What an episode.
While the stellar season two premiere of The Mandalorian relied heavily on nostalgia with another trip to Tatooine (and the introduction of everyone's favourite new character, Cobb Vanth, to be fair) "Chapter 11" - titled "The Heiress" - finally moves the story along and sets the stage for some very big things to come. After last week's throwaway (but still mostly entertaining) episode, this is a massive step in the right direction, and there's a lot on offer here for fans of this Galaxy Far, Far Away to digest.
With a scant runntime of around 31 minutes minus the credits, it's surprising just how much story writer Jon Favreau and director Bryce Dallas Howard are able to squeeze in. This is the latter's second episode in the director's chair, and even better than last year's AT-ST focused "The Sanctuary." Visually, it feels like The Mandalorian is back on track after "The Passenger," and an increased usage of Ludwig Göransson's always terrific score is definitely welcomed. There's a tonne of action to be found, all of which is fantastic, but enough story to both link the Disney+ series to the wider Star Wars Universe and drop some big hints about where things are set to go next for Din Djarin and The Child.
There are some noteworthy guest stars in "The Heiress," with the main one being someone fans will definitely appreciate seeing (we won't mention their name for fear of spoilers, but rest assured you won't be disappointed with what they bring to the table...and you'll be left desperate to see more of them). Titus Welliver (Lost) and Simon Kassianides (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) both also make memorable guest appearances, as does WWE Superstar Sasha Banks. The pro wrestler doesn't get a huge amount to do, and is just fine. There's not much to say beyond that, though it certainly wouldn't be a bad thing for her to return and get a little more screentime as that might provide a better idea of just how good her acting chops are.
For Star Wars fans, everything in this episode is no doubt what they've been hoping for from this series from the start. It's never too heavy-handed on references to the past, and if you aren't familiar with certain other movies or TV shows, you'll still find plenty to enjoy (and will never get lost or confused). This feels like a return to form for The Mandalorian after a disappointing effort last Friday, and with a jaw-dropping tease thrown in for good measure, expect to rewatch this again and again this weekend.
Director Bryce Dallas Howard knocks it out of the park with an epic episode that features plenty of world-building and finally drops some hints about what fans can expect from this second season.
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