‘The Mandalorian’ S2E7 Recap: Masks Off, For A Moment Of Beyond Good And Evil
"The Mandalorian" season two is streaming now, only on Disney+
Even the Star Wars illiterate know the deal: an intergalactic story of good vs evil, where the dark side ultimately falls to the light. But The Mandalorian blurs things, as the guiding principles of our helmeted hero are repeatedly questioned by those around him.
This article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian season 2, episode 7, so please be careful if you haven’t seen it yet!
That ambiguity comes to the forefront this episode, as Mando is forced to compromise his beliefs and practices for the “greater good”, just as we learn the Imperial leaders tell themselves too.
When we left Mando last episode, things looked dire: the Child had been captured by Moff Gideon in an ambush. This episode, Mando visits some old friends, and is joined by some new ones in a mission to bring him back.
A Questionable Ally
With new allies Boba Fett and Fennec by his side (who pledged to help him retrieve the Child in exchange for returning Boba’s armour), Mando asks Marshal Cara Dune to break out prisoner Migs Mayfeld — who you may remember ended up in jail after double-crossing Mando back in season 1.
As an ex-Imperial soldier, Mayfeld can help. As a prisoner, he doesn’t have much of a choice.
Mayfeld can help the gang find Moff and Baby Yoda, but needs access to an Imperial base computer to do so. The closest is on Morak, a jungle planet where they’re mining for a powerful (and, as it turns out, explosive) substance called rhydonium.
One tiny problem: Imperial tech will recognise anyone who’s been marked a criminal by the Empire, so Mayfeld will have to go alone, or with Mando without his recognisable armour.
The two hijack a truck transporting rhydonium into the hub, and steal some stormtrooper outfits.
And, sure, Mando isn’t revealing his face, but wearing a stormtrooper helmet isn’t exactly living up to the Mandalorian code he follows. While they’re driving in, Mayfeld, ever the provocateur, can’t help but pull him up on the inconsistencies.
Mayfeld wants Mando to concede that they’re the same — just two people trying to survive — but Mando says he’s different because of his code of conduct, ignoring that he’s not technically following it right now.
It’s amazing that Pedro Pascal can make Mando look pissed off even with a helmet on his head.
“If you were born on Mandalore you believe one thing,” Mayfeld points out. “If you were born on Alderaan you believe something else.”
Some people say “This Is The Way”; others say “May The Force Be With You”. Does it really matter when the result — fighting for power — is the same?
It’s a fun meta moment, as comedian Bill Burr was offered the role of Mayfeld after slagging off Star Wars. This seems to be a way of pointing out that there’s more moral ambiguity in this world than just the colour of a lightsaber.
But before we get too philosophical, pirates blow up the other transport trucks, and Mando has to climb onto the roof to fight them off.
This truck sequence is basically the Star Wars version of Mad Max, and it’s glorious.
He gets hit, and without his armour he’s actually hurt — and while he’s ultimately fine (and some stormtroopers arrive to… save the day?), it’s a reminder that he’s a mortal underneath the beskar.
After a pretty tremendous fight scene, the duo is welcomed with cheers from the Imperial troops. How odd.
Behind Enemy Lines
Once in, it’s not exactly smooth sailing.
Mayfeld spots his old commanding officer Valin, and so Mando has to use the terminal containing Moff’s location lest they’re found out — but he can only use the terminal sans helmet.
For the Child, he takes it off. And gee, isn’t it nice to see Pedro Pascal’s handsome face?
Afterwards, Valin shouts them a drink for fighting off the pirates, and while Mayfeld goes unrecognised, he can’t help but bring up a battle where Valin sent thousands of men to die.
When Valin suggests it was a sacrifice for the “greater good”, Mayfeld decides to give him a piece of his mind.
It’s, uh, not a subtle message.
With help from Cara and Fennec acting as snipers from above, the two escape. And after Mayfeld, not quite having resolved his anger, blows up the rhydonium (and all hopes of whatever evil plan the Empire had brewing), Cara offers thanks by setting him free.
Well, kind of. He’s now officially a dead man, as per her paperwork, meaning they leave him on the planet to start with a clean slate.
As the gang speed off, we see Moff Gideon’s ship receive a message from Mando promising he will get the Child back, where he says “he means to me more than you’ll ever know”. My heart.
Next week is season 2’s finale — and 2020 could be saved if it ends with Baby Yoda back in Mando’s arms.
This article originally appeared on Junkee.
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The Mandalorian streams every Friday night on Disney+ and Junkee will be recapping every episode.
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(Images courtesy of Disney+)