S01.E06: Chapter Six - The Prisoner

[benteen]

Really enjoyed the episode.  Very fun.  I don't mind the "story of the week" format, as I think the show does it really well.  Though I do wish there was some more episodes coming up.

I definitely enjoy a good heist episode.  Great action scenes.  I knew Natalia "Tonks" Tena was going to be in this episode but totally didn't realize that was Clancy Brown or Matt Lanter.

I enjoyed getting our first look at the New Republic here.  And it was Dave Filoni and the other directors of The Mandalorian! 

Baby Yoda is still great.

I'm a fan of Bill Burr's comedy and think he's done well for himself in TV and movies.  But he is really out of place in Star Wars.  Still funny to be sure but definitely out of place.

Edited December 16, 2019 by benteen

[Uncle JUICE]

I thought this episode was pretty okay, as someone pointed out, the "wary alliance with unscrupulous characters" is a Western film trope as old as the genre, and here it was fairly well done. My quibbles are with the Twi'leks, whose head tails or whatever they're actually called looked cheap as fuck, from a production value standpoint. It also felt a little smaller than they tried to play it on screen, the set. Generally you'd build a single hallway and then film characters walking down it from different angles, and I definitely felt like that's what they'd done here. 

I hated Tonks. I absolutely hate when a character has fangs and then spends so much time showing off that they have fangs (which I do not believe is a common Twi'Lek feature but, nerd alert) by licking them constantly or walking around with their mouths open. It's just bizarre. 

I agree he should have killed the three of them, but didn't the ship basically have a flight to nowhere, presuming that it wasn't programmed to show up at a prison someplace? The human pilot was killed. THe homing beacon was taken off the prison ship, too, obviously. Also, yeah for X wings showing up. 

[xaxat]

15 minutes ago, Uncle JUICE said:

I agree he should have killed the three of them,

Mando before he met Baby Yoda would have. But fatherhood has changed him.

[Lamima]

So...just binge watched. I am not a huge SW fan (not into the space genre as much as the fantasy like LOTR and GOT) but I enjoyed this show. It is getting old having each episode meeting up with some bad guy who wants to hire him and he needs to do it because of baby yoda. But, I can hang in a little longer. Just wish some storyline and other characters would stick around for more than just 1 episode. 

Is this baby Yoda the actual Yoda? I thought not. Then what's his name? He needs his own name. Poor fella.

Another thing I was wondering...I get this feeling that Mando is not the real Mando. Like this guy killed the real Mando and took his gear and identity (so he's not an actual mandelorian). Seems like he really didn't know the group in this episode. The real Mando, who is dead now, knew them. But I have been watching in a loud busy house and not been able to focus 100%. I may be misinterpreting. 

[Anduin]

10 minutes ago, Lamima said:

Is this baby Yoda the actual Yoda? I thought not. Then what's his name? He needs his own name. Poor fella.

Another thing I was wondering...I get this feeling that Mando is not the real Mando. Like this guy killed the real Mando and took his gear and identity (so he's not an actual mandelorian). Seems like he really didn't know the group in this episode. The real Mando, who is dead now, knew them. But I have been watching in a loud busy house and not been able to focus 100%. I may be misinterpreting. 

Nope. This is set a few years after Yoda's death.

[Kel Varnsen]

Interesting that the Republic, or at least these X-wing pilots are kind of jerks in this too. I mean when they flew in at best they knew that the tracker was on that space station and a fighter was getting ready to launch. So to deal with that they not only blow up the fighter, but also the space station presumably killing everyone aboard. Is that how the First Order builds up such a following because the Republic just murders suspects.

Edited December 16, 2019 by Kel Varnsen

[AnimeMania]

Because there is no over arching plot, just standalone episodes, if somebody comes to your house, you can watch the episode you haven't seen yet with them, since they wouldn't be missing much. In 3 sentences you can catch them up to speed. This is a great tactic for recruiting new people to watch the TV series because you don't mind watching the episode together since you haven't seen it either.

[paigow]

5 hours ago, Lamima said:

Another thing I was wondering...I get this feeling that Mando is not the real Mando. Like this guy killed the real Mando and took his gear and identity

Thankfully, no writers from The Blacklist, got hired for this show.....

