Episode 3×06 has been the best episode of the third season of The Mandalorian. Ok, I know not everyone will agree, since this last batch of episodes is having very spectacular moments such as the encounter with the Mythosaurs or the alternate history of Coruscant. However, in terms of direction, script and adventure, the sixth episode has been a marvel, and if not, just ask Jack Black and Christopher Lloyd.
But, despite the good work of these actors, these are not the names that made the episode work so well. The secret lies in who is behind its filming, its director. A unique director who, throughout the seasons of The Mandalorian, has proven to direct the adventures of Mando and Grogu like no one else: Bryce Dallas Howard.
The best director of The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian has a very strong lineup of directors in its episodes. Showrunners Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni guide directors such as Rick Famuyima (Dope), Peyton Reed (Ant-Man), Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) or Deborah Chow (Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi).
However, it is Bryce Dallas Howard, in just three episodes, who has proven to be above the rest. Ron Howard’s daughter and star of Jurassic World has proven to be much more than just a name, and she has done so through three flawless episodes in which she has brought out her unparalleled talent.
The first of these episodes is 1×04: Sanctuary. In the episode, it is the first time we see Din Djarin step out of his comfort zone on the planet Sorgan, a wooded and sparsely populated place where the character Cara Dune appears for the first time. It’s a heart-filled episode in which we see the clearest ravages of war, but also one packed with tremendous action.
As if it were a war movie from the seventies, the episode manages to mix action and emotion in a sublime way. In addition, it shows some of the impossible sequences of the first season, making it clear that Bryce Dallas Howard knows what she is doing at the helm.
The second episode directed by Howard is 2×03: The Heiress. Again, the also actress is called to introduce another character, but this time it is one that will be crucial for the rest of the series: Bo-Katan Kryze. The also considered co-star of the third season has here her first appearance, and it couldn’t be more spectacular.
Beyond her mastery of action, which again draws attention thanks to scenes that have been framed as some of the best of the Disney Plus series, this time she draws attention for her good work in the direction of actors. The team of Mandalorians she forms has a brutal chemistry and very capable personalities, with Bo-Katan being the one who brings the most charisma. Without a doubt, here she proved that the previous episode was no fluke.
Finally, in the third season she has returned with 3×06, an episode full of action, twists and adventure in which she makes it clear why everyone is going crazy with her as director. She’s also welcomed Christopher Lloyd and Jack Black to the Star Wars galaxy, so we have a lot to thank her for. She’s clearly been the biggest surprise behind the new Star Wars… but where does her directorial chops come from?
A spectacular career
Bryce Dallas Howard was born on March 2, 1981 in Los Angeles, California, into a family that could not be more prolific in Hollywood. Daughter of actor and director Ron Howard and actress Cheryl Howard, she was involved in the world of cinema since she was a child; she attended almost all of her father’s shoots, and soon became interested in the world of acting.
Thus, she decided to study at New York University to learn acting techniques and perfect her career. And in 2004 she debuted in The Village, the film directed by M. Night Shyamalan where she played the role of Ivy Walker, a villager who lives in fear of enigmatic creatures capable of annihilating her community.
This role brought her great recognition that soon continued to grow, and in 2006 she received a Golden Globe nomination for her role in As You Like It, a film by Kenneth Branagh that adapts William Shakespeare’s comedy. In addition, she appeared in several important roles in films such as Spider-Man 3 and Maids and Ladies.
In 2015, a new career leap appeared when she was tapped to star opposite Chris Pratt in Universal’s new Jurassic World saga. She has appeared in the trilogy as Claire Dearing, the park’s chief operating officer and corporate scientist who must reinvent herself as the dinosaurs break free.
To be sure, her career as an actress has been prolific, but as a director she has proved even more brilliant. In 2019 she made her debut in this role with the documentary Dads, which explores fatherhood in today’s society through interviews with famous fathers such as Will Smith and Jimmy Fallon. The film received positive reviews and Howard demonstrated her skill behind the camera.
Soon, she was tapped to direct an episode of The Mandalorian, thanks to the fact that her father was already working on Han Solo: A Star Wars Story and that his documentary had been highly regarded. Since then, she has continued on the series and made the jump on The Book of Bobba Fett, where she directed episode 5.
Beyond Star Wars, Howard will direct Flight of the Navigator, a film to be released this year that tells the story of a boy who returns after disappearing for more than a decade and discovers that the world has grown old without him. Undoubtedly, this could be his big hit at the Hollywood table.
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