The Mandalorian - Season 2 Ep 3: The Heiress
disney+One of the most surprising highs within the first season of The Mandalorian was Bryce Dallas Howard’s directorial effort in Chapter 4: Sanctuary. Standing out as completely unique in identity from anything else in the Star Wars Universe up to that point, Bryce Dallas Howard proved herself as an inspired and bold director who wasn't afraid to take risks and had the directing ability to make them work. Naturally, when it was announced that she would once again be stepping back into the directors chair in Season 2 with Chapter 11: The Heiress, it was an exciting turn of events and whilst the episode isn't quite as much of a standout as her first effort, this once again proves Bryce Dallas Howard's ability as a director within the Star Wars Universe.
The first thing that is noticeable within the episode is the tone it takes. Whilst her first directorial outing with the series featured a bright and colorful tone, Chapter 11: The Heiress is drastically different. This is much more of a dark and gritty thriller that might not be as unique but still is incredibly well done and overall fresh in the context of Star Wars. The cold and wet environment of the ship that Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and The Child find themselves in might play into the darker tones that can be found throughout the Star Wars Franchise, but the marine element helps this setting have its own unique edge.
The story is also refreshing as, instead of being a completely separate bottle episode, it is a continuation of the story set up within Chapter 10: The Passenger, giving that story a proper and satisfying payoff while also setting up more developments for future episodes. The genuine enjoyment and fun of the dynamics between the two main characters and the Frog Lady alongside the natural stakes feel genuine and perfect in weight. This is the perfect conflict for a show like this, being light enough that it doesn't take away from the fun of the Star Wars world and established tone of the show while also being heavy enough to captivate audiences and really make them care. Whilst none of the emotions or moral questions within these couple of episodes will be revolutionary or stand out past the near future, it is enough to be solid tv and a worthwhile viewing experience.
Overall, Chapter 11: The Heiress is yet another impressive directorial outing for Bryce Dallas Howard who continually proves to be a valuable voice for Star Wars going forward. Though it will be incredibly exciting to see her continue to provide content for The Mandalorian, if she was given freedom to craft her own unique story, she could be a valuable voice for the Star Wars cinematic universe moving forward. She has emerged as one of the only consistent voices not only talking about but acting on the idea of truly exploring the Star Wars Universe and the diversity of stories which can be found within it.