 

3 hours ago, Kel Varnsen said:

Is that how the First Order builds up such a following because the Republic just murders suspects.

The beacon  being a de facto self-destruct button is pretty extreme, a 20 year sentence morphs into capital punishment..., 

The flight back to Royal Palace Court would be really uncomfortable with all those Sons Of Anarchy crammed into each X-Wing.....Maybe each pilot is also a "Judge" like Dredd

[Lamima]

27 minutes ago, paigow said:

Thankfully, no writers from The Blacklist, got hired for this show.....

So is that a no...my theory? I don't know the Blacklist, never watched it.

[WendyCR72]

1 hour ago, Lamima said:

So is that a no...my theory? I don't know the Blacklist, never watched it.

Yes, in other words, that's a no.  🙂

[paigow]

1 hour ago, Lamima said:

So is that a no...my theory? I don't know the Blacklist, never watched it

Santa has three lists for shows...take a wild guess where it goes...😌

1. Watch
2. Hate Watch
3. Super Hate Watch 

[pezgirl7]

23 hours ago, Lamima said:

Is this baby Yoda the actual Yoda? I thought not. Then what's his name? He needs his own name. Poor fella.

Another thing I was wondering...I get this feeling that Mando is not the real Mando. Like this guy killed the real Mando and took his gear and identity (so he's not an actual mandelorian). Seems like he really didn't know the group in this episode. The real Mando, who is dead now, knew them. But I have been watching in a loud busy house and not been able to focus 100%. I may be misinterpreting. 

Disney has just been referring to him as The Child, but I like Baby Yoda because it just sounds cuter. I agree that he needs a name!

The only people Mando had met previously were Ran and Xi'an, and he knew Xi'an's name as soon as he saw her. How could he forget her? lol So I think he's the real Mando.

21 hours ago, Kel Varnsen said:

Interesting that the Republic, or at least these X-wing pilots are kind of jerks in this too. I mean when they flew in at best they knew that the tracker was on that space station and a fighter was getting ready to launch. So to deal with that they not only blow up the fighter, but also the space station presumably killing everyone aboard. Is that how the First Order builds up such a following because the Republic just murders suspects.

I've seen a few people mentioning this, but I rewatched this episode recently, and the space station didn't blow up. The only thing we see explode is the ship inside. So presumably everyone else on the station is alive. I do think the x-wing pilots were a bit trigger happy though. I think the writers just wanted a "hurrah" moment at the end with Mando tricking and defeating the guys who tried to screw him over.

[PrePreBabylonia]

On 12/16/2019 at 9:47 AM, Uncle JUICE said:

I thought this episode was pretty okay, as someone pointed out, the "wary alliance with unscrupulous characters" is a Western film trope as old as the genre, and here it was fairly well done. My quibbles are with the Twi'leks, whose head tails or whatever they're actually called looked cheap as fuck, from a production value standpoint. It also felt a little smaller than they tried to play it on screen, the set. Generally you'd build a single hallway and then film characters walking down it from different angles, and I definitely felt like that's what they'd done here. 

Or....you build a very small hallway and have the actors RUN down them from different angles (Farscape!) Star Ben Browder used to joke about how often they ran down a tiny stretch of set. It;s what I think of now whenever I watch any show with lots of hallway action (from Star Trek to West Wing).

[paigow]

5 hours ago, pezgirl7 said:

I've seen a few people mentioning this, but I rewatched this episode recently, and the space station didn't blow up. The only thing we see explode is the ship inside. So presumably everyone else on the station is alive.

Everybody is dead.... explosion sets off chain reaction of fuel storage / power source. Hull breach sucks people into space, power failure prevents force fields from sealing breach...adios

[kokapetl]

Well the light speed jump by the droid makes the slow speed chase from The Last Jedi make even less sense. 

Baby Yoda clearly needs a nanny, Jerri Blank was a good one. 

[roamyn]

Guys, it’s MAYFELD, not Mayfield.

[pezgirl7]

22 hours ago, roamyn said:

Guys, it’s MAYFELD, not Mayfield.

