Even if Disney never releases official numbers, third party estimates show that more people watch The Mandalorian than The Book of Boba Fett. Even if you haven't watched the episode, you are definitely going to need to watch this week. The season is 2.5.
I'm not exaggerating. This week's episode of The Mandalorian had many key components that were tied to the main plot of the show, and will be important to know heading into season 3. The next two episodes may contain more important Mando things, but I would be surprised if we didn't return to Boba Fett himself with Mando acting as more of a guest star from here.
If you don't want to watch a single episode of Boba Fett, I can break down all the important events that happened this week. There are more to come.
Darksaber.
Disney
Now without Grogu, The Mandalorian is back to being a regular old bounty hunter. In this episode, he forgoes payment on a dead bounty for some information instead.
That information leads him to find the hiding place of The Armorer and Buff Jetpack Mandalorian from previous seasons, as they escaped another slaughter by Imperials.
The Armorer fills him in on the history of the Darksaber, the weapon he won off Moff Gideon at the end of season 2. We already know that if you win it in combat, you can lay claim to the throne of Mandalore, though Mando seems to have little interest in this.
The Armorer tells him how it was created by Tarre Vizsla centuries ago, who was both a Mandalorian and a Jedi. She says the blade feels heavy if you “fight against it” while wielding it, and his combat is clunky with it as a result. She also cautions him against Bo Katan, the female Mandalorian we met last season, as her rule led to the downfall of Mandalore.
Buff Jetpack Mandalorian reveals that he’s actually a descendant of Tarre Vizsla, and challenges Mando to a duel for the sword to reclaim it. Mando wins.
The Armorer chides him for having a Beskar spear, as Beskar is not supposed to be used to make weapons, only armor. She melts part of the spear and gives him some small unknown Beskar thing he plans to give to Grogu.
The Armorer appears to expel Mando once he reveals that he’s taken off his helmet, breaking their creed (which he did for Grogu in the past). The only way to redeem himself is in some Mandalorian mines that appear to be destroyed.
Mando instead returns to Tatooine where he attempts to get a new Razorback ship after his last one blows up. His mechanic friend instead shows him a defunct Naboo starfighter that the two of them and the droids repair to be a super fast hot rod. It no longer needs astromech droid support, and that little alcove seems pretty…Grogu-sized, for future travel.
The book of a character.
Disney
Fennec approaches Mando to help Boba. He agrees, but says he must first deliver his gift to Grogu, and that’s where we’ve left off.
We don't know if we're going to get another Mando-based episode next week or if it's going to be saved for season 3. Mando will come back for the season finale to help him do whatever he wants. I forget who he is fighting now. The Pykes? Is that correct? Mando's storyline is more interesting.
I think you should watch the episode. It's a great one, and a bonus episode of the series, which is important for the plot of the series going forward.
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The Earthborn trilogy is a collection of my sci-fi novels.
