‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3, Chapter 21 “The Pirate” Recap

Spoilers for The Mandalorian Chapter 21, “The Pirate”

Greatness can only be held down for so long. Every home run hitter strikes out often, but not today. The Mandalorian “Chapter 21: The Pirate” hit so far out of the park we’re checking windshields in neighboring cities (namely, that parcel of land on Nevarro Din Djarin was promised). Director Peter Ramsey, also known for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, was at bat, giving you an idea of the stark difference between the last chapter and this one.

Streaming Star Wars has become a proving ground for actors to become directors when it should be reserved for those who’ve already proven they can handle it. With the exception of Bryce Dallas Howard, the gifts are too often flops. Incidentally, Howard directs next week’s episode. For now, let’s celebrate what may have been the best episode of The Mandalorian yet!

The recap montage reminds us we should be thinking about the Darksaber, Moff Gideon, Paz Vizsla’s newly found allegiance to Din Djarin, and the Armorer’s newfound respect for Bo-Katan Kryze. Further, we are reminded of Greef Karga offering a parcel of land to Din and the pirate problem Nevarro is now facing. The precision of plot points tells the story before we see it, but knowing you’re getting a new bike for your birthday doesn’t ruin the fact it turns out to be a Mongoose. The episode was the Superman Seatgrab of BMX tricks.

We open on Nevarro with Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) in a city planning meeting. He’s quickly interrupted by a pirate invasion. Hailed by Gorian Shard (Carey Jones), out for revenge, Carga tries to bluff his way out of the problem. Shard sees through it and begins a battery assault on the citizens of Nevarro.

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Receiving Greef Cargo’s call for aid at the remote New Republic Adelphi base, Captain Carson Teva (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) decides to do what heroes do with the help of former Rebel Zeb Orrelios (Steve Blum). Yes, *that* Zeb from Rebels in his live-action (CGI) debut! The character whose design was based on Ralph McQuarrie’s initial design for Chewbacca. Unfortunately, he only helps Teva decide. He’s not coming for the ride. It’s only a cameo, but just another hint: we’ll see more Rebels cast soon. 

Captain Teva hits Coruscant to seek New Republic assistance for Nevarro. Elia Kane (Katy O’Brian), aka G68 from the Imperial Amnesty Program, aka a possible spy of Gideon, walks in on the meeting to point out that Nevarro hasn’t signed the New Republic Charter for protection. The independent planet is left to fend for itself. Teva has other intentions.

Refugees from the Nevarro attack stray into the volcanic flats outside the city while Shard’s pirates run amok, pillaging and partying to their content. Meanwhile, Captain Teva makes his way, pinging the location of R5-D4, to find Mando with the others in to Covert. Paz Vizsla (Jon Favreau) greets him with ill regard, but Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) sways the group of Mandalorians to assist in liberating Nevarro. Leaving Jurassic World for a nice parcel on Nevarro is the right move for the Covert. With Vizsla’s blessing, the Mandalorians plan an attack.

Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) leads the way. Watch closely as The Armorer (Emily Swallow) looks on in admiration of Kryze’s leadership skills. Mando fires the first shots to lead the Corsair pirate ship away from the city so Bo-Katan can drop the Mandalorian soldiers into the city unmolested.

The ensuing action is, by far, the best-choreographed sequence of Star Wars television action to date. Director Peter Ramsey has a knack for good storyboarding and cinematographic angles. A few ruthless kills will make you wonder how that snuck past Disney executives, but it helps paint how badass Mandalorians are supposed to be. It’s Mando’s rescue scene from season one on steroids.

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The dogfights in the outskirts of the city skies are as thrilling as the Death Star trench scene, and the Armorer gets a chance to shine in hand-to-hand combat in such a way that we all now know to never mess around and find out with her. Her bludgeoning weapons skills will make you cheer. The pirate, Vane (Marti Matulis), leaves in a desperate need to survive, assuring Mando will face him again.

In appreciation for their liberation, Nevarro, and Greef Carga welcome the Mandalorians to their home, giving the Covert a new home world to begin again. Meanwhile, the Armorer speaks with Bo-Katan in private about the future leadership of Mandalorians. The still unnamed Armorer, who some fans believe is Rook Kast from The Clone Wars animated series, asks Bo-Katan to remove her helmet. She sees Kryze as the one who can unite all Mandalorian tribes. As one who “walks both worlds,” Bo-Katan has more potential than ever to become The Mand’alor.

It’s not a post-credits scene, but it acts as one. The story’s been told for this chapter, but a tease of what’s to come plays out as Captain Teva stumbles upon a derelict Imperial shuttle recommissioned to transport the prisoner, Gideon. Convenient evidence that he was broken free by Mandalorians can lead one of two ways: another faction of Mandalorians, loyal to Gideon for his previous ownership of the Darksaber, have rescued him from the tribunal meant to prosecute; the Mandalorians are being set up as an enemy of the New Republic. Either scenario can only spell the continued schism that keeps Mandalorians in a civil war with each other. The Bantha fodder is about to hit the fan.