When Baby Eats Babies

I'm late to the party, I know, but Baby Yoda has finally won me over. On Friday's new episode of The Mandalorian, when the cute little puppet started popping eggs in his mouth, I finally felt like he was a Star Wars character. It's part of a trend I see this season that's setting it head and shoulders above the first season--the moral rule book has been tossed out the window.

This is also reflected in how the Mandalorian's (Pedro Pascal) problems really begin in this episode when he runs across two X-Wings (one piloted by Dave Filoni). Their routine questions and requests for identification show in some ways the New Republic may not be so different from the Empire.

I also like how we can see both ships outside the cockpit and their S foils lock into attack position without any dialogue explaining what it means. It's enough for anyone who's seen the movies just to see the wings slowly split apart. It's subtle and lets the audience do their own thinking.

Directed by Peyton Reed, best known for directing the Ant-Man movies, this episode is better than both movies combined. It's easy to underestimate simplicity. The episode ends with a perfectly simple but wonderfully suspenseful flight from spider monsters.

I also loved Amy Sedaris playing cards with the big ant puppet.

The Mandalorian is available on Disney+.

Twitter Sonnet #1411

The spinning paper makes the bottle shell.
A glassy clock remained behind the stop.
A steady snow began to choke the well.
Excessive cork denies the needed pop.
The extra rain approves a gritty cloud.
In timing Bridge before the cards were played.
A fish for funds reverts the lately proud.
It's here the flashy rolling homes were made.
The world was painted round the blue balloon.
Excessive java drove the heart to love.
A function filled the coffee shop saloon.
A steady hand engaged a pliant glove.
The straightened spring was clearly gone away.
The timer tells another changing day.