Finals are over, so why haven’t you seen this episode yet?! Regardless, beware of spoilers and be sure to check out my episode six analysis.
The seventh episode of “The Mandalorian” has been released, showing fans just what the second-to-last episode has in store for the overall plot. While “The Believer” was more of a filler than last season’s seventh episode, it still sets up what is sure to be a jaw-dropping finale. Chapter 16 is almost guaranteed to involve combat with the Darksaber, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a new Jedi shows up at the end of the episode.
(However, considering the exciting news of a live-action Ahsoka Tano series, I doubt that Ezra Bridger will be making his life-action debut in “The Mandalorian.” Ahsoka’s quest for Thrawn almost ensures that Ezra will instead appear in “Ahsoka” first. My prediction is that either Luke or a brand new Jedi will appear as a cliffhanger for this season’s end.)
One similarity that “The Believer” did share with its first season predecessor, “The Reckoning,” is that Din Djarin has once again assembled a team in order to protect Grogu. Cara Dune, now a marshall of the New Republic, has once again returned to the fold, and a few other characters from episodes and seasons past have joined the mission.
Migs Mayfeld, everyone’s favorite galactic Bostonian, is the most notable addition to this episode’s cast, and not simply because of his ample screen time and praiseworthy jokes. Bill Burr’s comedic timing is top-notch, surprising no one, but Mayfeld’s true value comes while he acts as a foil to Din and provides insight into the Empire’s shades of grey.
Throughout the episode, “The Believer” entertains a conversation about the nuances of the Empire on a level never before seen. Mayfeld’s snarky comment about Din being glad to see stormtroopers struck true for far more than the characters on screen; aside from some select comics, books and video games, stormtroopers and the Empire have always been viewed as the enemy. Now, though, as viewers sneak behind enemy lines alongside Din and Mayfeld, the audience bears witness to the rare inner workings and ideology beyond everyday Imperials.
“Star Wars Rebels” fiddles with such ideas occasionally, particularly when following Alexsandr Kallus’ storyline, but the main focus is on the Ghost crew and their respective reasons for rightfully despising the Empire. Even most comics, such as the multiple Darth Vader runs, highlight the point of views of Force sensitives in the Empire. Outside of a few comic mini-series, the day-to-day lives of Imperial soldiers are rarely highlighted, and never in such a high-profile medium like “The Mandalorian.”
Both Mayfeld and Valin Hess give a voice to the Imperial propaganda and logic that has permeated the galaxy for the last 28 years; focused on order and the supposed natural state of things, their claims are certainly dismaying for those that believe that politics has no place in “Star Wars.” A notable nod that the two give, however, references both novels and video games, and it clearly demonstrates the differences between the Empire and any other form of government that the galaxy adopts.
Prior to “The Mandalorian,” Operation: Cinder has only appeared in or been referenced by a few minor comics, a couple novels and some video games. In referencing the event and having it impact a side character such as Mayfeld, “The Mandalorian” does a spectacular job of introducing both the operation itself and how it affects soldiers even five years later. Similar to the destruction of Alderaan in “A New Hope,” Operation: Cinder acts as a turning point for Imperial loyalty. The operation is the systematic destruction of many worlds across the galaxy, a contingency plan that Palpatine had in place in the event that he died; when Vader throws him down the reactor shaft on the second Death Star, his plan, codenamed Contingency, goes into effect.
Witnessing and participating in the death of countless innocent civilians and even Imperial soldiers causes many — such as Mayfeld — to desert the Empire. While the destruction of peaceful Alderaan garnered similar reactions, the time period between “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back” is generally covered only by comics, meaning many fans are unaware of the rippling impact of the first Death Star’s use. “The Mandalorian” seeks to change that for Operation: Cinder, and it clearly shows that many Imperial soldiers do have lines they won’t cross. It is a humanizing moment for many in the Empire, but it is also indicative of the sheer brutality that such a government strives to achieve.
En route to the mining facility, Mayfeld attempts to engage Din in a political and ideological conversation that nicely sets up the scene with Valin Hess. However, it also draws a clear similarity between Mayfeld and Din which, in turn, sets up the scene in which Din removes his stormtrooper helmet to acquire Moff Gideon’s location.
The past two seasons of “The Mandalorian” have arguably led up to this moment — from Din’s denial of a quiet, helmetless life in Chapter 4 to Bo-Katan Kryze’s explanation of why Din was raised by such a strict creed in Chapter 11 — and the audience finally gets to see what exactly will push Din far enough to break the Creed.
Obviously, the answer is Grogu.
In “The Believer,” Din is a man who has lost everything. At the end of season one, he lost his clan. Bo-Katan then stripped Din of his Mandalorian identity in Chapter 11, and he has been attempting to redefine what being a Mandalorian means since that episode (hence why he asked Boba Fett if he swore to the Creed rather than referencing his maskless face). Now, his ship has been obliterated and his child has been stolen. Even prior to entering the mining facility, Din has replaced his beskar armor with a plastoid stormtrooper uniform. When the time comes to retrieve the data from the terminal, Din has two things: the Creed and a tentative ally who might betray him at any point.
Just as Mayfeld had to during Operation: Cinder, Din is pushed to the limits of his loyalty right outside the officer’s mess. Just as Mayfeld had to weigh his loyalty to the Empire against his ability to sleep at night, Din weighs his dedication to the Way of the Mandalore against his desire to find Grogu. His small, green child eventually weighs more in Din’s heart, and viewers are then infinitely more aware of what Din means when he says, “He means more to me than you will ever know,” at the end of the episode.
The callback to Chapter 8, the beskar spear from Chapter 13 and the continuing mystery of who Grogu contacted in Chapter 14 have set up what is sure to be a thrilling and action-packed season finale. With a season that has already knocked its predecessor out of the water, it is clear that Jon Favreau and his Gucci gang of assorted directors are intimately familiar with the best way to create a quality live-action series. Viewers can only hope that the quality continues to rise in this episode and throughout next season, which is slated to release around December 2021. Regardless, more content from “The Mandalorian” and countless other “Star Wars” media makes it clear that Disney has found the way to make this franchise thrive.
