On Coruscant, former Imperials find amnesty in the New Republic.

Picking up immediately from the end of the previous episode, where Bo-Katan saved Mando from the depths of the murky waters on Mandalore, this is very much a tale of two stories.

The lion’s share of this longer episode is spent on Coruscant, following the rehabilitation of Dr Pershing, with the Mandalorian’s story bookending it. It’s a curious change of pace at this early point in the season, the side story feeling more akin to the type of ‘humanising the Imperials’ stories we see in Andor.

It’s an interesting aside, and it’s encouraging to see that the New Republic is willing to reintegrate its former aggressors into its new world. Pershing is now living as Scientist L52 and meets former Imperial Elia Kane. He’s frustrated that he’s not allowed to continue his cloning work – and this time he maintains it’ll be for good. Is there a way he can recover the apparatus necessary to experiment covertly?

As far as it goes, I enjoyed visiting this different corner of the universe, and I assume the relevance will become more apparent in further episodes. But I imagine that those who are just here for ‘The Mando and Grogu Show’ will feel shortchanged, even though there’s a fan-pleasing moment for them.

Verdict: An unexpected sidestep in the narrative that will likely annoy those who crave the simplistic linear story established in the opening episodes. 7/10
Nick Joy