Disney Plus’s original series The Mandalorian ,season four episode three entitled “The Convert,” kicks off with Omid Abtahi’s Dr. Pershing as he tries to start a new life in the New Republic. What is interesting is how the viewer gets to see how the government rebuilt itself after the fall of the Empire. Not to mention that the series also shows how people who served the Empire adjust to working for the republic. From the way Dr. Pershing acts the viewer can see that he is grateful to be away from the Empire considering, he would have been killed without hesitation should he fail his tasks. However, it is evident that he has an itch for science that he cannot scratch. This is due to him being a high rank science officer in the Empire with his own lab. It can be assumed that deep down he hates having to give up his research.
Additionally, as Dr. Pershing meets Katy O’Brian’s Elia Kane, he seems to find a true friend. This is a result of both of them bonding over their time in the Empire. In his mind, he sees that he is not the only one that misses the importance he once had in the galaxy. At first, he believes that being just another cog in the machine for the Republic was enough. The viewer might even guess that he wanted a bit of redemption which is why he was happy for a time. The surprising part about this is how Elia convinces Dr. Pershing that his research would be a great asset to the higher ups in the republic. By the look on her face it seems as if she finds him to be a good friend.
At the end of the episode, the viewer sees the two sneak into an old star destroyer to get Dr. Pershing required lab equipment to continue his work. The series does a fantastic job at creating an eerie atmosphere inside the barely lit star destroyer. Almost immediately the viewer gets a sense that something is wrong, especially with how easily they managed to get access. Unfortunately, it turns out that Elia was setting him up in order to get him arrested by the New Republic. The shocking part is that the New Republic seems to be using softer methods of punishment that mirror the Empire. This is demonstrated by how an officer attaches a memory wipe machine to Dr. Pershing which was used by the Empire. The only difference is that he sets the device to a lower setting so as to not cause pain. What is interesting about this is how the republic swore to end the horrible ways of the Empire when it won the war. However, it does the same methods even if they are gentler than the Empire. This shows how hypocritical the New Republic can be and it asks the question if things are better or just the same with a new tyrant in charge.
Rating: 8.5/10