The Mandalorian, Episode 2, in review: I take it all back and say the opposite
18.11.2019
Translation: machine translated
The Mandalorian has to repair his spaceship. The plot suffers as a result. But the episode is infinitely better than the first one. A second look at "Star Wars: The Mandalorian" is worthwhile.
The second episode of the "Star Wars" series "The Mandalorian" flickered across the screens of Disney+ viewers at the weekend. And it shows one thing: the series is pretty dammi good after all.
There is one main reason for this: the visual storytelling.
Plot is missing, emotions are there
The second episode, entitled "Chapter 2: The Child", takes its time. Although it is only 31 minutes long, it works well in this time. The visual storytelling comes with its own obstacles, which director Rick Famuyiwa elegantly avoids. Above all, he gives important moments the space they need. The best example of this is the Mandalorian's armour.
The Mandalorian's armour is a recurring theme in the series. In the first episode, the brawler in the bar asks if the armour is made of real Beskar steel. Star Wars fans know that a Mandalorian's armour is a sacred object. It is passed down from generation to generation as it carries the spirit of battles won. Thus the legend of the Mandalorians, famously the greatest fighters in the galaxy, who would take on a full-blown Rancor any day. So if a Mandalorian is hot on your heels, you'd better give up. Otherwise, the last thing you'll see is the visor of a Mandalorian helmet.
Rick Famuyiwa doubles down. At the beginning of the second episode is a scene in which our titular hero repairs his armour. He himself is wounded and bleeding, but only mends his arm in a makeshift manner. He treats his armour with the utmost care and concern. The scene lasts a long time and has no soundtrack. Remarkable, because one scene before and one after has a Star Wars-style melody droning in the background.
The armour has been visually established as important. Even without the Mandalorian having to comment on his armour. So when the giant rhino - a mudhorn, by the way - catches the Mandalorian, whirls through the air and shreds his armour as if it were a piece of cloth, it's clear: the Mandalorian has a big problem.
We as viewers know: The Mandalorian is injured. He doesn't care about the broken rib. Not the armour. If our bounty hunter were to comment on both scenes, the emotional impact of the scenes would not be nearly as great.
The flip side of the visual coin
Visual storytelling needs time and space. Because when a character in a film reveals to the audience what is going on, it happens faster. However, this usually ruins the coherence of the film. Suppose the Mandalorian had commented. Who would he have spoken to? To his comrade? Since he is not yet able to speak, that would be pointless.
However, this type of storytelling has a disadvantage that I am happy to accept: The plot practically stops. If author Jon Favreau and Rick Famuyiwa had let the Mandalorian comment on all his feelings and situations, the bounty hunter's space plane would probably have taken off about 20 minutes earlier.
Rick Famuyiwa proves that this is also possible. In a way that many will only half like. I'm convinced that everyone will realise what's going on in the episode, how the Mandalorian feels and what's important to him.
The nice side effect of this storytelling is that it forces you to watch the show. You can't leave it on in the background somewhere and consume a mixture of TV series and audiobook. You have to take half an hour, sit down and watch the Mandalorian trying to get his spaceship back into flying condition.
However, the series as a whole suffers from this. Very little happens during the second episode that is relevant to the plot of the first season. This can even be summarised in one sentence: We learn that there were other bounty hunters set on accompanying the Mandalorian.
But did I expect more from the second episode? No. Because the second episode is infinitely better than the first, characterises the Mandalorian better and tells a tighter story.
Good work, Disney. Great work, Rick Famuyiwa. <p
Journalist. Author. Hacker. A storyteller searching for boundaries, secrets and taboos – putting the world to paper. Not because I can but because I can’t not.
