Chapter 16: The Rescue

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"Chapter 16: The Rescue"
The Mandalorian episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 8
Directed byPeyton Reed
Written byJon Favreau
Produced byJon Favreau
Cinematography byBarry "Baz" Idoine
Editing byAdam Gerstel
Original release dateDecember 18, 2020 (2020-12-18)
Running time44 minutes
Co-starring
Episode chronology
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"Chapter 16: The Rescue" is the eighth and final episode of the second season of the American streaming television series The Mandalorian. It was written by showrunner Jon Favreau and directed by Peyton Reed. It was released on Disney+ on December 18, 2020. The episode received positive reviews from critics, and received a positive response from fans due to the surprise cameo of a digitally de-aged Luke Skywalker.[1]

Plot[]

The Mandalorian and Cara Dune board an Imperial shuttle and capture Dr. Pershing. The Mandalorian and Boba Fett visit Bo-Katan and Koska Reeves at a cantina, and after a scuffle between Fett and Reeves about the purity of the former's Mandalorian lineage,[a] they agree to help rescue Grogu in exchange for Bo-Katan getting the Darksaber from Gideon. Dr. Pershing warns the cruiser is defended by Dark Trooper droids. They use the shuttle to get close, as Fett pretends to attack them in Slave I, and they crash land in the TIE fighter launch tube. Bo-Katan, Koska, Fennec, and Dune fight through stormtroopers to the bridge.

Meanwhile, the Mandalorian finds the Dark Troopers and attempts to seal them off, although one breaks through. After a protracted struggle, he barely defeats it using his beskar spear and ejects the others out the airlock. He then enters the cell where Moff Gideon is standing by Grogu with the Darksaber extended. Gideon offers to let the Mandalorian take Grogu if he leaves the ship immediately, but Gideon strikes the Mandalorian when his back is turned. The Mandalorian fights Gideon with the beskar spear and overpowers the Moff, inadvertently making him the new rightful owner of the Darksaber. Upon delivering Gideon to the others on the ship's bridge, the Moff attempts to goad Bo-Katan into attacking the Mandalorian so she can rightfully claim the Darksaber and take the throne of Mandalore. The Dark Troopers return and close in upon the bridge, working to break through the blast doors. A single X-wing lands, the pilot of which is a Jedi Knight who engages and destroys all of the Dark Troopers. Gideon seizes an opportunity and shoots Bo-Katan with a hidden blaster, though his shot meant for Grogu is blocked by the Mandalorian. Instead of dropping his weapon, Gideon tries to shoot himself but is disarmed by Cara Dune. The others object but the Mandalorian opens the blast doors to the Jedi, who reveals himself to be Luke Skywalker. Grogu hesitates to leave with Luke, until the Mandalorian gives his permission to go with the Jedi to complete his training. In an emotional farewell to Grogu, the Mandalorian removes his helmet and tearfully looks on as Luke, accompanied by R2-D2, departs with Grogu.

In a post-credits scene, Fett and Fennec invade Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine, and kill Bib Fortuna and his guards.

Production[]

Development[]

The episode was written by the series' creator Jon Favreau and directed by Peyton Reed. Reed was announced to be directing for the season on May 4, 2020, Star Wars Day,[2] and while promoting Wonder Woman 1984, Pascal confirmed that Reed directed the final episode of season two.[3] Favreau said the surprise appearance of Luke Skywalker had not been planned from the start, but that as he wrote the story it became clear that it would be the best way to fit within the established continuity.[4] The post-credits scene reveals The Book of Boba Fett for release in December 2021.[5] Jeremy Bulloch, who originally played Fett in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, had died the previous day. The episode later added a dedication to Bulloch.[6]

Casting[]

A de-aged digital version of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker is featured in the episode.

Mark Hamill, who starred in the original and sequel trilogies of the Skywalker Saga, co-stars in this episode reprising his role as the famous Jedi Luke Skywalker. The character, who is twenty-eight in the timeline of the series, appears in this episode through the use of a CGI version of Hamill's de-aged likeness, digitally animated over a body double with the use of motion capture.[7][8] The technique was previously used in the franchise for the appearance of Grand Moff Tarkin and a young Princess Leia in the 2016 film Rogue One, when a CGI version of Carrie Fisher's face was used. Skywalker is voiced by Hamill himself.[8] Hamill previously made an uncredited cameo appearance in The Mandalorian when he voiced the droid EV-9D9 in "Chapter 5: The Gunslinger".

The other co-starring actors cast for this episode are all returning from previous episodes, and include Omid Abtahi as Dr. Pershing, Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett, Gina Carano as Cara Dune, Mercedes Varnado as Koska Reeves, Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan Kryze, Ming-Na Wen as Fennec Shand, and Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon.[9] Additional guest starring actors cast for this episode include Thomas E. Sullivan as a co-pilot, Luke Baines as a pilot, Gabriel Ebert returning as an Imperial Gunner Officer, Katy O'Brian returning as an Imperial Comms Officer, Max Lloyd Jones as the body double for Luke Skywalker,[7] and Matthew Wood reprising his role of Bib Fortuna from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).[10][11] Brendan Wayne, Lateef Crowder, and Barry Lowin are credited as stunt doubles for the Mandalorian. Other stunt doubles cast for this episode are Amy Sturdivant for Cara Dune, Scott Lang and Eddie Perez for Boba Fett, Caitlin Dechelle for Bo-Katan Kryze, Lauren Kim for Koska Reeves, Kirk Jenkins and Tyson Turner for Moff Gideon, Ming Qiu for Fennec Shand, Matt Rugetti for Luke Skywalker, and Jesse La Flair for Bib Fortuna. Chris Bartlett is credited as performance artist for the RA-7 droid. Grogu was performed by various puppeteers.

