IN REVIEW: STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN (S3 – EP3) CHAPTER 19 – The Convert

Synopsis: In ‘The Convert’ a group of imperials. Which, includes Doctor Pershing find amnesty in The New Republic on Coruscant. But are all of them truly working in the spirit of this new post-imperial era?

Picking the story up from last week. Din Djarin, Bo-Katan, and The Child narrowly escape their encounter with the Mythosaur after bathing in the waters beneath the mines of Mandalore. Of course, this is quite significant in that it confirms a prophecy written into the creed of Mandalore, which we’ll likely learn more about as the season unfolds. As they fly towards Bo-Katan’s castle they come under attack by imperial forces. Seriously outgunned Din Djarin asks that Bo-Katan drop him back off near the mines so he can recover his ship and even the odds out a little as his ship is much faster than Bo-Katan’s. After a Dogfight Din Djarin manages to fend off their attackers. But as they return to Bo-Katan’s castle they witness a group of imperial bombers destroys Bo-Katan’s home. Of course, Bo-Katan looks to get revenge. But is then suddenly faced with more imperial ships, which forces them to retreat.

Meanwhile, on Coruscant Doctor Pershing. The cloner who was working for Moff Gideon has found amnesty and is transitioning into a new life serving the New Republic. He is joined by Elia Kane who served on the same ship as him as Moff Gideon’s old communications officer. Feeling somewhat redundant in his new administrative role Pershing wants to resume his experiments with cloning as he believes he was on the verge of a breakthrough. However, should he resume his work it would breach New Republic Law. This little setback does not prevent Elia Kane from offering to help him out though. As she befriends the scientist and aids him in an attempt to steal a science kit from their old Star Destroyer, which is in the old shipyards. But can Elia be trusted?

The Acting

Pedro Pascal and Katee Sackhoff don’t have a great deal to do this week. As their scenes kind of bookend the main storyline regarding Doctor Pershing on Coruscant. However, the scenes they do get are pretty big when it comes to forwarding the show’s overall narrative. 

The main story this week is that of a small group who have taken amnesty on Coruscant. Central to the story are Doctor Pershing and Elia Kane who is played by Omid Abtahi and Katy M. O’Brian. Both actors do a really good story of carrying the story, but you kind of know that Elia is going to turn nasty at some point in the story as she was pretty much very in with Moff Gideon when we last saw her. Whereas Pershing was most likely manipulated by the Empire but didn’t care so much so long as he could pursue his science. O’Brian is brilliantly manipulative as Elia who really goes all out into convincing Pershing that she is his friend. But it s the final scene that really shines a light on how cold-blooded Elia Kane really is.

Overall

This was a great episode that allowed the show to explore Elia Kane and Doctor Pershing, which up until this have been mostly recurring characters. Insofar as Din Djarin. I really liked the final scene when he and Bo-Katan get welcomed into the creed by The Armorer. They are both redeemed. But the question is can Bo-Katan be trusted? As her character carried a lot of baggage from The Clone Wars as the initial fall of Mandalore.