The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 6 Review: It's no longer the Din and Grogu show
In The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 6, the main duo take a backseat as they embark on a mission with Bo-Katan Kryze to retrieve her stolen Imperial Fleet. Along the way, they become embroiled in an underdeveloped mystery, featuring a stacked list of guest stars, which fails to deliver any significant payoffs or character growth.
Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, the episode feels like a tedious side mission that could have been resolved within the first ten minutes. The general stance of the season has been to build up a larger plot and raise the stakes methodically, and this episode is too big of a detour too late into the season. While the change in stance has riled up some fans, it has been largely refreshing for a show that needed to step out of its comfort zone. However, this episode is the type of adventure that would have been better suited for earlier in the season.
While the episode is entertaining to say the least, it lacks direction and character growth. The series as a whole seems to be struggling to find its footing at this point. With only two more episodes to go, the show appears to be betting on a large-scale resolution. However, Moff Gideon, a key character, is still out of the picture.
Din and Bo-Katan land on Plazir-15 looking to recruit the Mandalorian fleet. They meet the over-enthusiastic Jack Black, who plays an extravagant and pompous ex-Imperial. Also cameoing alongside Black is pop icon Lizzo, who plays the Duchess of Plazir-15 and spends most of the episode playing with Grogu.
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— sage⁵⁰¹ 💌 mando era (@ahsokasgoggles) April 5, 2023
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3 tickets to barbie please pic.twitter.com/mWJvjeaecF
The contrast between Din and Bo-Katan’s personas form the thematic highlights of this episode, with the princess far more comfortable being diplomatic, while the bounty hunter cutting to the chase, preferably with plenty of violence.
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— emily 🔜 SWCE (@djarinsaber) April 5, 2023
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this was so din djarin of him pic.twitter.com/7N76rLuN2h
The episode offers nothing that we haven’t experienced before from the series, and certainly nothing substantial that adds to the overarching narrative of this season. Following an I-Robot-like sequence that successfully garnered some empathy for the droids identity within the Star Wars canon, an irritated Christopher Lloyd finds his evil plans (devoid of any motivation) foiled by the meddlesome Mandalorians, in what now feels like nothing short of a Scooby-Doo mystery.
The Mandalorian is grappling with the same challenge Star Wars always has as a franchise: filled with cute characters for kids that has been taken very seriously by adults. Grogu, in particular, feels like a character who is present more because fans expect it than because he is actually needed.
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he’s basically a green puppy 🥹 pic.twitter.com/GtCFAEjCvs
The show's primary appeal is the relationship between Din and Grogu, yet their relationship hasn't been featured prominently almost at all this season. Moving the spotlight to Bo-Katan has been worthwhile, and Katee Sackhoff is excellent in her role, but it seems like a lot of the time spent on the Plazir-15 mystery could have been devoted to Din and Grogu, to the show's benefit.
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— elia🪴 (@valentinescyare) April 5, 2023
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I just realized that there are only two episodes left in season 3 and we basically have nothing about din. no character arc, no information about his past, no idea what he wants.. just side characters thriving pic.twitter.com/pzlgBkNv7z
The show could have had a redemptive arc where Din becomes the heroic leader Mandalore needs. Instead, he seems to find solace and satisfaction training his adoptive alien son. The duo are beyond all doubt, the primary appeal of the show, and yet their relationship has not been featured prominently this season thus far.
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‘Guns for Hire’ is a rare misstep for The Mandalorian that furthers the fact that the series as a whole seems to be struggling to find its footing. While the appearance of Jack Black and Lizzo adds some entertainment value, it feels like a missed opportunity to deliver a more compelling storyline.
New episodes of The Mandalorian stream Wednesdays on Disney+ Hotstar.