MovieChat Forums > The Mandalorian (2019) Discussion > Episode 5 was just filler.

Episode 5 was just filler.


Nothing really moved the plot.

The first episode was the intro.

The second showed the struggle he had with the valuable bounty and we learn what is so special about it.

The third had Mando make a moral choice that pretty much defines the rest of the series.

The fourth reveals more about Mando’s story and the culture of the Mandalorians. It also developed his character as he saves the village. We also understand how dangerous it is for baby Yoda and solidifies Mando’s role as the protector.

But the fifth episode accomplished nothing. No character development and the plot didn’t move anywhere.

It wasn’t a bad episode. It had good action and pacing. But it was pure filler.

I hope we see something more substantial next week.

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Yeah, I thought it was just ok. I'm not really sure if this show has legs to carry on for seasons and seasons. Maybe a limited series would have worked better, because there is very little plot progression, not just this episode but every episode.

I'm enjoying the show for what it is, but I wouldn't say it's anything special.

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Yeah was thinking that myself...so far it doesn't seem like the show really even has much of a plot at all. I think its great, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot to it.

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Then why do you think it is great? We all wanted Star Wars to remain beautiful but it's Sauron corrupting the Elves into Orcs once again.

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Because of the atmosphere, I think. Its very much the Star Wars universe, its escapist fun. But yeah I sense a disturbance...last week's episode was really rushed, they crammed a lot in, almost too tightly. The one with the love interest, town under siege?

Its a good show with great attention to detail, great production values etc but it still seems underdeveloped somehow. Maybe being an hour-long show would have stretched their budget too much, but I think it'd have worked better for fleshing out the episodes a bit better.

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I like this show because it goes back to the good old days of television when individual episodes had standalone stories instead of just moving along some heavily serialized story arc.

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I totally agree. This episode was enjoyable.

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I hope we see something more substantial next week.

Not likely.

The first four episodes were written by the showrunner himself, Favreau. The last two episodes, the same. However, episodes 5 and 6 had a different writer.

That probably means that 5 and 6 will be filler, and the arc plot will be back in the 7th episode.

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As some people have already mentioned, the series is highly episodic, where each episode is a different stand-alone-ish adventure with very little cohesive glue. Some people like this narrative style and some people dislike it. My personal preference doesn't necessarily matter, but I'll say it anyway, I prefer long arcs like Westworld, Game of Thrones, Altered Carbon etc.

Your definition of "filler" vs. "non-filler" seems to hinge largely on how much the episode contributes to characterization and world building. By this definition, I think your analysis is incorrect. I personally think that episode 2 was much much more "filler" than this one. While, as you say, he did discover the force power of his bounty, this made up a small part of the episode. The whole episode seemed to have a highly contrived conflict (having ship parts be stolen and going on a quest to retrieve an egg in order to reclaim ship parts). Episode 2 doesn't even build his relationship with the alien guy who helped him, that relationship was already built in the previous episode. The alien just continues to be a one dimensional helper guy who shallowly helps due to him harboring an arbitrary sense of reverence towards the Mandalorian culture.

Episode 5 is actually much more informative if you notice the information being presented. Episode 5 develops the post-Empire economy of the the world and the unique economy of the guild. Credits actually mean less in this post-Empire economy than reputation, specifically guild reputation, this expounds upon the earlier refusal by Mando to take Imperial credits from the guild. The repair shop takes Imperial credits, but it is strongly hinted that currency actually means very little in this world. Imperial currency has undergone massive inflation after the fall of the Empire. The need to purchase repair service provides good impetus for reluctant guild bountying once again.

Depicting the high value of guild reputation takes center stage in this...

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...episode, and serves to further reinforce what Mando sacrificed when he betrayed the guild. Mando was a high ranking highly reputable figure in the guild, he sacrificed all this for the kid. It was clear from the first episode when he delivers a bunch of bounties that he doesn't care that much about the income from bountrying, he cares more about the guild reputation. This episode shows that this high valuing of guild reputation is not unique to Mando, guild reputation is a major feature in the considerations of everyone, in this post-Empire world.

Furthermore, it is clear that the sniper/bounty target's relationship to a broader context will be revealed in future episodes. I appreciate foreshadowing and connective tissue being formed between episodes.

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Very informative analysis.

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This is the type of show that has a serialized arc but also story-of-the-week type plots contained to individual episodes. At some point Mando's going to have to track down the client behind the bounty and deal with them. Right now he doesn't know who that is.

The tracking fobs (however they work) don't seem to have unlimited range. At most, they are planetary, and you might need to get within a shorter range than that. Finding an isolated spot on an isolated planet should keep you safe. Unfortunately, the Mandalorian wearing shiny new armor and traveling with a baby is on the Guild's Most Wanted List right now so anytime he shows up in a decently populated city someone's eventually bound to recognize him. Or, if he decides to do something high profile like help some villagers fight a battle.

So until he gets a lead on the person or organization that's taken out the contract on little Baby Yoda, he's in survival mode. Keep moving. Stick to backwater planets as much as possible. Once you go into a city to pick up parts for your ship, or whatever else you need, move on immediately. And do whatever work you can find along the way. Still got expenses to cover!

I like this sort of hybrid approach. They don't hit the reset button every week like shows from the 70's and 80's did. There's an ongoing story that continues from one episode to the next, but not every installment is devoted to it.

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