‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3 Episode 3 Review - The Surprising Betrayal of an Unexpected Ally

Warning: Contains Heavy Spoilers for The Mandalorian Chapter 19

As the camera pans in, we see the aftermath of the exhilarating chase from the previous episode - Bo-Katan's timely intervention saves Mando from the ferocious Mythosaur. The third episode of The Mandalorian season 3 kicks off with an immediate continuation, leaving fans at the edge of their seats. 

The relief is palpable as Bo-Katan reveals that Mando has once again earned his Mandalorian status, thanks to the Living Waters. But there's something amiss - Mando has no recollection of his near-death encounter with the mythical creature. As Bo-Katan chooses to keep mum about it, we can't help but wonder if there's more to this revelation than meets the eye.

Chapter 19 of The Mandalorian, titled The Convert, follows Mando, Grogu, and Bo-Katan as they leave Mandalore. However, it escalates as they are suddenly attacked by a squadron of TIE interceptors. The group must evade the attackers as they fly through the beautiful Kalavan cliffs and rivers. The action sequence is gripping, and Mando becomes the hero once again - jumping off Bo-Katan's aircraft and almost falling to his death in his N-1. The R5-D4 droid's occasional fainting adds a light-hearted touch to the intense scene.

As the Mandalorians try to escape the clutches of the imperial forces, they are dealt a heavy blow when Bo-Katan's home is destroyed. More attackers arrive, signaling the imperial overlord's presence. Mando and Bo-Katan barely escape, and the title credits roll.

But the action doesn't stop there. The episode takes a surprising turn when it shifts to Dr. Pershing and his apprentices, who are making progress with their cloning plans. The doctor delivers an emotional speech to the New Republic, where he meets G68, a former imperial officer whom he recognizes from Moff Gideon's ship. The two bond over their shared experiences and even share a touching moment when G68 leaves a box of Pershing's favorite travel biscuits outside his door.

Pershing is hesitant to begin his cloning work again, but G68 encourages him, believing that his research will be extremely beneficial for the new republic. Pershing ultimately agrees and asks G68 to get the mobile workstation. The two head to the imperial ships in the disposal yards, where they jump off the train before their station arrives, just as the all-so-subtle trumpets of the imperial march blend into the musical score. 

G68 reveals her true name, Elia Kane, to Pershing, but it was all too good to be true. G68, working with the amnesty program officials, gets the doctor arrested for sneaking into the imperial ship and not adhering to the New Republic's policy. As the doctor is about to be mind-flayed, she tells the commissioner that this will only ‘help him.’ All the warm friendliness for nothing.

The episode returns to Mando, who returns to the Mandalorian convert from the first episode. He shows them proof and tells Bo-Katan to keep her helmet on, as "this is the way." Bo-Katan is also redeemed and accepted by the Mandalorian community, having bathed in the Living Waters.
Although “The Convert” may be slower-paced compared to the previous two, it still delivers an emotional impact through Dr. Pershing's character development. We see him blend in and befriend other officers, and learn about his personal life through hints about his mother's pride in his work. The twist about G68 also adds an intriguing element to the plot.

What's particularly refreshing about this episode is that we are taken to the beautiful and technologically advanced city of Coruscant, providing a change of scenery from the natural setting and outer rim areas. While some viewers may not consider this episode the best of the three, it still offers a compelling storyline that was last seen in season two. It's also nice to see G68 return, but fans may miss Grogu who only makes brief appearances at the start and end of the episode, especially after his heroic actions in the previous episode.

Final Score - [7/10]