Chapter 1: The Mandalorian

The Mandalorian Chapter 1 is the pilot episode of the live-action series The Mandalorian. It premiered on November 12, 2019, exclusively on Disney+.

Official description
A Mandalorian bounty hunter tracks a target for a well-paying client.

The bar fight
The episode opens with the eponymous Mandalorian bounty hunter using a tracking fob on a settlement on an unidentified ice planet. Inside a unidentified bar, a bearded human trawler and a Quarren trawler are manhandling a blue-skinned Mythrol man, who pleads for his life in Galactic Basic, saying that he has credits. The bearded trawler wants to kill him for his valuable musk. Before the two trawlers can do any more harm, the armored and masked Mandalorian steps into the bar.

Speaking in Huttese, the bearded trawler tells the Mandalorian that he spilled his drink the last time he came. The Mandalorian ignores him and goes up to the counter. The bearded trawler reiterates his threat to the Mandalorian. Translating for the Mandalorian, the human bartender tells the Mandalorian that he says that he spilled his drink. The Mythrol tries to break free but the Quarren holds him down.

The two trawlers accost the Mandalorian, taking an interest in his beskar armor. The bartender tries to defuse the situation by serving a drink but the Mandalorian gets into a fight with the two trawlers. He knocks the bearded man to the ground. The Quarren tries to flee through the cantina doors but the Mandalorian trips him with a grappling line. The Quarren shoots the Mandalorian but his blaster bolt bounces off the Mandalorian's armor. The Mandalorian fires his blaster at the door controls, causing the door panels to shut and slice the Quarren in half.

The Mythrol thanks the Mandalorian and offers to buy him a drink. However, the Mandalorian instead shows him a hologram that confirms that the Mythrol is a wanted fugitive. The Mythrol claims this is a misunderstanding and tries to bribe his way out. The Mandalorian is unmoved and says he can bring him in either "warm" or "cold."

Icy ground
The Mandalorian leads the chained Mythrol back to his ship. On the way, they encounter a Kubaz ferryman dressed in a parka. The Mandalorian says that he needs passage back to the ice. The Kubaz summons a landspeeder that is piloted by an astromech droid with a flute. The Mandalorian doesn't want to deal with droids but the Kubaz says the speeder is brand new. The Mandalorian insists on an organic pilot and the Kubaz summons a rundown landspeeder piloted a bearded human pilot, who asks him where to.

The Mandalorian and his Mythrol quarry travel with the human pilot on the landspeeder. The driver scans the horizon with his macrobinoculars, with the Mythrol explaining that he is looking for ravinaks, large predators which live under the ice. The pilot explains that it is clear right now but warns the Mandalorian that the ravinak tend to cluster around the spaceport because they think that the entire planet is their skating ring.

The speeder pilot delivers them to the Mandalorian's starship Razor Crest, which the Mythrol describes as junk and offers to hire a better ship. The Mandalorian forces him out of the landspeeder. The driver says that it is time to go and warns the Mandalorian to stay off the ice. The Mythrol asks if there is going to be something to worry about. While the Mandalorian climbs aboard the Razor Crest, the Mythrol sees the speeder being devoured by a ravinak, which is lurking beneath the ice.

The Mythrol begs the Mandalorian to open the hatch as the creature approaches him. The Mandalorian pulls him to safety just in the nick of time. The ravinak throws itself against the starship's hull. The Mandalorian leads his captive into the cockpit. The Mythrol remarks that it was a lucky escape and that staying off the ice was the "understatement of the millennium." The Razor Crest tries to take off but the ravinak latches onto to its landing strut.

The Mandalorian exits the cockpit with a trident and climbs out the docking ramp to confront the ravinak. He stings the creature in the head, causing it to let go of the landing strut. The Razor Crest flies off into the skies as the Mandalorian returns to the cockpit. The Mythrol mumbles "let's go, let's go" as the ship ascends into space.

