The Mandalorian Chapter 18 the Mines of Mandalore

Chapter 18 of The Mandalorian is entitled “The Mines of Mandalore” and commences in Mos Eisley at the hangar of Peli Motto. A Rodian has brought his speeder to Peli Motto for repair, as its parts were stolen by the Jawas. The Rodian engages in a dispute with Peli Motto, who convinces him that fresh parts must be ordered from the midrim. She requires the Rodian to pay half the price upfront for the parts. After the Rodian departs, the Jawas who had stolen the parts emerge from hiding. Peli Motto instructs them to paint the parts to appear new and compensates them for their services. Meanwhile, she hears a loud roar above her hangar and observes the Mandalorian’s Naboo N1 Starfighter directly above. Peli requests that the Jawas depart and acquire another speeder. The Mandalorian lands his ship in the hangar, and an enthusiastic Peli Motto remarks that the ship was purring like a nuzzle screw. The Mandalorian harbors no resentment towards the Naboo N1 Starfighter that Peli Motto had constructed for him, as it remains considerably faster than he knows what to do with. Peli inquires about Grogu, who is lying in the Mandalorian’s lap. Grogu performs a Force jump to reach Peli, and she comments that he was leaping like a Lurmen.

The Mandalorian is eager to proceed with business matters. Peli inquires whether it pertains to the Hutts or Boba Fett. The Mandalorian informs Peli that he requires a droid component. Peli instructs her pit droids to summon the jawas before they enter the cantina, as it is Boonta week in Mos Eisley. The Mandalorian specifies that he is seeking an IG memory circuit. Peli responds that such circuits have not been produced for a considerable period. The jawas arrive, and Peli requests in Jawaese if they can locate the memory circuit. Even in their native tongue, the jawas are unable to procure the part. The Mandalorian is keen to have his droid repaired expeditiously. Peli proposes that he purchase her astromech droid. However, the Mandalorian is not interested in an astromech droid but rather one that is suitable for spelunking. He requires a droid that can precede him to the surface of Mandalore and test the atmosphere. Peli’s R5 droid appears apprehensive upon hearing the task. Nevertheless, Peli endeavors to persuade the Mandalorian that her R5-D4 is capable of fulfilling the job and is designed for adventure. She is willing to sell it at half the price and provide a complimentary oil bath. Additionally, she will reinstall the droid port on the Mandalorian’s vessel. Peli asserts that R5 could also serve as a competent copilot.

Upon completion of his preparations, the Mandalorian departed amidst the darkness, with the sky illuminated by the fireworks of Boonta week. Accompanied by the R5 astromech droid and Grogu, he embarked on his journey into space. Mandalore, viewed from afar, appeared ominous, a stark contrast to its once verdant state. The Mandalorian proceeded to enlighten Grogu about the planet, revealing that he too had never set foot on its surface. He pointed out the moon of Concordia, visible from their ship, and informed Grogu that he had grown up there. The Mandalorian then proceeded to display Kalevala on the control panel in his cockpit, where they had previously encountered Bo-Katan, all within the same system. As they descended towards the planet’s surface, the stormy weather and heavy rainfall made for a challenging landing. Once on the surface, communication with the outside world became impossible. Din Djarin skillfully landed the ship on the crystallized terrain of the planet and dispatched R5 D4 to retrieve an air sample from a nearby pit.

R5 disappeared from view behind the rocks and subsequently vanished from the Mandalorian’s scope. The Mandalorian disembarked from the cockpit in search of the droid, proceeding towards the cave where it had disappeared. Suddenly, he was ambushed by three alamites wielding heavy clubs. In response, Din Djarin drew his darksaber, but found it too cumbersome to wield effectively. He also drew his vibroblade and, with some difficulty, was able to dispatch the three creatures. R5D4 was discovered nearby and the Mandalorian brought the droid back to his ship. Upon reaching the vessel, he inquired whether the droid had analyzed the air. Utilizing its holoprojector, the droid presented its findings, revealing that the air was indeed breathable, much to Din Djarin’s surprise.

Upon ensuring the absence of any toxic elements in the atmosphere, the Mandalorian proceeds to escort Grogu and the droid to the subterranean hub of Sundari. Descending into the mines, the duo traverses deeper into the tunnels with Grogu comfortably hovering in his pram while Din Djarin surveys their surroundings. During their exploration, the Mandalorian discovers a buried helmet and proceeds to unearth it. However, his investigation is abruptly interrupted by a trap that ensnares him within a cage, courtesy of a spider tank. Despite being immobilized, Grogu remains concealed nearby and witnesses the droid escorting the Mandalorian away. Subsequently, he disembarks from his pram and tails the tank.

