1165 – The Convert | Mandalorian by The Mandoborian Chapter 19 S3E3

Notable Language:

• Oh So Different You’re Aging is for Me
• Ding Dong Biscuit Dash
• Opera-House Type Thing (OHTT)

Notable Culture:

• Scott Aukerman
• Werner Herzog
• Katy O’Brian

Notable Talking Points:

• Are you making an A Double Rear End about me and perspiration?
• I hate Bendudays
• Bo Katan, Redeemed

Episode 1165 – The Convert | Mandalorian by The Mandoborian Chapter 19 S3E3

 

[START OF RECORDING]

 

SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time for the podcaster…I don't know…I don't care if you travel with biscuits, you travel to biscuits…how you define your biscuit, whether you love Biscuit Weeks on Great British Bake Off or biscuit-based discussions on The Mandalorian. You wonder, what do you do if you get crumbs in your helmet, or your helm? I mean, holy cow. I guess the good thing…good…that’s…you know what they…especially in zero-gravity. With artificial gravity…no…or, I mean, I guess it depends on the humidity level within the helm, as well. Maybe there’s a fan, but probably you don’t want a lot of crumbs in there, and maybe you’d say…if you were the Mandalorian, you’d say I’m gonna wash, wash, wash those biscuit crumbs right outta my hair, but you probably wouldn’t.

 

But you might. But if you’re saying, what is this person talk…? I thought this was a sleep podcast. It is, and I totally understand. This is a show…it does take a couple times to get used to. I’m here to be your friend at first, to welcome you in and then to take your mind off of stuff so you could fall asleep. I’m here to keep you company. Yeah, this show does take a few tries, but the goal is that you deserve a good night’s sleep and you deserve a friend in the deep, dark night to help keep you company, and that…a friend you don’t need to listen to. Already, you probably figure…you say, well, I could tell you don’t deserve my full attention. I say, well, we’re already on the same page. So, I’m glad you’re here.

 

What we got coming up; support so the show comes out twice a week, then a long, meandering intro. Don’t miss out on it. It’s meant to ease you into bedtime and kinda introduce what the podcast is…about fifteen, twenty minutes long. Then we’ll talk about Episode…Season 3, Episode 3, Chapter 16, 17…16…17, 18…Chapter 19, I believe. So, that’ll be good. But even if you don’t watch The Mandalorian, don't worry. Holy cow. This one, it’ll be…we’ll be in two places not at once, but two places at different times. But I’m glad you’re here. So, see how it goes. I really appreciate you coming by, and welcome to Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. Thanks for making it possible, my patron peeps.

 

INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake. It could be thoughts, things on your mind about the past, the present, the future, like thinking thoughts. Could be feelings related to those thoughts, emotions that are there or that seem more prevalent at bedtime. That’s definitely the case for me. It could be physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, schedule.

 

You could have something coming up that you’re anticipating, you could be going through something, you could be going somewhere, you could have someone coming to visit, or it could just be a mystery. How come it’s always…? You say, well, I don't know. It could be baffling. I don't know. For some reason, the word ‘intrigue’ popped in my head, thinking about this episode of The Mandalorian. But I don't know, rarely do I feel like any…I don't have…usually I’d say, my two thoughts about intrigue — just to go off topic really early — are both aspirational. You’d say, what do you mean…? I’d say, I can explain that. One day, I’d like to say, hm, intriguing, and mean it, and be like, I’d like to get that…it’s not quite titillating, but it captures my curiosity in a way that’s drawing me in. One day I’ll…I say, wow.

 

But it’s somewhere in a gray area right at the edge of my all-or-nothing thinking. You say, well, that’s probably why it’s aspirational, because you’re going…I just thought of a joke about aspirational. It’s the first time I’ve realized…or maybe it’s not the first time I realized…are you making a double…a double rear end about me and perspiration? No, I was saying things I aspire to about…I’d say, intriguing is one. Then I would love to be like, well, live a life of…what I associate with intrigue, but only aspirationally, ‘cause it sounds like a lot of work, you know? So, that’s a little bit about me. You say, this is not intriguing. Whatever is…what’s a mild version of intrigue? You’d say, mild interest, I guess. Barely noticing? Okay. But not…I’m not here to be intriguing. That’s something I aspire to outside of the podcast.

 

Maybe I should have been clearer about that. He lives a life of mild intrigue. What does that mean? He talks about intrigue from time to time. Oh, intrigue…it’s not intriguing, but I feel like the only way I could say it is intriguing. But it sounds like he more makes an ass out of aspirational than anything else. I say, did you say the beginning of aspirational twice? Yeah, that’s exactly what I did. I just had a pause between it. It was no other separate words. But if there is -pirational…aspirational…I don't know. I think that’s probably just a word. No, desperation, aspiration, perspiration. So, the act of exertion, maybe? Or, I don't know. Aspiration…exertion…anyway, I better move on. I better introduce the sleep podcast, huh?

 

Because if…oh, if you already are not saying ‘intriguing’, you’re saying something much stronger and without intrigue, sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou has other sleep podcasts and sleepy stuff. The reason I make the show is because you deserve a good night’s sleep. You deserve a bedtime you don’t have to dread, a bedtime you could feel neutral about or at least look forward to. The reason I kinda get silly and go off topic about this stuff is just that…that’s the reason why, because that’s the stuff of the podcast, is this kinda goofing around to add a little bit of levity to bedtime, to say, well, at least I don’t know…at least I won't know what that dude’s talking about on the sleep podcast, but he’ll be talking in a way that’s mildly relatable. He’s not at all…just like his nana says, he’s the not-bad boy.

 

He’s not a bad boy, and…I never agreed with anymore…any imaginary statement more in my life. He’s not intriguing, either, my nana probably would say. He lives a life with non-intrigue. She would agree with those other statements about aspirational, too. So, okay…oh, but what about…why are you here? What am I…? Okay, so what I’m gonna do is I’m gonna send my voice across the deep, dark night, here. I’m gonna use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents, which we already got a couple in there, which was cool. But creaky, dulcet tones means my voice is not traditionally soothing, ‘cause I’m more here to be your friend, just like if you called me, if I was on-call, which kind of is how the podcast works, anyway. So, I’m here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff, not really to be listened to.

