‘The Mandalorian’ – Season Two – ‘The Believer’ – Review
This latest episode of The Mandalorian, ‘Chapter 15: The Believer’ was kept short and sweet, with high energy and intensity and gave audiences a story that really tackled the line between good and evil.
Following the kidnapping of Grogu by the forces of Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal), Cara Dune (Gina Carano), Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) and Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison), make a plan to uncover the whereabouts of Moff Gideon’s exact location. To do this they enlist the help of the Mandalorian’s former enemy Migs Mayfeld (Bill Burr), to infiltrate a secret Imperial rhydonium refinery on Morak. Things get fast and heavy in this one, and for those who like their action to move at speed, ‘The Believer’ certainly delivers on this.
‘The Believer’ is definitely a reunion episode for The Mandalorian, with director Rick Famuyiwa returning to direct his third episode of the series so far. The action is quick and to the point and is very fitting of the Mandalorian’s intensity to get Grogu back. What’s really interesting about ‘The Believer’ is how Famuyiwa plays with the audiences’ emotions, especially in regards to the position of The Empire, who actually offer life-saving help to the Mandalorian in an unexpected way. It’s an episode that keeps you on your toes because of this, and Famuyiwa adds in plenty of surprises along the way.
Comedic star Bill Burr returns to The Mandalorian following his Season One appearance as the Mandalorian’s one-time enemy Migs Mayfield. And his return to the series leads to some very entertaining moments. A classic motormouth character, Mayfield is the guy you don’t want to be stuck with on a road trip as he just won’t shut up. And this of-course tests Din Djarin’s patience to no end. But alongside his usual comedic ribbing, Burr also allows audiences in on Mayfield’s backstory as an Imperial Trooper. As a veteran, he’s certainly suffered through his own moments of PTSD, and it becomes clear that he’s not the character we initially thought him to be.
With the focus on a character like Mayfield and the Mandalorian’s presence among The Empire in ‘The Believer’, we really get a strong analysis of good versus evil and the political machinations of it. This episode analyses what actually makes someone heroic, and how a totalitarian system built on a stable, but crushing sense of order, can never actually be free. It also sets the scene for a classic ‘line in the sand’ moment as to what constitutes right action.
‘The Believer’ is the perfect set-up for The Mandalorian’s final episode and Din Djarin’s challenge to Moff Gideon at the episode’s conclusion is sure to have audiences fired up. We’re in line of the goalposts now and nothing will stop the Mandalorian from resuing his son.
The Mandalorian streams every Friday on Disney+
Image: Walt Disney Pictures