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The Mandalorian, Chapter 19: The Convert

16/3/2023

Translation: Megan Cornish

Chapter 19, The Convert, begins and ends with Din Djarin. In between, there’s an episode reminiscent of Andor about a scientist – and a traitor.

Welcome to the latest episode analysis, where we discuss the best WTF moments and Easter eggs. First off: this discussion of the episode includes spoilers! So watch The Mandalorian – Chapter 19: The Convert before you read on.

It was a memorable moment for Star Wars fans when the last episode revealed one of the oldest mythical creatures in the galaxy far, far away: the mythosaur. Thousands of years ago, the beasts were tamed and ridden by Mandalore the Great, founder of the Mandalorian people and the Way of the Mandalore. Then the fearsome mythosaur died out. Since then, an image of its skull has adorned the iconic coat of arms of the proud Mandalorians.

The fact that Din Djarin and Bo-Katan Kryze encountered a mythosaur in the Living Waters below the mines of Mandalore could be hugely significant. Because the ancient songs – as old as the aeons themselves – foretold that the mythosaur would rise and herald a new age for the Mandalorian people.

But who will lead them?

The Mand’alor

Din doesn’t remember seeing anything under the surface after falling into the water. And Bo-Katan, heir to the throne of House Kryze, doesn’t want to tell him. Doesn’t she trust her own senses? After all, mythosaurs are thought to have been extinct for thousands of years. Or is it that she fears Din Djarin’s competition for the throne?

The thing is, Mandalore the Great wasn’t just a historical figure and the first leader of their people. Mand’alor is also used as a title passed on to each successor, chief and military leader of the Mandalorians. However, the Mandalorians don’t have a fixed line of succession. Or an unbroken line for that matter. In fact, the Mandalorian people often lived for hundreds or even thousands of years without a Mand’alor. And why shouldn’t they? For a long time, they had neither hierarchical structures nor a stable government. The chief was only needed when the clans scattered across the galaxy needed to be brought together and united under a common banner to counter threats or even start a war. Just as Mandalore the Great once waged war against the Jedi.

Who will follow in the footsteps of Mandalore the Great?
Source: Lucasfilm

A few hundred years later – long after the wars against the Jedi – the Mand’alor title passed to Tarre Vizsla, who was simultaneously the first Mandalorian to be inducted into the Jedi Order. According to legend, it was he who forged the Darksaber: a black-bladed lightsaber filled with dark energy, which can even withstand Jedi lightsabers. The fate of the Mand’alor has been closely intertwined with the Darksaber’s ever since: whoever wields it carries the symbol of Mandalorian power and therefore leads the Mandalorian people. And the sword can only be won in a duel to the death. So unless Bo-Katan stabs Djarin – her brother in arms – in the back, the other Mandalorians won’t follow her.

Why does Bo-Katan actually see herself as a better leader? Not so long ago, the Mandalorians were at war with one another – also known as the Mandalorian Civil War. On one side were the warlike, conservative Mandalorians, who advocated a strict interpretation of the Way of Mandalore. On the other side were the pacifist New Mandalorians, led by the ruling House Kryze. They ultimately won the civil war, established hierarchical structures and installed a hereditary government. And the scattered Mandalorian people did thrive under House Kryze – until they were almost completely wiped out by the Empire during the Great Purge because they threatened its power. The few survivors were the Children of the Watch, part of the clan that still advocates the old ways and includes Din Djarin, and Bo-Katan Kryze – the last descendant of the former ruling house.

For her, it’s clear: if she owned the Darksaber, she could bring the now scattered Mandalorians together again and make sure they flourished. This is the way. Her way. Her fate. What else could the appearance of the mythosaur mean?

Encountering the mythosaur. What does this mean for the future of the Mandalorians?
Source: Disney/Lucasfilm

Bo doesn’t stay long to reflect on her encounter with the ancient Mandalorian creature. It’s back to Kalevala – home world of the ruling House Kryze – and into open combat with Imperial interceptors and bombers – and what a battle it is! It’s a dog fight at its finest, grippingly staged and punctuated with moments of jubilation when Bo-Katan shoots down a TIE interceptor after a Batman-like move. Nice! It’s the kind of thing I love about Star Wars.

But Imperial reinforcements are on their way. Something’s happening in the Mandalore system: Din and Bo are suddenly faced with an entire armada – more than would normally be available to an Imperial warlord who escaped annihilation at the hands of the Rebel Alliance years ago.

They have to flee.

The scientist

Change of scene: we’re now on the city world of Coruscant. It was once the neon-glowing seat of the Republic from the Star Wars prequels. Then it was the evil Galactic Empire’s centre of power – cold, grey and bleak, as last seen in the Andor series. But after the fall of the Empire, the city seems to have recovered under the New Republic.

At least if we believe the upper income bracket. In their midst: defected Imperial Dr. Pershing. He’s the scientist who’s been referred to as an expert on clone and gene technology on several occasions in The Mandalorian. He was most recently captured by Din and Republican Marshal Cara Dune in Chapter 16: The Rescue. Now he seems to have placed himself in the service of the New Republic after his time at the Re-Integration Institute and… well… nobody says exactly what they do with Imperial prisoners of war there. Presumably, they’re freed from the Empire’s brainwashing.

At least that’s what’s suggested by Pershing’s appearance in the cathedral where Darth Sidious once told Anakin Skywalker about the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise.

