The Mandalorian: Ranking Every Episode From Worst To Best
7. Chapter 4: Sanctuary
Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, this episode is classic Star Wars storytelling, even if it is a twinge too generic for its own good.
With a plot ripped straight from the handbook of Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, this episode chronicles the adventures of Mando and Baby Yoda as they help save some locals from a gang of invading marauders. It sports some great Baby Yoda moments (this is the episode that gave the internet the sipping tea meme, so there's that), introduces us to Gina Carano's Cara Dune, and features a stellar final action setpiece that sees Howard treating an AT-ST like the star of its own monster movie.
Sadly, the character beats here for Mando himself feels a bit stilted and phoned in, doing little more than scratching the surface. The idea of Mando suddenly taking settling down as a serious option feels a bit out of left-field, so the would-be tragic ending of him realizing he and Baby Yoda have to go on the run doesn't really have any emotional heft to it.
But it sure is a fun episode.