The Mandalorian takes a whimsical detour in Episode 6 of Season 3 as Din Djarin and Grogu travel to Plazir-15 with Bo-Katan Kryze in order to retrieve her stolen Imperial Fleet from Axe Woves so they can retake Mandalore together. But before they can see the Mandalorian mercenaries, the duo is enlisted to solve an underdeveloped mystery involving a stacked list of guest stars. It’s a fun enough chapter, but one that again seems to be struggling to find a direction — much like the series as a whole at this point.
The opening of “Guns for Hire” sets the goofy tone and is also the best part of the episode as a self-contained short story involving some clever set design and strong creature work. The shot showing the immense size of Axe Woves’ Star Destroyer compared to the Quarren merchant ship is reminiscent of the opening of A New Hope, a reminder of just how much these Imperial vessels dominate everything else in space.
It’s a fun first scene in which the captain getting to enjoy the comfort of a tank where she can snack on fish is a great way of depicting her status before she deftly tries to talk her way out of trouble by offering bribes to whatever warlord she’s come across. Unfortunately, the Mandalorians have been hired to break up her tryst with a Mon Calamari prince. Their embrace demonstrates the excellent details of the costumes and it’s only a shame we didn’t get a spectacularly gross kiss to really show off the captain’s tentacles in action.
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The zaniness continues into the main plot of “Guns for Hire,” where Din and Bo-Katan’s attempts to quietly make contact with Axe Woves are interrupted by the rulers of Plazir-15, the Duchess (Lizzo) and Captain Bombardier (Jack Black). This is a direct democracy where the people happen to have picked an ancestral noble and her ex-Imperial husband, who have rewarded them with prosperity and tranquility by using a workforce of former Separatist and Imperial droids and hiring the Mandalorians for protection. Between them, Bo-Katan, and the absolute dysfunction of the New Republic, this season has really gone all in on the idea that a benevolent monarchy is a great form of government.
Plazir-15 is gorgeous, with the rulers holding court in a decadent ballroom filled with all manner of aliens and vibrant colors. The Duchess’ holographic train blends well with her bejeweled dress and Black looks suitably dapper with a curled beard and a mischievous grin and he enlists the Mandalorians in a bit of borderline legal violence.