Disney Plus’s original series The Mandalorian ,season three episode eight entitled “The Return,” kicks off with Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze as she leads the Mandalorians to safety. Meanwhile, Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin is forced to fight his way to safety during an intense battle between the Mandalorians and Giancarlo Espostio’s Moff Gideon’s forces. The interesting part about this is how as he reunites with David’s Acord’s Grogu they come across a room filled with Gideon’s clones. This brings up the question, is the Gideon the viewer sees throughout the season the real Gideon or is he a clone? Luckily, the question gets answered by Gideon himself as he is angry at Din for killing his prototype clones. However, as he says that his clones would have been force sensitive the question is it possible to create force sensitive clones takes its place.
Additionally, the viewer sees Bo-Katan as she and the Mandalorians take shelter in an underground hideout. The surprising thing about this is how the shelter is covered in plants that came out after the purge ended on Mandalore. In her mind, she sees that the plants reassure her that Mandalore is not lost to them. Deep down she was doubting herself once again after losing Din and having to fall back with everyone behind her. As this happens Din ends up fighting Gideon face to face. Unfortunately, he proves to be too much for Din to handle as he calls in imperial guards who have special training. As a result of this, Grogu comes to his father’s aid and the viewer is treated to a fantastic fight scene. Not to mention how afterward Bo-Katan manages to arrive to help Din out. In an intense scene, the viewer finally gets to see another fight scene with the Dark Saber. This leads to a shocking moment in which the Dark Saber is broken by Gideon. Luckily, Din and Bo-Katan do not need to as they take him down together in the series brilliant fight scene which decided the fate of Mandalore.
At the end of the episode, the Mandalorians are victorious and took back their home world. The interesting part about this is how Din officially adopted Grogu as his son. In his mind, he sees that Grogu was very brave throughout the events of the season and wants to reward that. That is why he wanted him to be recognized as a true Mandalorian. The viewer knows adopting him is just a formality he has to undergo. Deep down Din already sees and loves Grogu as his son and cannot wait for the day he puts on a helmet for himself. By far the most interesting aspect of this is how Grogu seems to have a connection with the Mythosaur. This is due to him raising his hand at the water and the Mythosaur waking up deep in the water below the mines. The viewer can assume that years into the future Grogu will ride it as the ancient Mandalorians once did.
Rating: 9.5/10