 

One of the few podcasts you just kinda…I mean, let’s be honest; you’re not listening to everything with your full attention, anyway. This is a podcast that says, for sure you don’t need to do that. This is where that expectation is built in. Other shows, it is built in in a way where they touch back on a point a couple different times, or restate things. I think I learned that from Scott Aukerman. Talking about kinda…remember, it’s someone’s first time listening, so…but Sleep With Me, it’s just more like, yeah, but you’re not…this is your first time just barely…the first time, you might actually be listening, and that’s why it does take two or three tries to get used to the show, because your first couple times, you might be trying to pay close attention, and then you realize, oh, this person does not deserve my attention.

 

But this time, it’s a positive statement. So, what else do you need? Oh, so, I’m just here to kinda…just like a out-of-focus picture; you say, well, it doesn’t look bad, but I’m not gonna try to pick out the details right now. So, it’s a podcast you don’t listen to. It also does not put you to sleep. I’m here to keep you company while you fall asleep, to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-bud, your bore-bestie, your neigh-bore, your bore-bor. If you’re on the beaches south of Los Angeles, you’re a bore-bruh…or anywhere else, you know. To be your friend in the deep, dark night and keep you company while you fall asleep, just barely keep you engaged. You say, okay, I could kinda listen to you. I can pretend I’m listening.

 

This is a game I could participate in, 'cause it doesn’t take a lot of work. You just say, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh. But at first it does take a lot of work because you probably come to this show with expectations and a bit of frustration. You can’t sleep; that’s frustrating. Maybe this has been a ongoing thing, so you’ve tried a bunch of other stuff that hasn’t worked — that’s why you’re here — or it hasn’t worked consistently. So, that makes sense. Then you say, well, I thought this was a sleep podcast. I thought there would be some sort of chimes, a calm, reasonable person with some sort of guru-like presence, or, you know, someone…you say, I was not expecting creaky, dulcet tones and…also, did you know you’re using…you’re misusing the word ‘intrigue’? I don't know if you know what a Latin root is, either. I say, you’re right.

 

Or, I’m willing to guess you’re…there’s a strong possibility you’re correct. I just don’t know what…I won't know it ‘til later. So, if you’re…if you have strong things, just give this a few tries. I’m not kidding; about a million people have told me, the first two times I listened, I didn’t like you or I didn’t get it. I kept waiting for the show to start or the sleepy stuff to start, and then the third time, I…oh, okay, now I get it. He’s just…he really is just here to be my friend, keep me company, and talk in a way I can sleep to it, or I could play it all night. Oh, okay. So, just kinda see how it goes. Or some people don’t listen ever again, and that’s why I set up sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou. So, what else? A show you don’t listen to, it doesn’t put you to sleep, nobody likes it on the first try…more good news.

 

Oh, structure of the show. The show is structured in a very deliberate way. You can adjust it, but it’s just structured this way 'cause it works the best for the most amount of people, and it is pretty adaptable. Podcasting gives you the ability to be flexible a little bit. So, the show starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, so you feel seen and welcomed in. I say something silly, so you say, okay, maybe I could check this show out. Maybe I’ll give it a try. Okay. That might be the only experience of…you say, this is slightly intriguing. This is a different…this is different than what I expected. Holy cow, I may be living my…the podcast…we may go quantum right now, because if I’m living my aspirations right now…oh, that’s…oh, thanks. Nana said, exactly.

 

That’s how you did it; put the a-double-s at the…oh, okay. Also, if you’re new, I have a nana that lives within me, along with many other parts. But she’s there to let me know when I’m off the road, as she wouldn’t say. I’m doing it wrong; that’s how she would put it. Okay, but…oh, structure of the show. So, it starts off with a greeting, then there’s support so the show could be free, or mostly paying for it’s optional. If you don’t like the ads, you can pay for it. If not, you could just listen for free. Then there’s an intro, which is different from the support, and for some reason…it just happens usually twice a week; somebody listens to the support, they don’t like that, and then they can kinda connect the intro and the support together. But the intro is really a show within a show.

 

If you’re listening to this…I guess they never hear this part, which is part of the problem, but maybe the second or third try, they do. But the reason…oh, the intro goes on and on and on. It’s somewhere between ten and twenty minutes long. One, to introduce the podcast, two, for us to have a little time together and see where things go and see how far afield we can go, and then I could try to steer it back to the…explaining what the podcast is. But also…and this is just what most bedtime stuff I’ve read about or bedtime hygiene, whatever you want to call it…it says that having a wind down routine is kind of a big part of it, and that’s also been my personal experience. So, for most listeners, there is 2% of people that skip the intro, and about that percentage of people that I’m guessing are asleep.

 

But for most people, the intro is part of their wind-down routine. So, some people are getting ready for bed, some listeners are doing other wind-down activities, even if it’s just making your bed and then getting in it or whatever it is, and then some people are in bed getting comfortable. So, the intro is just a break or a transition between being awake and then going to sleep, to ease you into bedtime, kind of a transition phase. So, that’s the intro, then there’s support between the intro and the show, and then we’ll talk about Mandalorian, Season 3, Episode 3. Or The Mandalorian, which features Grogu, I know. Not that anyone’s corrected me, but I’m just very intimidated by the Mandalorian correcting people. So, then I say, I know it’s not Baby Oso.

 

That’s the nickname I have for the child, once known as The Child, now known as Grogu. But to me, also Baby Oso, or whatever, fifty-five-year-old Oso. Oh so different your aging is for me, Baby Oso. That’s the only reason I…toddler…I don't know. I don't know. That’s why I call you Baby Oso. But also, I’ve been trying to get…'cause I just don’t want to have…if there’s ever a time I have…the Mandalorian says, his name is Grogu. Okay, sorry. Sorry about that. But, you know, it’s…having a nickname is fun. The Mandalorian and Din Djarin, or maybe that’s the wrong thing, but…they said, that’s the name of the show. Oh, okay. Oh, okay, I got you, I got you.

 

I don't know, this episode featured people with different names, right? So, anyway…oh, so that’s the intro, the support, then yeah, the Mandalorian, then some thank-yous at the end. So, that’s about it. That’s why I make the show, that’s the structure of the show. I’m really glad you’re here. I work really hard, I yearn and I strive. I really hope I can help you fall asleep. Thanks again for coming by, and here’s how we’re able to do it for you for free twice a week.

