Let's Talk About the Season Finale of THE MANDALORIAN, "Redemption" - They Saved the Best for Last
Wow! The first season of The Mandalorian took the show to a whole other level! Chapter 8, which is titled “Redemption,” took the story to some surprising places that I didn’t see coming! I’ve watched it three times already, and I hate that we’re going to have to wait for the story to continue with the second season, which is currently in development.
The episode opens up with the two Scout Troopers who kidnapped The Child. They are played by Jason Sudeikis and Adam Pally, and while they are waiting for instructions on what to do, there’s some playful banter between them. While they are talking, The Child is annoying them so they punch him several times. Yes, they punch Baby Yoda! It’s sad, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but laugh.
One of the Troopers really wants to see the kid, but the other one keeps refusing. After one of the Troopers is bitten by Yoda, IG-11 shows up demanding that they turn over the asset. Of course, they refuse, and IG-11 easily takes them out and gets the kid. This is all going on while Cara, Mando, and Greef are still hunkered down in the tavern as they are surrounded by Moff Gideon and an army of Stormtroopers.
During this standoff, Mando suggests finding the Mandalorian refugee colony in the sewers while Gideon shares that he knows exactly who his enemies are. He calls Cara and Greef out by name, and it’s at this moment we learn Mando’s true name to be Din Djarin. Gideon then offers them terms and gives them until nightfall to agree to the terms or die.
Mando knows who Gideon is as well and reveals that he was supposedly executed for war crimes. He’s positive it’s Gideon, as the Imperial governor knew his real name, which he hasn’t heard spoken since he was a child. This then turns into a flashback giving us the full story of how Mando’s home was destroyed and family was killed. It also shows how he came into the care of the Mandalorians, which is a tragic and moving story. It also sheds some light on why Mando chose to take The Child under his wing and protect him. It’s revealed that the only record of his birth name is in the registers of Mandalore, and as an officer during the purge, Gideon would have access.
Back to IG-11! Mando is worried about what is going on and checks in only to find that Kuiil is dead. Mando thinks the droid is the one who did it, but it’s very much still doing everything he can to protect The Child. IG-11 jumps on a speeder bike and races toward the town where he lays waste to any Stormtrooper he passes along the way.
This is such a badass scene as IG-11 just completely wreaks havoc on this little Empire army. This was one of my favorite parts of the episode! I just loved seeing this character in full on action! Greef and Mando join the fight and help take out the Stormtroopers with assistance from the E-Web. Gideon enters the battle and blows up a small transformer near the Mando, severely injuring him.
This causes them all to retreat into the tavern, with Cara dragging the injured Mandalorian to safety. It’s not looking good, and the Mando doesn’t think he’s going to make it so he tells Cara to take the baby and leave him behind. He goes on to give her a Mythosaur skull necklace which will prove to the Mandalorians that he sent them.
Gideon sends in a Stormtooper with a flame-thrower to burn them out, and this is the next moment in the story where The Child uses the force. He stops the flames from engulfing them as Cara, Mando, and Greef all look on with awe and wonder. Cara and Greef then enter the tunnels to start looking for the Mandalorian colony. The Stormtrooper then blows up and IG-11 comes to the aid of Mando to save him. It’s here that Mando removes his helmet.
You see, while there is a rule of Mandalorian’s not being able to take their helmets off in front of another living being, IG-11 is a droid, so there’s a loophole! It’s at this moment that we get our one and only look at Mando’s true face in Season 1.
After IG-11 helps Mando, they head into the tunnels where they catch up with Cara, Greef, and The Child. They end up finding the colony, but the Mandos there were exterminated. All that is left is a pile of armor. As expected, Mando thinks that Greef is the one responsible for the destruction. But that’s not the case. The Armorer reveals herself to the group and tells Mando that after the Mandalorians made their presence known, it was only a matter of time before someone came for them. She does say there is a chance that there are survivors, but she won’t leave until she’s salvaged all that she can.
During the conversation, she asks about what Mando sacrificed all of this for, and he reveals The Child. After remarking how helpless he looks, Mando explains that he has powers, and the Armorer reveals she’s heard of such powers, powers that are possessed by an order of sorcerers called Jedi. She goes on to tell Mando that his duty mandates he return The Child back to his people.
Mando isn’t happy with the idea as he learned in the old songs that this sorcerer species battled Mandalorians, but the armorer reminds him… this is the way. She then gives Mando his long-awaited signet, a Mudhorn, which represents that bond that he shares with the child. Before sending them off on their journey, she gives Mando one final gift… a jetpack! It’s a good thing too, because it sure comes in handy shortly after!
After they part ways the Armorer finds herself surrounded Stormtroopers asking where Mando and his group are. Instead of answering, she mercilessly kicks the living shit out of them Mandalorian-style!
Mando and his crew escape on a lava river thanks to a gondola speeder, and they are about to head into an ambush. There’s an entire platoon of Stormtroopers waiting for them to exit the cave they are floating through. There are too many of them to take out with their blasters so seeing no other way out, IG-11 heroically sacrifices himself by walking out to the troopers and then doing what he was programmed to do in a situation like that… self-destruct. It was a pretty sad moment because I really came to like what they did with that character.
Then all of a sudden, Moff Gideon races in flying a TIE fighter trying to blast them out of existence! The Mando thinks fast, straps on his new jetpack, and races into the sky for an aerial battle against Gideon, and this scene is absolutely spectacular! Mando blows up the TIE fighter ,and it crashes.
From here Mando will continue his journey to return The Child to his home. Greef plans to restore Nevarro to its former glory and also attempts to recruit Cara for the Guild. Mando bids his friends farewell, returns to the Razor Crest, and gives Kuiil a proper goodbye.
Gideon isn’t dead, though! While a group of Jawas come for his ship, Gideon cuts himself out of the ship with a freakin’ Darksaber! It’s like a Lightsaber with a black blade, and I lost my shit! Gideon isn’t finished yet and we all know he’ll be back on the hunt ins Season 2, which can’t get here soon enough!
I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here! What do you think of the season finale of The Mandalorian, “Redemption”?