Now we’re getting somewhere! After a slow start to season three (with some pretty great highs, but a lot of running in place in terms of a central season arc), The Mandalorian has placed its chips on the table to let us know just what we’re looking at for the remainder of the season arc. As expected, Bo-Katan has been placed on a direct path to challenge Din for control of the dark saber – this time with the apparent full-backing of the Armorer to go along with her claim. We’ve confirmed that Moff Gideon in fact never made it to trial and was extracted from his prison transport ship by someone who used beskar as a means of helping him escape (was it a set-up to pin the blame on Mandalorians or is there a rogue faction who is likely about to meet-up with Bo-Katan in the near future?). And it’s now clear that the New Republic is a bureaucratic mess that cannot even take care of the planets under its umbrella, much less other vulnerable worlds in the galaxy, making it clear that this experiment is bound for failure sooner rather than later. Things aren’t looking all that rosy anymore.
It’s interesting to think of how this particular series has evolved over the last three seasons. What began as the story of a single Mandalorian bounty hunter on a mission has morphed into a sprawling epic about the imminent failure of the New Republic and the attempted rise of the Mandalorians from the shadows into an inter-galactic power. Now, we know from the recent sequel films that there isn’t a huge Mandalorian cohort participating in the fight against the First Order – at least not that we saw in the films. So, we know they either don’t band together in a meaningful way in time, they do and can’t compete against the rise of the First Order, or they opt to sit this one out and let the rest of the galaxy fight it out while they deal with their own internal politics. It’s fascinating to wonder just where this piece of the story will go. As was clear from that look Bo-Katan gave as she was entrusted with her quest – thank goodness she’s allowed to be part of the Children of the Watch without her helmet now so we can get Katee Sackoff’s excellent facial expressions again – Bo firmly believes that she’s the chosen one once more. And this quest has her playing politician – something she’s uniquely built for considering her upbringing – and heading off with the full backing of the Watch in her quest. Quite the change from her and two acolytes trying to snag the dark saber back in season two.
The major question is just when that fight with Din is going to go down. We know he’s not particularly attached to the dark saber and he would be fine with Bo wielding it – hell, he tried to give it to her in season two. But can she actually defeat him in combat and win it? Will she fail and then create a power struggle within the Children of the Watch wherein she’s the desired leader of the Armorer and others, but Din can’t relinquish the saber and make it so officially? That sounds likely – this series needs a reason for Din to continue to be a potential issue for the Mandalorians, as once he’s fully integrated and content, the lack of tension in the group lessens the tension in the series as a whole. After all, Din did just get them their own land so they can live openly (at least until they retake Mandalore). He’s done much to aid in their return to the galaxy, more than Bo-Katan at this stage. So, it stands to reason that perhaps some might feel he, too, could be the leader of the clan. After all, the Mythosaur did appear when he went to bathe in the waters, even if he didn’t see it.
And then there’s the New Republic. Failing at every turn. Likely full of Imperial spies like our girl Elia Kane, who was back this week and sowing more discord where she could, we know this government isn’t long for the galaxy. Sure, it will take years for it to fully fall to war with the First Order (little Kylo Ren isn’t yet training at Luke’s yet-to-be-built Jedi Academy, so we know we’re years away from the full rise of the First Order), but it’s clear where the cracks are forming. It’s not as easy to run a government as it is to fight for freedom, after all. Perhaps we’ll get a glimpse of Mon Mothma (on loan from Andor, where she’s working on setting up the Rebellion) before the season is through to get a look at how the New Republic is falling apart from inside the Senate chambers? But it’s intriguing to watch how the tendrils of the First Order are snaking their way through this new government, slowly, starting at the lower levels of things before making their way higher and higher. As we’ve seen over on Andor, it takes time to fully infiltrate a government, but it certainly helps when the one in power is managing to fumble the ball at the goal line time and again. And the news that Moff Gideon has escaped and is free? Well, that’s a hell of a fumble.
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