Warning: This post includes spoilers for The Mandalorian season 2, episode 7, "Chapter 15: The Believer."
The Mandalorian season 2, episode 7, "Chapter 15: The Believer" once more provides some stunning concept artwork alongside the credits with a different look at some of the episode's key moments. With no Baby Yoda to lean on, the episode brought back Bill Burr's Mayfeld and offered a surprisingly nuanced take on indoctrination and weaponized ideology.
After the harrowing ending of "The Tragedy" that saw Baby Yoda kidnapped by Moff Gideon and his new Dark Troopers, Din Djarin and his band of motley allies took a step back into the mission-of-the-week formula to find the location of Gideon's ship. The mission was impressively low-cost, given the stakes and the parallel with Rogue One's plot to retrieve the Death Star plans. Presumably, the new era of the Empire learned nothing from the lax security of the original trilogy.
It may not have had Baby Yoda, but there was some great action, a great, charismatic performance by Burr and more insight into what Mando is willing to give up for the Child. As with every episode, several pieces of concept art played over the credits offering a different look at some of the episode's best moments. Here's all 11 concept art pieces featured at the end of The Mandalorian season 2, episode 7, "The Believer."
Mayfeld's Scrapyard Prison
Just as the sequel trilogy introduced the culture of post-Imperial scrappers with Rey, The Mandalorian went a little further, showing scrapping to be a punitive measure. This concept art also shows more of the measures designed to keep the likes of Mayfeld within.
The Juggernaut Sets Off
The central conceit of Mando and Mayfeld transporting dangerous cargo was very much a video game level, but it allowed for some musings on wartime occupation, leaning heavily into the Vietnam War allegory.
Mayfeld Helps Din Djarin Aboard
Rather than having Mando and Mayfeld in their stolen transport crew uniforms, this concept art from The Mandalorian season 2, episode 7 shows them in their usual garb. Somewhat less inconspicuous, of course.
Sisters At Arms
More for effect than conceptualization of an actual scene, by the look of it, this moment does at least look ahead to the ramped-up action of the finale and the potential to see Fennec Shand and Cara Dune in full flow of battle.
Mando Hacks Into Gideon's Ship
While Baby Yoda wasn't included in The Mandalorian season 2, episode 7, there was a brief appearance by Moff Gideon, in a reversal of the usual hologram message formula. This time, Din Djarin went full Taken, telling the Imperial commander that he's coming for him.
The Morak Mines
In The Mandalorian season 2, episode 7 concept art, the Morak mine is even more run down and set further into the landscape, making it look more like a native location taken over by the Empire. And the secretive nature of the place was better hidden than having a conspicuous shuttle parked on the roof.
The Pirates Attack
Once more showing Mando in his beskar armor, this sequence showed the attack of the alien pirates. The decision to strip Din Djarin of his armor was a smart one, given the opportunity to explore what he is without it.
Juggernaut Three Is Down
If you transport highly explosive materials, you're likely to find yourself in peril. Once more, the Vietnam allegory comes through in the juxtaposition of nature and heavy technology and explosives.
The Secret Poe Dameron Cameos
Those pirates look very familiar. Rather than using the aliens from the final episode, this concept art seems to cheekily use Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron to show off an alternate version of their barges.
The Juggernauts On Morak
Another look here at the perilous journey the Imperial transport crews are forced to undertake. Proof too that making the Star Wars universe bigger isn't just about more planets, it's about revealing new parts of established lore.
Mayfeld's Leap Of Faith
As some of the smaller tropes in Star Wars go, the image of someone jumping onto the loading ramp of a fleeing ship is one that's returned to frequently. Given his past, it wouldn't have been surprising for The Mandalorian season 2, episode 7 to have killed off Mayfeld, so it's great to see him live on.