THE MANDALORIAN Season 2, Chapter 10 Review; "Even The Worst Episode To Date Makes For Good Television"

THE MANDALORIAN Season 2, Chapter 10 Review; "Even The Worst Episode To Date Makes For Good Television"

The season two premiere of The Mandalorian was one of the best episodes to date, so "Chapter 10" was always going to have its work cut out for it. Unfortunately, it's an only okay effort for the series...

Review Opinion
By JoshWilding - Nov 06, 2020 01:11 AM EST
Filed Under: The Mandalorian

Last week, The Mandalorian returned to Disney+ with a super-sized episode that introduced Cobb Vanth, teased the return of Boba Fett...and didn't really move the story along at all. For the most part, that could be forgiven, especially as it at least set the stage for the rest of the season and featured enough Easter Eggs and jaw-dropping action scenes to make fans happy. While there's certainly nothing wrong with "Chapter 10" - a.k.a. "The Passenger" - it's complete filler, and easily the weakest instalment of the series to date ("The Meh-ndalorian?"). 

Ant-Man and Ant-Man and The Wasp director Peyton Reed is a capable filmmaker, but as we've learned from those Marvel Studios movies, also one that delivers just "perfectly fine" results when brought into top tier franchises. Still, there's an overload of Baby Yoda cuteness and meme-worthy moments here, and it's undeniably exciting to see The Mandalorian try something new with a final act that plays out like a horror movie. Beyond that, however, the exciting visuals which have defined this show are few and far between, and it takes on such an average air throughout that, like us, you'll no doubt have anticipated Reed's name showing up in the credits at the end of the episode. The director uses a lot of puppets here, with some standing out as being borderline bad (ironically, that's particularly the case with an ant-like creature).

Perhaps the biggest issue with the episode is, as mentioned, the fact it does absolutely nothing to move the story along. Ten chapters in, and fans are still no closer to learning about the machinations of Moff Gideon, The Child's origin, or even where this series is going. Thankfully, even an underwhelming episode of The Mandalorian is still a very good one, and there's a lot here to love. Viewed as a completely standalone story, it's by no means bad, and a clash with some familiar ships, some edge of your seat action, and a solid cold open all elevate an otherwise disappointing effort.

Ultimately, it feels like "The Passenger" will be an episode that some fans love, while others quickly forget. Those of you who enjoyed it when The Clone Wars went off on a tangent for a few episodes will likely be in your element, while there's enough exciting action on offer to guarantee you're never bored. In fact, this chapter features perhaps the best aerial action we've seen from the series to date, and you'll never be able to look at an egg the same way again. 

Even the worst episode of The Mandalorian to date makes for good television, but this average instalment highlight's the shows flaws and is redeemed only by The Child, solid action, and a stellar, horror-inspired final act.
 

Ke1
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AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 11/6/2020, 1:43 AM
It was a fun episode, nothing really mind blowing but still a lot of fun.
Mr Kim’s cameo was awesome!!! 👍🙌
GhostDog
GhostDog - 11/6/2020, 11:00 AM
@AnthonyVonGeek - Glad I am not the only one who noticed him
OmegaDaGrodd
OmegaDaGrodd - 11/6/2020, 5:45 PM
@AnthonyVonGeek - pulled an old Yobo SNEAK ATTACK on that big ass Spider
dracula
dracula - 11/6/2020, 1:44 AM
Considering the Yay Fisher stuff continues to be going nowhere, wonder if he would be interested in directing an episode (when he is on break from The Nevers). He did create the best space western of the 2000's



people he worked with at disney don't have a problem with him (like most of the people he has worked with)
Himura
Himura - 11/6/2020, 1:45 AM
I dunno what show everyone else is watching but most of the episodes dont really move the story along.
dracula
dracula - 11/6/2020, 1:47 AM
always great when a show's worst episode is still good, not many shows can say that. hopefully they keep up the quality
parkerray
parkerray - 11/6/2020, 2:24 AM
Whatever, as long as Kuiil has returned safe and sound, I won’t complain.
InfinitePunches
InfinitePunches - 11/6/2020, 3:13 AM
Not jaw-dropping, but serviceable. The perfect episode for Peyton Reed to direct.
Doomsday8888
Doomsday8888 - 11/6/2020, 3:23 AM
Oh it's directed by Peyton Reed? I see...

