Name: The Mandalorian season 3 episode 4
Director: Carl Weathers
Released: 2023-03-22T12:30:00

In episode 4 of The Mandalorian, Din Djarin, Bo-Katan, and a group of Mandalorians head out on a rescue mission while Grogu learns a little more about Mandalorian culture. The episode is streaming on Disney+.

Recap

The Mandalorians are training together with the foundlings getting their first lessons in combat when Din Djarin enters Grogu into a challenge with another foundling.

They take on the challenge of training darts and Grogu appears to be hesitant but once Djarin tells him to show what he can truly do, Grogu effortlessly wins the challenge.

The losing foundling steps away towards the water when suddenly a shriek-hawk swoops down and grabs him. A couple of Mandalorians chase after it on their jetpacks including Djarin and Paz Vizsla but they run out of fuel.

Bo-Katan pursues it in her ship and returns with a location of the creature’s nest and a plan to rescue the foundling. She leads a rescue party to the nest while Grogu stays behind with the Armorer.

She tells Grogu that he’s too young to go with them but decides to teach him a little bit about Mandalorian culture and forge something for him. The Armorer explains that the forge is the heart of Mandalorian culture and can reveal weaknesses in oneself and one’s armor.

As a hydraulic press pushes down on a round plate, Grogu remembers an old memory of his. It is on the night that Order 66 took place and he was being extracted from the Jedi Temple.

As the clones attacked the temple, the Jedis protecting Grogu fell but he eventually reached Jedi Master Kelleran Beq who successfully escapes the planet with him. When he returns from his vision, the Armorer bequeaths him a rondel with the mudhorn sigil.

The rescue party reaches the foot of the mountain where the nest is located and camps there for the night. Bo learns how Mandalorians eat while staying true to the Creed as well.

The next morning, they all scale the mountain to avoid alerting the creature but as soon they reach the nest, Paz Viszla rushes in. Bo and Djarin tell him to stand down but he says that the boy is his son and calls him out by his name, Ragnar.

The heat signatures they saw turned out to be the Shriek-hawk’s babies and their mother shows up immediately with Ragnar in her mouth. The Mandalorians begin attacking it to save Ragnar and Djarin eventually grabs him after restraining one of its wings.

It falls down into the water and is immediately eaten by a dinosaur turtle. The rescue party returns to the camp victorious and also brings the Shriek-hawk chicks along as new foundlings to be trained and fed.

The Armorer notices that Bo lost a pauldron and offers to forge a new one for her. When she asks Bo if she should add the Nite Owl sigil, Bo instead asks for the sigil of the mythosaur.

She then mentions that she saw a real live one in the Living Waters but the Armorer passes it off as a vision or divine intervention rather than reality.

Review

Episode 4 has a well-balanced dual focus with Grogu’s past being explored and Bo-Katan’s place in the Children of Watch also getting some attention. The episode is structured perfectly and is directed well by Carl Weathers.
It features an appearance by fan favorite Ahmed Best, best known for previously voicing Jar Jar Binks in the original trilogy. It’s a true feel-good moment for an actor that deserves all the credit for his efforts.
The action in the air between the Mandalorians and the Shriek-hawk is a brilliant set piece that is shot well too. The frantic camera cuts enhance the entire experience.