star Wars project, even though there was none in sight. But now, with what we’ve witnessed on The Mandalorian, an Ahsoka-centered live-action show could be it. But does Brosnan really fit the role?

    If we take into consideration the voice talent chosen to impersonate the part on Star Wars Rebels: Not really. Thrawn is an Imperial Officer, but he isn’t your usual one. Him being a Chiss and not a human, Rebels didn’t go the British route and cast Lars Mikkelsen, a Scandinavian actor in the role, with a somewhat Scandinavian accent. Lucasfilm took great care in getting Ahsoka Tano’s voice to translate into live-action almost seamlessly so it would make sense for them to do the same when it came to Thrawn’s. Most actors are obviously capable of doing their job in many accents, so this obviously isn’t a deal-breaker, even though it isn’t how past choices have been made.

    Regarding his appearance, there is no doubt Brosnan could look the part. But the former 007 would definitively be more on the older side of what the character requires. The last couple of seasons of Star Wars Rebels, where Thrawn’s age would have been something between his early 40s and early 50s, are set roughly ten years before the events of The Mandalorian. This would mean that if we encounter Thrawn after the Ahsoka episode, he could be between his early 50s and early 60s. Pierce Brosnan is currently 67 years old. With at least a year before we would see him in the actual role, he would be almost ten years older than the oldest Thrawn could realistically be. We are obviously talking about an alien that doesn’t need to age at the rate humans do, and the role isn’t exceptionally physical, so even though Lucasfilm is probably looking for someone younger, this shouldn’t immediately put him out of contention.

    All things considered, I wouldn’t put my money on the Brosnan casting. Even though he would certainly be capable of playing someone with Thrawn’s demeanor, it’s fair to think that casting someone younger would open a few more storyline possibilities for the character. The mural is obviously a fun thing to examine, but given that Thrawn is a blue alien with red eyes, the makeup alone needed for the role is bound to make it easy for almost anyone to end up with the right look. There should be little doubt the artist used Brosnan as inspiration, but it’s certainly a stretch to think Disney would leak information that way. Ahsoka Tano herself is also pictured on the mural and she doesn’t look at all like Rosario Dawson. And since both characters are connected in the way Lucasfilm has decided to introduce both to live-action, their development should have come at a similar time, giving yet another reason not to think too much of Thrawn’s portrait.

     

     

  • Star Wars’ ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Who is Grand Admiral Thrawn?

    Star Wars’ ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Who is Grand Admiral Thrawn?

    Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian gave us the first live-action Ahsoka Tano as well as the first time Grand Admiral Thrawn was referenced to in a live-action Star Wars project. But who is Thrawn and why is Ahsoka searching for him?

    Mitth’raw’nuruodo, better known by his core name, Thrawn, is a Chiss, a species renowned for their blue skin that comes from the planet Csilla in the Unknown Regions. He is a brilliant and ruthless strategist that believed that one should get to know their enemy profoundly to be able to predict every move they make in battle. He understood that every single aspect of a certain culture, from music to architecture, from its values to its traditions, is what would ultimately define one’s modus operandi on the battlefield.

    During the Clone Wars, he traveled the galaxy learning everything he could about several races (including the Mandalorians and the Twi’leks), ending up crossing paths with Anakin Skywalker himself.

    Once the Empire rose to power, he understood that it would be in his interest to swear fealty to the Emperor by assimilating himself into galactic society. He did so by graduating from the Royal Imperial Academy on Coruscant and then rising through the ranks fairly quickly, mostly due to his impeccable performances in battle as well as some shady maneuvers behind the scenes.

    Some time later, when the rebels of Lothal became increasingly effective in their fight against the Imperial forces that had tried to establish themselves on the planet, he was called to help tear down the advances of said rebellion. This is where he came in contact with the crew of the Ghost. Their final confrontation at the end of Star Wars Rebels (set before the events of A New Hope) ended with both him and Jedi Ezra Bridger being dragged into hyperspace by the Purrgil (whale-like creatures with the natural ability to fly through hyperspace) being lost somewhere in the Unknown Regions never to be seen again.

