Twin Suns Outpost is pleased to bring you a weekly write-up covering each episode of The Mandalorian Season 2. Each week three members of the TSO team will prepare a short reaction to the most recent episode of the award-winning series.
THE HEIRESS - Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard - Aired November 13, 2020 on Disney+
*SPOILER WARNING*
CAM RAY: Blog Writer
While I have loved every episode of The Mandalorian, this one has to be in my top 3. It checked off all of my Star Wars boxes. Chapter 11 had humor, family, hope, pew-pews, and good versus evil (in the form of post-imperials). My trust in Favreauloni is just constantly solidified week to week, and Bryce Dallas Howard proved herself to be in the upper echelon of Star Wars directors.
After some of the backlash regarding Frog Lady’s egg treatment by Baby Yoda (Yes, I stand by my theory that his name will indeed be Baby Yoda, even more so now that we know–or confidently assume–Ahsoka will meet him soon!), I was so pleased to see his mischievous consumption of the last of her line was resolved in three ways. First, she was reunited with her husband and they were able to continue their family line. Secondly, Baby Yoda gets to witness a healthy family dynamic and probably learn some restraint with determining whether something is friend or feast. Finally, Din Djarin was able to grow as a father, hopefully recognizing the need to actually feed his child on a regular basis.
I hope there are some Quarren somewhere in the galaxy who are kind, but as of now I think they are cotton-headed ninny-muggins. I didn’t see the betrayal coming until the dude knocked Baby Yoda over the sea monster, and while it was nerve-wrecking for a moment, it was equally balanced by my surprise and ecstatic celebration as the Bo-Katan gang showed up to save the day!
I love that we learn of the varying degrees of Mandalorian doctrine, and I will be covering this in greater detail in my upcoming article for Twin Suns Outpost. I also love that while Din ditches his saviors at first, they return to save him a second time, lightening his distrust a bit and showing him the Way may be broader than he has been raised to believe.
The whole final sequence–the Imperial ship, the takeover (with Din showing up big near the end), and the electro-suicide pill, showing the level of fear Moff Gideon provokes–was super awesome! The intensity just built throughout the episode, and I feel we have been setup for some real high stake missions, reveals, and possible losses in the weeks to come.
I give this episode 9.5 space tadpoles out of 10, and I am all for for Bryce Dallas Howard staying on board this Star Wars ship as long as she’d like. This is the Way.
KYLE SCULLY: Blog Writer, Comic Reviewer
“The Heiress,” directed Bryce Dallas Howard and written by Jon Favreau, continues The Mandalorian’s further exploration of Star Wars mythology. After a rousing first episode, the second entry felt more like filler despite the world being introduced to Frog Lady. Everyone loves Frog Lady.
This episode is a return to form. After rescuing the Mandalorian and the Child from some Quarren fisherman, Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff) immediately challenges Din’s core beliefs by removing her helmet. This moment could have used further dissection but it never quite got it.
The episode goes on to open up the show’s world to a whole new level of Star Wars storytelling. Bo-Katan’s pursuit of the Darksaber merely crosses paths with Din’s desire to reunite the Child with Jedi. This brief run-in only hints at a larger story with greater context and more far-reaching implications but it’s captivating nonetheless. I like this approach. Din doesn’t get distracted but there’s almost a guarantee that they will run into each other again. Koska Reeves (Mercedes Varnado) a Bo-Katan loyalist also stood out even with her scant scenes.
Unfortunately, “The Heiress,” felt rather short at just 33 minutes. I was hoping for more scenes between Bo-Katan and the Mandalorian. The chance to debate their differing ideologies seemed ripe for exploration. The Mandalorian is also far too trusting. He trusts the fisherman to the point of almost certain death and then goes on to trust complete strangers moments after he accuses them of not being true Mandalorian. It’s a trend I don’t see going anywhere anytime soon but it is annoying all the same.
Howard handles everything incredibly well and hopefully it’s only a matter of time before she directs a Star Wars movie. Oh and that name, you know the one. Ahsoka Tano. It’s real, it’s happening and it’s only going to get better from here. I for one cannot wait.
NICOLE MARIE: Blog Writer
Chapter eleven, The Heiress was exhilarating. Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, the opening scenes of the fiery Razor Crest is both breathtaking and frightening. The opening scenes are a nod to her father, Ron Howard, who directed Apollo 13. What might seem like a minor detail can also be seen as a way of setting up a family ties theme within the episode.
Joyfully the Frog Lady is reunited with her Frog Husband in an unforgettable scene. I could hear the '80s song, "Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong" playing in my mind. I loved the Frog Lady's smile and the warm embrace. We see the family ties as the Frog Lady's story comes full circle with the birth of her tadpole. Very sweet moments with The Child as the first tadpole is seen hatching from the egg. Then the cute moment of The Child petting the growing tadpole. The Child is learning and growing from these moments with the Frog family.
My heart leaped when the Night Owl squad appeared after the Quarren pushed The Child into the Mamacore. I was not a happy camper - no one hurts The Child. After successfully rescuing The Child, the Night Owl squad take off their helmets to reveal Bo-Katan, Koska and Axe. I'm sure I'm not the only one shouting with excitement at 3AM! We learn the connection between the Death Watch and Din Djarin being rescued as a child, another family tie. Bo-Katan is the sister of Satine and is the rightful Heiress to Mandalore, if she can gain the darksaber back. I'm excited to see where this storyline travels.
I viewed many family ties in this amazing jam-packed episode that gave us one more prized moment to be excited for: Bo-Katan says, "Ahsoka Tano."