No Spoiler Recap – The Mandalorian Season 2 Chapter 9
Season two of “The Mandalorian” is finally upon us with Chapter 9: The Marshall, and I have to say this first episode delivered exactly what I had hoped for. It successfully returns viewers to the world of the show in terms of its tone and atmosphere inside the larger Star Wars universe. Something I loved about the first season was how despite each episode for the most part feeling like individual adventures, they worked into the overall story-arc of the season with a seamless balance.
This episode delivered Mando his first mission of this second season and it was a fantastic one in terms of delivering intensity, intrigue, and large-scale action. This season kicks off with a new collection of story-seeds that are planted for future episodes. And it works them all smoothly into the narrative as Mando travels to another familiar location, where we meet a new character, and yet another dangerous deal for him to accomplish. So, with all of these prime elements in place, I was completely locked into this episode like I hadn’t skipped a beat from season one.
This episode is beautifully crafted with a crisp visual-appeal, and a level of special-effects detail that you would see in a full-feature “Star Wars” film. This first episode also kicks off with a longer run-time and I think it was perfect. This allows for added minutes to develop characters through conversations, and it limits a bit of the rushed feel that moments of season one had for me. Thus, I certainly hope the trend of longer episodes continue with this season so we can spend more time in this section of the Star Wars universe.
One that very much feels reminiscent of the original trilogy. This episode drops in familiar nods to the past source-material here and there as well, but with subtly and not in the form of blatant fan service. It also leaves things from season one still in the air, while laying the groundwork for new intriguing story layers to come. With the charming western vibe still intact from season one in terms of the framing of the shots and the musical scoring. There are so many cinematic shots in this first episode, and the kick-off for season two was everything I wanted and more.