    After the Battle of Endor, where the second Death Star was destroyed and the Empire was defeated, Ahsoka made it her mission to find her missing Jedi friend. And she seems to acknowledge that if she manages to find Thrawn, Ezra should be close by.

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Grogu’s Force Quest Could Redefine the Jedi

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Grogu’s Force Quest Could Redefine the Jedi

    Almost all of the buzz around Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian was understandably centered on the spectacular live-action debut of Ahsoka Tano with the name of The Child and his heartbreaking backstory taking a distant second place. As interesting as the reveal of Grogu’s (dude, it is so hard to convince myself to type that) past as a Jedi Youngling was and as many questions as it generates, it’s the path he’s been set on to determine his future that I’ve found fascinating. In what’s become modus operandi for this series, Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka casually laid out the plans for the next episode or two:

    Go to the planet Tython. There you will find the ancient ruins of a temple that has a strong connection to the Force. Place Grogu on the seeing stone at the top of the mountain…If he reaches out through the Force, there’s a chance a Jedi may sense his presence and come searching for him. 

    And with that, Din and Grogu are onto the next part of their journey, a journey that has successfully followed a simple, straight-forward and repetitive beat for 1.5 seasons now. Each new stop seems to deepen and enrich the story and relationship of the Mando and The Child as it expands on the already massive mythological tapestry of Star Wars and, lately, that’s meant drawing from more than just previous live-action films and, in some cases, cracking open the “Legends” treasure chest.

    The Mandalorian: Rosario Dawson Comments Following Ahsoka Tano's Debut

    If you’re new to Star Wars and unsure about the “Legends” label, have no fear. For a long, long time, all of Star Wars was made up of 3 films and a Holiday Special. Over the years, the Star Wars universe grew unofficially through novels, comics and video games in what was known as the Star Wars Extended Universe (EU). In 2012 when Lucasfilm was purchased by Disney, Disney inherited all of George Lucas’s “canonical” work plus a whole mess of “non-canonical” stuff in the EU. In an apparent effort to streamline what was and was was not “canon”, Disney labeled the EU stuff as Legends material and the films, Holiday Special, Ewok Adventures, The Clone Wars (and maybe some other stuff) as Canon. This schism was pretty painful to a lot of folks as great characters with incredible stories such as Thrawn, Jacen and Jaina Solo, Mara Jade and more “didn’t count” now. Since that time, however, some characters and locations from the EU/Legends have made their way into modern Canon. Season 1 of The Mandalorian introduced Death Troopers to Canon and then we got Dark Troopers in Chapter 12. Grand Admiral Thrawn was a major player in Star Wars Rebels and was named dropped by Ahsoka in Chapter 13. And finally and most relevant to Grogu’s growth, the Deep Core planet of Tython has made the jump as well.

    Originally introduced in 2013 in a short story in Star Wars Insider 141, Tython actually made the jump from Legends to Canon in 2019 when it appeared in Doctor Aphra #40 (yes, Star Wars comics written by Marvel Comics after the purchase of Lucasfilm by Disney are part of Canon). The issue presents very little information about the planet, but we do quickly learn it was once inhabited by Jedi and that the Force is incredibly strong there similar to Ach-To, the planet where Rey met Luke at the end of The Force Awakens. In this instance, the Canon depiction of Tython seems to share quite a bit in common with its more fleshed out Legends counterpart and, if that is the case, Din is taking Grogu not only to a location where he might choose his own destiny but, quite possibly, the place where the Force itself was first discovered.

