The Disney era of Star Wars has proven to be incredibly divisive among the saga’s fan base. The narrative turns taken by J.J. Abrams and then Rian Johnson and then J.J. Abrams again in the sequel trilogy didn’t sit right with a lot of fans, who felt that it betrayed many beloved characters, previous plot points, and even the spirit of Star Wars. Plus, Disney’s Star Wars video games, TV series, and spin-off movies have been generally disregarded, with the odd exception.
But one thing that all fans seem to be able to agree on is that The Mandalorian is awesome. But not every episode was a knockout. So, here are The Mandalorian’s four best and four worst episodes, so far.
Best: Chapter 1: The Mandalorian - 8.7
The Mandalorian got off to a great start with its first episode, aptly titled “The Mandalorian.” It’s not a traditional pilot episode, since Disney was already committed to an eight-episode first season and even started planning a second before season 1’s release.
But it did grip viewers instantly like a traditional pilot episode should. The high-stakes world of bounty hunting is introduced through a space western aesthetic, while the final moments introducing the Child set up the show’s central hook.
Worst: Chapter 2: The Child - 8.7
To say that this episode is one of the worst is a testament to how great the best were. Following the bombshell ending of The Mandalorian’s first episode, “The Child” began to explain the mysteries behind the adorable asset that Mando was tasked with bringing into the hands of Imperial forces. It cemented the key to The Mandalorian’s greatness: the deceptive simplicity of its storytelling.
Dope director Rick Famuyiwa brought an interesting visual flair to the episode, while series creator Jon Favreau’s script kept the focus on the characters, even amid the big set pieces.
Best: Chapter 7: The Reckoning - 9.1
When writers want the villain of their TV show to be memorable, they cast the guy who played Gus Fring. The Mandalorian’s seventh episode – and the penultimate installment of the show’s debut season – introduced fans to Moff Gideon, portrayed brilliantly by Giancarlo Esposito.
Ending with the killing of Kuiil and the capture of the Child by a couple of scout troopers, “The Reckoning” set the stage beautifully for a thrilling season finale. Taika Waititi’s performance as a reprogrammed IG-11 was fascinating, too, as the audience came to really care about a character that was previously viewed as a villain – and as a droid, he’s technically neither good nor bad.
Worst: Chapter 6: The Prisoner - 8.4
Mando teams up with some shady former colleagues for a prison break in The Mandalorian’s sixth episode, “The Prisoner.” The episode brought some riveting action sequences and also introduced audiences to Bill Burr’s fan-favorite character Mayfeld.
This episode’s closing moments give the audience a fascinating glimpse at how the New Republic has begun policing the galaxy with the Rebel Alliance’s resources following Return of the Jedi’s victory ending.
Best: Chapter 3: The Sin - 9.1
In The Mandalorian’s third episode, “The Sin,” Mando turns over the Child to the Imperial forces that want to conduct experiments on him. But when he returns to his ship and sees the gearstick missing the knob that the Child was playing with, he has a change of heart.
In a breathtaking action sequence, Mando storms the Imperial base, shooting his way through Stormtroopers, to rescue the Child. Then, he’s ambushed by his fellow bounty hunters and subsequently saved by his fellow Mandalorians.
Worst: Chapter 4: Sanctuary - 7.8
The fourth episode, “Sanctuary,” was something of a detour. But it did bring the introduction of ex-Rebel shocktrooper Cara Dune, who quickly became one of The Mandalorian fan base’s favorite supporting characters. In the Battle of Endor at the end of Return of the Jedi, the AT-ST walkers came off as kind of ridiculous and slapstick-y.
So, kudos to The Mandalorian team for centering the climactic set piece of “Sanctuary” around one that was genuinely terrifying with super-powerful laser cannons and glowing red eyes.
Best: Chapter 8: Redemption - 9.3
It’s a good sign for the upcoming second and third seasons of The Mandalorian that the first season’s top-rated episode on IMDb is the finale. Seemingly, the only way is up. The Mandalorian’s first-season finale brought some spectacular action scenes, as IG-11 self-destructed to clear a path in a lava river crawling with Stormtroopers and Mando finally donned his jetpack and brought down Moff Gideon’s TIE fighter.
The episode also brought a handful of emotionally charged moments, like the titular bounty hunter finally removing his helmet. The final stinger, showing Gideon emerging from his downed TIE fighter wielding a darksaber, set up a tantalizing conflict for the second season.
Worst: Chapter 5: The Gunslinger - 7.6
Caught in the middle of the season’s intriguing opening episodes and its explosive final episodes, “The Gunslinger” unfortunately smacks of filler. Mando heads to Tatooine for some repairs and ends up helping a young bounty hunter who’s trying to get into the guild.
This bounty hunter’s betrayal is extremely predictable, and Jake Cannavale’s portrayal of him is a little too boisterous. Still, in the hands of Dave Filoni (who both wrote and directed this episode), “The Gunslinger” is an agreeable installment in the show.