Review: The Mandalorian Chapter 17 flaunts the passage of time

WARNING: The following contains SPOILERS for The Mandalorian Season 3, Episode 1 – Chapter 17: “The Apostate.”

It’s been over a year since we last saw Din Djarin and Grogu — and over two years since the epic finale of The Mandalorian season 2.

The inseparable Clan of Two is back — and though it’s been a while since we’ve seen them in action, that hasn’t stopped the Mandoverse from moving forward in our absence. Navarro is like new! IG-11 is now a statue. Bo-Katan has had many rotations to sit on her throne and contemplate everything she’d do with the darksaber … if she had it.

Yet while some things have changed, many haven’t. Din and Grogu are still hopping around the galaxy in their shiny starfighter. The Children of the Watch are still weird cultists trying to rebuild, too weak to defend themselves against major threats but far too stubborn to let go of any of their questionable rituals.

And Grogu? He’s still just a baby learning how to control his powers, survive space battles, and take advantage of every situation that warrants a snack. Also: not all small things are pets. Space whales exist. Grandpa Greef will always be there to catch you in times of desperation.

If you came into season 3 expecting to have a great time, you’re in luck. In less than 40 minutes you get a little bit of everything that makes waking up early on Wednesdays worth it. Giant monster even the fully trained warriors can’t bring down? Check. Zipping through space taking out mad pirates in tiny ships? Score. Murder droid; a shootout in the town square (it used to be a bar!!!!); a lone Mandalorian who’s lost all hope — it’s all here.

And this is just the beginning.

This season premiere lacks a Grogu-scale twist to finish it off — but that’s what fans would expect, and thus the opposite must be “the way.”

That’s not to say the episode doesn’t succeed in the most important area: Setting up everything that’s coming up while doing its best to recap what’s already happened. So it has to explain away the absence of a certain former shock trooper who shall not be named. We see it, we shake our heads, it’s over before we have a chance to dwell on it. It’s clunky, but it works. Isn’t that what Star Wars is built on?

The measure of a quality episode of Star Wars TV is whether or not it leaves you wanting more. And “The Apostate” achieves that goal brilliantly. Bo-Katan isn’t really saying goodbye to Din — there’s more to that story. If not all the pirates are gone, they’re bound to return. And Din now has a side quest: Rebuild his favorite droid so it doesn’t execute his son.

Also … someone has to get Bo off that throne and out of her sad girl era. Her name is Ahsoka Tano and you can’t convince me otherwise.

New episodes of The Mandalorian stream Wednesdays exclusively on Disney+.

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