 

Alright everybody, Scoots here, and we’re talking Season 3, Episode 3, Chapter 19 of The Mandalorian, The Convert. Oh boy, is this…was that…was I talking about it in this intro or some other intro about intrigue and intriguing? This is an intriguing title for an episode after you see this episode, at least in my opinion. But I’m only laughing 'cause it’s delightful, the last…I don't know, just being able to be like, huh. You know, what are they…what do they mean? Where is this going? I don't know if I’ve paid attention to the titles as much, and…'cause I guess I could go back and be like, the child? Who’s the child? You say, well, is the Mandalorian the child? Is Baby Oso the child? So, anyway. But this episode…this is…I don't…I can’t say…I’d say, need more information if I say, who is the convert?

 

I just realized I said, please don’t be the covert, 'cause of my dyslexia. But no, the episode is The Convert, and…oh yeah, let me hit Play on it. Holy moly. This is a full-length…or, I mean, an hour-long episode, or nearly a hour-long episode. Starts with a…gotta get these subtitles up. Starts with a flashback to Werner. Here’s a question I had, was…'cause I can’t remember what Werner’s fate was. Doctor Pershing…the client is who Werner played. Then we see towards the end of last season…I forget the officer’s name. Not Dr. Pershing. Holy cow, let me look it up, actually, 'cause we got…'cause…did I say…I didn’t say…I did say, holy cow, this Katie O’Brien…Elia Kane? Is that the…? Coms officer, but from Season 2. I just said, this…I don't know.

 

Katie O’Brien’s performance was just really, really great, so, I’m so glad that Katie’s back as, whatever, Coms Officer Kane? I mean, that’s where they…but multiple names in this episode, anyway. Okay, but I gotta stick to the…I gotta keep playing because…okay, so then the Mandalorian’s talking to the armorer about…let me get redeemed. Then Bo-Katan…Beskar, planet, superstitions…let’s get to these mines and maybe we’ll check these waters. Ancient Mythosaur…let me get in, let me take a bath. Rub, rub…I’m gonna rub, rub, rub this apostate right out of my…wash, wash, wash it right out of my hair. Bo-Katan rescues the Mandalorian, we see the Mythosaur, and we pick up right where we last left off. I’m gonna skip the title things 'cause we picked up right where we…last off, in this temple.

 

Mandalorian’s lying down. Bo-Katan is staring off, thinking. Headlamps are on. At first, there’s a good amount of silence with lap…I mean, lapping water sounds. Really good. Then cough, cough. Grogu is checking his dad. I don't know if he did any healing things, but the Mandalorian wakes up and makes a couple of noises. Ugh, what happened? Then he says, I am redeemed. Bo-Katan says, yeah, I saw it. You took a bath in those Living Waters. You’re a Mandalorian again. Then it says, let’s get outta here. The Mandalorian wants to get a sample. Puts it in a cigar case or what I would associate…I guess it’s more of a beaker. Good thing he carries a beaker with him. Or, no, more of a tube. He picks up Baby Oso and Bo-Katan tries to make casual convo. You see anything down there? Yeah, the big chasm I fell in.

 

Didn’t think it was deep. It wasn’t supposed to be. Seismic activity…but you didn’t see anything else like swimming or…it was a gigantic fish. What? A fish? Then Bo-Katan says, never mind. Let’s hit the road. Okee-dokee, artichoke. Nobody says that, but Bo-Katan does go look back one last time, and even Bo-Katan’s shoulders move. Then we see the ship take off and head out into the…into…exit the planet’s atmosphere. Then we’re in space, and Mandalorian says, take me to my ship; I’ll be out of your hair. You will forever have my gratitude. Bo-Katan says, I’d invite you in for dinner, but I guess you wouldn’t take off your helmet. This is the way. This is the way. Grogu’s watching all this, but then Grogu has a spidey sense…making noise, and then it’s lasers on. TIE Interceptors.

 

Not just TIE Fighters; Interceptors, Inter…trying to intercept. Let’s get to Kalevala. The Mandalorian says, if you get back there, I can hop on my ship. Bo-Katan says, my shields aren’t gonna hold. So, she says, you gotta back them off. So, the Mandalorian goes to the rear defense system and uses that to kinda give them some distance. Say, where the heck did they come from? I don't know, Imperial warlords? Oh, 'cause you took their ship. Right. They dive in towards the planet, TIE Fighters in pursuit; six. I think Mando…they’re already…did, and they missed…or is able to reduce it by one. So, maybe it was seven? I don't know, let’s see. No, he’s still working it right now. Yeah, takes down…and now we’re down to five. Then he says, these are harder than TIE Fighters to get. She says, are you gonna do it? He goes, yeah, I’m gonna do it.

 

Grogu seals up the egg, the float…the egg pram. Mando gets ready to exit the ship by jet pack, and he…first he does a…well, you probably don’t want to know what…he easily transfers to a ship, in sleepy terms. Quite a move, though. Then does…he has to do a little bit of a slide, then a TIE Interceptor’s coming in for him and his ship, but he does make a fast move into his ship. He takes off, he goes straight up. I’ve actually used this move in some sort of Star Wars flying game, which…I like to do is head as high as I can to get above the action, then dive down. So, this…even in a video game, this actually does kinda work. I don't know if I’ve necessarily turned around like that, but he goes up, then he goes down, takes out a TIE Interceptor. We’re down to four. He calls Bo-Katan; heading to you.

 

Bo-Katan’s doing…since…it’s a very Scottish Highlands-type look. I mean, I’m just guessing. So, going through the grass and rocky hills. Another TIE Fighter goes down, or TIE Interceptor. R5 does not like it. But Bo-Katan’s just going through the canyons, so kinda classic Star Wars moves. But…different atmosphere; a lot more water and green stuff, which is nice. Then Mando comes in. We’re down to two TIE Interceptors now. Thanks for the backup. Two more. Scoots actually kept correct count. Then they do a little split move. This reminds me a little bit of Mario Kart, but you’d be on the ground, like the beach Mario Kart, 'cause there’s a arch and stuff. But there’s no beach here. So, you couldn’t do Mario Kart 'cause it’s all in the air.

