The tracking fob... yeah ... I guess they home in on a DNA-like integrated unique identifier. We know that the last four digits equals the age, which is interesting.

Could be implanted, tagged in some way, or of course something else.

I doubt they'll explain it fully in the series, but perhaps a visual guide or dictionary thing will be released at some point.

10 hours ago, DaverWattra said:

The thing that didn't do it for me was the score. Boring and un-Star Warsy.

Yeah, that was something I also noticed when I watched the episode a second time last night.

It reminded me of Rogue One's soundtrack, which also very much faded into the background to the point I probably wouldn't recognize any of the tracks as being from that movie unless you told me it was.

I suspect that the score being the way it was is a style choice, to lean into the "western in space" vibe the show in general is shooting for. Hopefully that'll change for the major dramatic moments of the story arc.

The music. Yeah. I didn't notice anything amiss. I guess I didn't know what to expect from this new Star Wars storytelling thing. I liked what little I picked up. And mostly gorged on the visuals.

The flashback was interesting.

Also, the amount of indoors, around the corner scenes, walking up and down stairs ... the measured, slow, and somewhat uncertain gait of the Mandalorian was interesting to watch. The actor basically having no vision does that I guess.

52 minutes ago, Jegergryte said:

I doubt they'll explain it fully in the series, but perhaps a visual guide or dictionary thing will be released at some point.

That does seem to be the modus operandi ever since the prequels, of letting things like a visual guide/dictionary fill in the various minor details that aren't relevant to the film/show's primary plot.

That way, those viewers who want to know can find out, and those who aren't bothered by the lack of things being explained don't have the show bogged down with largely irrelevant techno-babble.

I loved the music, but I am in the mindset of The Mandalorian is sort of establishing its own unique corner of Star Wars distinct from the movies, and perhaps sort of trying to do what Marvel does where it's definitely a "space opera", but with an added genre on top - true western, espionage, ect. - that sort of informs its production. Even moreso than the main films themselves. I think that's neat.

Some rambling, but I could gush about the show all day.

2 hours ago, Jegergryte said:

And I'll say this for "criticism": The inclusion of the yodelling breaks my hope of non-forcey malarkey for this show - sure, we probably won't see lots of force usage or jedi crap, but the mysticism has already been implied, now the question is if or how its presence will affect the show, and the storylines.

No saying it isn't - but we don't actually know that this creature is force sensitive, aside from extrapolating a small sample size of two other known beings onto it (three if you count Vandar).

3 hours ago, Jegergryte said:

I think the first episode was ace, for the following (world-building) reasons:

Agreed. I found myself paying attention to *everything*, soaking in all the details, which is something I haven't done since TCW...or the PT. They really gave a lot of attention to background...loved that monkey-lizard on a spit!...which for me spells "rewatchability".

1 hour ago, Demon4x4 said:

No saying it isn't - but we don't actually know that this creature is force sensitive, aside from extrapolating a small sample size of two other known beings onto it (three if you count Vandar).

I'm not sure what you're saying ... but it seems you're rephrasing my point, with a sledgehammer of obviousness. but sure, we don't know, but luckily the writers are humans from earth, familiar with the associations this would spark in the audience. What it actually means for the storyverse in general and this tv-show in particular is up for grabs, what it may imply on the other hand - that I think it implies - is forcey-borkey mysticism (with a potentially evil mastermind/scientist thing going on... who knows?!?!)...

4 hours ago, Donovan Morningfire said:

It reminded me of Rogue One's soundtrack, which also very much faded into the background to the point I probably wouldn't recognize any of the tracks as being from that movie unless you told me it was.

Interesting. I would've said Rogue One's score was great, with a number of iconic tracks that stick in my memory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C2wCcuKmLI&list=PLzFg1I9Qhy5w0Of8DSazCXGjTPyn6K-NW&index=21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w42CTq5QZtI&list=PLzFg1I9Qhy5w0Of8DSazCXGjTPyn6K-NW&index=19

Something like that is what they should shoot for in this series IMO.

4 hours ago, Inquisitor Tremayne said:

This! I've been racking my brain over it too. Perhaps these are mostly for bond-skippers, implying they were once incarcerated and had a tracker implanted during incarceration. That's the best I got so far. They also implied that this might be a guild-specific thing? Since others not wanting to pay guild rates don't have access to the "pucks" (?) and don't mind things getting messy...

That's what I was thinking, but then how would they track randoms? For the baby Yoda, you could say that he was once in a situation where they would have placed a tracker on him, but for someone who has had no situation in which they would have something like that...

Hmm. Also trying to figure out what a "Chain Code" is, never heard of it before and I think that it might be related.

2 minutes ago, P-47 Thunderbolt said:

That's what I was thinking, but then how would they track randoms? For the baby Yoda, you could say that he was once in a situation where they would have placed a tracker on him, but for someone who has had no situation in which they would have something like that...

Hmm. Also trying to figure out what a "Chain Code" is, never heard of it before and I think that it might be related.

I think it might be a series of numbers that denotes "Species, Gender, Age" in that order?

