I liked Mando getting his ass kicked and Grogu making the save in the droid. "No, No, No, No"

I really like the way Grogu was used and that each of three main characters each getting beat close to losing but each being able to save the others to some extent with Grogu being the featured one to save the day and really use those force powers.

There was a lot of talk in the dork videos about the title of the last episode being "Spies" as in multiple and the only one they really showed was Kane. So the postulation was there had to be one in the Mando camp. They played up the armorer being in on it. I posted why I didn't think that was possible, mostly because Gideon was surprised when Bo and the armorer were working together. If the dorks have to close the loop, IMO, the other Spy is Gideon. He came up in the ISB and said "secrets are my stock in trade", and was doing some spying and deception on the Shadow Council/Thrawn.

Personally, I'm glad there wasn't a traitor in the midst. I think it would have detracted from the story if it was the armorer and I think it added a lot that Axe, Who lost his command, and got punked by the giant ****er was ****ing hardcore and saved the day like a mother****er. That was awesome. I was super team Axe for a bit there.

I think it is a good move to keep this one separated. I know the thing is to tie it all together. But the story was better if the Mandalorians took back their home world rather than ham fisting a deus ex machina big power rolling in. Well done dudes. Way to resist the urge to **** it up.

I liked it. I think when the hype for the Battle of Mandalore was building up in the lead up to the season, I was imagining Game of Thrones like intrigue, complete with propulsive twists (such as a battle between factions, gray characters you could root for from both and getting killed, etc) and betrayals like the armorer was being rumored to make.

But, on reflection, that's never been Mando. It has happened in Star Wars before ("No. I am your father"), but Mando has always been a bit cut and dry in that regard. I think the surprise of Luke Skywalker at the end of Season 2 and BOBF set impossible expectations for the storytelling in Season 3.

Overall, Season 3 did what it set out to do. It added Grogu to the fold and not someone who needed to be constantly saved (it took a while, but he was a full, functional player in the story in the last two episodes), it added Nevarro as a player, it had the Mandalorians retake Mandalore (though a bit cleanly, setting it up as a black vs white, good guys vs. Moff Gideon battle), and most importantly, the finale set Din back up in the role we loved him in through Season 1. As a bonus, we got legit world-building of the New Republic that had been so badly lacking from the universe and will likely play a huge part in future storytelling.

While a step down from Season 2, there was still a lot to like about this season -- and if I'm wanting the intrigue that I love so much, I have Andor for that now.

Onto Season 4

Is it just me, or did it feel like a little bit of bullshit that the Darksaber was destroyed so.....easily? I guess it could potentially set up Din Grogu to be THE Mandalorian and be the first Jedi/Mandalorian since the guy that made the Darksaber (meaning Grogu can remake the Darksaber)? Loved the shot of the Mandalorians jet packing off to battle in formation, and really loved the shot of the cruiser crashing to earth as the Pack o' Mandos hauled ass out of the way....

Yeah, admittedly that threw me off. It's the Darksaber and basically the very main symbol that's supposed to hold the various clans together.

Why is it that no one can shoot shit but as soon as Paz says he's going to lay down cover so that Axle can escape...suddenly dude starts mowing down people? Just ****ing do that shit from the beginning, asshole. And is he the only capable shooter the Mandalorians have?

I saw a speculation piece that suggested the Dark Saber being destroyed created an opening for Grogu to eventually become the leader of Mandalore, but not by creating a new dark saber, rather by being the one to ride the Mythosaur.