‘The Mandalorian’ S2 Finale Recap: Well, That Was Unexpected
"The Mandalorian" season two is streaming now, only on Disney+
Safe to say, nobody expected The Mandalorian season 2 to end like that. Turns out the galaxy far, far away is full of surprises — even a Star Wars novice like me was shocked when Luke Skywalker popped up to save the day.
This article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian season 2, episode 8, so please be careful if you haven’t seen it yet!
And for Mark Hamill to have the nerve to tweet out “seen anything good on TV lately?” as if his appearance were no big deal, and didn’t change The Mandalorian, as a show, forever.
But first, let’s step back for a second. Before a CGI-de-aged Hamill appeared, our hero Mando orchestrated a daring coup of Moff Gideon’s ship in an effort to get back the Child. The season 2 finale held nothing back, and neither should we. Let’s go.
Team, Assemble
Last episode, Mando enlisted a gang to sneak into an Imperial base and gain the coordinates of Moff’s ship.
Before they tackle the ship, his crew — which features Cara, Fennec, and Boba Fett — track down Dr Pershing, the Imperial scientist from season 1 who was responsible for the original bounty to find the Child, and who was involved in the nefarious tests they wanted to enact on the baby Jedi.
Cornered by the crew, Pershing gives them the low-down on Moff’s ship, letting them know about the Dark Troopers who will be activated a few minutes after any enemies breach the ship. It’s a big job, so the team enlists a few more familiar faces: enter Bo-Katan and Koska Reeves, the Mandalorians we met back in episode 3.
After a little standoff with the ‘false’ Mandalorian Boba Fett (who got his armour from his father, who got it as payment for a job), they agree to help, though Bo-Katan is more interested in getting back the Darksaber from Moff, which supposedly is essential to becoming the ruler of their home planet Mandalore. She demands everyone leave Moff to her, signalling she needs the last laugh.
Operation Let’s Get The World’s Cutest Baby Back
They concoct a plan: from his ship, Boba will pretend to shooting at the Imperial ship they’ve taken from Pershing, and they’ll request an emergency landing. Once in, the team charges ahead to the bridge where Moff should be, while Mando waits behind and then runs to de-activate the Dark Troopers before they can be activated.
He’s too late, but manages to blow all but one out into space by releasing the hatch — and the one that remains is tough-as-nails to fight.
Um, that’s really gotta hurt.
If it wasn’t for that Beskar armour, he’d be finished in two seconds, but, using the spear he earned in episode 5, he impales his foe. One tiny problem: Moff isn’t at the bridge, but ready to surprise Mando in the cell where Baby Yoda awaits.
And he has that ominous Darksaber, too.
A fight ensues, and Mando is lucky that Beskar is so damn strong. It’s a strenuous, intense fight: after all, it’s the season’s ultimate face-off, right? Right?
Mando spares Moff’s life and takes him to the bridge, where Bo-Katan doesn’t look too happy — turns out that the Darksaber can only be taken from someone by beating them in combat. Mando has no interest in the Darksaber, but he can’t simply give it over. This is going to cause problems for Bo-Katan’s plan to rule a re-established Mandalore, but just when it looks like they might fight, trouble arrives.
Those Dark Troopers that Mando blasted into space are back — a whole legion of them. It’s going to be an impossible fight, but just as they’re banging down the door, a single X-wing arrives. A shadowy figure emerges with a green lightsaber, and makes easy work of the Dark Troopers: and, as you know, it’s Luke freaking Skywalker. This is who Grogu made contact with???
Me every week whenever Grogu is onscreen.
Luke is here to take Grogu, and at first Mando thinks he doesn’t want to go, before Luke explains he just needs permission from his father figure. The two say bye, and Grogu goes to touch Mando’s face: in a huge moment, he takes off his helmet, letting them meet face-to-face for the first time.
My heart. It breaks.
It’s too much to bear, but Luke and R2D2 leave with Grogu — not before Mando promises they will meet again. Mission accomplished, right? But what’s next for Mando, and why do we feel so sad? And won’t Bo-Katan want that Darksaber?
But before we say goodbye, we get a post-credit scene that leaves us with even more questions, as Boba Fett and Fennec storm what was once Jabba the Hutt’s palace and take over the throne, before text pops up promising something called ‘The Book Of Boba Fett’ in December 2021. Just one extra mystery to ponder before The Mandalorian returns next year.
This article originally appeared on Junkee.
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The Mandalorian season 1 and 2 is available to stream on Disney+.
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(Images courtesy of Disney+)