‘The Mandalorian’ Chapter 19 ‘The Convert’ Review: A Pivot to a Larger Plot
Coruscant is back and better than ever in this next chapter of The Mandalorian. While we pick up right where we left off with Bo-Katan and Din Djarin, the show makes a hard pivot to focus on the larger plot at hand with a much-needed 59-minute runtime.
Oscar-nominated director Lee Isaac Chung came out with a bang in his Star Wars directorial debut. Between the stunning cinematography and grounded character development, a lot was packed into this episode while still leaving room to breathe.
The Convert is a satisfying third chapter of the season, and I must give credit to the longer-than-usual runtime. It seems this episode was given what I’ll refer to as the Andor treatment. Similar to Andor, this episode has some of the best character development we’ve seen in live-action Star Wars, and also finds ways to cast shades of grey on both the New Republic and the Empire. These elements, combined with everything we’ve come to love about The Mandalorian, create a solid third chapter. My only gripe is that in 8-episodes-long seasons, this runtime should be the standard, but maybe this is a trend in the right direction for the show.
Like Din with those Living Waters on Mandalore, let’s dive in…
Spoilers ahead for The Mandalorian Chapter 19 The Convert
Picking up where we left off in Chapter 18, following Bo’s rescue of Din from the Living Waters, we see the Kryze heir gazing at the water while Grogu tends to his shaken father. I’m glad they addressed the mythosaur right off the bat. It’s interesting that Bo doesn’t share with Din what she witnessed underwater, and it makes me wonder if it was done out of selfish motives or for Din’s sake.
I’m pleasantly surprised that it only took two episodes to address Din’s redemption through the Living Waters. Going into this season, I figured that would be most of the plot’s focus, so I’m excited to see what the rest of the season has in store for us, as it truly feels like we’re going in dark, especially since we now know that most of the trailers’ shots were from the first three chapters.
Now let’s talk about the dogfight over Kalevala… Although we’ve seen planetary surface dogfights with TIE fighters — interceptors this time around — in the past, this one stood out to me. Between the planet’s breathtaking surface, the sleek design of Bo’s ship, and that nostalgic TIE screech, what’s not to love?! It also looked more lived-in and real compared to other dogfights in recent memory, such as the one on Takodana over Maz’s castle in The Force Awakens.
Seeing Bo’s home destroyed by TIE bombers after spending time there in the first two chapters hits extra hard. As more and more TIE crafts enter the fray, I’m glad Bo says what we’re all thinking: “That’s a lot of ships for an Imperial warlord”. Something bigger than a regular Imperial remnant continues to be teased, and I’m so here for it.
Visiting Coruscant in a post-Return of the Jedi landscape had me feeling like a kid again, and I must say it looks better than ever. We catch up with Dr. Pershing as he gives a speech detailing his story and the New Republic’s Amnesty Program at a familiar-looking theater.
The Amnesty Program is designed to rehabilitate former Imperial war criminals for the benefit of the New Republic, which seems very similar to Operation Paperclip in our own world, through which post-World War II America recruited ex-Nazi scientists to develop technology during the Cold War.
Dr. Pershing is invited for a drink back at amnesty housing, where we are introduced to other former Imperials and, most notably, to Elia Kane (Katy O’Brian). While we had seen glimpses of Kane on Moff Gideon’s ship, Katy O’Brian’s performance stole the show in this chapter.
Kane wins over Dr. Pershing with some old Imperial travel biscuits that he reminisced about with the other former Imperials — another subtle touch to humanize the Empire.
Dr. Pershing’s altruism leaves him frustrated with the work the New Republic has him doing when he knows how close he was to a breakthrough in his research on cloning. As Kane gains his trust, she eventually urges him to continue his research even if it means breaking New Republic law.
They even go so far as to break into a scrapped Star Destroyer and steal lab equipment… only for Kane to betray Pershing and turn him over to the New Republic’s security forces. While I did see this coming, Katy O’Brian’s performance made up for the predictability.
As a result, Pershing is hooked up to a “mind flayer”, and with Kane’s interfering it seems as though his memory of these events will be slim. This moment cemented the fact that the New Republic can be cruel as well. “Empire, Rebels, New Republic, I can’t keep track” — this quote spoken to Dr. Pershing by an audience member after his earlier speech holds some truth as it’s all the same to some citizens and workers. Is Kane truly on board with the New Republic though?
It seems very clear that this larger plot thread is addressing Palpatine’s inevitable return in The Rise of Skywalker. While I do wish we saw more of how it is all going to connect in this episode, I’m glad Chapter 19 allowed itself to breathe and really dive into the more grounded side of the galaxy.
As a nice epilogue, we meet back up with Din, Bo, and Grogu as they reach the Mandalorian covert. Din is excited to prove his redemption, while Bo is less than thrilled to be there. According to the Armorer, not only is Din redeemed, but Bo is also accepted by the covert. I’m eager to see how Bo ultimately feels about staying with the Children of the Watch and how her own Mandalorian allies will play into this plot down the line.
Aside from the epic dogfight early on, the runtime of this episode could surely be felt. While that wasn’t a negative for me, others may feel different. Even if you’re not thrilled with the story in this episode, there is plenty to love for Star Wars fans. There are a number of Easter eggs as well, between the mentioning of the peak of Umate, and the Skydome Botanical Gardens, among other things. And if you listen closely throughout the episode, you can also hear “Snoke’s Theme” as well as “March of the Resistance” playing.
I’m sure next week The Mandalorian will put the focus back on Din and Grogu, so stay tuned next Wednesday for our in-depth review of Chapter 20!
Matt’s a lifelong Star Wars fan with a passion for storytelling. When he’s not working his day job in tech, he can be found writing, playing guitar, or spending time with his family and 4 legged son, Loki.