 

Then another one down, and Bo-Katan’s separated and does this move where…cutting the engines, flips the wings, does a 360…or no, a 180, and then takes the ship out, hits the gas again. They’re weightless for a second. Grogu comes out of the pram. RD-5 is laid down. Really cool water effects. Then they’re flying side-by-side again. Ooh, close on, eh? Oh, totally. Some waterfalls in the background. I guess Bo-Katan’s ship’s an antique. Mando’s like, yeah, I don't got a scratch. Alright, well, let’s land and check our ships. Nice job. Whoa, something on scope. Bombers, and they’re bombing the castle. I don't mean B-A-L-M. They’re not balming the castle with balm.

 

I mean, they could; they could seal it off…I mean, that would be a lot of petroleum jelly, but we’ll just pretend that’s what happened, they seal off the castle with petroleum jelly, but not in a balming way; in a way that makes the castle inaccessible to anyone. Bo-Katan goes in pursuit of the bombers, but shoots…does make sure that one goes and rests. But then the Mandalorian’s radar says, of course they have a escort, a big escort. This is another mystery that hopefully will be resolved. It’ll be interesting to see who’s in pursuit of whom, 'cause then there’s a ton of TIE Interceptors, too many to just be some warlord, because I mean…I don't know, what do those ships cost, a billion, $2 billion each? But they head out. That’s a lot of ships.

 

Sending jump coordinates to where…don't worry; they’ll never find us, except when I make this promise. I’ve exposed a covert before, but this episode’s called The Convert. They jump and then the episode jumps; first the title sequence, The Mandalorian, and Chapter 19, The Convert. Then we’re on Coruscant, which if you’ve seen any movies, you kinda know right away. There’s music, there’s landing pads, there’s towers, there’s space traffic. Really idealized. Then some sort of opera-house-type thing. A lot of red carpet. Then we see Katie O’Brien going in. Talk about the best hair in the galaxy, but someone’s talking about the Amnesty Program, a voice we also recognize. We see this new uniform and we see a giant screen of Dr. Pershing talking about the pursuit of knowledge.

 

But I’m gonna pause it 'cause I just want to double-check this. So, Katie O’Brien’s sitting down next to a older gentleman, but he’s out-of-focus. I don't believe it’s Werner. I don't know if they know each other. Let’s see. They don’t acknowledge one another, so it could have just been a convenient seat. Pershing’s talking about the past, 'cause time has elapsed. Now hoping to work with the New Republic. Now it works behind me…I want it to work for good. This does have a Never Let Me Go kinda sense of what he’s talking about, if you’ve read that book or seen the movie. I haven’t seen the movie, but…'cause he talks…he gives a little personal story about his mom, his…person he admired most, and that’s why he dedicated himself. I didn’t realize he gives out that piece of information and that Katie O’Brien picks up on it.

 

But again, he…Omid Abtahni is…his Pershing is really good, too, especially…this episode does take some stretching. But they talk about cloning and they get into Kaminos and then they get into kinda a uncomfortable area, going even further than Never Let Me Go. So, you say, oh boy. Then we’re at the opera house, a really quick…a lot of quick exposition here, 'cause this is clearly the upper crust. They want to…they’re like, oh boy, we’re so happy to have you, but they don’t really seem to care who’s in charge, 'cause they’re in charge, really, right? They make fun of the Outer Rim. This one rich dude’s like, oh, I almost got drafted. His wife’s like, for the Empire, oh. Empire, New Republic, rebels, whatever. So, you kinda see this disconnect. But they’re all encouraging; you deserve the best, man. You’re so brave.

 

So, so glad you’re working for us. But I guess in some sense, it may be like a show pony or something. I mean, in the context of the rest of the episode. Then he’s in a cab. So, he must have just got to the planet recently. Maybe this is his first or second day. The taxi cab driver’s like, hey, I heard you’re in the Amnesty Program. Great job. Totally. Been in Coruscant long? No. Well, it’s lovely. You got great stuff here, but…the Sky Dome, botanical gardens, there’s blossoms in bloom. So, this is a little Wendy Marstrap thing. If you have time, Galactic Museum has got an exhibit, a hyperdrive technology. Take a day trip to the Holographic Museum of Animals. Manta bog of Malastair or something. Oh, here we are.

 

Amnesty housing…also at one point, Pershing has to tell the robot to keep its eyes on the road, which is funny, but I’m sure the robot was like, okay, whatever makes you comfortable. So, then Pershing goes to this cement, concrete housing area, and there’s four people hanging at a picnic table. They see Pershing; they say, hey, come on over, man. We’re just having some cocktails. They’re interlocking cocktails. There’s M-34. They all have only…L-52 is Pershing. Are you new to the program? Yeah. You got the pins. They’re hard to hide. Oh yeah, just transferred from Reintegration Institute. That sounds foreboding. This is Amnesty housing; even more foreboding. Also, you have no name…G-27, M-40, and G-68. We see that G-68 is…she says, doctor? He goes, whoa boy, I know you. They say, it’s okay?

 

Well, we were both on one of Moff Gideon’s ships. Really? No one knew that. Holy cow. Wow. You got away, I heard. No, that was a cover story. Really? I heard something else. Katie O’Brien…I can’t remember, G-59 or whatever, I don't know, says, yeah, I don't think about it anymore. I’m glad to be rehabilitated. Yeah, we all are, but you get a sense…so, they take these interlocking cocktails that are kinda in the same glass you’d put a…what are those things called? Citronella candle in, but clear. It does look tasty, like a lemonade, milky lemonade, but not milky with milk. They say, to the Republic or the New Republic. Have a seat, man. We’re chilling. We’re just a bunch of letters and numbers talking about stuff. It’s not bad here. Yeah, I was surprised. The Empire wouldn’t put us in the cement build…barracks.

