Chapter 18
The Mines of Mandalore
New episode of The Mandalorian and what a great one! Many cool moments, and it was great to see Mandalore so soon, even if it's quite sad to see it turned into ashes. But I'm sure there's great potential to be explored in here for the rest of the season, since it looks like they're going with a more direct narrative arc, instead of the one-off episodes from previous seasons!
Without further ado, let's get right into the analysis!
DISCLAIMER: The score reductions are simplified to make things easier to understand. Also, wanted to note that there hasn't been a score release, but when the album drops, I will go back to these posts and place the YouTube links to the new pieces
What immediately struck me while watching the episode, in terms of the music, is that for the first 20 minutes or so, the music is either comprised of tracked bits from previous tracks from both seasons of Mando or his episodes from Book of Boba Fett, or is entirely new, but without recurring to any particularly noticeable melody.
The opening portion, with the character of peli Motto is underscored with traces of the rhythmic motif that opens the "Faster Than a Fathier" from the Book of Boba Fett, and this style develops through her scenes, with some brief hints to other themes, like the Mando stinger, Grogu's synth motif (derived from the "Snacks" track) or the Mandalorian Culture theme, which leads into the Western motif over the title card (this section might also be tracked from "Man of Honour" from chapter 7, or perhaps re-recorded based on that cue).
During Mando's navigating lessons to Grogu, we can also hear anothe tracked bit, this time from the track "A Gift", also from Book of Boba Fett. This passage contains the Recorder Riff on soft guitar, and develops to include a soulful recorder motif that has been used many times during the show without a clear purpose, seemingly just another element that represents the main character, this time more tied with his ancestral roots
Once Mando finally lands on Mandalore, the music is definitely brand-new, but the composer doesn't unleash a glorious theme for the first sights of Mandalore. It's far from its ancient grace, now more of a tomb full of ashes, and the composer accompanies these scenes with mysterious chord progressions and ethereal synths, that kind of remind me of something closer to Vangelis' score for Blade Runner, rather than Star Wars. It's a tragic representation of a lost civilization, and the composer doesn't outstay its welcome, offerent a subtle but effective underscore to these sequences.
Mando sees a Mandalorian helmet, signified by the presence of the Recorder Riff, but soon it's revealed to be a trap, and he gets captured by a mysterious alien-robotic giant spider. Grogu tries to rescue him, and here Joseph Shirley brings back The Child's theme. It's an idea that has been used to represent Grogu since the very first episode, used to accompany the more mysterious side of his character, and his connection with The Force. The composer quotes it in its standard variation before turning it into a playful action arrangement, as Grogu escapes into the ship. Here the composer toys around with the idea, even turning it into a brief heroic fanfare as he throws the Alamite out of the cave.
He flies to Bo Katan's castle so she can help him rescue Mando, and her musical material is back. When they arrive we hear some low strings playing a low figure which represented The Client from Season 1, here its purpose completely different, as its used to underscore the first time Bo Katan sees the destroyed ashes of Mandalore. There are traces of her main theme and the sounds relating to her and the Nite Owls, and during her combat with the mysterious creature that has captured Mando, her theme returns in full action mode, with the dissonant stinger, in an arrangement very similar to what played in Season 2 in "Ship o hoj, Mandalorians!" (starting at 0:34).
When Mando is finally rescued, Bo Katan agrees to guide him into the Mines of Mandalore, and as they walk through the ruins of the city, a noble horn theme is presented.
Bo Katan Theme
Mandalore Theme
It was hinted a bit early in the episode, but this is where it makes the most impact in the episode, and to me, it seems like it's derived from Bo Katan's own theme, but perhaps intended to represent the city of Mandalore, and its former glory. This idea is joined by softer variations of the Bo Katan theme later on, both being extended and developed as they walk through the tunnels towards the mines, and we even get a somber reference to the A theme for the Mandalorian Culture, as Bo Katan mentions her deceased father.
Mando starts his purification ritual, as he enters the living waters of Mandalore and recites the Mandalorian creed, and the composer supports this moment with a beautiful joining of the Recorder Riff and Mando's Fanfare, both ideas intermingling with each other with ease.
He is suddenly dragged to the bottom of the waters, and Bo Katan rapidly jumps after him. Here the Mandalore theme I mentioned right above plays a couple of times to support the tension, playing on horns on top of a fast-moving string ostinato that leads Bo Katan to the bottom of the lake, where Mando is lying. She starts to carry him back up, and we can hear hints of her sound motifs joining the action passages.
Suddenly, we are surprised by the presence of a mysterious figure that starts to move in the dark. Once we get a better look at it, it's revealed to be none other than a Mythosaur, the ancient creatures the Mandalorian legends talk about, which were allegedly tamed and ridden by the Great Mandalore, and which were supposedly gone extinct. The composer unleashes a brief but powerful fanfare that instantly acknowledges his huge size, but also its majestic beauty.
This idea is played boldly on horns, and leads to another statement of the Mandalore theme, before the episode ends, leading to the classic end title suite. This leaves the episode open with so many possibilities for the next one, and as always, I cannot wait to see and hear what's next for Mando & co. and I think this season is getting better and better with each episode!
This is it for the second episode of the season, and it was as great as I expected our first visit to Mandalore to be. We had some discoveries, some new cool creatures, and the exciting revelation of a Mythosaur being still alive deep beneath the living waters of Mandalore!
I hope you all enjoyed, and be sure to stay tuned for the analysis of the upcoming episodes. In the meantime, you can always check out my analysis of House of the Dragon and The Rings of Power. Enjoy!