The Mandalorian Double Take: Chapter 10

Welcome to The Mandalorian Double Take—where we give some quick thoughts regarding the latest episodes of The Mandalorian on Disney+. In this article we will cover The Mandalorian Chapter 10.

This new chapter of The Mandalorian is a feast for the eyes if you are a creature and special effects aficionado. From the Frog Lady to Knobby white spiders, Chapter 10: The Passenger is a fun side story full of visually iconic moments and overloading cute comedy.

Here are the highlights of the episode:

• Ambush for the Armor: On his way back to the Razor Crest from Mos Pelgo, The Clan of Two is ambushed by three scavengers, looking to loot what would be left of The Mandalorian (and possibly deliver The Child to the Empire) after his death. Although they managed to destroy the borrowed speeder bike with a rope pull trap while harming The Child and Mando in the process—the three foes have no chance against our hero. I feel like the introductory fist fight is becoming a tradition for every episode—this time the jetpack gag adding a pinch of comedy, which will then be carried by The Child’s obsession to the very last minute of the show.
• Frog Lady: Mando has not been able to make contact with new Mandalorians yet. However, thanks to Peli Motto, her sabacc victory against Dr. Mandible (nice nod to Ant-Man, Peyton Reed) is able to find a new lead for our hero. The catch is the contact needs a ride, sublight travel only. Chapter 10 gifts us with yet another unforgettable side character: Frog Lady. The passenger (portrayed in costume by the extremely talented Misty Rosas, who also played Kuiil last season) is carrying a tank containing her spawn. Rosas’ physicality (also paired with Dee Bradley Baker’s voice performance) make this character lovable, despite the audience’s inability to understand her language. The special effects department truly nailed her design, and the animatronics (perhaps paired with CGI) for the face are so realistic you forget it’s a human being inside the costume. But that’s no surprise from ILM!
• The Child’s Obsession: Probably the most entertaining, funny, and awful at the same time moments from Chapter 10 were The Child’s obsession with the Frog Lady’s spawn. As you all remember from last season, The Child’s favorite food is frogs! And what could be more delightful than a full tank full of frog eggs? As soon as everyone is onboard the Razor Crest, The Child (unsupervised as always) is quickly drawn to the beauty of the glowy spawn tank. I saw this coming as he manages to open the tank and pop one egg in his mouth before daddy Mando catches him and puts him to bed. This is the beginning of an obsession for The Child—who at any opportunity will try to steal an egg from the tank. Adding to the cuteness and curiosity of the scenes is Ludwig Göransson’s new music piece—which can easily become The Child’s main theme. I really hope Frog Lady never finds out!
• New Republic Police: Now that the war against the Empire is over, it looks like the New Republic’s main job is to police patrol sectors to catch any Imperial sympathizers. The Mandalorian is “pulled over” by two X-wing pilots, Carson (played by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) and Wolf (Dave Filoni is back), which quickly escalates into a dangerous pursuit through the glacial trenches of Maldo Kreis. The planet was first featured in the beginning of Chapter 1, but this time we get to see it from a different point of view, in the caves below the surface.
• Knobby White Spiders: Maldo Kreis features one of the deadliest encounters for The Clan of Two. The ice caves are home to the Knobby white spiders, which came straight out of early concept art for The Empire Strikes Back from legend artist Ralph McQuarrie, not to be confused with the Krykna from Star Wars Rebels. After indulging himself in an exotic treat (this time an unborn white spider), The Child, Mando, and Frog Lady are attacked by the entire cluster of spiders led by the mother—who won’t stop until they eat the being responsible for killing one of their kind. The result is a terrifying run for life to the Razor Crest, resulting in a beautiful achievement in special effects.

We would love to hear your thoughts and reactions on the chapter through a comment below. If you choose to engage in the conversation on social media, make sure to use #TheMandalorianSpoilers as we try to be mindful of fellow fans who may not have watched the latest chapter yet. This is the Way.