Ryan Shoots First: The Mandalorian (S3 Ep6) “Chapter 22: Guns for Hire”

Let’s just get this out of the way, I can see the reaction online now, this episode was campy, and not needed, and side quest blah blah blah.

I freaking loved it. Give me more, it had it all moments of laughing, some world-building, and a significant final act. I have said it a few times but this season more than the previous two feels like a live-action version of the Clone Wars animated series. For the good and the bad. This one with a cool new planet, a self-contained mystery, and just enough of the overall season arch sprinkled in to move things along. It’s a formula they perfected in that show and I can see more of those elements seeping into Mando. 

Add the fact that this episode was directed by Bryce Dallas Howard who has directed some of the best episodes of the series throughout the first two seasons. Her episodes seem to have an energy and soul to them that stands out from some of the others. She has a knack for this and would love to see her get more opportunities in Star Wars storytelling. Star Wars should and can be anything. I love stories like Andor, the tone and serious nature of the show were great but there is room for everything in Star Wars from the super campy to the fantasy, to the absurdity. It’s always been there since we first walked into the cantina in A New Hope to see Wolf people and a giant praying Mantis. Let’s resist the urge to make Star Wars gritty and even if the story calls for something a bit more serious that certainly doesn’t mean the entire genre should pivot that way. I love my campy Star Wars this episode had a freaking droid bar it was amazing and when the droid bartender told the drunk droid he was overserved I lost my shit laughing, it was fantastic. It’s what I love about this show, we can see the legendary Mythosaur and be moved and then lose it laughing at the droid bartender throwing out boozehounds. It’s all so wonderfully Star Wars, never change. 

Observations

• That dude is doing straight Boba Cosplay
• They’re killing it with new ship designs this season.
• In case you ever wondered how these dudes travel
• Itssssss BOSS TIME!
• This is totally Epcot right?? Even has monorails
• I love everything about this
• This episode is killing it with the cameos
• Mando pandering skills are on point
• Droid bar! I love it. I’m here for all of this
• He stopped serving him!! Masterful
• See they’re a good bunch!
• I like Bo showing how she knows how to play these royal games
• This episode has it all
• Ahh the masterwand rule of transitive properties
• Bad-ass final shot of Bo. Mando mami