Nowhere to escape
During the journey, the Mythrol tells the Mandalorian that he likes the Razor Crest because it is "classy." He asks whether the ship is pre-Galactic Empire and tells the Mandalorian that he is wealthy and could afford to hail a cruiser. The Mandalorian remains silent and does not interact with his prisoner. The Mythrol asks how much they are paying him and if it is true that Mandalorians do not take off their helmet. The Mandalorian remains silent.

The Mythrol claims that he has to use the vacc tube, warning that he would not want to see a Mythrol "evacuate its thorax." The Mandalorian allows him to leave the cockpit to find the vac tube. The Mythrol finds the vac tube and says that it will take a while because he is moulting. He takes advantage of the toilet break to find a way off the ship and enters the ship's cargo hold only to find several other bounties frozen in carbonite. He realizes that he won't be able to celebrate Life Day. The Mandalorian agrees and yanks him into a carbon freezing chamber, freezing the Mythrol.

A new job
The Razor Crest travels to Nevarro and lands at a spaceport. He walks through the streets into a cantina, which is frequented by various humanoids and aliens. He meets with a dark skinned man named Greef Karga, the head of the Bounty Hunters' Guild. Karga remarks that the job was done fast and pays the Mandalorian in Imperial credits. The Mandalorian refuses to accept payment since the Empire does not exist anymore. Greef offers to pay him in Calamari Flan but adds that he can only pay half. The Mandalorian reluctantly accepts his payment and begins off loading his cargo of bounties frozen in carbonite.

Back at the cantina, Karga tells the Mandalorian that he has several bail jumps and a wanted smuggler. The Mandalorian wants to take them all but Greef warns that he cannot take them all because there are other bounty hunters. Greef also explains that many don't want to be paid guild rates and don't mind if things get sloppy. The Mandalorian asks what is his highest bounty. Karga says it is 5,000 Calamari Flan but the Mandalorian counters that it won't cover fuel these days. The guild master tells Karga that there is an "off the books" job with not chip code.

The Client
The Mandalorian accepts this offer and travels through the backstreets of the town. He travels to a house with a green door and is greeted by a gatekeeper droid. The Mandalorian displays a transponder and is admitted inside the building. A GNK power droid leads him down a corridor to a room where he is greeted by four Remnant Stormtroopers in dusty armor. The Mandalorian finds that his client is an elderly man with white hair.

The Client says that Greef Karga told him that he was the best in the guild. Just then a door swings open abruptly and the Mandalorian reaches for his blaster. A panicked human with glasses comes out. The stormtroopers order the Mandalorian to drop his weapons. The bespectacled man apologizes for alarming the Mandalorian. The Client introduces Doctor Pershing, apologizing for his lack of decorum and saying that his enthusiasm outweighs his discretion. He tells the Mandalorian to lower his blaster.

The Mandalorian insists that the stormtroopers lower their blasters first but one of the stormtroopers says that they outnumber him. The Mandalorian replies that he likes those odds. The Client adds that Greef warned him he that the Mandalorian was expensive and tells him to sit. They are joined by Dr Pershing. The Client unwraps a red cloth with beskar and tells him that it is a down payment. He promises him a treasure trove of beskar if he delivers the asset. Dr Pershing insists that it be delivered alive. The Client obliges but warns that "bounty hunting can be a difficult profession." He adds that proof of termination can by provided for a lower fee. Dr Pershing disagrees but the Client overrules him.

Due to the sensitive nature of the job, the Client can only offer him a tracking fob. When the Mandalorian asks about the chain code, the Client replies that he can only provided the last four digits. He mentions that the Asset is 50 years old but that they can give the last recorded position of the data. Flattering the Mandalorian, he tells him that a man of his skill can make short work of it. The Client says that the beskar rightfully belongs to the Mandalorian and that it is good to restore the "natural order" after a period of chaos, ominously asking the Mandalorian if he agrees.

