The Mandalorian Episode 4: To Save a Life

The Mandalorian episode 4 answers what may be the series’ most important question: How did Grogu escape Order 66? We also see the Mandalorian covert operate together to save the lost foundling, which leaves us wondering if there’s anything they can’t accomplish if they work together.

I’d love to just write about only Grogu for the next five minutes, but unfortunately, I can’t do that. Alongside filling in some gaps in the past, our little guy Grogu shines this week in the current timeline, with some interesting foreshadowing for the second half of the season.

Greef Karga behind the camera

Carl Weathers (Greef Karga) is back behind the camera for the first time since November 12, 2020. After directing Chapter 12: The Seige Weathers makes his second directorial feature in The Mandalorian episode 4, “Chapter 20: The Foundling.” Immediately following the release of the director’s list, fans have been anxiously awaiting to see his prowess on display once again. “The Siege” currently sits at an 8.3/10 on IMDB, with over 21,000 reviews.

Weathers is gifted a blank canvas for this episode, and he puts his stamp on it. The action sequences with the dragon/bird hybrid are incredibly unique. It’s stunning to watch a group of Mandalorians flying after a creature so meancing, knowing that at any moment their jetpacks could give out, and their fight is over. When the dragon releases the boy, Din swoops down in an Iron Man-esque fashion, saving him at the very last moment, completing a beautiful shot. Jon Favreau has his fingers all over this one. Tony Stark would be proud.

Stellar visuals and action aside, Weathers does a great job hitting on the emotional beats as well. This episode has a concise 32-minute runtime, and not a minute is wasted. As someone who’s generally not a fan of shorter movies/episodes of TV, this feels like the perfect length. Not too short, not too long—the story and the flashback fit into the timeframe seamlessly.

The question’s been ravaging the Star Wars community for years: Who saved Grogu during the purge? Once we saw the lightsabers back on Coruscant in the trailer, it was all but confirmed this season was going to finally give us an answer.

Prequel redemption in The Mandalorian episode 4

In a scene eerily similar to the season two finale with Luke Skywalker, we meet Grogu’s savior. At the last moment, Jedi master Kelleran Beq (Ahmed Best) busts in to save Grogu from the clones who are ready to kill him. Fans of the prequel trilogy are familiar with Ahmed Best as the actor who portrays Jar Jar Binks. It’s heartwarming for Best to be welcomed back into this franchise after the backlash and hate he received from playing Jar Jar.

Choosing Beq as the character that rescues Grogu is remarkably touching. However, this choice comes as a shock to many fans, who expected a bigger reveal from this moment. This is a question Mandalorian fans have had for years, since we first realized that Grogu is a force wielder who spent time at the Jedi Temple.

I’m thrilled for Ahmed Best as a person, but a seminal moment like this needs a bigger name, like a Mace Windu, or an Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is an easter egg for very hardcore Star Wars fans. It’s unlikely that the majority know who Kelleran Beq is, so it’s a bit disappointing to think that over 90% of the fan base will likely never think about this moment again, considering it’s a question most of us have had for years.

A covert in sync in The Mandalorian episode 4

The flashback in this episode occupies a very short amount of time, and we get to see the Mandalorian covert get down to business. When the foundlings are training, and Grogu wipes the floor with Paz Vizla‘s son Ragnar, he stomps off in a huff. But before he can make it back to the cave, an dragon/bird hybrid swoops in, grabs him, and carries him back to the nest.

The fluidity with which the Mandalorian covert works to save the child is a sight to behold. Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff) fits into the leader role effortlessly, laying out plans, giving commands and taking the initiative to save Ragnar’s life. All signs point to Bo being the superior leader as opposed to Din at the halfway point of this season. She has more experience, people listen to her, and while Din still has the Darksaber, she might have a new pet capable of evening the odds.

While the covert is away on a mission, Grogu stays behind with the Armorer (Emily Swallow) to learn about Mandalorian culture, and pick up a shiny new piece of armor, a rondel for him to grow into. The Armorer naturally picks up a maternal instinct with Grogu, which is a common theme for his guardians. Whether it’s Din, Bo-Katan, Peli Motto, or anyone else that’s left to look after him, a parental feeling is inevitable. He’s just that charming.

When the group returns, Bo-Katan also recieves a new piece of armor and shares the tale of her Mythosaur encounter with the Armorer.

No one believes this beast is real, not even the most devout followers of The Way. It’s unfathomable to the most strict believer of their religion that Bo-Katan is telling the truth, and this is exactly the answer Bo is looking for. You can almost see the smile under her helmet when she realizes how much of a shock it’s going to be to everyone when she rides in on the beast.

The Mandalorian episode 4 is brilliant foreshadowing

A common complaint is that this season is lacking the direction of its predecessors, which is simply not true. Din and Grogu are still at the center of this journey, they are the focus; but the story is so much bigger than just the two of them. This season is about what’s best for the Mandalorian people, how they should decide to live, and who should be their leader.

We may think we have all the answers right now, but we don’t. While Bo-Katan is the most fitting choice given what we’ve seen so far, we’re only halfway through. We’re sure to see more trials and tribulations that will change our minds twice over.

Another great episode this week makes last week look like even more of a blatant misfire. To not even mention any of the previous week’s shenanigans leaves that episode feeling even more hollow than before. Between Mythosaurs and dragon/bird hybrids, we’re lining up for an exciting finish down the stretch. Everything we think we know now will likely be an afterthought at the end of the season, but all we can do is keep watching to find out.

The Mandalorian episode 4 is now streaming on Disney+. Follow the Agents of Fandom on socials for all the latest news on The Mandalorian.