Shit being "serviceable at best" is kinda his motto.

I know he digs the F4 and that he'll get to introduce f*cking Kang but...welp, fingers crossed i guess.
WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 11/6/2020, 4:29 AM
"Even The Worst Episode To Date Makes For Good Television" that's like saying
" Even a bad blow job is still a blow job."
patgreyc
patgreyc - 11/7/2020, 7:58 AM
@WEAPONXOXOXO - This is definitely better then a bad BJ. I always laughed at the sex is like pizza analogy. Have you ever had bad pizza? Uggggh!
TheMapleSyrup
TheMapleSyrup - 11/6/2020, 6:06 AM
You think this episode is worse than the one in the village in season 1? It doesn't advance the plot, but its at least visually striking and has some decent acting. That Cara Dune episode is really rough in my opinion.
WakandaChef
WakandaChef - 11/6/2020, 6:27 AM
@TheMapleSyrup - I have to agree with you 100 percent!! This episode wasn't as bad as they are making it out to be. I think the village episode was rough.
Kumkani
Kumkani - 11/6/2020, 7:16 AM
How the [frick] is this the worst episode when Chapter 5 is there?

This is probably the best thing Peyton Reed has ever directed for Disney.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 11/6/2020, 11:01 AM
@Kumkani - he DIRECTED THE HELL OUT OF THIS
patgreyc
patgreyc - 11/7/2020, 7:59 AM
@BlackBeltJones -
globaltravels
globaltravels - 11/6/2020, 9:40 AM
One cannot deny that this show looks f-ing amazing. I was constantly blown away in the first episode and this one, at how awesome the visual spectacle on screen is. I think what this episode was missing was an emotional connection to the frog. We didn't really have any attachment to it at all, save for the scene where the eggs were freezing. But even then, Baby Yoda eating the eggs was played for laughs half the time, so it was difficult to relate and connect with the frog. everything else about the episode was great. I loved that it picked up straight after Chapter 9, although I AM a bit sad that it wasn't Boba and Shennick ambushing Mando...
LegendaryOutlaw
LegendaryOutlaw - 11/6/2020, 10:04 AM
I still think Gunslinger is the worst episode to date. An average episode, with one glaring flaw.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 11/6/2020, 11:01 AM
Episode was damn fun.
JaKBaLLTV
JaKBaLLTV - 11/6/2020, 5:54 PM
it wasn't that bad, the alien critters were creepy AF!
patgreyc
patgreyc - 11/7/2020, 8:04 AM
@JaKBaLLTV - Definitely felt those Aliens vibes with the queen in the basement of the colony.
dt41
dt41 - 11/6/2020, 6:33 PM
If I am not mistaken, the creatures were actually Krykna - the same spiders that Kanan and Ezra encountered on their secret Rebel base; that Bendu taught Kanan not to be afraid. The Rebels had to place those beacon spikes in the ground around the base to ward them off.
itzayaboy
itzayaboy - 11/6/2020, 6:52 PM
I thought it was good but I really want to know what's going on with Boba Fett and where the hell Ashoka is. Also, what's moff gideon up to?

Good episode today but in a show where the seasons only have 10 episodes, this episode felt a lil too much like a filler. Anyhoo, I'm looking forward to next friday already.
dt41
dt41 - 11/6/2020, 7:22 PM
I think the episode was written with the purpose to inform the viewer about the political situation and state of the New Republic five years into the aftermath of the Empire’s fall as demonstrated by the dialogue from the X-Wing pilots bear the end. Sounds like there’s still chaos in the new government’s reoganizing and priorities after 20 years of authoritarian rule by the Emperor. They were willing to look past Mando’s trangressions and be forgiving because he has more good deeds under his belt, which is probably indicative of the New Republic’s policies since there was so much crime and injustice during the Empire. They just wanted him to turn on the damn beacon - so they could know who he was and didn’t have to waste their time chasing someone that was not otherwise important - they want to hunt down former Empire that are causing trouble. I have a feeling those pilots will come in handy in Mando’s upcoming fight against Moff Gideon’s forces.
DarthGoodGuy
DarthGoodGuy - 11/6/2020, 10:47 PM
Completely disagree! A funny and interesting episode with just a dash of diabolical infanticide for kicks
Jimster
Jimster - 11/7/2020, 10:53 PM
I liked it. Can't wait for next week's episode.
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