Chapter 23: The Spies

"Chapter 23: The Spies"
The Mandalorian episode
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 7
Directed byRick Famuyiwa
Written by
Cinematography byDavid Klein
Editing byRachel Goodlett Katz
Original release dateApril 12, 2023 (2023-04-12)
Running time45 minutes
Co-starring
Episode chronology
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"Chapter 24: The Return"
The Mandalorian season 3
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"Chapter 23: The Spies" is the seventh episode of the third season of the American television series The Mandalorian. It was written by showrunner Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, and directed by Rick Famuyiwa. It was released on Disney+ on April 12, 2023, and received positive reviews.

Plot

Moff Gideon is informed by Elia Kane of the Mandalorians' intent to retake their planet. Gideon relays this information to the Shadow Council, a group of Imperial remnant warlords. He requests reinforcements from Commandant Brendol Hux and questions Captain Pellaeon on the absence of Grand Admiral Thrawn, suggesting that the Council should choose a new leader.

Reassembling on Nevarro, Bo-Katan Kryze unites the Mandalorian clans and prepares a recon party to explore the surface of Mandalore and locate the Great Forge. Prior to leaving, Greef Karga presents the Mandalorian with IG-12: a rebuilt version of IG-11 which has been turned into a pilotable exoskeleton to be controlled by Grogu. The Mandalorian hesitantly allows Grogu to use IG-12.

On Mandalore, the group meets up with another clan, who is loyal to Bo-Katan. Bo-Katan admits that she surrendered herself and the Darksaber to Gideon shortly after the Night of a Thousand Tears, hoping that her people would be spared from further harm. She reveals that after her surrender, Gideon betrayed her and continued to bomb Mandalore. The clan directs Bo-Katan's search party to the location of the Great Forge, while the Armorer takes its weakened members back to the fleet to be tended to.

The search group finds the Great Forge but is ambushed by Gideon's beskar-enhanced stormtroopers and lured into a trap. Axe Woves sees an opening above and flies towards it to warn the Mandalorian fleet orbiting the planet of the attack and to reinforce the others below.

The Mandalorian is captured by a beskar-clad Gideon, who reveals his intent to create a new army of Dark Troopers and complete the Great Purge of Mandalore. He attempts to kill the search party, but Bo-Katan uses the Darksaber to make an escape for the group, with Paz Vizsla staying behind to buy them time to warn the Mandalorian fleet of the approaching attack. Vizsla fights off the stormtroopers but is killed by Gideon's Praetorian Guards.

Production

Development

The episode was directed by Rick Famuyiwa,[1] from a screenplay by series creator Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni.[2]

Casting

Pedro Pascal and Katee Sackhoff star as the Mandalorian and Bo-Katan Kryze, respectively. The Mandalorian is physically portrayed by stunt doubles Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder, with Wayne and Crowder receiving co-star credit.[3]

The co-starring cast for this episode returned from previous episodes, including Carl Weathers as Greef Karga, Katy M. O'Brian as Elia Kane, Emily Swallow as The Armorer, Simon Kassianides as Axe Woves, Mercedes Varnado as Koska Reeves, Taika Waititi as IG-11, Tait Fletcher and Jon Favreau as Paz Vizsla, and Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon.[4][5] Brian Gleeson and Xander Berkeley appear as Brendol Hux and Gilad Pellaeon, two Imperial warlords and members of the Shadow Council. Jonny Coyne, Jodi Long, Hemky Madera, Ron Bottitta, Marco Khan, and Imelda Corcoran appear as additional Warlords.[6] Charles Parnell and Charles Baker appear as the Survivor Captain and Scout. Parvesh Cheena, Shirley Henderson, and Wesley Kimmel reprise their roles as Karga's protocol droid, the Anzellan crew, and Ragnar Vizsla, respectively.[5]

Music

Joseph Shirley composed the musical score for the episode, with Ludwig Göransson composing the themes.[7]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the episode has a score of 86% based on reviews from 22 critics. The website's critics consensus reads: "There's some creakiness as The Mandalorian reincorporates an overarching threat after a directionless period, but "The Spies" succeeds in priming this season for an impactful finish."[8]

References

  1. ^ Couch, Aaron (January 16, 2023). "'The Mandalorian' Reveals Season 3 Trailer, New Directors". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  2. ^ "The Mandalorian (2019–2023)". Writers Guild of America West. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  3. ^ Lovitt, Maggie (March 1, 2023). "'The Mandalorian' Season 3 Review: Din Djarin Sets Out on a Path of Redemption". Collider. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  4. ^ Bonomolo, Cameron (July 31, 2021). "Star Wars: The Mandalorian Star Says Season 3 Begins Filming "Soon"". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Saavedra, John (March 1, 2023). "Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1 Easter Eggs Explained". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Johnston, Dais (April 12, 2023). "Project Necromancer? The Mandalorian Episode 7's Opening Scene, Explained". Inverse. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "Joseph Shirley Scoring 'The Mandalorian' Season 3". Film Music Reporter. February 3, 2023. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  8. ^ "The Spies". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 17, 2023.