The Mandalorian is now available on Disney+ and
it's so far receiving rave reviews. Unfortunately, with the streaming service available in only a handful of countries, we appreciate that some of you guys may not get to watch the show for, well, months! It's a shame that Disney didn't figure out a global launch but complicated licensing issues are, well, complicated.
However, we now have an in-depth breakdown for you which delves into all the biggest moments and spoilers in the opening episodes, including a jaw-dropping, game-changing ending!
Whether you've been unable to watch The Mandalorian or simply need a refresher after checking out the premiere, you'll find everything you need to know here about how things play out.
So, to check out this breakdown of the opening episode, simply hit the "View List" button!
The Mandalorian Always Gets His Man
The episode kicks off with a pint-sized alien seemingly being bullied by a couple of bar flies before the Mandalorian dispatches of them both with ease (and surprisingly violently). However, he's not doing it out of the goodness of his heart; instead, that alien is a bounty and he wastes no time in marching him back to his ship.
That involves a perilous journey across ice and a daring escape from a massive monster and when they do reach space, the aforementioned alien quickly learns that this Mandalorian isn't exactly a talker. As he heads down to the cargo area hoping to escape, he comes across other bounties frozen in Carbonite and the title character wastes no time doing the same to him!
Clearly, he's not someone who is going to shy away from doing what it takes to get his bounty!
Times Are Hard In The Galaxy
When the Mandalorian arrives to collect his money for a job well done, we quickly learn that the fall of the Empire hasn't exactly benefited the poorer citizens of this Galaxy Far, Far Away.
After refusing to accept Imperial credits ("I don't know if you heard but the Empire is gone," the Mandalorian notes), the bounty hunter is forced to take just half of what he's owed and it seems money is tight, hence why people no longer want to pay what those in the Bounty Hunters' Guild demand.
The Rebellion may have won the war but that clearly wasn't an instant fix for the Galaxy.
The Remnants Of The Empire
As the Mandalorian meets with his newest client (Werner Herzog), we get to see what appears to be at least some of the remnants of the Empire. Battered looking Stormtroopers protect this mysterious benefactor, while he's joined by a scientist who tasks the bounty hunter to retrieve a mysterious being. All they will reveal is that they're fifty years old.
While Herzog's character would be happy if it's returned to them dead, the scientist is anxious to study the creature and there's clearly more going on here than initially meets the eye.
What that is we can't say right now but it seems those who once called the Empire home may be looking to regain at least some of the power they once had and it's entirely possible this will tie into the eventual formation of The First Order depending how much the show chooses to delve into this sinister duo's motivations moving forward.
A Mysterious Meeting
The Mandalorian heads back to a base of some sort full of his people (all wearing masks). He then meets with a women - decked out in armour - who asks if his signet has been revealed before melting his payment from the client and using it to forge him a new piece of armour. She adds that the remnants will be used to sponsor "foundlings."
It appears that's a different word for orphans and while little else is revealed about her, it definitely feels like she could be the leader of this particular clan. What their purpose is remains to be seen but chances are they're looking to restore their people to their former might before the Empire tore their planet apart (something we saw quite a bit of in
Star Wars Rebels).
The Mandalorian's Past
Perhaps the most intriguing part of this sequence comes when the Mandalorian mentions that he too was once a "foundling," something which prompts a number of brief flashbacks.
He's shown as a young boy being hidden by his parents as they come under attack from an unknown source and this seemingly confirms that he's not Boba Fett. For starters, this kid is considerably younger than Boba was when his father was killed by Mace Windu and while there could be some sort of connection, it seems highly unlikely unless he's Boba's grandson.
The trailers have shown the Super Battle Droids who wiped out his family, so even that last theory probably doesn't fit and it seems we are indeed looking at an original character here.
Some Unexpected Allies
As he sets off on that mission for the client, the Mandalorian crosses paths with Kuiil (Nick Nolte), a moisture farmer who helps get him where he needs to go because he's sick of the negative impact the presence of those mercenaries are having on him home. This feels very much like a one-off appearance but he's a fun character, so we'll hopefully get to see more of him moving forward.
The Mandalorian is exasperated to see that a bounty droid - IG-11 - has beaten him to his target but the two end up working together nicely as they're both members of the Guild.
Voiced by Taika Waititi, IG-11 is an absolute badass who reels off shot after shot, taking down pretty much everyone who gets in his way. The director/actor plays him straight, though, and while he does have comedic moments in this sequence, by no means is the droid a carbon copy of Korg!
Jaw-Dropping Action
As we mentioned in
our spoiler-free review of the premiere, The Mandalorian delivers some stellar action scenes and the gunfight pitting the title character and IG-11 against dozens of mercenaries is phenomenal. It's tense, exciting, and beautifully choreographed as the two bounty hunters take down their does with incredible skill and the humorous threat of IG-11 self-destruct mode.
The action is top-notch throughout this entire episode and if that's a sign of things to come, we can clearly expect the Disney+ series to deliver a lot of memorable battles and unmissable moments.
A Shocking Reveal
With the mercenaries dealt with, the only life sign in their camp is coming from a small containment unit. The Mandalorian opens it and inside is a baby...the same species as Jedi Master Yoda!
There's nothing to say they're related, of course, but why would the Empire want this creature alive or dead? We don't know but when the Mandalorian shares his confusion about the baby being fifty years old, IG-11 helpfully points out that certain species age at a different rate (which makes perfect sense considering the fact Yoda was hundreds of years old).
IG-11 draws his gun to kill the creature and it's then that another huge shock comes our way.
Goodbye, IG-11
IG-11 drops to the floor, dead. The Mandalorian has blasted a hole in his head and as he stands over the baby, it's clear he's going to try and protect it...or at least not kill the poor little thing.
We don't really know much about Yoda's people but if they're all strong in the Force, it's safe to assume that the remnants of the Empire wanting to get their hands on him could have sinister implications moving forward. Lucasfilm didn't share screeners for
The Mandalorian with critics before it aired and both this and that creature reveal is probably why!
What Comes Next?
That's the big question. The episode ends with the Mandalorian standing over this baby "Yoda" and his mission might have just changed in a major way. It's clear now that the show is going to take us in some very unexpected directions and this premiere doesn't hold back in terms of surprises.
Many fans believe that The Mandalorian will tie into The Rise of Skywalker, so perhaps this creature will return there or in one of the movies being planned once the "Skywalker Saga" concludes.
What did you guys think of The Mandalorian premiere? Are you excited to see where things go next? As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts on that in the comments section below!