    In Canon, Tython is thought to be one of five locations to have been home to the first Jedi temple; in Legends lore, Tython was home to the Je’daii Order, a precursor to the Jedi Order, and the very place where the Je’daii came to understand the true nature of the Force: the Light, the Dark and the balance of the two. Tython’s two moons, Ashla and Bogan, represented the duality of the Force as one shined brightly in the night sky while the other remained cloaked in darkness. As Je’daii grew in the Force, they would spend time on one moon or the other to help them remained balanced. Get a little too dark-sidey and you head to Ashla for some light; get a little too light-sidey and you go chill on Bogan in the shade. The planet was also home to nine temples, each of which was home to Je’daii masters teaching different skills to their pupils. Eventually and as is the way with all things Force-related, some people chose the Dark side, others chose the Light and, a war broke out. The Light-siders won and formed the new Jedi order.

    The planet itself was incredibly geographically diverse and at least some of the Legends design made into its appearance in Doctor Aphra. Should Dave Filoni be so inclined, he could use Grogu’s Force quest as an opportunity not only to develop the geography of the planet beyond what we saw in the comic book but also shine a light on the mysterious past of the Jedi order in a streaming series that is being watched by millions. In truth, only the hardest of hardcore Star Wars nerds know anything at all about the origins of the Jedi and the Sith and I’d wager only a small percentage of that already exclusive club could take folks to school on the ANCIENT history. I know I certainly couldn’t.

    The Mandalorian's Grogu: Baby Yoda's Real Name and Star Wars Origin Explained | Den of Geek

    Grogu’s journey to Tython can do more than help the one-time Youngling determine his future; it can serve as the first legitimate, live-action history lesson on the Force. Think about it, outside of “its an energy field that created by all living things”, what does the casual Star Wars fan (and there are a great many of those watching this series) truly know about the Force? As the curator of the great mythology that Lucas created, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Filoni take us all to school for part of an episode. Bust out your space macarons. We all want to know if Grogu is going to get in touch with Sebastian Stan Luke or Kylo Ren or someone we aren’t even expecting (Ezra Bridger ?), but maybe it’s what we don’t know that we want to know that will truly make these next 2-3 episodes as mind-blowing as they’ve been promised to be.

    Chapter 14 of The Mandalorian will begin streaming this Friday at 3:00 AM EST!

     

  • ‘The Mandalorian’: First Disney+ Show to Join Nielsen’s Top 10 Streaming List

    ‘The Mandalorian’: First Disney+ Show to Join Nielsen’s Top 10 Streaming List

    It’s been a big year for streaming services. As most people were stuck at home, they used the time to catch up on the latest shows by Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more. These services do not provide much insight into how their shows are doing, so we depend on external analysts to give us a feeling if our favorite show is popular or not. Well, according to Nielsen, it looks like Disney+ has finally been able to join the top ten, as The Mandalorian has taken the third spot right behind The Office and Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit. It is the first time a Disney+ series was able to join the list.

    The show was watched for over 1 billion minutes, which will only increase from here. Keep in mind this only accounts for the week of October 26th. So, it only takes into account the first season and the second season’s premiere episode. As such, it only counts the first nine episodes of the series’ run. Its performance wasn’t so far off from The Office, which consists of 192 episodes in total. As such, it does not include episodes that include the appearance of fan-favorite characters or the hype it built around Thanksgiving weekend.

    The Queen’s Gambit was also a massive success for Netflix, as it has managed to garner 1,850M viewed minutes since it released at the end of October. The rest of the list mostly consists of shows that are available via Netflix, such as Schitt’s Creek, Holidate, Grey’s Anatomy, and many more. It’ll be interesting to see if WandaVision will also join the list once it released in January.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ CHAPTER 13: Theories Galore

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ CHAPTER 13: Theories Galore

    Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian finally brought us a live-action Ahsoka Tano. There was an incredible amount of expectation regarding her debut not only because of how fans like the character but also, as we’ve stated before, due to her connections to several other characters and the resulting storytelling options. Even though this episode probably ended up raising more questions than the answers it gave us, it has allowed for several hypotheses about the show’s (and Ahsoka’s) future to begin creeping up, some that may deserve elaborating on.