A mechanized being, resembling a droid but possessing a genuine ocular organ, emerged from the tank. The Mandalorian found himself ensnared within the confines of a metal cage, rendering him immobile. Grogu endeavored to employ the Force in order to liberate the Mandalorian from his confinement, but to no avail. The Mandalorian implored Grogu to seek out Bo-Katan. While making his way out of the cave, Grogu narrowly evaded an attack from a reptavian. Additionally, an alamite assailed him, but Grogu utilized the Force to repel the creature.

Upon boarding the ship, Grogu relayed Bo-Katan’s whereabouts to the astromech droid and set a course for her location. The droid successfully navigated them to Bo-Katan’s palace. Initially perturbed by the return of Din Djarin’s vessel, Bo-Katan’s demeanor shifted upon observing Grogu’s anxious countenance within the cockpit. Sensing that something may have befallen Din Djarin, she instructed her droid to extract the data from the astromech droid and ascertain their recent whereabouts.

Subsequently, she embarks on her own vessel alongside Grogu and an astromech droid en route to Mandalore. As she descends into the planet’s atmosphere, she observes the ruins of Sundari. Upon landing, she requests that Grogu lead her to the Mandalorian. Grogu navigates her through the cave and tunnels. During their journey, she informs Grogu that the city was once a magnificent metropolis governed by her family, but now it is nothing more than a tomb. Despite Grogu’s apprehension, he successfully guides her to the Mandalorian. Along the way, she inquires about Grogu’s proficiency with the force, to which he responds with incoherent babbling. She commends him, stating that he must be quite skilled since he was able to locate her unaided. Suddenly, Bo-katan detects movement above and promptly fires through the tunnel’s roof. Two alamites plummet to the ground and attack her, but she swiftly eliminates them both.

They proceed forward, and Grogu escorts her to the location where the droid was extracting Din Djarin’s blood, aided by a smaller droid. Bo-Katan eliminates the smaller droid and subsequently targets the droid that had taken Din Djarin captive. The droid retaliates by wielding its staff and assaulting Bo-Katan, who is momentarily incapacitated by its energy blasts. While lying on the ground, Bo-Katan notices the darksaber lying nearby. The droid had discarded it while disarming Din Djarin. Bo-Katan picks up the saber and wields it with remarkable proficiency and ease, surpassing Din Djarin’s abilities. She impales the droid with the saber, causing it to collapse. Bo-Katan approaches Din Djarin and inquires about his well-being. He groans in agony and is unable to respond. However, he eventually murmurs weakly that there is something behind her. The droid’s head had detached from its body and entered the spider tank, poised to attack Bo-Katan until Din Djarin alerted her.

Bo-Katan Kryze pivots and cleaves the metallic appendages of the spider tank with the darksaber, effectively obliterating both the tank and its accompanying droid. Din Djarin succumbs to unconsciousness, prompting Bo-Katan to liberate him from his confinement and lay him down. Subsequently, while tending to a fire, Bo-Katan is observed by Grogu as Din Djarin regains consciousness and inquires as to how she located him. Bo-Katan attributes her success to Grogu’s resilience and navigational prowess.

The Mandalorian expressed his gratitude to Bo-Katan for rescuing him and acknowledged that she was correct in her assessment that the Mandalore was not cursed. Bo-Katan responded by stating that despite this, the Mandalore was not what it once was, and only memories remained of its former glory. Bo-Katan had thoughtfully prepared Pog Soup for the Mandalorian, but he was unfamiliar with the dish and inquired about its contents. She explained that it was a staple of Mandalorian cuisine, and that every Mandalorian had been raised on it since childhood, including the young Grogu. After enjoying some of the soup himself, the Mandalorian offered the remainder to Grogu. However, Bo-Katan insisted that he rest and recover before departing, assuring him that she would transport him to her ship in due time.