Lair of the Tribe
The Mandalorian walks through the streets, passing a Kowakian Monkey-Lizard being roasted over a spit while a despondent monkey-lizard watches from inside a cage. He passes through the marketplace down a flight of stairs into an underground hall full of Mandalorians including helmeted children. The Mandalorian approaches the armorer and presents her with some credits and the beskar bar.

The female armorer says that the beskar bar was melted down during the Great Purge and that it is good that it is back with The Tribe. She says that a pauldron is in order and asks if his signet has been revealed. He says not yet and she responds that it will be ready soon. The female armorer gets to work melting the beskar while the Mandalorian watches. She says that this beskar alloy is generous and will sponsor many Foundlings. The Mandalorian says that he was once a Foundling and experiences a flashback of his parents being gunned down in the streets. The female smith presents him with a metal pauldron.

Kuiil and the blurrgs
The Mandalorian flies the Razor Crest to the desert world of Arvala-7. He flies over several mountains before landing in a valley. He follows his tracking fob and scans the horizon. The Mandalorian aims his trident at a blurrg but is ambushed by one of the creatures, which grabs his right arm and hurls him to the ground. The blurrg is hit by a tranquilizer dart. A second blurg charges but is also hit by a tranquilizer dart.

A mounted Ugnaught named Kuiil approaches the Mandalorian on a blurrg and the Mandalorian thanks him. He recognizes the Mandalorian as a bounty hunter and says that he will help him. He says that the has spoken and leads him to his moisture farm. Later, he tells the Mandalorian that many have come seeking the same asset but that they have all perished. The Mandalorian is reluctant to accept his help but Kuiil says he can show him the way to the encampment.

When he asks what is his "cut", Kuill says that he wants half of the blurrgs that he captured. The Mandalorian wants to give him both of the blurrgs but Kuiil insists that he will need one because he claims the way is impossible without a blurrg mount. The Mandalorian doesn't want to ride a blurrg but Kuiil says he has spoken.

The Mandalorian struggles to ride a blurrg. The Ugnaught suggests he take off his helmet but the Mandalorian refuses. Kuiil explains that the male is in heat during mating. He watches as the Mandalorian tries to ride the blurrg but keeps on falling. Growing impatient, he asks if the Ugnaught has a speeder bike or landspeeder but Kuiil reminds him that he is a Mandalorian whose ancestors rode the great mythosaurs. He convinces the Mandalorian to give it a second try.

The Mandalorian approaches the creature gently and strokes its head. He manages to tame the creature. Together, he and Kuiil ride their blurrgs over the rocky terrain, which is littered with crevasses and gorges. Kuiil tells the Mandalorian that the encampment lies ahead. The Mandalorian wants to pay him but Kuiil says that the Mandalorian will be doing him a service by ridding the areas of mercenaries and crooks. Kuiil explains that the locals want peace from these offworlders. When the Mandalorian asks why he wants his help, Kuill replies that he has never met a Mandalorian but has only read the stories. If what he says is true, there will be peace.

Skirmish at the compound
Continuing the journey, the Mandalorian approaches the encampment which lies in a valley. He scans the site with a telescope and spots several armed figures including an IG-series droid. The IG droid, who is called IG-11, approaches the Nikto sentries and demands that they hand over the "asset" under Paragraph 16 of the Bondsman Guild Protocol. The Nikto reach for their blasters but IG-11 guns them down. Other gunmen join the fight but are gunned down by the droid.

The remaining gunmen retreat behind a blast door. IG-11 repeats his demands. The Mandalorian approaches IG-11 and tells him to get down. IG-11 initially shoots at him but the Mandalorian manages to convince him that he is a fellow Guild member. IG-11 claims that the bounty is his but the Mandalorian convinces him to split the bounty and the two join forces to eliminate the hostiles.