     

    Bo-Katan will indeed return

    Of all the relevant characters introduced so far this season, Bo-Katan is the one whose path seems to be most interlinked with Mando’s. So being, a future encounter is still very much on the table, and Chapter 13 helped to solidify that idea.

    We learned that Ahsoka wasn’t really stationed on Corvus on a more permanent basis, and the fact that the heiress of the Mandalorian throne knew that she would be on there for just a few days makes us wonder if both of them are in constant contact. If that is so, it’s very much possible that if Ahsoka senses that Grogu is in any sort of peril she’ll call upon Bo-Katan and her group of fellow Mandalorians to show up and help out.

    Moff Gideon obviously plays a huge part in all of this, since he’s the likeliest reason as to why Grogu might find himself in danger. Also, since he is both chasing Grogu and being chased by Bo-Katan, they are bound to meet up one way or another. There is no way that her line “Your bravery will not be forgotten” in Chapter 11 doesn’t mean she will show up in a time Din really needs her to.

    Also, the spear Din is given by Ahsoka, that “belongs with a Mandalorian”, might end up being wielded by Bo-Katan as both she and Djarin take turns battling Gideon and his Darksaber.

     

    Ahsoka is off on her own journey

    It came as little surprise that Ahsoka wouldn’t be training Grogu. If she did that would mean that she would either have to become a series regular or that Grogu would leave the show, and none of those two choices seemed all that reasonable. Another reason is that Ahsoka seems to be on her own path. Her search for the location of Grand Admiral Thrawn has given her purpose and that is where her focus lies.

    The Mandalorian won’t show us what comes next for her in regards to Thrawn as that is too good a story not to overshadow Mando’s own journey. So being, be sure to expect an Ahsoka Tano series where we will continue to explore what really happened at the end of Star Wars Rebels, as the search for Thrawn and Ezra Bridger continues.

     

    ‘The Mandalorian’ is set before the ‘Star Wars Rebels’ epilogue

    Regarding the end of Star Wars Rebels, the exact timeline placement of its epilogue was always a bit murky. All we knew is that it was set after the events of Return of the Jedi, after the Empire had been defeated. There we saw an older Ahsoka returning to Lothal to pick up Sabine as they both set out to find Ezra. What The Mandalorian appears to show us is that, as the search for Ezra and the search for Thrawn are ultimately one and the same, Ahsoka seems to be trying to locate one so as to reach the other. She is then searching for Thrawn before seeking Sabine’s aid, later on, only reuniting with her after getting a better idea of where Ezra could be located, and the help needed to retrieve him safely.

     

    The Darksaber will cut through Beskar

    The show keeps both referencing Beskar’s abilities and bringing more of it into the fold. This time we got a spear of pure Beskar that is gifted to Din by Ahsoka since it “belongs with a Mandalorian”. This all fits with the conflict escalation theory after getting Moff Gideon’s Dark Troopers just last week. We’ve now learned how Beskar manages to hold back lightsaber strikes, but Gideon doesn’t have a conventional lightsaber. Since the Darksaber is not only of Mandalorian origin but the weapon of the ruler of the planet, it would make sense for it to be able to overcome Mandalorian armor, thus giving its wielder an edge over the rest of Mandalore. Having Din enter a fight with Gideon only to see the spear cut in half by a Darksaber blow will achieve several things: It will surprise both the audience and Din; It will up the stakes by putting Din in an unexpected tough situation; It will do all of this without compromising Din’s health since it’s the only piece of Beskar that isn’t attached to his body.

     

    Grogu will reach out through the Force but no Jedi will come. For now.

    After being instructed to go to the planet Tython, Grogu will try to establish a connection to whoever is listening so as to choose his path going forward. Even though Ahsoka stated that “there aren’t many Jedi left” we know that there are still quite a few out there. The show is preparing us for the chance of not having anyone answer Grogu’s calling, something that it will, later on, reveal not to be true. Without Ahsoka there to verbalize Grogu’s thoughts he won’t be able to know it for sure, and that will play a part in the twist down the line.

