Kristian Harloff and Sam React to The Mandalorian Season 1, Episodes 3 and 4: 'I Love This Show'

I watched The Mandalorian season 1 episodes 3 and 4 with my friend Sam, continuing the marathon that took us through Andor, Rogue One, the original trilogy, the prequels and the Patterson cut of Obi-Wan before finally landing here. My verdict after these two episodes is simple: the show is landing with both of us, and Baby Yoda is running away with it for Sam, who told me straight up, "It's the Baby Yoda for me."

For anyone following along with our full saga watch, this is worth flagging up front: I told Sam I'm not going to tell her anything about the show's reception until we finish season three, so this reaction stays spoiler and hype free going forward.

Sam Calls Mando a Badass After He Rescues the Child From the Client in Episode 3

Episode three took us back to the Mandalorian covert, where we watched the armorer explain the culture and the code, including the line that stuck with both of us, "This is the way," and the moment Mando earns his mudhorn signet and a new weapon in the whistling birds. When Mando ultimately turns around and pulls the kid back from the Client's men instead of collecting his bounty, Sam was fully on board, saying, "I'm glad he did. I'm glad he did." She followed that up by telling me Mando is a badass, and I agreed with her that he does have a heart, especially once the other Mandalorian shows up to help him escape the compound.

Episode 4 Introduces Cara Dune and an AT-ST Showdown on Sorgan

Episode four shifted things to the peaceful farming planet Sorgan, where Mando and the kid hide out among krill farmers and meet Cara Dune, an ex-shock trooper who fought at Endor with the rebellion before what she jokingly calls an early retirement. We both liked how the village hires Mando and Cara to defend them from raiders using a pit trap built for an Imperial AT-ST walker, and Sam pointed out that the actress playing Cara Dune had also been in Deadpool. We also got a quiet character beat where Omera asks Mando about his helmet, and he reveals his parents were killed and that Mandalorians raised him, though he still can't remove it in front of others.

Mando Turns Down a Normal Life to Keep Protecting the Kid

By the end of the episode, the village offers Mando a real home and a life with Omera, and I noted that it felt like a real option being dangled in front of him before he ultimately decides the kid doesn't belong there and they have to leave once a tracking fob reveals their location. Summing up her feelings on both episodes together, Sam told me, "I love this damn show so much. I love it. I love it. I love it."

Do you think Mando made the right call turning down a peaceful life on Sorgan for the kid's sake?