 

M-34, that’s…hey, have you seen any sights on Coruscant? Nah. So, M-34 is Katie O’Brien, currently. Happy to show you around. Okay. They say, these uniforms fit pretty good. They talk about, oh, I miss being in hyperspace. What do you miss, L-52? Feels like it’s a setup. Oh, no, I don’t miss anything. I’m happy to be here. He goes, no, no, no, not like…he goes, I mean, like, candy or whatever. He goes, oh, you know what I like, is those travel biscuits. He goes, the yellow ones, maybe? I don't know. There’s certain…yeah, yellow travel biscuits. Everybody laughs from the ration packs…oh man, wow. I don't think you can get those anywhere here. No. But I liked the red ones versus the yellow ones. Travel biscuits? I don't know. They say, okay, let’s drink to that. If you want something dry, we’ll listen to G-50…the jokes.

 

So, they kinda have a laugh, then Pershing’s getting in bed, kind of with a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy-Coruscant-type device. Coruscant is the…oh, let’s read these facts, though. So, Coruscant…okay, now…I just rewound it. So, they’re going, yeah, let’s party. Thousands of layers of buildings and skyscrapers cover the surface of Coruscant. It’s one of only a handful of city planets called a eucenopolis, though it’s referred to as the center of the galaxy. It’s not at the…and then the doorbell rings. Pershing’s in a nice robe and PJ’s. Checks himself in the mirror, opens his door. No one’s there. Ding-dong. Biscuit Dash, 'cause there’s a tin of…a giant tin of biscuits at his feet. These travel biscuits do make sense, 'cause they’re very…there’s probably four…so, they’re probably rations, right?

 

They can be…breaking into three or four pieces, and I’m sure they’re very dense. Let’s see how many pieces. It looks like four pieces, but flat enough you could easily put it in a pocket or something like that. So, again, I would assume four of those would be one or two days of…if you need it. Okay, then we go to a bureaucratic office area, but it’s very nicely lit, even natural light. L-52, happy…what is that? Okay, I didn’t follow all this. So, they don’t have Mondays there. They have Bendays or something. Benduday. Here you go, another set of disks for archives. Saw your talk last night. Interesting stuff. I don't know why they have you working here, cataloging, but…I mean, I don't know. He goes, I’m happy to do whatever’s asked of me for the New Republic. Then a droid bumps into the…his supervisor, which is weird.

 

But the droid is also delivering disks. But I think they’re cataloging the old…the rebels or whatever, the Alliance and Empire stuff. Then Pershing goes back to work. Then we have music, and oh boy, do we get some cool stuff. This is like theme park area music, and he’s walking through. So, it’s Pershing and Katie O’Brien. Okay, and I can’t…I don't know the characters. They have these glow pops, which are Popsicles, 'cause she says, hey, yours is dripping. Because it was like, oh, yours is dripping. They say, oh yeah, how are they going? Overwhelming. We see kids, we see a magician, we see neon lights, then there’s a stilt-walking, juggling robot, other signs…yeah, a area of music, like I said. People talking, people laughing. A big plaza…vendors selling stuff.

 

I say, pretty cool to be helping here, knowing what we had to overcome to get here. Have you been to Coruscant, he asks her? He asks, have you been to Coruscant? Yeah, I trained here at the academy. Not much has changed. They took down the cog wheels. I don't know what that means, but…and it does feel…it feels different now. Yeah, we thought we were doing good. So, they’re just talking about the past. Yeah…Pershing says, yeah, I think about it. All my research went unfinished. We were the closest in breakthroughs. Could have helped a lot of people with that little…he doesn’t bring up Grogu, but…but I continue to research here. I don't think it’s something the New Republic would be interested in. The ethics of cloning are complicated. But if it could help the New Republic, isn’t that enough?

 

You can’t just follow orders without thinking for ourselves, can you? You gotta trust your gut, which kinda goes against everything the New Republic has been, thus far, shown to be. Not painted in the greatest picture. Capable people, but we can’t do what we need to do. You get what I’m saying? So, this is very textbook. I gotta pause it, I guess. I just…because some of my working experience has been…is one of the trainings I got, even though I don't know if it would serve me. But so, this is kind of a textbook situation, and again, I don't know how this is gonna play out over the season. But so, Katie O’Brien…and I guess I’ll point it out as it happens, but I want to set up right now…kind of establishing a really good rapport with Pershing, but also seeing, okay…probing for doubts.

 

Then what you see is a few different tests, which…this is a kinda typical thing of escalating tests when someone’s trying to get you to do something you’re not supposed to do over…usually it plays out over a longer period of time than this. But they say, hey, could you do…I know it’s against the rules, but it’s just this tiny thing. Could you do it for me? Then as soon as you…they say, it’s not a big deal, or just think about it, or whatever. They make it seem…it’s usually a tiny rule and it’s something that’s not…it doesn’t have any impact on anybody. Or, seemingly; that’s the way they make it seem, and it’s no pressure. Then they see if you say no…if you believe it when you say no, if you’re not sure, or if you say yes.

 

Then again, then you’ll escalate each time, kind of encouraging or asking, and that’s kinda what we see play out over this episode. To what motivation? Well, we know one of the motivations by the end of the episode, but we really…we can only speculate at what the deeper motivation is, really. I mean, you could…I mean, I think we know, but again…so, it’s just a…it’s just really interesting and it’s really well done, just because it is so textbook. I said, holy cow, this is exactly what you get trained not to do, is…so, what happens…they see this big rock, and that’s the Peak of Umate, the highest mountain on Coruscant, the only piece of the planet on the surface, or the only part of the surface that you can see from the planet, or something like that. He goes, wow, it’s wild. They walk around it and everybody…it’s like the centerpiece, kind of like a sculpture. He’s enjoying his Popsicle and she says, you want to touch it?

 

He goes, are we allowed to? Allowed to? Come on, man, live life. So, again, something very inane. He goes, okay, come on, go for it, man. Just touch the rock. Who cares? He goes to touch it and then it’s…of course this droid comes and says, you can’t touch the stuff. Katie O’Brien cracks up. He drops his Popsicle, so then the droid also says, don’t pollute. But that wasn’t encouraged. They don’t have a lot of…I mean, I guess that droid was there, but you see some other gaps in the New Republic’s oversight of public facilities. Okay, then we jump to a tower with the New Republic’s sign on it, and this is…Pershing goes in to a interview with the droid about how are things going. You’re not up to…you’re up to only good, right? You totally believe the New Republic…you maintaining a consistent schedule?

