This episode was positively bursting at the seams with big plot points and even bigger reveals, so beware of spoilers. My episode five analysis is always ripe for reading, though!
To the surprise of many fans, this episode picked up with the exact plot point that the last episode ended on. There were no side quests, no filler moments and no adorable side characters. Instead, Din Djarn and Grogu followed the advice of Ahsoka “Nice Lady” Tano and beelined directly to Tython. Very little promotional material has given us hints regarding what to expect from the last three episodes of season two of “The Mandalorian,” so the majority of this episode was a shock as well as a delight.
(The only thing we had spoiled for us? The image of stormtroopers running through scraggly plants and around boulders, thanks to this hiker’s TikTok at the beginning of the year.)
“The Tragedy,” other than having a particularly foreboding name, was action-packed and drove the plot forward with single-minded determination. While it did lack overarching themes and aesthetics that other episodes such as Chapter 13 and Chapter 9 excelled at, “The Tragedy” still comfortably settled in amongst the top three episodes of “The Mandalorian” thus far. Robert Rodriquez, who has some of the most notable experience out of all of this season’s directors, gifted viewers with more than just a few iconic action shots in expanding on the series’ storyline. The cinematography of certain moments were spectacular and brought an additional level of excitement and brilliance to Chapter 14.
The character who benefited most from such dedication to detailed fighting scenes was none other than Boba Fett. After Temuera Morrison’s surprise appearance at the end of Chapter 9, most fans were not expecting for his return to come so soon. Nevertheless, Boba graced live-action Star Wars for the first time since 2002, and he made it abundantly clear why the character was treated with such gravitas in “The Empire Strikes Back.”
Since his introduction in the 1978 holiday special, Boba Fett has had a reputation of being one of the most dangerous men in the galaxy. His lackluster fighting in “Return of the Jedi” did not back up such a claim, though, and Boba has been a child in all television and movie appearances since. Seeing a nine-year-old attempt to assassinate Jedi Master Mace Windu makes for a memorable moment, but it does not quite impress upon viewers why Boba Fett is a name that should be feared. While Boba is not lacking imposing moments in “Star Wars: The Clones Wars,” he is lacking the age and experience fans so desperately want to see.
(Another excellent example of this is in the bonus content featuring a 13-year-old Boba and Cad Bane, which ends with Boba killing Cad Bane and getting the dent in his beskar helmet.)
Regarding further canon content, comic runs such as “Star Wars” (2015) and “Darth Vader” (2015) feature Boba as an adult and highly dangerous bounty hunter; in fact, the latter even contains a fight between Boba and Luke Skywalker in the aftermath of “A New Hope.” One thing comics can never quite accomplish, though, is the kinetic movement of certain characters. No matter how many onomatopoeia effects are used, comic books simply can’t encompass the physical skills of characters on the same level as animation or live-action.
Therefore, Boba’s fighting sequences, complete with a helmet-smashing gaffi stick and terror-inducing knee rockets, were the first of their kind. Morrison’s stellar acting, Rodriquez’s skilled cinematography and the chilling image of a shattered stormtrooper helmet finally gave Boba Fett on-screen evidence to back up his reputation. He truly is one of the most dangerous men in the galaxy and deserving of his status as a renowned bounty hunter.
Considering his galactic reputation, though, just how famous is Boba Fett? Fennec Shand, who was a welcome surprise from season one, seems to be familiar with Boba beyond being saved by him on Tatooine. Considering both Boba and Fennec were once employed by the Hutts, this familiarity is unsurprising and even expected. However, if Din was aware of Fennec’s history in Chapter 5, how is it he hasn’t heard of Boba? Both have pasts as relatively well-known bounty hunters traversing the Outer Rim, yet Din treats Boba as a stranger. In fact, he seems to have no knowledge of a Mandalorian bounty hunter that once worked for Jabba the Hutt and did odd jobs for Darth Vader.
While Boba has been relatively off the radar (read: in a sarlacc’s stomach) for the past five years, was Din not a part of the Guild prior to Boba’s supposed death? “The Mandalorian” is unlikely to address this possible inconsistency, but at least it did confirm that Disney’s canon does view the Fetts as proper Mandalorians. Boba’s chain code was not as iconic as Jango’s history regarding the Battle of Galidraan in Legends, but the reference to Concord Dawn in the code was still a wonderful easter egg and the answers were appreciated.
More answers are surely on their way, especially since Moff Gideon and the sliver of the Empire which he leads finally revealed themselves to Din and Grogu. While everyone was pressing an F in the chat for the Razor Crest — which has become widely and belovedly known as the Star Wars equivalent of an early-2000s Honda Civic — Giancarlo Esposito was making it clear why his character has been the primary villain of “The Mandalorian.”
If the black chestplate, dramatic cape and tendency towards omnipotence weren’t dead giveaways, Moff Gideon is meant to reference Darth Vader on multiple levels. The cinematography of “The Tragedy” drove that purpose home, with the bridge scene being a call back to the beginning of “The Empire Strikes Back” and the cell scene with Grogu mirroring Vader’s own interaction with Leia Organa in “A New Hope.” However, whereas Moff Gideon does not possess an overwhelming strength in the Force, he does feature the confidence and cunningness that not only Vader, but also Palpatine, were renowned for.
Esposito’s almost joking demeanor when portraying Moff Gideon adds a creepiness factor that immediately puts the audience on edge. He has no qualms about hurting Grogu, and his near-giddy boasting of the Darksaber indicates his willingness to use it (and foreshadows the likelihood of an upcoming faceoff between him and Din).
The next two episodes of “The Mandalorian” seem poised to answer questions, explore character boundaries and expand on Grogu’s power and agency. I predicted in my Chapter 9 analysis that this season would see Grogu’s decision-making grow exponentially, and his moment on the seeing stone — complete with hilariously tiny meditation claws — indicated that his agency is about to develop the plot substantially. Who did Grogu end up contacting through the Force? Are we about to witness a live-action Ezra Bridger? Who exactly from this past season is going to join Din, Fennec and Boba’s “Rescue Baby Yoda” campaign, if anyone?
In answering several questions, “The Tragedy” has posed even more. The next episode of “The Mandalorian” will hopefully feature even more answers, and Clemson students will surely be on the edge of their seats come Friday morning, finals be damned.
