The Mandalorian (TV series)

[David3]

I really like the Mandalorian..
but i'm worried its getting a bit soapy, like a network soap, basic filming technique and basic acting from the supporting cast.
The Cantina was a key scene in ep5 that all their budget should have gone into to have it teaming and overflowing with customers out of hiding now that the Empire has gone. Its iconic and to play it down was a bad mistake that i hope isn't indicative of where the shows going.
The Mandalorian after all is a western and it has immense cult potential. Like a western most of the scenes may only have one or two characters so it really needs an exciting bar scene with all kinds of scum and villainy every now and then so it doesn't start to feel like an empty universe.

 

[harrisonp]

I agree with you to a point, but I did think it was an interesting contrast not only to the bar on Nevarro but to the Mos Eisley cantina that we’ve seen in the past. Tatooine is clearly hurting, be it after an uprising against the Imps or a power vacuum after Jabbas death. I thought that was the most well utilized element in the whole episode.

 

[BlandoCalrssian]

Listen to the radio sound effect as the mystery man walks towards the body...sound familiar? It couldnt be could it? At first I thought it was most likely Greef, but I had to rewind to listen to that sound again and now I wonder....

 

[David3]

Ok, good point, harrisonp, the cantina should have a different vibe to what we see in ANH. Maybe just needed a little more going on in the streets i guess.

 

[Clutch]

That mechanic woman studied at the Holiday Special school of acting.

 

[Treadwell]

Agreed....I was geeking out on the uber-accurate Mos Eisley, but I was hating Amy Sidaris' performance before I even realized it was her (which served to reinforce my pre-existing dislike of her). The comedy scoring during her scene when the Child appeared to her was also way over the top.

Also agreed on bounty hunter actor....he needed some experience/direction. (Is this the first time we've seen an M38 scope mounted backwards?)

The fan service was awesome, but the writing and acting (and direction?) make this the weakest episode so far.

Nice touch that one Tusken Raider was kitted out to match ANH, and the other to TPM.

Note that there is NO blaster mark on the wall of Han's booth.

BTW, I don't know if anyone has already mentioned how the SW logo in the opening credits has been tweaked. The ends of the T and the R are slanted now.

 

[Ron]

I just watched chapter 5 and all I have to say is Swoop Bikes . They brought back fond memories of racing through the streets of Mos Eisley in Shadows of the Empire on N64.

 

[David3]

I'm loving all the OT references. If that's fan service, or whatevs, then shut up and give me more.
I'm sure that now the Disney execs are relieved to see the show's popularity that it translates to a bigger budget for next season and slightly more polished actors in the supporting roles.

 

[kalkamel]

I think it was the Mando coming back to retrieve Fennec Shand. The shin is exactly the same as Mando's, not to mention the cape. She's probably still alive and he's gonna talk her into joining his posse, along with Cara Dune, I Have Spoken and Bill Burr's character.

 

[Ron]

I'm loving all the OT references. If that's fan service, or whatevs, then shut up and give me more.
I'm sure that now the Disney execs are relieved to see the show's popularity that it translates to a bigger budget for next season and slightly more polished actors in the supporting roles.

I know we all keep saying "for a galaxy so big, how do they keep ending up on Tatooine?" but in this case I don't mind. Mos Eisley is after all a well known spaceport that attracts all kinds of characters from all over the galaxy so it's not so off chance that Mando would make a stop there. I was only disappointed that it's so desolate now and I don't know if that was a story decision or a budget decision. If it was a story decision, I wish they would've addressed it in some way and while I'm usually against fan service dialogue, I wouldn't have minded either the bartender or a maybe a patron talking to Mando about how he once heard about a "Jedi Knight cutting a guy's arm off" in that very spot he was standing or that "Legend has it Luke Skywalker met Han Solo in that booth over there" or something along those lines. Again, I'm usually against such fan service playing on nostalgia but in this case it's the first time we've returned to the cantina so it's believable dialogue that isn't gratuitously out of place.

If you can work in a nod to the past within the context of the story, I'm cool with it . It's when Dr Evazan randomly shows up in Rogue One or Finn tosses a training remote over his shoulder that I have to roll my eyes.

 

[PantheraGem]

I just watched chapter 5 and all I have to say is Swoop Bikes . They brought back fond memories of racing through the streets of Mos Eisley in Shadows of the Empire on N64.

Yeah. Some serious nostalgia. I thought of the toys immediately.

 

[ZeroSum]

BTW, I don't know if anyone has already mentioned how the SW logo in the opening credits has been tweaked. The ends of the T and the R are slanted now.

Yes, I noticed. Until now I thought I was the only one who is annoyed by it. Wait... are you annoyed by it or is it just a thing you noticed? Personally, I'm REALLY annoyed because it's more pointless revisionism and we should petition Disney to put it back to how it was (inappropriately touched my childhood, etc).

Who's with me?