     

  • Murphy’s Law Podcast: Episode 72

    Murphy’s Law Podcast: Episode 72

    Yep, unfortunately the Charleses are still getting together for their weekly chat, recording it and then subjecting you all to it. This week they talk about the live-action debut of Ahsoka Tano, the naming of The Child, why Dave Filoni should ascend to the position of The One-Above-All at Lucasfilm and a couple of Marvel news beats. Have a listen below but beware it just encourages them!


     

    The Mandalorian s2e5: What Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka means to Star Wars fans - Polygon

  • ‘The Mandalorian’ (season 3)

    ‘The Mandalorian’ (season 3)

    Premiere: TBD 2023

    Following the massive success of the first two seasons, from which two spin-off series (Ahsoka and Rangers of the New Republic) initially emerged, season three of the hit Disney+ show was confirmed and is set to be released in late 2022/early 2023. Pedro Pascal, Giancarlo Esposito are both likely to be returning and given how Chapter 16 ended even Katee Sackhoff might reprise the role of Bo-Katan Kryze.

    It was reported that production began in September 2021, possibly hinting at a late 2022 release. Carl Weathers announced he was to return for season 3, with October 13 being his first day on set. The show would begin shooting without leading man Pedro Pascal, as in mid-October he was still being spotted on The Last of Us‘ set.

    While there might still be a possibility that the season might debut in late 2022, it is becoming increasingly likely that Din Djarin and Grogu will only make their return in early 2023. This was later confirmed at Star Wars Celebration 2022.

    A number of announcements regarding the show were made at Star Wars Celebration 2022. From the return of Katee Sackhoff‘s Bo-Katan and Episode IX’s Babu Frik, to director Rick Famuyiwa now being an executive producer on the series, and Bryce Dallas Howard returning to the director’s chair following her work on two episodes from the previous two seasons as well as a stint on The Book of Boba Fett.

    It was also confirmed that Jon Favreau was already working on the scripts for the fourth season of the series.

    Besides being listed as an executive producer on the show, director Rick Famuyiwa is set to direct a couple of episodes of season 3, as confirmed by star Carl Weathers in July 2020. Famuyiwa already directed Chapters 2 (‘The Child’), 6 (‘The Prisoner’), and 15 (‘The Believer’).

    Cast

    • Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin / The Mandalorian
    • Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon
    • Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan Kryze
    • Carl Weathers as Greef Karga
    • Emily Swallow as The Armorer
    • Amy Sedaris as Peli Motto
    • *Jim O’Heir in an unknown role

    (* indicates RUMORED additions to the cast)

    Promotional Material

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ CHAPTER 13: It truly is all about the journey

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ CHAPTER 13: It truly is all about the journey

    The previous twelve chapters of The Mandalorian have made several things clear. From the fact that no character seems to be off-limits (as long as the timeline fits) to how the storylines keep branching out over time. But one of the most obvious ones seems to be how it cherishes a slower pace when the story requires it. Being a TV show that, unlike the movies, has a greatly extended runtime, it makes the most of it in various ways, instead of just doubling-down on the usually fast-paced theatrical experience. We’ve already talked about how the show fights instant gratification, going into how even the most apparently innocuous episodes tend to introduce something of importance down the line. And now Chapter 13 all but spells out how the show’s endgame, one that everybody wanted to figure out right from the start, is being molded by all the twists and turns, the main and side-quests, the major and minor characters we’re meeting along the way.

    Din Djarin’s journey to bring The Child to someone who can care for him gets consistently sidetracked, and, more than that, it does seem to run into a lot of dead ends. One might argue that they could have easily bypassed many of the planets and characters along the way, making for a more streamlined route towards whatever is waiting for them at the end. But besides taking all the fun out of what everybody wants to be a series focusing on the fascinating possibilities the Star Wars universe has to offer, it would make the heart of the show devoid of any real meaning. To put it simply: Din’s constant effort to do what’s best for The Child and the Child’s appreciation and growing affection towards Din is both the path in which the story is finding ways to grow and the show’s endgame intertwined together.

