The Mandalorian Season 3/Episode 7 – Chapter 23 “The Spies” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)
The two divisions of the Mandalorians now united under Bo-Katan Kryze embark on a scouting mission of Mandalore for possible habitation to discover what lurks there in wait.
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The Mandalorian Season 3/ Episode 7 – Chapter 23, “The Spies,” Bo-Katan leads volunteers from the two Mandalorian sects now temporarily united on a mission to scout Mandalore for its possible habitation.
| Aired (Disney+) | March 12, 2023 |
| Director(s) | Rick Famuyiwa |
| Writer(s) | John Favreau |
| Previously Noted Characters | |
| The Mandalorian (Din Djarin) | Pedro Pascal |
| Grogu | David Acord |
| Bo-Katan Kryze | Katee Sackhoff |
| Greef Karga | Carl Weathers |
| The Armorer | Emily Swallow |
| Moff Gideon | Giancarlo Esposito |
| Paz Vizsla | Tait Fletcher |
| Elia Kane (Amnesty Officer G-68) | Katy M. O’Brian |
| Nevarro Copper Droid | Parvesh Cheena |
| IG-12 | Manned by Grogu |
| Axe Woves | Simon Kassianides |
| Koska Reeves | Mercedes Varnado |
Recap/Review
This content contains pertinent spoilers.
The Plot Thickens – Mando, Grogu, Greef Karga, Nevarro Copper Droid, Elia Kane, Moff Gideon
Elia Kane opens the episode with a nefarious meeting in a shadowy alley where a probe droid awaits with a hologram projection for communication between her and, yes Moff Gideon, who we all suspected she had allegiance to all along. I feel this menacing chick bears total allegiance to no one and still has some unrevealed treachery brewing just below the surface – Watch out Big, Bad, Moff! Moff Gideon has been busy in his short time away. He is not one of a small group of renegade Imperial loyalists, but rather a member of the elite Shadow Council from the old Empire regime comprised of remnant Warlords to the villainous Grand Admiral Thrawn, who is prominently featured in the Star Wars lore but has not made an appearance yet.
He marches into the council meeting late but shows no concern with his large and in-charge stance. He apprises the well-organized council of the growing threat of the Mandalorians and asks for and is promptly granted additional Imperial weaponry and three Praetorian guards to put down the interloping Mandalorians for good.
Elsewhere on Nevarro, Greef Karga welcomes his new Mandalorian citizens with open arms as they arrive in their newly acquired fleet of ships. He gifts Mando with a recycled, revamped, and repurposed IG-11, now renamed IG-12, as a manned droid just the right size for Grogu. Mando voices fatherly disapproval with his utterance that he is not ready for such a responsibility, but Grogu pushes a droid voice-generated yes as a rebuttal which he hilariously continues to push and assert his yes stance as he goes haphazardly sailing out of the office and onto the Nevarro streets, grabbing snacks, and leaving Mando in the lurch for payment. This is a nice return to endearing moments between Mando and Grogu, which have been sparingly offered this season.
What or Who Lurks There!– Mando, Grogu, Bo-Katan, The Armorer, Paz Vizsla, Axe Woves, Koska Reeves
Bo-Katan leads her explorative group searching for “The Great Forge” on the wasteland of Mandalore. Their first encounter is a welcome one in a rag-tag group of Mandalorians who served under Bo-Katan, known as the Nite Owls, who managed to survive and remained on Mandalore. Bo-Katan quickly updates them on the current affairs and reveals for a first to them and us viewers that she made a deal with Moff Gideon with the surrendered dark saber in trade for the freedom of her people.
He did not honor the deal and slaughtered masses of Mandalorians in his normal treacherous fashion. Bo-Katan poignantly points out the strength of the Mandalorians as formidable, but their destruction time and time again has been in their derision. In a truly endearing moment, Mando bolsters the waning confidence of Bo-Katan, pledging his allegiance to “Lady Kryze.” The injured or too-weak Night Owls are transported back to Nevarro while the others carry on.
