The Mandalorian Double Take: Chapter 15

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 15: The Believer.

Rick Famuyiwa delivers one of the most heartfelt chapters of Season Two—with unexpected risk taking, lots of action, and character redemption. Worth mentioning, this was the first chapter without our beloved Grogu (we miss you so much, little green guy). Here are some of the best moments from The Believer:

• Inmate 3-4-6-6-7: As we found out in the previous chapter, Mando needs former Imperial sharpshooter Migs Mayfeld to retrieve the location of Moff Gideon’s cruiser in order to rescue Grogu. In Chapter 15, we find Mayfeld (played once again by Bill Burr) serving his prison sentence in the Karthon Chop Fields, a New Republic scrapyard full of old Imperial ships. Marshal Dune takes Mayfeld into her custody, and the two join Mando’s team for the mission. His return was not as iconic as Boba Fett’s, but definitely one of the most important ones, the character honoring his word to complete the mission while keeping Mando’s secret identity safe.
• Fresh Paint: During the previous chapter, Boba Fett finally reunited with his iconic beskar armor. However, surviving the Sarlacc Pit and a temporary change in ownership have not been good to the armor’s green, red, and yellow paint. In Chapter 15, Fett surprisingly shows up in a fresh coat of paint—further bringing the nostalgia back to his fans (I wonder if Slave I will eventually get the same treatment).
• Juggernaut Five: Our heroes’ mission on Morak to retrieve Moff Gideon’s cruiser location begins onboard an Imperial Juggernaut, carrying rhydonium (a highly volatile and explosive material) to the secret Imperial mining hub. Surprisingly, Mayfeld is accompanied by Mando, both disguised as tank troopers. This is definitely NOT the Way of the Mandalore, as Din Djarin has no choice but to replace his berskar helmet with the one of an Imperial. His determination to rescue Grogu is overriding every Children of the Watch rule.
• Pirates & The Imperial Cavalry: The dangerous ride to the mining hub is disrupted by multiple waves of pirates who are attempting to blow up the transport. Mando manages to take down a few waves, but his habit of having the extra protection from berskar gets the better of him as he gets a reality check: his borrowed plastoid Imperial armor shatters at the impact of the pirates’ melee weapons, making him physically vulnerable to their attacks. Fortunately, after one too many pirate waves, the Remnant makes a patriotic entrance—starting with a systematic emerald rainstorm coming from a pair of TIE fighters, followed by a full cavalry of Imperial troopers.
• Mayfeld’s Redemption: Mando and Mayfeld arrive triumphant at the mining hub, and it feels like the worst has passed. However, what happens next is probably one of the most emotional moments of the entire season. Mayfeld gets cold feet as he spots Valin Hess (played by Richard Blake) whom he served under during his Imperial days. This is when Din has to break the ultimate rule: he has to show his face in order to retrieve the information from the terminal. It was surprising to see his incredibly vulnerable side—his usual powerful presence and confidence stripped away, now replaced with fear and uncertainty. This is when Mayfeld steps in, saving Din from getting caught while protecting his identity. Mayfeld plays his role while they are sitting at Hess’ table—but his bad blood with the Empire (mentioning Operation Cinder from Battlefront II) opened old wounds, triggering an impulsive act of redemption as he blasts down Hess and every Imperial entering the mess and ultimately blowing up the secret Imperial mining hub with one precise shot.
• Seismic Charge: Although Mayfeld was the comeback character of the chapter, the thing that literally got me screaming was the return of the seismic charge. As a prequels fan, hearing that delayed, destructive sound accompanied by the sharp, light blue explosive shock wave once again (first featured in Attack of the Clones) was a true delight.
• Taken: “You have something I want. You may think you have some idea what you are in possession of, but you do not. Soon, he will be back with me. He means more to me than you will ever know.” Mando’s holo message to Moff Gideon (almost exactly reciting the speech given by the Imperial on the penultimate episode of last season) felt like it came out of the movie Taken, starring Liam Neeson—setting the right mood for next week’s Season Two finale. I cannot wait for Din and Grogu to engage in a heartwarming reunion!

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