Bo-Katan continues to impress as the three foundlings settle into the covert.
Katee Sackhoff once again steals the show in Chapter 20, which explores this idea of foundlings and their relationship with the Children of the Watch. Of course, Din was a foundling and now so is Grogu, but in a way so too is Bo-Katan with her newfound redemption in the eyes of the Armorer (just as she was subject of The Convert in the previous Chapter 19). She instantly asserts herself as an instrumental leader within this band of Mandalorians and it will be fascinating to see what role Bo-Katan will play in restoring Mandalore to greatness.
The episode begins with Mandalorians training and testing their weapons on the beach of their hidden covert, which has proven to be a dangerous spot to hang out (Chapter 17). We see Grogu seemingly playing with rocks only to find that he is trying to get a crab snack before being interrupted by Daddy Din Djarin. When told he has to stop playing and fight, Bo-Katan reassures the child “my Father was the same way. He’s just proud of you.”
Grogu shows that his time with Luke Skywalker has paid off as he defeats young Ragnar (the boy from Chapter 17) in a match using training darts, scoring a shot of three on the boy’s chest while flipping through the air as we saw in The Book of Boba Fett. Unfortunately, Ragnar wanders too close to the water again and is snatched up by a massive flying raptor.
While Din and Paz Vizsla follow in their jetpacks as far as their fuel could take them, it is Bo-Katan who successfully tracks the creature back to its nest using her ship. Bo offers to use the map to travel to the bottom and climb up to rescue the boy, and six other Mandalorians tag along. The Armorer calls for Grogu, telling him that he is too young for that hunt and that he has much to learn.
While using the forge, the Armorer explains to Grogu that Mandalorians are shaped like raw ore that gets refined through trials and adversity. It is here where an incredible flashback reveals the Jedi who rescued Grogu who is played by veteran Star Wars actor Ahmed Best (who played Jar Jar Binks in the prequel trilogy). A daring escape and chase reminiscent of something out of Attack of the Clones, the excitement brings them through Monument Plaza which was seen in the previous episode (with the peak of Umate) and ultimately to a sleek Naboo cruiser.
Meanwhile, the hunters make camp at the bottom of the beast’s lair, and Paz tells Bo-Katan she can eat privately as “you are the leader of the war party… you have the honor of staying by the fire.” They climb at first light and initially have the element of surprise, until Paz Vizsla reveals that Ragnar is his son and rages on only to find three giant hatchlings in the nest. Bo-Katan impresses in aerial battle against the raptor, saving Paz while only losing a pauldron, but also Din is able to save Ragnar (perhaps foreshadowing shared leadership between these two in reclaiming Mandalore?).
This episode (directed by Carl Weathers) illustrated Bo-Katan’s importance to the story being told, and the fact that they brought the covert three more foundlings is symbolic of the fact that they have all been accepted into the Children of the Watch. While Bo-Katan is invited to the forge where the Armorer is making her a new pauldron, she inquires about wearing one of the Night Owl and the other of the Mythosaur. She mentions having really witnessed the Mythosaur in the Living Waters on Mandalore, to which the Armorer warily replies “This is the way.” Ultimately this season is setting the stage for either Din Djarin or Bo-Katan to rule Mandalore (with a Darksaber or a Mythosaur) or perhaps both, and to do so they’ll likely have to bring Moff Gideon to justice once and for all.