Visually, this episode was incredible. Like others have said, I love the clear Yojimbo inspirations Filoni brought into this episode, and having a western standoff and a samurai duel play out simultaneously.
With that being said, I don’t really like how the Mandalorian has become some kind of sounding board for potential future spin-offs. Boba Fett, Bo-Katan, Ahsoka and Thrawn.
If these characters continue to play a role in the show, that’s fine. But at the same time, I hope certain characters, like Thrawn and Ahsoka, never show up in this show again. A part of me doesn’t like how some of them appear or are mentioned only for the sake of setting up another series. These kind of set ups do nothing for the story at hand.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying the show and having a lot of fun with it. But if were to provide any feedback, I think Favreau and Filoni are playing a dangerous game with their show. They’re walking a thin line between telling a good story, and setting up a cinematic universe. I suppose this is just the nature of this new medium.
I think this episode could’ve been even better with stronger writing. It just says something to me when more people are talking about the reveals, rather than how the story furthered the characterization of our protagonists. I wish our villains could have been more fleshed out as well, or we could have spent more time with the people of Calodan.
I would have really liked if Din had been more skeptical and suspicious of Ahsoka initially. I agree with idir_hh that it would have been more interesting if we had discovered Ahsoka along with Din, rather than be introduced to her before our protagonist. Think about it. All Din knows is that Jedi were once “enemy sorcerers” and “sworn enemies of Mandalore”. I expected a little more reservation from Din, to hand over the Child to a stranger such as this. Imagine Din walking into town and the Magistrate painting a very different picture of who this Jedi is, making Din even more suspicious. I think I would’ve enjoyed a more mysterious reveal for Ahsoka. This, combined with his attachment to the child, would make him more reluctant to give him to her, but he must because 1) this is the way, and 2) he isn’t sure if he alone can protect him from the Empire. Then, when they team up in the end, it would be even more earned.
I like how the episode with Bo-Katan showed this other side of Din. Din is close-minded and sheltered, at times, and seeing him work past certain misconceptions can be cathartic. Not taking advantage of that with what he has heard about the Jedi feels like a missed opportunity.
It’s my hope that, if they manage to reach Tython, that the child will choose to stay with Din. Then, we can move past all of this and accept that Din and the child are sticking together.