I realized that during a rewatch when I had the closed captioning on, but I don't care. He's an asshole and deserves to have his name spelled wrong. jk

I watched some episodes at my parents' house, and they have a soundbar. It was amazing how many more coos and giggles I could hear. Even the jingling spurs sound at the end of episode 5 was much more pronounced.

[CeeBeeGee]

On 12/13/2019 at 3:56 PM, tennisgurl said:

We continue the theme of idiots thinking they can somehow get one over on Mando, or even hurt his baby, them quickly putting on their clown noses as they realize how badly they messed up. We really are hitting every Western plot, so now we get the unscrupulous mercs and the jail break! 

Hahahahahaha!!! Love this!

On 12/15/2019 at 10:52 AM, Gillian Rosh said:

When Mayfeld grabbed Baby Yoda, I was ready to crack some skulls.

HOW DARE HE. Hands OFF the Baby!!!!!!!!! Jesus, all those assholes, pretending to drop him, about to shoot him--FUCK YOU.

On 12/15/2019 at 5:26 PM, Samwise979 said:

This one made me a bit anxious. Not that I thought anything bad (long term) would happen to Mando or baby Yoda but I thought maybe they'd be separated for one episode and I was not liking that!!!

I was anxious the entire effing episode. I kept having to stop and watch something else, I was so tense. You need to take better care of the Baby, Mando!

It's amazing, I loved Tena as Tonks and I adored her as Osha in Game of Thrones (loved it when she cooed "little lord" to Bran in her accent). But I could. not. STAND her in this role. I hatehatehaaaaate that kind of smirky, drama queeny, weirdly too pleased with oneself character. It's not Tena's fault or talent, it's the way it was written--everytime she was on the screen, it was fingernails on the chalkboard for me. Then when she murdered the crew member I really hated her. 

Mando's escape from that cell was really impressive.

[raven]

On 12/28/2019 at 3:31 PM, CeeBeeGee said:

I hatehatehaaaaate that kind of smirky, drama queeny, weirdly too pleased with oneself character. It's not Tena's fault or talent, it's the way it was written--everytime she was on the screen, it was fingernails on the chalkboard for me. Then when she murdered the crew member I really hated her. 

Thank you for stating this so I don't have to!  She was annoying and I agree it's not the actress's fault, it's the archetype that's annoying.

Even with that it's one of my favorites.  You really know the team isn't being straight with Mando when the Billy Burr character holds her back from helping him during the first fight with the droids. 

One of the things that I love about this show is competent Mando.   We've seen it in varying degrees, though he kind of unforgivably let his guard down in Sanctuary and the child was saved because of Cara's awesomeness.  Then again, he did bring her in so he gets points for that. 

Anyway, our Mando has a rep for being the best and it's shown in varying degrees - not just hand fighting and weaponry but being able to talk to Tusken Raiders and Jawas (even if they mocked him) and in this one keeping his cool and escaping the cell and taking out everyone.  Of course he had dad incentive too.

I did laugh at the end when at the end Qin is holding beacon saying "what's this".  It reminded me of the Buffy episode when she aims the rocket launcher at the Judge and he says "what's that do" right before getting blown apart.  Hee hee!!

Anyway this was fun and maybe we'll see those troublemakers again.

[WatchrTina]

I'm re-watching this one and one thing that struck me is that this is the SECOND time someone (a passenger) has opened Mando's weapons "locker."  He really might want to consider putting a damn LOCK on that thing.  It seems to be opened by punching a code into a keypad but in both episodes someone other that Mando successfully entered the code on the first try.  He's still got it set to the default factory setting of 1-1-1-1, doesn't he?  Sheesh!

Edited to add:  Aaaaand the compartment containing the child is likewise unsecured, despite there being a bunch of strangers on board.  Mando, Mando, Mando.  This is not your finest hour.

 

Edited August 21, 2020 by WatchrTina

[Ottis]

The Gunslinger wasn't worth a comment. Let's talk about The Prisoner.

Bill Burr was really good as an actor. Like his comedy. Now he is a double threat.

His character as written , not so much. From "let's just do the job and you never have to see our faces again" to threatening to take Mando's "pet" in 60 seconds.