 

You stressed or mad at anybody? Any repression going on? No, no. Do I seem like the kind of person that would repress anything, he says? The droid goes, unfortunately I’m a droid, so I just have to take you at your word for it plus probably some readings I’m supposed to be doing, but clearly I’m not. Or, this is all part of some even bigger underlying mechanism. Hey, by the way, could I do my research for a hobby? The droid says, you did clone research. No, the Coruscant Accords, Section 13, Paragraph 7 outlaws it, so, no. Any further questions? He’s like, no, I guess not. ‘Keep up the good work’ was part of the Amnesty Program, and ‘have a great day’. So, he kinda stands up, and the door opens. His shoulders are very tense. A little bit more relaxed now. He goes back to housing and makes a face.

 

Katie O’Brien’s kicking it, reading a book, a e-book or something, and says, what’s up, Doc? No, but that would have been funny. He goes, we were talking about my research and I keep thinking about it now. I know it’s important…they have nice planters. They have planters that are also benches. I just want to prove this is for good. It’s very empathetic listening. Yeah, no, sounds like you really…it’s important to you, huh? What would you need to do it? Well, not much; a mobile lab station. Oh, a mobile lab station. Yeah, no. Can’t. Says, okay, but you think this will help the New Republic, right? But you just don’t trust that. You’re really here to help the New Republic, huh? Katie O’Brien says, yeah, I could get you a mobile lab station, but we’d have to go outside our designated perimeter. Pershing says, I can’t do that.

 

Goes, okay, we’d both go back to the Reintegration Institute if that was the case. Says, look, let me lay this on you; I have a past, I haven’t done…I’m trying to repair my past for the New Republic. If things are as…if this is as important as you say, I’m willing to risk it for you and for the New Republic. Kinda, that’s more or less, like it said. There’s a great focus pull on Pershing. The volleyball set? He goes, no, it’s too much of a risk. Focus pull back or a focus change, I don't know. You know what? Let’s just think about it, huh? Let’s think about what’s best for doing what’s right. Again, kinda leaves Pershing…who is…does…just doesn’t have the tools, clearly, to manage this kind of stuff. Then Pershing’s back at work, and again, this is more exposition. Pershing’s kinda checking two different monitors, looking at this disk in disbelief.

 

Then the supervisor comes by. Hey, L-52, what up? Yo, this stuff, this is great equipment, brand new. Can’t you see this? Well, it’s Empire equipment. Yeah, but it’s brand new. Yeah, but we could…this is…why would we…this is good equipment. Bureaucracy, man. That’s what the guy says. We just gotta do our jobs, because we’re decommissioning the Alliance fleet and the Empire fleet. Okay, well, I could tend to see…10:30 to see if you want to get this equipment, but I don't think they grant it for anybody with a Amnesty…in the Amnesty Program. Sorry, L-52. I know it’s not easy, but you’re really helping the New Republic by helping us dismantle everything in a way that doesn’t make sense, really…and keeps going around saying, good morning, good morning. Then L-52 has a little travel biscuit.

 

Now, I don't see the…his has a black label…Empire label on it. So, I’ll have to see later the difference. Then he does another interview. Any resentments? Any repression? Oh, no, no, no. He has to touch his ear, which is a tell that maybe…I don't know if he’s not…'cause he had done that before. I didn’t think about trying to match up when he did it during his speech. But he goes, let me clarify; our objective is to help the Republic, right? That supersedes everything else? The robot says, it does. So, that could be a full setup, because that doesn’t seem like a very robotic answer. I guess it’s a droid and not a robot. But anyway, it says, yeah. He goes, okay. So, this is…again, you get the…he’s ready to make his own justifications for the actions. So, he goes to Katie O’Brien’s room. Let’s go do it. Let’s do it. Okay, alright.

 

Tomorrow night, let’s do it. They go…he goes back to his room. Then he goes in…he’s dressed. It’s tomorrow night. He puts his uniform down. He’s kinda dressed undercover. He’s got his collar up. He goes…he tries to talk to himself in the mirror to tell him he’s doing…to tell himself he’s doing the right thing. You’re helping the New Republic. It’s the right thing to do. I mean, I guess this is a overwhelming great patrol…portrayal of Pershing as someone that’s just totally lost, even our first introductions to him. Okay, then we go to a train station. The cool thing is, the train station has sound effects from San Francisco [inaudible], it sounds like, or close to it. He’s nervous, so…he’s super paranoid. So, O’Brien keeps having to say, stay calm, man. Take a breath. Don’t be paranoid. We’re gonna be fine.

 

We’re doing this for the right reasons. So, again, managing him. But, alright…oh, I guess the biscuits were the first test. That was the first test. So, the second test…I didn’t even realize that part. So, the biscuits were the first test. I knew there was more than one test. Then they kinda sneak onto the train, which doesn’t make sense at first until later, or they sneak into the station. But again, I guess it makes sense with the overall theme of…the New Republic just doesn’t have its act together, despite having all this wealth. They get on a train and they sit down, and there’s another being there, a large being, who Pershing gets nervous around. But then Katie O’Brien goes…whatever they say. Anybody know what Cathy says on a day like today? Anybody ready Cathy? The big being does. It just grunts.

 

Says, song days, am I right? I don't know what…got a case of the song days, man. I need some lasagna. Someone says, that’s Garfield, which Scooter mixes up Cathy…oh, those were when newspapers used to have comic strips. That’s those…Garfield and Cathy are from. Okay, then we get an…some really good Coruscant shots and Pershing looking out the window dreamily, which I can totally relate to. Really cool cityscaping and how the trains operate. Pershing goes, where are we going, by the way? Disposal yards. They inventory your cataloging? We’re going to check that out. Imperial ships will have lab stations. Yeah, they’re Imperial, though. Well, not anymore. They’re decommissioned. It’s just junk. It’s gonna get thrown away. So, we…you know that. You’re already frustrated about it.

 

We’ll bring it back to housing. We’ll get to work. Then we get the kicker; where do you think I got the biscuits from, dude? Oh, that was the first…I didn’t…he doesn’t even realize it even now. Or, I guess he does. Now she’s like, you’re in, so, no turning back. He slumps down in his seat. O’Brien is clearly having fun. Go through a cool tunnel through a building. The train kinda heads outta town. Really, I like these moments, that it does stretch out a little bit. So, we see…I don't know, it really does set…and then the conductors come on the train and he says, see, I was…as a person who overthinks, I totally relate to this character. He said, we gotta get outta here, we gotta get outta here. They’re checking tickets so they try to go between cars, but I guess that’s not normal — even though the doors are unlocked — because they have to jump between cars.