Din Djarin was compelled to journey to the mines of Mandalore in order to attain redemption. Bo-Katan, on the other hand, regarded it as mere folklore and was taken aback by the Mandalorian’s belief in it. She deemed the waters to be devoid of any mystical properties. Din Djarin retorted that the creed was the very foundation of their existence and that without it, individuals such as himself were nothing. The Mandalorians were dispersed across the galaxy like celestial bodies, and it was the creed that had enabled their survival. Bo-Katan had previously saved his life, and he felt indebted to her. Nevertheless, he was obliged to fulfill his duty first. As Bo-Katan was familiar with the path to the living waters, she was prepared to accompany him. Her demeanor was now more enthusiastic than before.

While en route, as they observed the ruins of Sundari, Din Djarin expressed his disbelief that this location was once teeming with Mandalorians akin to themselves. Bo-Katan responded by stating that it was difficult to envision life there, given the remnants left behind after the purge. To Mandalorians, it appeared as though centuries had passed since the area was deserted. Bo-Katan further elaborated that the empire sought to exact retribution by eradicating their memory entirely. The Mandalorian inquired whether the recollection of the site’s beauty caused her distress, to which Bo-Katan replied that it was more agonizing to witness her brethren repeatedly engaging in conflict with one another. The reasons for their strife were too convoluted to articulate, and it was causing them to weaken as a people.

Din Djarin, Bo-Katan, and Grogu had arrived at the entrance to the living waters, situated within the mines that had existed for millennia. The Mandalorian inquired of Bo-Katan whether she had previously visited this location, to which she responded affirmatively, recounting her childhood memories of the waters. The living waters were located in the chambers beneath the mines. Din Djarin expressed surprise at Bo-Katan’s prior visitation to the living waters. She explained that, as a member of the royal family, she had undergone a ceremonial oath-taking, which involved ostentatious displays for the benefit of the populace. Bo-Katan’s father, a valiant defender of Mandalore, had been proud of her for never having caused him any embarrassment. Din Djarin acknowledged her account with a respectful nod and uttered the phrase, “This is the way.” The trio proceeded to the living waters, where they encountered a tablet on a large pillar that provided information about the mines and the living waters. Bo-Katan informed Din Djarin that the mines dated back to the first Mandalore.

As per ancient folklore, it is believed that the mines were once a lair of the Mythosaur, a mythical beast that was tamed by Mandalore the Great. The skull signet of the Mandalorians was derived from this folklore and subsequently became the emblem of the planet. Din Djarin was standing at the water’s edge, lost in thought, when Bo-Katan inquired about his well-being. Without responding, he proceeded to remove his firearm from its holster and his backpack before descending the stairs and reciting the oath.

“I swear on my name and the names of the ancestors, that I shall walk the way of the Mandalore and the words of the creed shall be forever forged in my heart."

Din Djarin was positioned in water up to his chest when he inadvertently slipped and plunged into the depths. Bo-Katan expeditiously donned her helmet and proceeded to follow him into the water. The waters were of considerable depth, rendering the Mandalorian invisible. Bo-Katan descended further into the water with the aid of her backpack, in search of the Mandalorian. The Mandalorian’s helmet light was illuminated, and he was found lying at the bottom. Bo-Katan located him and retrieved him from the water. While ascending to the surface, she observed a mythosaur with large teeth on the side of its jaw, observing them as they moved towards the surface. The mythosaur moved away as they passed by its side. Bo-Katan was taken aback by the sight of the legendary creature. She promptly extracted herself and the Mandalorian from the living waters.

Directed by: Rachel Morrison

Written by : Jon Favreau

Created by Jon Favreau

Based on StarWars by George Lucas

Executive Producers

Jon Favreau

Dav Filoni

Executive Producers:

Kathleen Kennedy

Colin Wilson

Executive Producer:

Rick Famuyiwa

Starring:

Pedro Pascal

Katee Sackhoff

Co-Starring:

Amy Sedaris

Brendan Wayne

Lateed Crowder

Director of Photography: David Klein

Production Design by : Andrew L Jones and Doug Chiang

Edited by Dylan Firshein

Music Themes by Ludwig Goransson

Score by Joseph Shirley

Casting by : Sarah Halley Finn

Unit Production Manager: Colin Wilson

First Assistant Director: Kim Richards

Second Assistant Directors:

Sarah Hodges Oliviari

Heather Kehayas

Visual Effects Supervisor: Grady Cofer

Visual Effects Producer: Abbigail Keller

Animation Supervisor: Paul Kavanagh

Costume designer: Shawna Trpcic

Co-executive producer: Karen Gilchrist

Producer: John Bartnicki

Co-executive producer: Carrie Beck

Co-Producer: John Hampian