The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 5 Review

The Mandalorian™ blesses us with a banger of an episode with “The Pirate.” I’d argue it’s the season’s best outing thus far. Chapter 21 is chock full of thrills, action-packed sequences, fun nods to the original trilogy (Din’s line about how he likes “those odds” references Han Solo’s™ “Never tell me the odds” quip), and plenty of narrative twists and turns. It bridges the gap between worlds as they converge to tell a larger story in scope.

The Mandalorian has always felt like a more intimate tale set in an intricate universe, with the focus mostly remaining on Din Djarin™ and his charge/son, Grogu™. However, season 3 broadens the plot horizons by bringing in more fleshed-out characters like Bo-Katan Kryze™ (who’s by all accounts a lead), The Armorer™, Elia Kane™, Captain Teva™, Greef Karga™, etc., to make Mando’s world feel more expansive than ever.

While some fans might not enjoy the focus on other players in this galaxy far, far away, I like this pivot. This season is taking big narrative swings by tweaking its episodic formula, and I’m always game for taking creative risks.

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A Pirate’s Life for Nevarro

We open with High Magistrate Greef Karga meeting with his engineers regarding urgent city matters. However, his meeting is interrupted by a pirate siege spearheaded by Gorian Shard™. You remember him — he resembles a cross between Swamp Thing and Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean. A stunning combination. Anyway, Gorian chats with Greef via hologram about taking over Nevarro™. He’s still rankled by Din Djarin shooting most of his men. Greef insists that Gorian’s helmsman “shot first,” hearkening back to when Han Solo shot Greedo™. I love the nods to the original Star Wars™ trilogy with phrases like this. 

Gorian urges Greef to prepare for Nevarro to become flooded with pirates. Even though Greef states the New Republic recognizes them as legitimate, Gorian sees an opportunity to turn a small, ostensibly forgotten planet into a pirate paradise. 

After his conversation with Gorian, Greef sends for help and urges his team to evacuate citizens from the city. 

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The Return of an Old Friend and a Trip to Coruscant

Next, we’re on the planet Adelphi™ at a cantina, wherein Captain Carson Teva imbibes with some buddies. The bartender passes on Greef’s message to Teva. Greef implores Teva to amass some forces to combat the pirates. We see Teva is with Zeb Orrelios™, who makes his live-action debut in this episode. You might recognize Zeb from Star Wars: Rebels™. He’s even voiced by the same actor, Steve Blum. Teva decides to fly to Coruscant™ to request resources for this mission.

Upon Teva’s arrival on Coruscant, we reunite with Elia Kane, everyone’s favorite secret Imperial agent. Poor Dr. Pershing™. Anyway, Teva asks Colonel Tuttle™ (I did not expect to see Tim Meadows in a Star Wars property) for what he needs to save Nevarro from pirates. However, Tuttle’s never heard of Nevarro, nor does he feel its safety takes precedence over legitimized New Republic planets with problems.

Elia suggests the leaders of Nevarro consider pursuing the proper channels to become legitimized, prompting Teva to voice his concerns regarding the increasingly disturbing events taking place in the galaxy. Could the Empire be on the mend?

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To the Covert

After failing to secure resources from Coruscant, Teva turns to one of Greef’s BFFs — our Mando. Of course, a horde of Mandalorians greets Teva when he lands, assuming he’s a threat. Din recognizes Teva and the latter hands over Greef’s distress call. Now that Teva has discerned the covert’s secret location, Din says they’ll have to move since nobody outside of the Mandalorians is supposed to know. Having imparted his message, Teva departs, insisting he’ll keep the covert a secret.

Later, Din speaks his piece to the group. Despite Greef’s initial stance against the Mandalorians, he’s changed his ways. He’s saved Din’s and Grogu’s lives multiple times. Din asks the clan for their assistance in taking back Nevarro for Greef. Paz Vizsla™ delivers a speech on the heels of Din’s request. It’s the embodiment of the “they had us in the first half” meme, as it appears Paz is against potentially sacrificing themselves for non-Mandalorians — that is, until he mentions the bravery of Din and Bo-Katan Kryze when they saved his son. Paz is on board. Huzzah!

