Disney+'s The Mandalorian - Episode 1.02 "Chapter 2: The Child"
Target in-hand, The Mandalorian must now contend with scavengers.
In 2018, there were 495 scripted shows airing amongst the linear channels and streaming services. The way people are consuming content now is so different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, there is less necessity to provide ample coverage of each specific episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site is making the move to shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of Disney+'s The Mandalorian.
"Chapter 2: The Child" was written by Jon Favreau and directed by Rick Famuyiwa
The premiere ended with a major reveal about the target of the Mandalorian's mission. He traveled to this planet with vague details and completed his mission finding a baby of the same species as Yoda. The audience quickly dubbed this new character as "Baby Yoda." Within the show though, the creature is simply known as the child. The Mandalorian doesn't understand why it is so important that numerous factions are fighting to get their hands on it. He is simply the one who has it in his possession. It's a foreign species to him though. There are so many familiar creatures in this universe where the citizens know what to expect of them. The Mandalorians have a reverence for their armor. It's an expression of their faith while highlighting their physical capabilities as soldiers. Meanwhile, the Jawas travel in packs as scoundrels scrapping nearby ships for parts in the hopes of selling them off as quickly as possible. The universe at large knows what to expect from these creatures. Sure, the Mandalorians may not be seen as frequently as some of the others. And yet, their myth is widespread enough for people to know what to expect. With this child though, the Mandalorian doesn't know how to explain what he has just witnessed. The audience knows perfectly well that the child just used the force in order to save the Mandalorian from that massive, horned creature. That too should spark a lot of theories about the child's species being rare but insanely more connected to the force than any others. Yoda may be the most famous one. However, his legacy is still shrouded in mystery. The normal people of this world don't have firsthand experience with the force. They don't know what all is possible when people can tap into those abilities. As such, it's startling and unusual when the Mandalorian is preparing to die only for this beast to be floating in air unable to complete its attack. It takes a lot of energy out of the child as well. It is knocked out for days following this action. That may prove that its skills won't be perfected for a long time. And yet, it's still envious for any kind of faction hoping to create a stronghold in the new world order. The Empire has fallen. Having access to the child's abilities may be enough to project a sense of strength to the rest of the world. Of course, someone sent the child to this outpost for a reason. It may have simply been to protect the child. It was dangerous for the local community as Kuill points out again and again. He simply wants to live in peace after a lifetime of working for others. He helps the Mandalorian along his mission largely to keep these warriors out of his life for good. In doing so, the Mandalorian grows to have such profound respect for him. Kuiil stands by him and presents as a genuine ally. It's because of his negotiation skills that a deal is reached with the Jawas. The Mandalorian is quick to take action. It's just often brutal and violent. That is a necessary skillset in order to deliver the egg that this tribe seeks. In the end, it may come across as a twisted joke because they simply wanted to devour the substance inside of it. The Mandalorian risked his life to retrieve this egg and that's all that it means to the Jawas. However, that's the way that they function in this world. They may be annoying to some. They keep the Mandalorian on this planet when other bounty hunters could be tracking down the child and hoping to retrieve it. And yet, all of that is necessary in order to highlight the unique powers that the child has and the Mandalorian's connection to it. It may be simple storytelling. The Mandalorian was abandoned as a child and is now responsible for looking after a target that also feels abandoned in its young age. He doesn't know what the Client and Dr. Pershing want with it. This episode could present as a stalling technique in order to delay those answers as well. However, the Mandalorian is back on his way by the conclusion of this episode. He is leaving this planet in pursuit of his payment. It may not be as easy as that moving forward. However, it's remarkable to see the show sustain its intimate and personal look at the world of Star Wars. It's all about the Mandalorian and the physical demands of this latest job. There is a tease to the greater mythology. And yet, the show isn't dwelling in the dark mystery of it all just yet. That's very refreshing.
