Survivors come out of hiding.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 7: Chapter 23
The Mandalorian has really outdone itself with season 3’s penultimate episode, “The Spies.” It’s hands-down one of the best, most thrilling episodes in the Star Wars series thus far, with kickass action, poignant character moments, and a high-stakes energy that permeates from beginning to end.
The episode opens with Elia Kane checking in with Moff Gideon in a Coruscant alleyway via an Imperial Probe Droid (a pleasant pop of nostalgia), in a short scene that will probably go forgotten by many but deserves a shoutout for its gritty Blade Runner vibes. Then, we get the Shadow Council scene, which is worth the price of admission alone.
For goodness sake, this scene is jam-packed with so much drool-inducing setup for the future of the Mandoverse it’s ridiculous. Captain Pellaeon (a big Legends blast from the past!!!) confirms that Grand Admiral Thrawn’s return is imminent, which we already know thanks to the Ahsoka trailer that dropped at Star Wars Celebration over the weekend. He’s one of the most cerebral, layered villains in the entire Star Wars franchise, and it’s nice to see this show continue to set the stage for his return in Ahsoka (played by Lars Mikkelsen), where he’ll most likely be established as the central villain for the entire Mandoverse. The anticipation for the live-action debut of the “Heir to the Empire” is ramping up nicely.
Beyond that, the scene also features Brendol Hux, a nice little tie-in to the Sequel Trilogy. He’s even played by Brian Gleeson, General Hux actor Domhnall Gleeson’s brother! And that’s not even the biggest tie-in to those films. We’re of course taking about “Project Necromancer,” which hints at the Imperial experiments to revive Emperor Palpatine. It seems clear now how The Mandalorian will be bridging the gap between these trilogies.
All that aside, the most pertinent information revealed in the clandestine meeting with regards to this show is that the Empire is laying low under the guise of scattered, “unorganized remnant warlords,” and that Gideon convinces his cohorts to grant him a grip of resources, namely Praetorian Guards (another nice tether to the Sequels) to stop the Mandalorians from retaking their home world. Gideon’s imposing intellect and influence are on full display here, and Giancarlo Esposito proves once again that he’s a master at playing the most terrifying villain in the room. It’s great to finally have him back on the show.
The Mandalorian
Season Number: 3
Episode Number: 7
Episode Title: The Spies
Air Date: Apr 12, 2023
Language: English
Subtitle Language: English
Source: The.Mandalorian.S03E07.1080p.DSNP.WEBRip.DDP5.1.x264-FLUX
