The Mandalorian: Best Episodes So Far, Ranked
The Mandalorian has been a breath of fresh air for the Star Wars franchise. For many fans, the latest few Star Wars films have been a bit disappointing. Even with the big budgets and stylish action scenes, the franchise was looking like it was losing some of the magic that made it so special.
Luckily, The Mandalorian seems to have turned things around for true Star Wars fans. The show has some incredible action scenes and has captured the originality and spirit of the original trilogy.
The series takes place about five years after Return of the Jedi. The death star has been destroyed, the empire has been shattered and spread out throughout the galaxy.
The show has already had tons of iconic moments. Ranking the best episodes is not an easy task, each new chapter is expertly building upon the expansive Star Wars universe. While it may be up for debate, here are the top standout episodes of The Mandalorian so far.
8. The Heiress
The Heiress is the third episode of the second season. Mando and the Child have crash-landed after their ship was badly damaged. While they wait on the repair of the ship, Mando runs into three other Mandalorians who he joins to take down a shipment that was headed to the empire.
This episode sets up some interesting future storylines for the show to explore. It is also the introduction of Bo-Katan from The Clone Wars animated series.
We get to see lots of Mandalorian action, while also discovering that the series is not shying away from diving deep into the Star Wars lore.
The Heiress is a very fun episode, and it proves that Bryce Dallas Howard is more than capable as a director. I can’t wait to see which episode she directs next.
7. The Child
The Child is only the second episode of the series, but it definitely belongs on this list. The premiere of the show ends with a cliff hanger, where the Child’s adorable face had only just been revealed.
In the second episode, we get to see the two main characters in action together. The Child also dives into Jawa lore, who had not had enough screen time in any of the films.
In this episode, Mando and the Child must retrieve an egg from a Mud Horn for the Jawas in exchange for parts to the Razor Crest. This is the first time we get to see the Child use the force as he saves Mando’s life at the last second.
That scene alone earns this episode a spot on the list, it will make any Star Wars fan light up.
6. The Mandalorian
The season one premiere certainly fits among the top episodes of the series. Before the show premiered, we didn’t know what type of series it was going to be. The premiere did an amazing job of establishing the look and feel of the show.
Not to mention the twist at the end of the episode. The reveal of baby Yoda exploded all over the internet for good reason. It was a well-kept secret, which seems very rare for a big show to pull off these days.
The first episode showed that the series was returning to practical effects, which makes the show feel much closer to the original trilogy. Overall, it was a very solid first episode that showed the potential of the new series going forward.
5. The Marshal
The Marshal started off season two with a bang. This episode features Mando and the Child in search of other Mandalorians to help with their journey.
The marshal of this small town is wearing the infamous armor of Boba Fett, which immediately gets Mando’s attention. The marshal enlists Mando to help the town in exchange for the armor.
This episode looks and feels like a classic western. The town must team up with some Tusken raiders in order to kill a sand dragon that has been terrorizing both parties.
The season two premiere picks up right where the series left off. Similar to what The Child did with Jawas, this episode dives into some Tusken Raider lore. It is a lot of fun for a premiere, and the sand dragon is a tough beast to take down.
Season one and two both have excellent premieres that are special in their own way. You could really swap their places on their list, but either way, both episodes started each season perfectly.
4. Sanctuary
The Mandalorian is really great at crafting bottle episodes that explore certain characters or worlds. Sanctuary is probably the best example of these bottle episodes.
Mando and the Child are seeking refuge on a forest planet where they work together with the local population to defend a village from raiders. The episode introduces Cara Dune, who has quickly become one of the more iconic characters from the show.
In Sanctuary, Mando and Dune teach the local farmers how to defend themselves. Together, they take down an AT-ST. It is one of the best episodes of the show because it shows a different side to Mando, he briefly considers what a life outside of bounty hunting would look like for him.
3. Redemption
Redemption is the season one finale, and it is an excellent final episode. The episode establishes Moff Gideon as a formidable villain, and it builds up the potential for season two.
The character arc for IG-11 is perfect. There is a ton of emotional moments in this finale, and lots of tension as the characters are seemingly caught in a trap. The action in this finale is outstanding. We get to see Mando at his full capabilities, with his full beskar armor and jetpack equipped.
This episode would earn a spot on this list just for the iconic moment of the Child stopping the flames from the incinerator trooper. `In my opinion, this is one of my all-time favorite Star Wars scenes.
2. The Jedi
Ahsoka Tano! This episode was damn near perfect. It was incredibly rewarding for fans of the animated Star Wars series. Rosario Dawson did a great job portraying Ahsoka, and Mando’s path has finally crossed with a Jedi.
The episode feels like it is honoring the samurai roots that the original Star Wars held. The scenery is beautiful, and we finally get to see a good lightsaber fight.
Mando gets to add a sweet beskar spear to his armory, which I can’t wait to see him use in action. We know the spear can fight lightsabers, so perhaps Mando will one day go toe to toe with a sith.
The Jedi is an incredible episode, and it opens the door for some really interesting storylines in the future.
1. The Tragedy
To top off the list, The Tragedy is certainly the most exciting episode of the series so far.
Boba Fett had already been revealed to be alive, and we knew from the season two premiere that Mando had his armor on his ship. In this episode, an older Fett shows up to trade for his iconic armor.
The episode has some of the best Star Wars action ever, Fett absolutely smashing storm troopers, and Mando desperately trying to protect Grogu.
The entire episode gave me chills. I did not expect it to be as good as it was. It felt like a season finale, action-packed and absolutely thrilling. Moff Gideon continues to be an interesting villain.
Mando has lost everything except his armor and his spear. He must now team up with Boba Fett to get the Child back. And we still have to find out who Grogu was contacting when he was channeling the force.
Overall, there have been so many iconic moments in this show. It is rewarding for Star Wars fans to finally have something great to look forward to each week. The series seems to keep getting better with each episode, I can’t wait to see where it is headed.