 

But again, I guess it also is part of his symbolic journey. I’m being honest; it’s not…the New Republic clearly is not holding it together. So, you say, okay, well, that kinda makes sense, 'cause they’re more concerned about these rules. They just don’t have their act together. Then they go on another thing. He tries to say, Mondays, am I right? Everybody’s like, what? His joke…and then Katie O’Brien’s like, yeah, we’ll work on it. But they’re trying to get away from the conductors, who are slowly working their way forward. They may have picked up on it, 'cause one of the conductors is walking in a determined way. They’re trying to be casual, but they’re not. Conductor just keeps going and they keep going.

 

Again, nobody on the train reacts, 'cause I mean, they open literally the back of the train and they go out, but I mean…which kind of establishes one thing about the New Republic or Coruscant, is there must be no teenagers or people that drink too much like me, because one, the train…back of the train would be a spot to hang, and there…so, she says, we gotta jump off the train. He’s like, what are you…what? But this whole shipyard…if there was teenagers or people like myself at any age, we would ruin it. They say, you ruined Coruscant for everybody, man. If I lived there, that’s what they would have said. Whatever, one trillion people, and you ruined it for all of us. Say, sorry. But they jump off, and my daughter pointed in out in one of our watches that Katie O’Brien knows exactly when to jump off because of the biscuit excursion.

 

But they jump off the train and then he starts laughing. Like, now I’m having a thrill. Dopamine city, man. So, they’re both laughing. Holy cow, we’re rebel…we’re rebelling. Then we see this shipyard, and it’s kind of…it’s pretty amazing. I did watch this a couple times during the day, and my TV doesn’t…so, I did try to watch it at night, so now I’m really seeing how cool it is. Oh, because it’s nighttime when they’re doing it, and then the shipyards are dark. These are just for storage, I guess, because…but yeah, I’ve never done something like this before. They go to one of the, whatever, Star Destroyers, or I don't know what…I think that’s what it’s called. Yeah, they’re walking on this thing now. He’s looking around…see everything. I guess it is slowly being dismantled. Maybe only 9 to 5, though.

 

They go inside…oh no, not…now they’re getting towards a door. Katie O’Brien’s like, see? Check it, man. Isn’t this cool? And opens one of the doors, says, there’s no guards or nothing? No, nobody…it’s…ships can’t be operated, so no need to go…no teens are allowed in Coruscant, apparently, or people like Scooter, who’s dream would be to sneak in there…I know YouTubers who make channels about this that Scooter watches. So, yeah, Scooter came and ruined it for teens, YouTubers, and other future Scooters, 'cause he somehow time-traveled and peed in the corner of one of the ships, and then they banned everybody. So, they go on the ship, they turn on some flashlights, which at first I was like, why? But now I…now seeing it, it’s like, oh, well, it doesn’t…there’s no risk 'cause there’s no guards.

 

But yeah, they go through a couple hallways, there’s different noises. We even see some sort of wildlife or robotic wildlife. Oh, more than one. I see another set of glowing…a few glowing eyes. Oh, a bunch of them. Then they talk about how they worked on the same ship together and they never really talked. Says, sorry I never introduced myself. No need to apologize. It’s not how we did things back then. No. Katie O’Brien stops and says, now it is, though…reaches out and says, Elia Kane, communications officer. He says, Dr. Pen Pershing, scientist. Yeah, he does say, Dr. Pen Pershing, scientist. They laugh. Nice to meet you. He just nods. So, it’s kinda thrilling. But this is the handshake that seals the deal. They go into some sort of lab, turn on the lights. He’s like, holy cow, these labs. Top of the line.

 

He gets something that looks like a old…or a big laser printer, but it’s a mobile lab, but it looks the exact same as a big laser printer. He checks it to make sure it’s got all the equipment. He puts some other stuff in there…or maybe that’s just the carrier. I did wonder…I think his plant…he should have brought…if you’re carrying a giant laser printer, it wouldn’t have some sort of Empire labeling on it. But it doesn’t…it’s not a problem. Pershing’s packing up and O’Brien’s kinda looking around. Oh yeah, he’s grabbing some tubes. Oh, they talk about the past. There is some pain in Katie O’Brien’s past, the character, but…Elia Kane, or whatever’s…past between the Empire and the Academy or whatever, but we don’t find anything out about that other than that there is something not great.

 

He grabs the thing…there’s some noise, but it’s like, oh, it’s no big deal. It’s just the ship. Don’t be paranoid. So, then they start to leave, but then they realize very quickly that they’re not alone and that there are…oh, first, how do we get back? Then they see people passing by in the hall. It’s like, okay, shh. Hold on; let’s lay low. Oh boy, we better book it. It’s, whatever, the…it’s the junkyard dog or whatever. It’s not a dog, though, but…so, they start to run. This is also a thrilling part of when you do this kind of stuff. Not that you ever should, but…so, then you start running. But the thrill quickly evaporates 'cause they run outside onto a walkway, and as soon as they get a little bit of distance, a spotlight comes from a drone or some…a ship. They say, you Dr. Pen Pershing? Or, no, they…do they say his…? What do they say? G-54?

 

Yeah, L-52, you’re busted. Raise your hands. Put down the printer and your flashlight. He’s breathing heavy. He looks…and then Katie O’Brien steps right in front of him, picks up the printer and the flashlight, and looks at him. Says nothing, just barely nods, perfect for the face. Holy cow, both their faces. Man. They say, raise your hands, L-52. He goes, wait a second, wait a second, what about G-54? Then we go to black, then we cut in and there’s somebody that says, hey, good morning, doctor. It’s a super friendly voice. Hey, I wasn’t trying to…no need. G-68 submitted a report. We realized sometimes people have a hard time. Hard time? I was set up. Yeah, adjustment can be difficult. No, no, no, this is a mistake. Yeah, it can be hard. You worked for the Empire for a long time.

