IN REVIEW: STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN (S3 – EP5) CHAPTER 21 – The Pirate

Synopsis: In The Pirate, the people of Nevarro need protection from rampant pirate attacks. Meanwhile, Captain Carson Teva investigates the outer rim as he suspects the Empire is preparing a comeback. 

The Story

In retaliation for events we saw in ‘The Apostate’. Pirate leader Gorian Shard launches an attack and takes over Nevarro, which forces Greef Kargo to seek help from the New Republic and relocate his people to safety. Before he evacuates his township Karga manages to get a message off to Captain Carson Teva at the nearby New Republic base. Knowing that requests are backlogged on Coruscant. Carson Teva flies there and makes the request personally to lend aid to the people of Nevarro. But the request to help Nevarro gets denied due to the fact that the planet’s independent status. Somewhat disgusted at this attitude. Teva flys to the Mandalorian Covert and asks Din Djarin and the Mandalorians if they can help. Din Djarin manages to get the Covert to agree to help and says that Greef Karga will likely give them land to live on in exchange for their help. 

The Acting

Nonso Anozie gets to enjoy a great deal of screen time in this episode as the vengeful Gorian Shard who has issues with both Greef Karga and Din Djarin. Anozie goes into full panto mode as he brings a very over-the-top Star Wars villain to life. On a more lowkey note. We also get a great performance from Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Captain Carson Teva who gets some really strong scenes. In the episode, Teva suspects that the remnants of the Empire are making plans and takes his concerns to Coruscant where he comes up against an apathetic bureaucrat who dismisses Teva’s concerns. Matters are not helped by a manipulative Elia Kane (Katy M. O’Brian) who mentions that Nevarro is independent and not signed up with The New Republic. Teva’s run in with Kane is perhaps one of the standout moments of this episode. I hope that we get to see more from Captain Carson Teva and Elia Kane in future episodes. 

Overall

Another strong episode that pushes the story forward. The close of the story sees Bo-Katan being sent off to find other Mandalorians to join with the Covert. While Teva discovers that Moff Gideon was rescued from his prison transport by a group of Mandalorians.

Indeed, these revelations are likely to lead to some interesting storytelling in the remaining three episodes of the season.