The two episode building to the season finale focus on bringing the Mandalorian tribes back together and the return to their homeworld. Well, that is except for another side quest that takes up 90% of “Guns for Hire,” but at least this one involves our main character. Feeling like a mix of world building and rehash of previously defeated villains, with some odd Asimov-ish droid plot thrown in, neither episode is bad but neither really focuses on either the characters or the plot offering something new. That’s not to say there aren’t enjoyable moments, such as Grogu thoroughly enjoying his new murderous mode of transportation (which also allows him to more easily communicate to the other characters).
Both episodes put more emphasis on Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) than Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) who reunites two Mandalorian tribes that have never gotten along in equal parts to The Armorer‘s (Emily Swallow) faith in her and in Bo-Katan finally reclaiming the Dark Saber (through a bit of convenient logic Din Djarin points out). As to the the droid side quest, other than Grogu getting momentarily spoiled and our Mandalorian picking fights with muderbots, there’s not much more to say about taking the long way round to the other Mandalorians other than it does offer them some allies which may, eventually, play back into the larger story.
As to the merging of the tribes, the return to Nevarro (which, honestly, didn’t have to involved at all in this season), and the mission to Mandalore, every step here feels rushed as the writers seem to have written themselves into a corner with the season quickly coming to a close. It makes you wonder why they spent so long on that droid plot, doesn’t it? Tying in to the spy subplot, which I also found completely superfluous (there’s some time you could spend with the Mandalorins), we also get the unsurprising return of Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) who has been operating in secret with a Shadow Council (more world building) which is introduced but doesn’t do anything of note. I thought Gideon was a fine one-off character, but never bought him as a big bad. For those that did, they are likely to enjoy his trap for the Mandalorians more than I, especially as I have no doubt all the Mandlorians of note will find a way to make it through the season.
