After a high-octane, gunslinger showdown in The Mandalorian Chapter 3. We’re reunited with our beloved Mandalorian, and of course, Baby Yoda. The big takeaways from this episode are the universe expanding details we learn in what is the longest episode of The Mandalorian to date.
Chapter 4 of The Mandalorian is written by Jon Favreau and directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, daughter of Ron Howard who directed Solo: A Star Wars Story. This episode also features the debut of Gina Carano as Cara Dune, a former Rebel Shocktrooper who has sought refuge in Sorgan, seeking early retirement after the events of Endor.
Mando and Yodito (name credit goes to Kate Sanchez ofbutwhythopodcast.com) knowing that they are both wanted after Mando’s breaking of code, arrive at Sorgan looking to lay low for a while. Here is where Mando runs into Cara Dune and eventually come to blows. Prior to Mando’s arrival, the Krill farmers of Sorgan are attacked by Klatooinian raiders who have come to steal all the Krill the farmers have fished.
Later that night, Mando is approached by two of the village’s farmers who are looking to hire Mando to protect the village from any other attacks. Mando kindly refuses as their offering was well below his minimum requirements. Once Mando learns that the farmers live in the middle of nowhere and have useable lodging, the accepts their offer and decides to help. He then gives the coins to Cara Dune as an offering for her help in protecting the farm.
While Baby Yoda isn’t as front and center as he’s been since Chapter 2, and yes, Baby Yoda is indeed male. He does have his cute moments as expected. He has the soup sipping moment after the scuffle between Mando and Cara, and other moments playing around with the children of the farm, which Mando and Omera are more than visually aware of.
There’s some chemistry between Omera and Mando that isn’t further explored, but it is left open-ended, so that could possible by something the series can revisit later on this season or even next season. One of the most interesting aspects of this interaction between Omera and Mando is her intrigue of Mando’s helmet. This allows Mando to give us a little more backstory about him. The show has been sprinkling bits and pieces every episode about his past without revealing too much.
Here we learn that Mando’s parents were killed when he was a child. He was taken in by the Mandalorians and brought up with their way of living and their codes. “This is the way”. We also learn that Mando has been wearing his helmet since he was around 8-10 years old, he mentions he was about the same age or a tad bit older than the kids in the village, when he first put on the helmet and hasn’t taken it off since…at least in front of anyone else.
As Omera gives Mando his space so he can eat his dinner, he proceeds to take off his helmet as he looks onto the children and Baby Yoda playing outside the lodge. A real human moment, and this is something I’ve personally been enjoying about the series so far. The show’s ability to show Mando’s humanity without any visual expression. One can argue that this is seen in some aspects of his body language but even then, he’s very emotionless there. He shows and exudes all emotions through his actions. Which is something that is very hard to do from all aspects of character building.
Here is when the going gets going. The farmers never informed Mando or Cara about the AT-ST that the Klatooinians have at their disposal. This changes everything! Cara’s immediate course of action is to evacuate, as the villagers and farmers are not well versed in the art of battle in any way of the sense. The villagers refuse to evacuate and this is a grand piece of land that was aggregated by generations prior and the current generation wants to leave this land behind for generations to come.
In turn, Mando quickly suggests that instead of leaving, they can teach the village how to fight. After a few days of training, the plans are set in motion and the trap is set. Lure the AT-ST into their pond, take out the remaining Klatooinians. While the plans changed mid-battle, Mando, Cara, and the village come out on top and claim victory. Restoring peace once again.
Mando realizes how happy Baby Yoda is and how his personal lifestyle is not one for a kid to endure, so he decides to leave Baby Yoda on Sorgan. Unbeknownst to Mando and the rest of the village, someone has landed on Sorgan with a fob. A fob with a bounty for Baby Yoda. Luckily for Baby Yoda and everyone else, Cara Dune kills the bounty hunter milliseconds before he pulls the trigger.
Knowing that the bounty for Baby Yoda is still active, Mando realizes the danger the village faces if he does leave Baby Yoda there, thus taking the responsibility of protecting him once again.
Another solid episode in the books for The Mandalorian. This show showed promise and it keeps delivering on that promise each and every week.
Images: Disney+, LucasFilm