Who would ever guessed that Robert Rodriguez and Star Wars would go hand in hand? Then again, given his varied work on everything from Spy Kids to Sin City and Alita: Battle Angel, perhaps this a paring which is long overdue. Either way, the filmmaker just got handed one of season two of The Mandalorian's best episodes, and to say he turns this 33-minute instalment into a small screen masterpiece would be an understatement. Heavy on action, while also moving the story along in way viewers fed up of filler will appreciate, "Chapter 14" is another contender for one of the show's best episodes.
Without heading too deeply into spoiler territory, it features two huge guest stars, one of whom is going to leave fans with their jaws on the floor. Suffice to say that they do a great job in the role, and it should be a lot of fun seeing how things unfold from here. Honestly, if you've loved this franchise from the start, what unfolds here is something you've probably been waiting a very long time for, and Lucasfilm don't disappoint (a relief after the Star Wars sequels).
The standout is undoubtedly Giancarlo's Moff Gideon. Given a slightly meatier role than in previous episodes of The Mandalorian, the actor shows here why he's among the greatest actors of this generation (and all-time), and there's arguably no one better than him at playing the villain. Without getting too much into hyperbole, he's absolutely terrifying here, and it's quickly becoming apparent that there's a lot more to Gideon than meets the eye. Meanwhile, the strengthened bond between Din Djarin and The Child gives Pedro Pascal the chance to add some new layers to his performance, and the emotion in his voice as he talks to Grogu at times here will really resonate with those of you invested in this father/son story.
"Chapter 14" is a visual delight, with some of the strongest action scenes we've seen from The Mandalorian to date. Despite its short runtime, the episode packs a huge amount in, making good use of every single one of those 33 minutes. While a good chunk of the episode is essentially an extended action scene, that's no bad thing, particularly when it will have you on the edge of your seat throughout. For many, this is guaranteed to become their new favourite episode, and the stage is now set for two final instalments which will - hopefully - be as extraordinary as this effort.
Robert Rodriguez and Star Wars prove to be a dream match in this action-packed episode of The Mandalorian which will leave longtime fans squealing with excitement.