REVIEW: ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3 Episode 8 — “Chapter 24”

Following last week’s penultimate episode, the Star Wars community was a buzz with theories and speculations about how the season would end. Who is the other spy? Who is going coming to help save Din Djarin? What is Gideon’s plan for cloning? Are we going to see a Jedi come to the aid of the Mandalorians? Directed by Rick Famuyiwa, The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 8 , answers all of these questions and more in what will likely go down as one of the most divisive installments in the Star Wars canon.

The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 8, picks up directly after Paz Vizla’s sacrifice at the end of last week’s episode. As the Mandalorians led by Bo-Katan Kyrze attempt to regroup after learning of Grand Moff Gideon’s survival, his repurposing of Mandalorian technology, and the capture of Din Djarin the opening moments are undoubtedly tense.  With so much made about who would betray the Mandalorians or would show up to save the day in the build-up to the finale, the first few minutes are waiting anxiously for theories to show themselves true or not. However, The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 8 continues its trend of subverting fan expectations.

There is no Jedi savior. There is no New Republic rescue. There is no traitor. The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 8 sees the Mandalorians be their own salvation, now banded together for the first time in decades under the leadership of Bo-Katan Kryze. Through Rick Famuyima’s directorial work, fans are treated to a plethora of exciting action set pieces that show the Mandalorians battling Gideon’s knock-off troopers. Despite all of Gideon’s efforts to create a new era of warfare for the Empire, he is woefully outmatched by the Mandalorians finally standing together. Throughout the finale, many of the characters that make up this new Mandalorian collective get their time to shine in the heat of battle. Even the Armorer and Axe Woves who many thought could be Gideon’s spies, solidify themselves as dedicated to the Way.

Read Our Review Of The Mandalorian Season 3 Here.

The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 8‘s title ‘The Return’ could not be more perfect. In the episode, fans see the return of the might of the Mandalorian people, vegetation thriving on the world of Mandalore, and most importantly the return of Din Djarin and Grogu working as a team. When looking to see how the series got here, it is important to take into consideration the groundwork from the early episodes. By expanding the scope past just Din Djarin and Grogu, the finale gives weight to The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 8‘s biggest moments.

If not for the trouble it was for Bo-Katan and Din to bring the Mandalorians together this season, the closing moments surely would not have the same weight. Saying that Mandalorians are stronger together is one thing, but to have so many different views on the Way of the Mand’alor be at odds so often in Star Wars canon makes it becoming a reality even more daunting. However, through various character moments, the cohesion began to build until in The Mandalorian Season 3 Finale fans can see what it truly means to see a united Mandalore. Further, the expansion on the frailty of the New Republic opens the doors for more stories to be told that very well may include Bo-Katan Kryze and the rest of the Mandalorians.

Unlike the finale of The Bad Batch Season 2, there is a sense of hope by the credits roll on The Mandalorian Season 3 Finale. It is almost as if this season played as the third installment in what would be a Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau movie trilogy with the finale evoking the end of Return of the Jedi. While the series’s titular villain may be defeated, it does not mean that there isn’t more for these characters to do. It is very likely that we will continue to see these characters’ stories bridge the gap between the Original Trilogy and the Sequel Trilogy. By splitting the focus between Din Djarin and Bo-Katan Kyrze, a door is opened to having their stories told separately with Bo-Katan as the rightful leader of Mandalore and Djrain and Grogu back to their own adventures.

If there is one thing that The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 8 may falter on is also what makes it so much fun to watch. The pace for the episode is fast which is different than the slower burning pace the season has followed. The episode wastes no time answering all the questions fans have had throughout the season by jumping straight into the action. The action, while very well done and exciting, zooms by in the episode’s 38-minute runtime. I found myself wanting the conflict to last longer as we see aerial combat as we have never seen before in Star Wars live action. When the dust settles, The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 8 attempts to wrap up earlier threads from the season to leave no stone unturned. Given the episode’s upbeat ending, the dash to the finish doesn’t feel as heavy as episodes like Chapter 22, but the intention to close the door on the season without a cliffhanger is evident.

The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 8 puts a neat bow on an otherwise turbulent season for the Star Wars community. A happy ending doesn’t necessarily mean the end though. As Star Wars continues to expand its storytelling into more than just the story of the Skywalkers, The Mandalorian Season 3 can stand firm in its place as a conduit for this new era. The Imperial remnant of warlords is still a threat to the galaxy. With Mandalore on the cusp of a new age, the Mandalorian song can continue to be written with characters that have seen exponential growth this season. Din Djarin and Grogu have new opportunities to explore the galaxy together. More stories to be told means more Star Wars projects to look forward to and who can be mad at that?

The Mandalorian Season 3 Finale is available now, with new episodes of The Mandalorian premiering Wednesdays on Disney+.