Again, probably a given anyway, but viewers will be happy to note that this is still the same Mandalorian we've come to love over the last year. Chapter 9 still possesses the same blend of Western-style action and Original Trilogy grittiness that made the first season such a success, whilst also providing plenty of laughs. (Seriously, this opener is VERY funny, and it all blends seamlessly together.)
The Mando formula isn't without its hiccups, but this was still a really strong return for the series. Western fans in particular are bound to get particular joy out of the episode, with it leaning more into a Spaghetti Western vibe as soon as Din touches down in Mos Pelgo. The entire set-up is framed like an old Western town, complete with the central road, suspicious settlers, and the deserted bar.
Throw in Vanth and some poverty-stricken residents under attack from evil guilds and and the local Sand People, and you have by far the most Western-y of Mandalorian episodes to date.
WhatCulture's very own resident movie guy, Ewan has been working in the content creation biz for over 10 years now, having started as a freelance contributor to WhatCulture Gaming all the way back in 2015. After graduating with a First-Class Honours in History from Northumbria University in 2017 (where he won a prize for a totally killer dissertation on the Watergate years), Ewan took on the role of Comics Editor at WhatCulture and quickly developed WhatCulture Comics into one of the biggest superhero-focused channels on YouTube. He followed this with a brief hiatus at Screen Rant in 2021, where he worked across the Gaming and Film sections as a writer and editor, before returning to WhatCulture as a Senior Content Producer / Presenter in 2023. He started his own podcast, We Love Dad Movies, in 2022, and has contributed several written pieces to the Eisner-nominated comics website Shelfdust as well.
In his current role, Ewan incorporates his love of cinema, comic books, and history into written pieces and video essays for WhatCulture's Film & TV channel, as well as WhatCulture Gaming and WhatCulture Horror, with a particular focus on nineties-era Dad Movies, old school Westerns, and Golden Age Hollywood Noir. John Carpenter is his fave, and he thinks Batman Beyond should never have been cancelled. If that's your vibe, you'll probably like his stuff.