Music[]

Ludwig Göransson composed the musical score for the episode. The featured tracks were released on December 18, 2020 in the second volume of the season two soundtrack.[12] When Luke Skywalker removes the hood from his face, John Williams' "Force theme", first heard in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, is heard.[13]

Reception[]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the episode has a score of 94% based on reviews from 49 critics, with an average rating of 8.81/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "The Rescue balances its emotional stakes with just enough blockbuster action to craft a stunning season finale."[14]

Laura Prudom at IGN gave the episode 10 out of 10, although she wanted to give it 11 out of 10, and called it the "most momentous episode of The Mandalorian yet - both for how it connects to the larger Star Wars universe and for the seismic shift it creates in Din Djarin and Grogu's stories."[15] Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone called it "a thrilling and ultimately tear-jerking conclusion to a season that leveled up in pretty much every way from a very satisfying debut year."[16] Keith Phipps of New York Magazine gave the episode 4 out of 5 and wrote: "Great season, right? And it ended well, too, achieving the same heightened emotions as the first-season finale and without killing off anyone."[17]

The cameo of Luke Skywalker brought great delight among fans. The part in which he enters a dark, foggy corridor and battles his way through the dark troopers has been compared to the Rogue One scene in which Darth Vader kills many Rebel troops as he walks through the hallway of a ship in pursuit of the Death Star plans. Critics and fans have praised this allusion.[18][19]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Alluding to the fact that Fett is a genetic clone of his father rather than a biological son, as established in Attack of the Clones.

References[]

  1. ^ Opie, David (18 December 2020). "The Mandalorian's surprise cameo may solve biggest Baby Yoda mystery of all". Digital Spy.
  2. ^ Hibberd, James (May 4, 2020). "Robert Rodriguez to direct The Mandalorian season 2 episode". Entertainment Weekly.
  3. ^ Ridgely, Charlie (December 17, 2020). "Star Wars: The Mandalorian Star Reveals Season 2 Finale Director". Comicbook.com.
  4. ^ Callaghan, Dylan (January 21, 2021). "The Way". WGAW.
  5. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (18 December 2020). "'The Mandalorian' Season 2 Finale: Major [Spoilers] Make A Shocking Cameo In A Battle For Baby Yoda's Soul". Deadline. Overnight, Disney+ had not tacked on a placard about this leading into a new spinoff series The Book of Boba Fett, but as of this morning, that was added on revealing the next Star Wars show’s debut as December 2021.
  6. ^ James White (4 January 2021). "The Mandalorian Season 2 Is Now Dedicated to Jeremy Bulloch". Empire. Archived from the original on 2021-01-04. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Fullerton, Huw (December 18, 2020). "The Mandalorian brings an iconic Jedi to screen again in the season two finale – but he looks a little different". Radio Times. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Bojalad, Alec (December 18, 2020). "The Mandalorian: Who Plays Luke Skywalker in the Season 2 Finale?". Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  9. ^ Dumaraog, Ana (December 18, 2020). "The Mandalorian Season 2, Episode 8 Cast & Cameos Guide". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  10. ^ Young, Bryan (December 18, 2020). "'The Mandalorian' Concludes Its Second Season With an Emotional, Action-Packed Finale Full of Surprising Reveals". SlashFilm. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  11. ^ @matthewood (December 23, 2020). "It has been a literal BLAST to don the lekku again as Bib Fortuna for #TheMandalorian" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ^ "The Mandalorian: Season 2 - Vol. 2 (Chapters 13-16) [Original Score]". Apple Music. Apple Inc. December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  13. ^ Guerrasio, Jason (December 21, 2020). "'The Mandalorian' composer reveals how he used classic 'Star Wars' themes to create the dramatic season 2 finale score". Insider. Then by the end, it's a nice transition from heroic mystery theme into the Force theme
  14. ^ "The Mandalorian - Season 2 Episode 8". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  15. ^ Prudom, Laura (18 Dec 2020). "The Mandalorian: Season 2, Episode 8 - Finale Review". IGN.com.
  16. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (18 December 2020). "'The Mandalorian' Season 2 Finale Recap: Living Legends". Rolling Stone.
  17. ^ Phipps, Keith (December 18, 2020). "The Mandalorian Season Finale Recap: Mando and Child". Vulture.com. New York Magazine. Archived from the original on 2020-12-19.
  18. ^ Sarkisian, Jacob (December 18, 2020). "'Star Wars' fans are comparing a scene from 'The Mandalorian' finale to an epic moment from 'Rogue One'". Insider.
  19. ^ Moran, Sarah (2020-12-20). "Mandalorian Proves Luke Is Even More Like Vader Than He Realized". ScreenRant.

External links[]

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