On board the ship, tensions mount between the fundamentalist Children of the Watch and Bo-Katan’s Night Owls. A chess-like game erupts in a fight between Paz Vizsla and Axe Woves. Mando is halted in wanting to intervene by Bo-Katan, who explains it was inevitable, but wait a minute, who’s that diminutive super baby? Grogu to the rescue!
Grogu steps between them in his IG-12 manned droid with arms outstretched, holding them at bay, and they relent. Our baby boy is growing up! No sooner had they sallied forth when a huge underground behemoth reared its ugly head in a surprise assault that destroys their pirate-looking sand transport ship. Mando, admirably and ever the protective father, leaves first, grabbing newly armored IG-12 Grogu, who unfortunately cannot fly. The rest of the crew quickly launches into flight mode to evade the deadly intentions of this monstrous beast. They land at the mouth of The Great Forge undaunted to continue their quest to see what lies ahead as if that monstrosity was not enough!
The Empire Strikes Back!– Mando, Grogu, Bo-Katan, Moff Gideon, Paz Vizsla, Axe Woves, Koska Reeves, Three Praetorian Guards
They move into The Great Forge’s main chamber, which isn’t so great anymore, where Imperial soldiers surprisingly ambush them in white beskar armor and jetpacks. They send someone for backup help and think they have the jump on the troopers who are retreating, only to give chase and be led into a trap orchestrated by Moff Gideon beaming in his beskar.
The Mandalorians are separated by a large divider door where a few Mandalorians on the other side are overpowered, and Din Djarin is sadly captured. Moff Gideon’s ego maniacally lauds his secret lair in the Mandalorian Great Forge and reveals his plans to amass a military regime armed with the very best armor and weaponry from cloning, the Jedis, and the Mandalorians. He asks Bo-Katan to relinquish the dark saber, but she rears around and uses it to cut through the obstruction to their freedom.
They immediately retreat, but unfortunately, Paz Vizsla is at the rear and feels there are too many soldiers right behind them, and he needs to take a stand so the others can successfully escape. Bo-Katan pleads with him to no avail and sadly turns to leave as he digs in, valiantly defeating all the stormtroopers amassed.
You can’t keep a good man down! There is a moment where it looks as though his heroic stand will be rewarded with his delayed escape, and all is well, but unfortunately, those three pesky Praetorian guards face off against him, and he is no match for three skilled and armored assailants with lights sabers. He goes down in a blaze of glory and will be sorely missed.
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Things To Note
Question(s) Left Unanswered
1. Will the Mandalorians once again be defeated by Moff Gideon?
2. How long will Din Djarin be held captive?
3. Will Grogu factor largely in trying to free Din Djarin?
4. What other plans do the Shadow Council have on the horizon?
5. Will Elia Kane betray Moff Gideon?
What Could Happen Next
1. A rescue plan is enacted to free Mando.
2. More surprises from Moff Gideon and the Shadow Council.
Review
Elia Kane’s Sneaky Machinations
With her menacing grin, this sneaky chick is meant for dark alleyways. You need to watch your back with her because there is much more to her than meets the eye!
The Adorable and Endearing Interplay between Mando and Grogu
Due to the plethora of subplots, we have not had as many of those father/son bonding moments between our two main characters as in previous seasons. My favorite scene was Mando declaring Grogu manning the IG-12 droid was not working for him. I was tickled as Grogu pressed the yes audio recording to assert his position. There was also the heart-warming moment where Mando protectively grabs Grogu in his IG-12 droid armor and departs the sand ship with all due haste.
Underground Monstrocity Sneak Attack!
Don’t exactly know what this beast was, but it was like a ginormous sand serpent attacking the pirate-like Mandalorian helmed sand ship – Deliciously, Deadly, and Destructively.
Moff Gideon Rules the Day!
Come On, Mandalorians – You have to be quicker on the come-up! It was obvious the stormtrooper retreat was too easy to be had, and a trap was awaiting. Moff Gideon seized this day of victory. Well played, Moff Gideon!
A Glorious Yet Sad Farewell
Paz Vizsla’s last heroic stand was exciting, glorious, and sad. I feel there was much more life this character could have given to the series, but alas, characters do die off and all too soon most times. Paz Vizsla’s absence will be mourned.