Xi'an was pretty unattractive for someone who Mando used to have a thing with.

It's interesting that in SW it is OK to say "no one has to get killed" after the team "killed" four androids. Not very enlightened.

And an homage to Alien. Nice.

So this show is just a serious of random adventures hung together by Mando needing cash? Is this going anywhere?

 

 

 

[Anduin]

32 minutes ago, Ottis said:

The Gunslinger wasn't worth a comment. Let's talk about The Prisoner.

Bill Burr was really good as an actor. Like his comedy. Now he is a double threat.

His character as written , not so much. From "let's just do the job and you never have to see our faces again" to threatening to take Mando's "pet" in 60 seconds.

Xi'an was pretty unattractive for someone who Mando used to have a thing with.

It's interesting that in SW it is OK to say "no one has to get killed" after the team "killed" four androids. Not very enlightened.

And an homage to Alien. Nice.

So this show is just a serious of random adventures hung together by Mando needing cash? Is this going anywhere?

Not every Twi'lek can be Aayla Secura. And looks mean different things to different people. Besides, who knows what's under his helmet? He might not be so pretty after all.

Star Wars has and probably never will have one final answer to the sentience of droids. They seem to be as intelligent as the plot needs them to be.

Next episode it comes together somewhat.

[mledawn]

On 11/3/2020 at 9:29 PM, Ottis said:

Bill Burr was really good as an actor. Like his comedy. Now he is a double threat.

His character as written , not so much. From "let's just do the job and you never have to see our faces again" to threatening to take Mando's "pet" in 60 seconds.

Xi'an was pretty unattractive for someone who Mando used to have a thing with.

It's interesting that in SW it is OK to say "no one has to get killed" after the team "killed" four androids. Not very enlightened.

Bill Burr was playing the same character he plays in his stand-up. It's the same threat, which is to say, not much.

Did it explicitly state that Mando had a thing with Xi'an? I thought that was just her messing with him and perhaps wishful thinking. Also we have no idea what Mando looks like, so what's attractive - as always - is in the eye of the beholder.

[Morrigan2575]

2 hours ago, mledawn said:

Did it explicitly state that Mando had a thing with Xi'an? I thought that was just her messing with him and perhaps wishful thinking. Also we have no idea what Mando looks like, so what's attractive - as always - is in the eye of the beholder.

I don't remember if it was outright stated but, it was heavily implied that there was a history between them and, not just by Xi'an. 

[John Potts]

“Former Imperial Sharpshooter”

“That’s not saying much”

lol!

Good to they’re maintaining the Star Wars traditions of “security you can bypass in seconds” and droids that are "Made of Explodium". And of course, the bad(der) guys adopt the classic “Let’s split up – we can take more damage that way!” strategy.

On 8/1/2020 at 1:42 AM, raven said:

I did laugh at the end when at the end Qin is holding beacon saying "what's this".  It reminded me of the Buffy episode when she aims the rocket launcher at the Judge and he says "what's that do" right before getting blown apart.  Hee hee!!

It reminded me of Casino Royale when the terrorist activates his bomb only to realise Bond had attached it to his belt.

On 12/15/2019 at 12:43 PM, Morrigan2575 said:

why is always female Twilek's in live action Star Wars?  Then I'm happily surprised to see a male.

There's already been one in the films - Bib Fortuna (Jabba's major domo) was a male Twi'lek.

On 12/16/2019 at 2:47 PM, Uncle JUICE said:

the Twi'leks, whose head tails or whatever they're actually called

Lekku!

[Camera One]

They did a pretty good job creating a tense scenario on the prison ship.  Though Mando was pretty idiotic to take on this job.  I too had a hard time believing that he couldn't have put a passcode or two on his weapons cabinet and Baby Yoda's compartment.  The despicable team was bullying Mando so much that they're lucky he didn't kill them all.  I'm not looking forward to seeing them again.  At least the red horned guy shouldn't have survived being crushed by the door.  How the heck was he fire-proof too?  Well, Mando got the last laugh bringing that tracker beacon back with the prisoner.  Hopefully, he makes better decisions from now on.