The sixth episode of The Mandalorian season one, titled Chapter 6: The Prisoner, remains a fan favorite for its classic heist setup. The episode follows Din Djarin as he takes on a job with a group of old criminal friends. This mission to break a prisoner out of a New Republic ship did not go as planned. But the real highlight was the group of actors who played this untrustworthy team.
Released on December 13, 2019, the episode gave viewers a break from the usual solo adventures. Instead, it showed Mando dealing with a crew full of backstabbers. The episode ended on a high note when the X-wing pilots showed up, a scene that also featured some of the show’s own directors as cameos.
Pedro Pascal Leads as the Helmeted Bounty Hunter
Pedro Pascal stars as the title character, Din Djarin. In this episode, Mando is low on money and has to trust an old friend named Ran. This job puts him in a tight spot with people from his past. Pascal does a great job showing Mando’s frustration with his noisy and foolish crewmates. Even though his face stays hidden for most of the episode, his body language makes his annoyance clear.
Meet the Crew: Bill Burr, Natalia Tena, and Clancy Brown
The group Ran puts together is a mix of skilled fighters and selfish criminals. Bill Burr plays Mayfeld, an ex-Imperial sharpshooter. Burr brings his comedy skills to the role. He cracks jokes about Stormtroopers missing their shots and even makes a funny comment about Mando possibly being a Gungan. Fans loved his sharp tongue, as he was not afraid to joke about the Star Wars universe’s silly parts.
Natalia Tena, known for playing Tonks in the Harry Potter movies, plays Xi’an. Her character is a Twi’lek who hints that she might have seen Mando without his helmet before. She is very good with knives and holds a grudge. Clancy Brown plays Burg, the big muscle of the group. Brown has a long history with Star Wars, having voiced characters in The Clone Wars. Fans might also know him as the voice of Mr. Krabs in SpongeBob SquarePants.
Richard Ayoade Voices the Droid Zero
Richard Ayoade, famous for the British comedy The IT Crowd, provides the voice for Q9-0 (Zero). Zero is the droid of the group, and he has a dry, sarcastic tone. He is in charge of the ship’s systems during the heist. Later in the episode, he stays behind on Mando’s ship and finds Grogu. This puts the little guy in serious danger.
Ismael Cruz Cordova Plays the Prisoner Qin
The prisoner the team is sent to rescue is Qin, played by Ismael Cruz Cordova. Qin is Xi’an’s brother, and he is just as tough and untrustworthy as she is. Once the crew frees him, he and his sister turn on Mando and lock him in the cell. Cordova made the character feel like a real threat. He has since become more well-known for playing a lead role in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Matt Lanter Cameos as a New Republic Officer
Matt Lanter appears in a small but important role as Davan, a New Republic officer on the prison ship. When the crew finds him, Mando wants to spare him to avoid trouble. But Xi’an kills him anyway. Lanter is a big name for Star Wars fans. He was the voice of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series.
Directors Dave Filoni, Rick Famuyiwa, and Deborah Chow Appear as X-Wing Pilots
One of the coolest surprises in Chapter 6 is the sudden arrival of three X-wing pilots. These pilots are played by the people who helped bring The Mandalorian to life.
Dave Filoni, who directed the first episode and is a master of Star Wars animation, plays Trapper Wolf. Rick Famuyiwa, who directed this very episode, plays Jib Dodger. And Deborah Chow, who would later direct the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, plays Sash Ketter. Seeing the directors step in front of the camera was a fun moment for the audience. Their characters show up after Mando attaches a distress beacon to the bad guys, leading to the station getting blown up.
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Mark Boone Junior Rounds Out the Cast as Ran
Mark Boone Junior plays Ranzar “Ran” Malk, the boss who sets up the job. He is an old criminal friend of Mando’s. His main goal in the episode is to get his associate Qin back. In the end, he tries to kill Mando but fails when the X-wings attack his station. Boone Junior is easily recognized from his roles in Sons of Anarchy and Batman Begins.
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