The season 3 premiere of The Mandalorian dropped this week, and of course it was a winner. And it was a solid watch for the same reasons it’s always been.

It blends space opera, with a story of friendship and foster fatherhood that is one of the best that has ever been told in popular culture.

There is plenty we could discuss here, but my favorite scene was the one that took place even before the title screen was even flashed. The cold open at the initiation ceremony for the Mandalorians. Like many of you, I thought it was a flashback. I thought that was Din Djarin getting sworn into the group.

But that was only the thought of the moment as we saw a giant crocodile emerge from the body of water and attack the group. It was a back and forth battle. The group laid some thermal detonators on its back and tried to harpoon the massive beast before it started fighting back.

Then we saw that familiar starfighter enter the frame and take out the creature with just a couple of shots. The ship landed and we saw our boys. Grogu emerging from that rear hatch was the icing on the cake. It was excellent television.

This season seems to be more of a mission for Din with Grogu in tow. He wants redemption and that means bathing in the waters of his native planet which has been decimated. It doesn’t look like we’re getting a Bo Katan fight. We saw the discouraged leader sitting on a throne in an empty hall wishing to be left alone. It also appears that we might not get Moff Gideon who is on trial with a New Republic tribunal.

That means new enemies. New challenges.

We’ll be there for all of it. See you next week.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider helping the blog below. Thank you!