However, Pershing enjoys far fewer freedoms than his celebrated appearance suggests. He’s now part of the amnesty programme – where people go when they «pass» the Re-Integration Institute and are supposed to be reintegrated into galactic society.

Arriving at the amnesty shelters, he soon encounters an old acquaintance from his earlier Imperial days: Elia Kane. We also last saw her in Chapter 16: The Rescue, namely as a communications officer on Moff Gideon’s ship. Gideon has been the villain for the past two series. And the Great Purge of Mandalore took place under his orders, in the course of which he snatched the Darksaber. At least until he lost it in a duel with Din Djarin.

And Gideon’s whereabouts? A defector at the amnesty centre speculates that he escaped the Republic war tribunal after being captured by Cara Dune. Another thinks he’s already been uploaded to a Mind Flayer – I’ll get to that later.

The traitor

In the following scenes, Elia Kane plays a perfidious game with the former scientist Pershing. His current job is archiving Imperial holdings for the New Republic. He’d actually much rather continue his research. But he’s not allowed to. «The ethics of cloning science are… complicated,» he says to Kane as they visit some sort of fair on Coruscant. A cheeky addition in the background, by the way: John Williams’ March of the Resistance from Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens.

I believe straight away that Pershing actually has good intentions – his research could be used to clone organs in order to help ill people, for example. Kane on the other hand…

I don’t believe a word she says. It’s obvious to me that her intentions aren’t as kosher as she claims. No way does she «still have so many things to make up for.» On the other hand, the New Republic isn’t much better. Outwardly it presents itself as a mild, forgiving benefactor. After all, it doesn’t just execute prisoners of war – or worse. Instead, they’re reintegrated into society. Just like Pershing. Sounds good.

Dr Pershing being questioned daily by a droid.
Source: Disney/Lucasfilm

But why do all amnesty participants get numbers as names? Pershing, for example, is L52. And he’s only addressed as L52, even by other amnesty participants. The amnesty quarters are as stark and grey as Coruscant was under the Empire. And then there’s the daily questioning about his state of mind, which is more probing than benevolent. Is it just me, or is it reminiscent of the questioning of replicant K in «Blade Runner 2049»?

At least this episode raises some interesting questions for me at this point. What if good states are just milder versions of bad states? What if the real evil is dehumanisation through bureaucracy? It reminds me of George Orwell’s 1984. I like that we get to see something like that in The Mandalorian. A lot. I liked it in Andor during Syril Karn’s Coruscant scenes too.

Anyway, Pershing finally gives in to Kane’s whispering: they break out of the amnesty shelters, make their way to the disposal yards where old Imperial warships and equipment are scrapped and break in. Kane has convinced Pershing to steal a mobile research station from there so he can continue his research in secret and show the New Republic his good intentions. But Kane has tricked him: as soon as he has the equipment, Republican security forces show up – apparently alerted by Kane. For the New Republic, it now looks as if it was Pershing who was leading her astray.

Why did she do it? Good question. And one that will only be answered in future episodes. My theory: she’s still loyal to the Empire.

The Mind Flayer

Here comes the Mind Flayer. It was previously mentioned at the amnesty centre and now again by Pershing. Incidentally, it’s not a monster from Stranger Things or Dungeons and Dragons; it’s a torture machine – even if the Mon Calamari officer denies it. Instead, he calls the Mind Flayer a Six-O-Two Mitigator that’s not used to torture prisoners, but to «rehabilitate» them. A procedure that was «only recently» approved. That’s why Pershing doesn’t know about it yet. Right.

And yes: when Pershing snaps at Mon Calamari that he’s walked into a trap, I have to smirk.

Speaking of which, if the Mind Flayer initially made you think of Bor Gullet, the creepy tentacled creature from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – you’re not alone. The machine apparently works in a similar way too. Kane, who’s now an amnesty officer, proves this: when everyone leaves the room, she manipulates the Mind Flayer – oops, sorry… the 6-0-2 mitigator. And Pershing’s brain is… destroyed, I guess. As I said, Kane’s endgame isn’t clear. But she’s definitely up to no good. And Pershing’s story probably ends here.

The way

Back to Din Djarin and Bo-Katan Kryze. Their escape takes them back to the first location in Chapter 17: The Apostate: the cave where the Armorer and what may be the last few Children of the Watch have been hiding since their banishment from New Mandalorian society and the Great Purge. Din brings a sample of the Living Waters from the mines of Mandalore, earning his rehabilitation.

Then something extraordinary happens.

The Weapon Master determines that Bo-Katan of House Kryze also jumped into the Living Waters to save Din Djarin. Since then, she hasn’t removed her helmet. Strictly speaking, she’s already following the Way of the Mandalore – and is therefore one of them. The Children of the Watch. She of all people – Bo-Katan Kryze, who once stood on the other side in the war. But… this is the way.

What if Bo-Katan Kryze just took her first step into a new group that she might one day lead? A group that could grow. That could reunite once-scattered clans under a common banner. A group that could soon grow into a warlike civilisation; bigger, stronger, more powerful and more feared than ever.

Is that what the mythosaur meant in the previous episode?

What did you think of this episode? Are there any more Easter eggs I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments! I’ll be back with an episode analysis of Chapter 20 next Wednesday (Thursday at the latest). We’re in for one hell of a ride.

Header image: Disney / Lucasfilm

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Luca Fontana

Senior Editor

Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.ch

I write about technology as if it were cinema, and about films as if they were real life. Between bits and blockbusters, I’m after stories that move people, not just generate clicks. And yes – sometimes I listen to film scores louder than I probably should.

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