TV Review: ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3

Season 3 Premiere Episode Of ‘The Mandalorian’ Sees Din Jarin On The Road Of Redemption With Grogu In Tow, Sees The Return Of Fan Fave Characters

'The Mandalorian' season 3 starring Pedro Pascal premieres March 1st on Disney+.

The premiere episode of hit Disney+ 'Star Wars' series ‘The Mandalorian’ reminded fans exactly why it is the most popular 'Star Wars' show on the streamer. Now in its third season, we dive right back into the thick of it - with Din Jarin attempting to repent for his sin of removing his helmet and no longer deemed a Mandalorian.

The 8 episode series premiered on March 1st 2023 with one episode, titled “The Apostate”, after its absence from Disney+ in 2022. Despite the long wait, this premiere episode delivers on action and heart. It felt like old school 'Star Wars,' filled with creatures, space battles, and practical effects.

Starting off in Concordia, we see the Armorer forging a new helmet for a young member of her faction, the Children Of The Watch. A ceremony follows where the young Mandalorian takes his vow in the waters as the clan looks on. All seems to be going well until a ferocious beast suddenly breaches the water, sending everything into chaos.

Mandalorian helmet from a scene in Lucasfilm's 'The Mandalorian,' season three, exclusively on Disney+.

A fight between the beast and the Mandalorians ensue, but the creature proves to be too large and too fierce despite being outnumbered. Just as things were getting dire, Din Jarin (Pedro Pascal) swoops in to save the day, obliterating the creature. Din has come back to beg to be let back into the convent, and the Armorer (reluctantly) agrees to do so if he bathes in the living waters of Mandalore.

Jin sets off on his new mission, with Grogu in tow, optimistic about the completing his mission and to regain the honor of being a Mandalorian once again.

It was great to see so many different Mandalorians in this episode, with different styles of helmets, some bright, some monochromatic. The Mandalorians’ style of fighting is unique and this episode showcased how they use different weapons, working together to defend against the giant creature.

Grogu, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) in Lucasfilm's 'The Mandalorian,' season three, exclusively on Disney+.

Reuniting With Old Friends

Before Din and Grogu can make their way to the living water of Mandalore, they have a few stops to make. Their first stop is Nevarro, the volcanic planet overrun with Imperials in season 1. Things for Nevarro have definitely taken a turn for the better under the rule of Greef Karga (Carl Weathers), now the High Magistrate of Nevarro. The city is vibrant and busy, filled with citizens and vendors buzzing about on the street.

It’s great to see Din check in with his friend but his main goal is to rebuild the droid IG-11 (Taika Waititi). Its remainder parts is used as a part of a statue in remembrance of the droid’s sacrifice, but Din convinces High Magistrate Karga he needs to reconstruct IG-11 in order to go to Mandalore.

Din’s attempt is unsuccessful and it is here we get to meet a few Anzellan droidsmiths - the same species of Babu Frik from ‘The Rise Of Skywalker’. We knew of this easter egg from one of the trailers for ‘The Mandalorian’ but the scene still delighted the audience.

During Din’s visit, Kreef Graga tried to convince him to settled down at Nevarro, and offered him the position of Marshall. This is where the episode addresses the absence of Cara Dune. Graga explains that after she brought in Moff Guideon (Giancarlo Esposito), she was recruited by special forces. Following the news of Gina Carano being fired from the series, we wondered if the character would be recast or just simple never talked about so it is nice to see they address why Cara Dune is absent from the show.

Grogu and Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) in Lucasfilm's 'The Mandalorian,' season three, exclusively on Disney+.

The Dynamic Between Din And Grogu

We all fell in love with Grogu in season 1 of ‘The Mandalorian’ - the internet buzzed about him and the stores filled with Baby Yoda merchandise. In seasons 1 and 2, Mando saw Grogu as a job. As he grew more attached to the tiny being, he became more protective despite trying his hardest to stay detached. After training with Luke Skywalker, Grogu makes the choice to return to Din and we see the dynamic shift from Din’s overprotective nature to a partnership. Grogu is no longer defenseless or as dependent on Din so both are more at ease during their adventure, which is refreshing after 2 seasons of constantly worrying about Grogu’s well being.

Even though he’s more grown and in tune with the Force, Grogu is still as adorable as ever. From spinning round and round on Greef Karga’s chair, stealing candy off his desk, or those precious big doe-eyed looks, Grogu is still very much the scene stealer of the show.

Jedi in a scene from Lucasfilm's 'The Mandalorian,' season three, exclusively on Disney+.

Looking Ahead To Episode 2

After watching episode 1 of season 3, it is no wonder ‘The Mandalorian’ is a fan-favorite 'Star Wars' show. The characters are rich, the visuals are stunning, and the blending the technology of the volume and practical effects makes this world feel more expansive. It has that “original 'Star Wars'” feel yet it is a breath of fresh air. The runtime of 38 minutes may seem short on paper, but director Rick Famuyiwa was able to utilize every second of the episode to give not just the title character, but supporting characters meaningful arcs, and this is just the beginning.

At the launch event - audiences were treated to two episodes. While the first episode rekindled our love for ‘The Mandalorian’, the second one was a bit heavier. Dealing with the loss of the Dark Saber, we get to see Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff) in her current state, and her interaction with Din as he tells her of his goal to go to Mandalore. The episode had a slight horror element to it, with Grogu taking on more of the spotlight. The action scenes are top notch in episode 2, the creatures more strange ( and creepy), leaving the audience wanting more.

It is great to be back in the Mando-verse and see where our heroes go as the stakes are higher than ever. Season 3 is off to a strong start, and with Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni at the helm, there’s no doubt this show will be in every conversation in the weeks to come.

The first two episodes of ‘The Mandalorian’ season 3 receives 9 out of 10 stars.