I’m just running through my first cut of the season 2 edit, and the one thing that keeps nagging me is a desire to put the Tattooine episode into this fanedit. I just feel that seeing how Fennic and Boba came together is important. Not necessarily for the Mandalorian, but for the Book of Boba Fett which seems like it will run alongside the Mandalorian.
I REALLY strongly feel that the Tattooine episode should be included. Of course, I also really strongly feel that the Jawa/egg stuff should as well. It is a side quest, but so was the village episode. The point of keeping that was because we got to know Cara more and it showed why Mando trusted her, plus showed Mando considering taking off the helmet. Well, I felt that the Jawa episode did much of the same character-wise. We got to know Kuill more, and it showed why Mando trusted him, plus it showed Grogu’s skills.
I really think that a few of the scenes from that episode are really important to establish Kuill more.
As for the Tattooine episode. YES, YES, YES!
I suppose there are four ways of doing this.
- Cut the village scenes completely and when Mando says “looks like this planet is taken” transition wipe to the Razorcrest in space. This would keep the current 2.5 hour run time.
- Keep the village scenes but cut the walker battle, giving a 2.75 hour runtime.
- Keep all the village scenes and have a 3 hour runtime.
- Produce two 2-hour movies for season 1 by including the initial Nevarro trip and Jawas and ending episode 1 as Mando escapes Nevarro with the child.
I still think the Nevarro trip should be included sorta, but I really think it just needs a trimmed down version of only the first scene with Karga, and then cut to Mando in space. That way Mando (and his awesome skill-set), the mission, the fob and Karga are all introduced boom in one quick scene. And when Karga shows up in the transmission we know exactly who he is from that first scene.
And, of course, I’d still throw in the Moff’s alive scene after Mando flies off with Baby Yoda, right before he puts the grave together for Kuiil. I think it would fit beautifully there. I just think it would flow together nicely. The OOH! of the fly-off, to the jittery ooh! of the Jawas transition, and then the dun-dun-dun of the Gideon reveal which is a oh no! to the downer reminder of Kuill’s death. I think that has a good flow.
I say keep the village, but drastically cut it down. As much as I loved your edit, I did feel that the village stuff slowed the movie down (i also thought that episode was the weakest of season one). Frankly, you don’t need all of the pretty village lady stuff since nothing comes of it.* All of the reaction shots with her, all of the close moments with her, all of the attention/focus on her, cut almost all of that. There is enough with her and Grogu you can keep (like when we first meet her–that convo should be kept) that him nearly taking off his mask makes sense that it’s about Grogu, the lifestyle. And the convo with Cara and Mando easily can cut out her query about the “pretty villager lady” when the two are talking about his mask.
*For instance, Mando/Cara ask who has experience with guns. Focus on pretty villager lady raising her hand. Focus on her showing off during training. And then… during the battle, a bunch of the villagers are shooting guns. So, yeah, ALL of that could have been cut. Again, cut the PVL focus and you cut some nice precious seconds that add up to some nice precious minutes!
Oh, and, yes, cut down the walker fight big time. When I was watching it, I figured that a bunch of when Cara/Mando go off to distract the bad guys could be cut as well.
By doing that, running time-wise, you can cut a good chunk. Maybe.
If you cut all the PVL stuff, cut the walker battle stuff down, add that one opening Nevarro scene, some of the Tattooine stuff (and pretty, pretty please–the Jawa/egg/Kuill stuff), I see it easily fitting under 2.75/3 hours, I don’t see how that length would be a problem.
And, yes, I completely understand that I’m just totally hoping you’ll do this so that I don’t have to make my own edit! 😄 (The only thing I’d add other than this is putting Mayfield in, but, eh, I could live without him.)
I, of course, could be COMPLETELY wrong about the timing. If I am, and just going by your four choices above: I’d go with 4 personally. But, damn, that would be a lot more work for you. My second choice would be 1.