2 hours ago, Demon4x4 said:

No saying it isn't - but we don't actually know that this creature is force sensitive, aside from extrapolating a small sample size of two other known beings onto it (three if you count Vandar).

There is a subtle rendition of John Williams' Force theme playing over the scene...

Loved it. I was also straining to see all the details in the background and see what I could recognize. I think there was a "constable zuvio" type guy in there...

It felt like a lot of it was in the trailer which is good, because it means the other episodes will have all new stuff.

I personally liked the music.

I thought it was an acceptable start. The music wasn't jarring or inspiring for me. I honestly couldn't remember the score five minutes after I watched it the first time. I do enjoy spaghetti-westerns so that vibe worked for me. The humor was low-key enough not to be distracting. I think the writers did a workmanlike job of laying the groundwork for future exploration of Mandalorian diaspora groups. I was wondering if the "foundling" reference might mean the Mando diaspora is more of a socio-tribal group than a strictly genetic-heritage group and therefore included outsiders adopted by the clan-group. The one real criticism I have is that while the writers set several compelling hooks for questions during the show I was left wondering what the central theme of this show (or at least this season) is supposed to be. I feel like it was one key scene-beat-clue short of really grabbing me by the throat and dragging me in. The writers were trying to pack an awful lot into this first episode and mostly succeeded. I'm looking forward to episode 2.

Listening to the music on Spotify now.

I think it is suitable for the episode, and the type of narrative they want to convey (as I understand it.) I mean, sure, it isn't epic space opera fanfare mayhem ... but that would be a rather tard move, all things considered. It's moody, in what I think is a nice way at least. It's definitely going on the SWRPG playlist of mine.

I don’t know why but I felt the tune was a bit too Asian sounding to fit the general vibe.

9 minutes ago, DanteRotterdam said:

I don’t know why but I felt the tune was a bit too Asian sounding to fit the general vibe.

I love the music, but I wonder if that wasn't intentional? Found this interview with Pedro -

"[He]'s your iconically cool, flawed, mysterious, loner gunslinger that harkens to the best of the samurai movies and the westerns," he said about his character in the show. "In talking to Jon, I asked him what should I be looking at? I know he loves movies, I love movies. 'What would you like me to watch?' I asked him."

Pascal continued, "[Jon Favreau] immediately brought up Sergio Leone and Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo… So [the Mandalorian] is very samurai, Clint [Eastwood], and me. Just wedge me into those two iconic characters because he's also, I love the opportunity to make him as human and accessible as possible, which is strange to say because it's impossible to get to him because he's covered in armor from head to toe.

"And yet, the idea is that he's relatable, we're all kind of covered in our own armor and terrified of taking that armor off, and that's the thing that crosses him over into a character that we're all really going to really want to follow."

4 minutes ago, DanteRotterdam said:

I don’t know why but I felt the tune was a bit too Asian sounding to fit the general vibe.

Huh. I get a feel from folk, and world music, a hint of scandi or nordic countries, with of course the some middle-eastern influences. But there is deffo some flute stuff that can be attributed to almost anywhere. Same with the drum thing of the Mandalorian's own tune...

And of course the conventional orchestra strings and brass mingled in.

It's pretty neat I think...

Although I'm unsure about favourite tune yet.

Seen it twice now, and I am afraid to say this but I liked it a lot less the second time around. I don’t know man... I was super excited for it but thus far the show is mediocre. Here’s hoping it will pick up with episode two.

9 hours ago, Jegergryte said:

The tracking fob... yeah ... I guess they home in on a DNA-like integrated unique identifier. We know that the last four digits equals the age, which is interesting.

Could be implanted, tagged in some way, or of course something else.

I doubt they'll explain it fully in the series, but perhaps a visual guide or dictionary thing will be released at some point.

So I noticed when Mando brought in the first 4 bounties he turn in 4 of the tracking devices to Guild leader. So looks like 1 for each person. So there must be some kind of implant or tag.

I think I remember that when he first talk to the guy in the tavern he said he was on parole and he broke it, so yes probably his bounties must have a tracker implanted. I don't know how a baby Yoda could have already one thought

8 minutes ago, Rosco74 said:

I think I remember that when he first talk to the guy in the tavern he said he was on parole and he broke it, so yes probably his bounties must have a tracker implanted. I don't know how a baby Yoda could have already one thought

I think pucks involve tracker.

Tracking fobs appear to require a having a starting location and track via DNA. I wonder how much time can pass before they dont nk work.

Seems like IG has an "official" bounty for the baby, as he just want him dead. The Mando has accepted an "unofficial" bounty, and don't even has accurate info on his bounty, only 2 last digits wich only indicates his age. That just point to the fact that different factions are looking for the baby, official autorities and the other faction that hired the Mando.. I am not even sure that they are old Stormtroopers, I first thought about random vilains that looted the armor on bodies.

Herzog's necklace sure looks like an imperial symbol though...

I'm certain I've seen that sort of necklace before, but I can't for the life of me think where...

My guess is that he is a former Imperial Moff or Governor. At the very least, some sort of Grand Poobah, be that diplomat or the ever so vague "dignitary" classification.