     

     

    When Ahsoka mentions she cannot train The Child it can be something that is justified by her own journey trying to find Thrawn on her way to reaching her long-lost friend Ezra Bridger. But it is also because she understands how much Din Djarin and The Child have grown close to each other, a “strong attachment” as she puts it, and how that changes the way to deal with his future training. She makes it obvious that The Child’s future wouldn’t be the same without Din’s presence, and we’ve noticed how Djarin has grown since Chapter 1 to realize this is something that works both ways. It is at times like these that we are reminded of the quote often attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Life is a journey, not a destination.” And The Mandalorian is proving to be just that. It sort of parallels how raising a child sometimes is. Oftentimes you long for a time when you understand each other better when your relationship is a bit more complex, but it’s often in the small moments along the way that true happiness is found and built upon. The Mandalorian has also managed to build upon the small things, making for a more relatable storyline. So being, the adventures these characters have taken us on and the worlds they have taken us to have proven to be such a bright light in the troubled times we live in that no matter how it all ends, that’s what it will be remembered by. The journey itself. Good times!

  • Into the Jedi Lands: ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Finally Embraces its Samurai Roots

    Into the Jedi Lands: ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Finally Embraces its Samurai Roots

    The latest episode of The Mandalorian introduced its first Jedi character. Fans of The Clone Wars and Rebels were excited when Ahsoka Tano got teased for the season. It was a long wait, but finally, in this seasons’ fifth episode, she made her live-action debut. Her introduction strongly moved the recent episode’s structure closer to one of the two main inspirations behind the franchise. Star Wars’ is a love letter to classic Western and Japanese Samurai films. Up until this point, the latter was more subtle in its inspiration, but Chapter 13 has switched that up. Ahsoka’s debut pushed the series towards it closer to its samurai inspirations.

     

    There will be minor spoilers for the episode, so only continue at your own risk if you have yet to watch it.

     

    The series’ biggest Japanese inspirations were in the core concept. The journey of Din and the Child, who now has a name, echoes the story of Lone Wolf and Cub. Yet, the samurai aspect was never at the forefront, as it focused more on Mando’s skills with the blaster. This episode introduced a character that changed that. His search for a Jedi has come to an end. After meeting Ahsoka, he asks her to look after the foundling and teach him to control his abilities. Yet, she refuses his inquiry. Mando is forced to make another deal, so he could change her mind. So, together they faced Diana Lee Inosanto‘s Magistrate and Michael Biehn‘s Lang.

     

     

    The episode ends with two showdowns. Once again, Mando faces Lang in a blaster showdown. Ahsoka was in a fight against the Magistrate, who was elegantly wielding a Beskar steel staff. Their showdown took place on a single path surrounded by a beautiful Koi pond. It wasn’t about who can attack first but a ballad between two skilled warriors. Visually, it was a beautifully done fight. Earlier in the episode, we got the reveal that Beskar armor can withstand lightsabers, so it set the stage for a fair fight. It felt like the perfect balance between the Prequel’s elegant coordination and the Original trilogy’s methodical approach. As the article’s title implies, it felt like an episode of Into the Badlands had mixed with Star Wars and Akira Kurosawa‘s work.

    There were some gorgeous shots in this episode, and going by the artwork you can see above, I am glad they decided to go with the exterior outside of the home. The Koi pond was just a great touch to offer a unique visual strongly tied to its inspiration. It also helped to restrict it in a way that they could make every step have weight. They didn’t have an entire room to jump around. All they had was a single path surrounded by water. Yet, they still stayed true to the Western by having these two distinctive fights with different stakes. Switching between them just added more tension and weight to every swing of the saber. The outcome of that fight would echo for those waiting outside. Hopefully, we will see more lightsaber action in future episodes. It would be a waste to introduce Ahsoka and not have her return, especially if someone is out there wielding the Darksaber.