Armed gunmen appear on the roofs and the duo shoot them down. An assailant attacks the Mandalorian from behind but he shoots him down as well. The Mandalorian locates the asset inside the building. They shoot down more mercenaries and hostiles. As more reinforcements approach, IG-11 wants to activate his self-destruct mechanism but the Mandalorian convinces him to instead cover him while he finds a way to unlock the blast door. The two are pinned down by enemy fire.

Some of the Nikto mercenaries bring a laser cannon. IG-11 wants to self-destruct but the Mandalorian convinces him that they should shoot their way out. A Nikto manning the laser cannon peppers them with fire. The Mandalorian convinces IG-11 to draw their fire while he uses the grappling cable to grab the laser cannon. He shoots the Nikto gunner and uses the cannon to take out the remaining hostiles on the roof, eliminating the opposition. IG-11 disengages his self-destruct mechanism.

The asset
Despite his antipathy towards droids, the Mandalorian respects IG-11's fighting skills and expresses concern for the droid's blaster damage. IG-11 says he is okay and does a diagnostic, finding that the blaster bolt missed his central chassis. The Mandalorian and IG-11 use the laser cannon to blast down the door. The Mandalorian shoots the last remaining sentry.

IG-11 says that his tracking fob is still active and that his sensors indicate a lifeform is present. The Mandalorian approaches a silver pram and finds that the asset is an infant belonging to the same species as Yoda. IG-11 points out that different species age differently. The droid informs the Mandalorian that he received specific instructions to terminate the asset. The Mandalorian disagrees and insists on bringing "the child" back alive. When IG-11 attempts to terminate the infant, the Mandalorian shoots and destroys the droid before taking the infant.

Release
The episode's musical score by Ludwig Göransson was released digitally the same day as the episode itself.

Reception
The episode currently holds a 93% Fresh rating on the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes. Chaim Gartenberg of The Verge said that the episode isn't only a great start for the series, but the best proof that the Star Wars universe can lead to compelling content that isn't geared toward children or needing to feature Luke Skywalker to attract the viewer's attention. Charlie Ridgely of ComicBook.com rated the episode 4 out of 5, praising the series' darker and grittier take of the galaxy and Pedro Pascal's performance.

Credits
{{Credits
 * cast=
 * Pedro Pascal as "The Mandalorian"
 * Carl Weathers as Greef Karga
 * Werner Herzog as "The Client"
 * Omid Abtahi as Doctor Pershing
 * Nick Nolte as Kuiil
 * Taika Waititi as IG-11
 * John Beasley as Bartender
 * Horatio Sanz as Mythrol
 * Tait Fletcher as Alpha trawler
 * Ryan Watson as Beta trawler
 * Dmitrious Bistrevsky as Quarren trawler
 * Christopher Bartlett as Ferryman
 * Brian Posehn as Speeder Pilot
 * Emily Swallow as Armorer

Uncredited
}}
 * David W. Collins
 * Dominic Pace as Unidentified bounty hunter
 * crew=
 * Dave Filoni – Director, Executive Producer
 * Jon Favreau – Writer, Creator, Executive Producer
 * Kathleen Kennedy – Executive Producer
 * Colin Wilson – Executive Producer, Unit Production Manager
 * Greig Fraser – Director of Photography, Co-Producer
 * Andrew L. Jones – Production Designer
 * Jeff Seibenick – Editor
 * Ludwig Göransson – Music
 * Sarah Halley Finn – Casting
 * Kim Richards – First Assistant Director
 * Heather Wagner – Second Assistant Director
 * Richard Bluff – Visual Effects Supervisor
 * Joseph Porro – Costume Designer
 * Karen Gilchrist – Co-Executive Producer
 * John Bartnicki – Co-Producer
 * Carrie Beck – Co-Producer
 * Doug Chiang – Co-Producer
 * Janet Lewin – Co-Producer
 * Jason McGatlin – Co-Producer
 * Christopher Yost – Executive Consultant