Following
The Mandalorian: Chapter 4's brief foray into folksy acoustic on the previously unseen planet Sorgan,
Chapter 5 continues the mid-season departure from the main plot by returning viewers to a setting familiar (and quite beloved) in the Star Wars universe. Composer
Ludwig Goransson applies a few fresh touches to the score but is sure to serve enough familiar elements to connect this episode to the past. Another standalone adventure for the titular bounty hunter,
Chapter 5's mission on Tatooine delivers overt nostalgia (Mos Eisley, Dewbacks, another roguish bounty hunter) with an unresolved plot line that ends up being one of the more forgettable watches of the season. In the same vein, this soundtrack installment provides just a few moments that distinguish it from the season's strong opening run. Exciting, different, and heroic, "Speederbikes" rises to the top of the pack, incorporating smoky guitar with traditional orchestral swell. While "Raiders" and "Night Riders" lean on familiarity, "The Hangar" surprises with stabbing effects that amplify the dread and tension onscreen. Overall, like its immediate predecessor,
Chapter 5 is one of the least engaging installments of the first season, barely salvaged by a few truly immediate thrills. ~ Neil Z. Yeung