 

We’re gonna play some music for you and show you some beautiful images. He goes, no you’re not. They go, yeah, no, this is a 602 Mitigator. Totally…help with your rehabilitation. He goes, it might be a similar device that you’ve seen before, but different. This is gonna soothe your memories of the Empire. You’ll see some pleasant colors, hear a buzz, and experience a great sense of relief. He goes, this isn’t the Empire. He goes, this is a healing device. I’ve been through the treatment myself. I found it quite refreshing. He goes, I was trying to help the New Republic. They go, don't worry, this is only gonna take a moment, and we’ll be here when you wake up. He goes, this is entrapment. He goes, I was just trying to help clarify things. They take his glasses off 'cause he’s gotta watch the images through a 3-D helmet.

 

He goes, why’d you set me up? Please. They say, don't worry, you’re gonna feel great. Then we cut to the observation room and there’s a technician who says, you’ve done the right thing, G-68. Thank you. I know this is gonna help him. Yeah, it will. You know, some people just don’t get it on the first try. You’re a credit to this program. That’s what the technician says. For every failure, I’m glad we got a success like you. There’s a little dial. They give him about three clicks of chill energy. He’s actually kinda smiling as it shows him images. They say, shall we? She goes, I would like to stay and watch. He’s my…friend of mine. He relapsed and I care about him. He goes, of course. The way we do it in the New Republic is total oversight with very little oversight, so, you stay here. It’s a great…ice-cold, man, holy cow.

 

Katie O’Brien turns on this ice-cold…jacks it up to 11, the volume, and Pershing’s like, this is a little bit loud for my preferences…and jacks it up to 14, and then reaches in the pocket. Let’s see what this biscuit…I want to see this biscuit. Oh, the diff…oh, it was already unwrapped, but it must be the red biscuit, and takes this ice-cold bite of the biscuit. Then the episode goes to black again, and then we see two ships come out of hyperspace, which we’re familiar with from the beginning of the episode, and they go into…and Mando’s like, we’re going to a Mandalorian covert. This is how we’ve survived in exile. I’m familiar with exile. Bo-Katan says, you’re my guests, but they live by the old way, so keep your helmet on. Says, old ways. Sure, great. I can’t wait.

 

They fly in, land outside the cave that we’re familiar with, and this bigger bully that we’ve kinda…I think we’ve seen from the first season, who has an industrial back…some sort of industrial jet pack, like construction level, he’s there to not greet them. Mando stands, looks over. The bully throws away a gum wrapper on the ground. I say, what kind of covert are you running, man? Did you just throw your garbage on the ground? That is not the way. I’ll tell you, I’m not…I’m not familiar with the way, but I’ll tell you what; throwing your garbage on the ground is not the way. If I didn’t like…dislike the way you talked to them, I probably would feel…but I say, I don't appreciate the way you just threw garbage on the ground. His name is Paz something. He goes, you’re a apostate, Din Djarin. Not anymore.

 

Been to Mandalore, in the mines. Took a bath. Nope, you didn’t. There’s no mines. Planet’s cursed. Yeah, those are…that’s not true, Mandalorian says. They say, but how do we know? You’re probably lying. Bo-Katan says, I was there. He goes, who are you, Nite Owl? She kinda turns her head. She walks towards him. Bo-Katan. Oh, well, no…your house fell from the way, so you’re both apostates. Mandalorian says, we’ve been to the Living Waters. The Mandalorian’s so matter-of-fact. Everybody shares a look, all the other…everybody there is out to see it because it’s boring there. He goes, I got proof. Baby Grogu’s between the two of them, or Grogu. Not Baby Oso; Grogu. Riz Vazala or something? So, they walk past, they stroll in, and then every single Mandalorian, except for the ones that were higher up, follow.

 

They’re like, holy cow, this is gonna be good, man. We’ve been so bored. Just been being in a covert. Being covert in a covert is not fun. Other than the baptism, we got nothing going on. So, they go into the armorer’s room, and Bo-Katan’s looking around in disbelief…sees the forge. The armorer is like, Din Djarin…oh no, first the guy tells on them. He says he took a bath, but I don't believe it. The armorer says, is it true? Yeah, I got proof. He hands up his tube. Armorer turns around. Okay, I’ll take that. Bo-Katan says, I was a witness. He fell into the depths; I pulled him out. So, that is important, I guess, 'cause they got…I mean, may…I got a good feeling about Bo-Katan, but it could be leading us that way. I have no future info, but…okay, so the armorer tests the waters. Yeah, it’s the truth. This is the real stuff.

 

He took…they both took a bath in the Living Waters. Din Djarin, you are redeemed. This is the way. Everybody says, this is the way. He says, Bo-Katan Kryze, by creed, you, too, are redeemed. Bo-Katan says, I don't walk the way. Says, have you taken off your helmet since your bath? No. Okay, then by creed, you are a Mandalorian again. You may join our covert and live as your ancestors once did. You can leave anytime you want, but until then, you’re one of us. Welcome, Bo-Katan. This is the way. This is the way. Everybody claps Bo-Katan and the Mandalorian on the shoulders, except for that one dude. He stands back, maybe a couple other bullies, but most people are like, hey, welcome back. Good to have you. Welcome to the family. Welcome to the covert.

 

Hopefully…and then we get a view of the Mythosaur symbol, and Bo-Katan almost looking a little confused inside a helmet. The episode comes to an end. Great episode. Great performance. Oh, wait, I forgot; so, first painting is three Interceptors and the castle, then Mando at the rear cannon thing, then four TIE Fighters chasing Bo-Katan’s ship. That’s three. Then a cityscape shot with a opera house, then the opera house closer with the crowds and a taxi, then Pershing getting the interview. I think there was thirteen or fourteen.

 

Then cubicles, so where…the place where Pershing works, then the train or the subway train, you know, then the shipyards, looking very organized…above-shot of the shipyards, then the lab they discovered, and then Pershing getting busted in the moment, then Pershing going through and saying, hey, listen to this music; it’ll make you feel better, then outside the covert after Bo-Katan lands with the bully maybe upfront? I don't know, and that’s it. That’s the end of the episode, so, we’ll be back. The good news is, too, this is when I recorded the night before Episode 4 comes out, so I’m excited I’m staying on pace right now. Thanks, and goodnight, everybody.

[END OF RECORDING]

(Transcribed by Leah Hervoly)