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Return to Nevarro

Bo-Katan informs the group of their game plan: She and Din will remain airborne while the team will land on Nevarro to fight on foot. On Nevarro, we see the pirates have overrun the place, forcing Greef and his citizens to escape to a desolate part of the planet. The Mandalorians arrive in style and begin battling the pirates. Gorian Shard sits in his ship, which still occupies Nevarro’s airspace. Vane™ and his goons attack Din and Bo-Katan in the air. Vane is hellbent on exacting revenge on Din for killing his fellow pirates.

There are a lot of aerial action sequences and ground fighting in the following scenes, with our Mandalorians triumphing over the pirates. Bo-Katan and Din take out the Gorian’s flying forces except for Vane, who chickens out and abandons his boss in his time of need. The Armorer incapacitates the pirates holed up in Greef’s offices. There’s a unique symbolism to The Armorer standing on the balcony, in an elevated position, with her golden helmet shining. It’s especially significant given where the story goes next.

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Goodbye, Pirates

Our heroes save the day, with Din and Bo-Katan destroying the last of the engines on Gorian’s ship. We see his vessel burst into flames as it crashes and, literally, burns. The few pirates remaining on Nevarro are taken hostage. Greef addresses his people and the Mandalorians.

In his speech, he thanks the Mandalorians profusely for saving them from Gorian Shard and offers them the same land he wanted to give to Din in the season premiere. Now, the Mandalorians no longer need to live in the shadows. They can dwell in the sun, on their own land, without the need to hide. Everyone gets a happy ending!

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A New Leader Rises

Meanwhile, Paz informs Bo-Katan that The Armorer wishes to speak with her. Bo-Katan ventures underground to The Armorer’s old stomping grounds — the Forge on Nevarro. The Armorer asks Bo-Katan to remove her helmet. I always got nervous when Din removed his helmet in past episodes, given how it’s a severe and shun-worthy offense in the Mandalorian Creed™. There’s an inherent sense of uneasiness here, and Bo-Katan feels it, too. However, she does as she’s bid and removes her helmet.

The Armorer believes the Mandalorians must all act as one. They must all adhere to the Creed. This is the Way. Bo-Katan saw a Mythosaur™ in the Living Waters on Mandalore™ — a sign that a new age of Mandalore is on the rise. The Armorer insists they should embrace the coming of this new age by uniting all Mandalorians. Bo-Katan has “walked both worlds.” Therefore, she’s the one to do it. 

The Armorer and Bo-Katan, still sans helmet, emerge from the Forge to relay the news to the others. Din seems to support it. The Armorer hopes if Bo-Katan brings in all exiled Mandalorians, they can retake Mandalore. It’s a tall order, but if anyone can do it, it’s our girl Bo-Katan. 

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A Portent of Things to Come

While the Mandalorians celebrate the Mythosaur’s appearance as a sign of positivity, a portent of evil floats in space. Captain Teva locates an abandoned Lambda-class prison transport shuttle™. He sends a probe to survey the wreckage, noting everyone within is dead. He realizes it’s the same shuttle meant to transport Moff Gideon™ to the New Republic War Tribunal™.

Unfortunately, Moff’s body is nowhere to be found, meaning someone has rescued him — and a piece of beskar™ armor leads Teva to suspect the job was done by a Mandalorian. Dun-dun-DUN! 

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“Chapter 21: The Pirate” is an entertaining, immersive 44 minutes of escapism from beginning to end. We’re revisiting the Mythosaur plot in full while we finally have an answer regarding Moff Gideon’s status. Sure, it was apparent he would escape, but seeing it play out in such a haunting fashion onscreen makes it even more exhilarating. Gorian Shard wishes he could be as formidable and menacing as our Moffy.

Speaking of Gorian, I love how he feels like a throwback to old-school Star Wars villains. He’s cartoonish and comic book-y. His downfall comes easily and swiftly, but at least the action sequences it takes to get to his demise are damn fun.

Katee Sackhoff is such a boon to the story this season with her nuanced performance as Bo-Katan. She and Pedro Pascal bring so much to their roles while seldom showing their faces. That’s tough to do as an actor. You can only rely on your physicality and your voice.

How do you think our heroes will encounter Moff Gideon? Did Elia Kane’s efforts lead to his freedom? (My money is on her still working for him.) Will Bo-Katan find success in uniting the Mandalorians to retake Mandalore? Join the conversation alongside other Star Wars fans in our Let Your Spoiler Sideshow: Star Wars Facebook Group, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!