 

[David3]

I know we all keep saying "for a galaxy so big, how do they keep ending up on Tatooine?" but in this case I don't mind. Mos Eisley is after all a well known spaceport that attracts all kinds of characters from all over the galaxy so it's not so off chance that Mando would make a stop there. I was only disappointed that it's so desolate now and I don't know if that was a story decision or a budget decision. If it was a story decision, I wish they would've addressed it in some way and while I'm usually against fan service dialogue, I wouldn't have minded either the bartender or a maybe a patron talking to Mando about how he once heard about a "Jedi Knight cutting a guy's arm off" in that very spot he was standing or that "Legend has it Luke Skywalker met Han Solo in that booth over there" or something along those lines. Again, I'm usually against such fan service playing on nostalgia but in this case it's the first time we've returned to the cantina so it's believable dialogue that isn't gratuitously out place.

If you can work in a nod to the past within the context of the story, I'm cool with it . It's when Dr Evazan randomly shows up in Rogue One or Finn tosses a training remote over his shoulder that I have to roll my eyes.

Yes, I like all new adventures but nods to the past really excite me as a fan and tie it all in. I was a little disappointed by the Cantina being so empty but that's the reality of the times i guess. I was still excited by the unexpected visit non the less.
It would have been good if they were able to address a few things like you mentioned but in such a short 30min episode I think they did a really good job fitting in what they have and still delivering those quiet moments amongst the action with those majestic vistas to savoir.

 

[PantheraGem]

I dig fan service.

 

[Paul Andrew]

This episode was a delight for me.

 

[Joek3rr]

Yes, I noticed. Until now I thought I was the only one who is annoyed by it. Wait... are you annoyed by it or is it just a thing you noticed? Personally, I'm REALLY annoyed because it's more pointless revisionism and we should petition Disney to put it back to how it was (inappropriately touched my childhood, etc).

Who's with me?

It's not like they've never changed it before.

 

[Joek3rr]

Agreed....I was geeking out on the uber-accurate Mos Eisley, but I was hating Amy Sidaris' performance before I even realized it was her (which served to reinforce my pre-existing dislike of her). The comedy scoring during her scene when the Child appeared to her was also way over the top.

Also agreed on bounty hunter actor....he needed some experience/direction. (Is this the first time we've seen an M38 scope mounted backwards?)

The fan service was awesome, but the writing and acting (and direction?) make this the weakest episode so far.

Nice touch that one Tusken Raider was kitted out to match ANH, and the other to TPM.

Note that there is NO blaster mark on the wall of Han's booth.

BTW, I don't know if anyone has already mentioned how the SW logo in the opening credits has been tweaked. The ends of the T and the R are slanted now.

There shouldn't be a blaster mark on the wall. It would be on the ceiling.

 

[Joek3rr]

I think it was the Mando coming back to retrieve Fennec Shand. The shin is exactly the same as Mando's, not to mention the cape. She's probably still alive and he's gonna talk her into joining his posse, along with Cara Dune, I Have Spoken and Bill Burr's character.View attachment 1089586

Except The Mandalorian has ammo cylinders on his right shin, so unless they were removed. This isn't him. Plus I feel the cape is a little longer. This is another Mandalorian or Boba.

 

[Toadmeister]

Ooh, good call.

Only 2 problems would be his possible age, but it's been established that species she differently, & in an unaired episode of Clone Wars, Cad was supposed to have been killed in a shootout with Boba. Filoni showed the animatic at a con a few years ago.

Like I said, since it was unaired, it may not be considered Canon at the moment, but it could be touched on in February when the new season of TCW starts.

Will probably be Giancarlo Esposito: Moff Gideon

 

[Toadmeister]

I loved Episode 5, it had its flaws for sure but the good and great made up for it.

I thought the Tatooine stuff was subtlety done and not too in-your face. The fact people are asking “Is that the same Cantina?” shows it was subtle.

Swoop bikes (Correllian) and Dewbacks sent my spider-sense tingling. The Docking bay and Cantina sets were superbly done.

If they would’ve had 30 min of our characters joy riding swoops over the Dune sea to a classic rock soundtrack, I would watch over and over!

Some acting was weak or felt out of universe a bit, like the docking bay lady (still enjoyed her and the pit droids) and the apprentice bounty hunter guy. He just didn’t look or act in-universe enough for me. I did like his character arc turning allegiances/backstabbing and being the opposite of Mando in having No code to live by.

Notice the apprentice bounty hunter was sitting at the same table as Han Solo did. No Greedo blaster mark on the wall! Also found the humor that droids were running the bar.

Spaceship chase to start off the episode was a little weak. Probably not Fioni’s area of expertise as a director. Seemed very Buck-Rogers 80s TV...

Tusken Raider encounter was interestingly done. Sign language! Those two that non-chalantly snuck up behind them and were just chillin’ I found a bit out of character however. They may have experience however and were being wise not to provoke a Mandelorian.