WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Mandalorian, Season 2, Episode 1, "Chapter Nine: The Marshal," available now on Disney+.
In the Star Wars Universe, Mos Eisley has long been considered one of the franchise's seediest locations and the most interesting place on Tatooine. It's famous for Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina, where old man Ben Kenobi took Luke Skywalker to hire Han Solo and Chewbacca in A New Hope. There, as was evident by Han shooting Greedo, one could tell that some of the galaxy's shadiest characters gathered.
Mos Eisley was a location so rich with lore that many believed a standalone series about the spaceport was an enticing proposition. However, in Season 2 of The Mandalorian, this iconic location gives up is crown in favor of Tatooine's newest spot, Mos Pelgo.
Mos Pelgo got its own character study in the Season 2 premiere, "The Marshal," as Cobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphant) reveals how dangerous it gets there, especially following fall of the Empire. In a flashback, he recalls how the town was taken, with a siege by the Mining Collective right after Imperial rule ended. Within seconds of the second Death Star being blown up, these raiders staged a coup, taking advantage of the power vacuum left in the galaxy.
While it's on a smaller scale, it's the same vile philosophy and corruption seen across the franchise, which is why fans immediately root for Cobb when he dons Boba Fett's armor and takes the town back. After that point, it becomes a typical Western town as Vanth embraces life as the sheriff. The location also has that iconic Tatooine feel to it because the krayt dragon lives under the sands, proving how dangerous things can really get. In Mos Pelgo, it's not just about skeletons, there are real monstrous threats, and as Cobb tells Din Djarin, there's so much danger around he can barely keep track.
In other words, both monster and man are circling Mos Pelgo, making it a pit of death. Sure, Mos Eisley kept fans intrigued as a wretched hive of scum and villainy, but the destination on the sand planet where all the action is happening is clearly Mos Pelgo. Even Din, who's been through a lot, can't believe all the drama occurring, not to mention the Tusken Raiders around, looting, bartering and keeping their mysterious society running. It's basically Tatooine cranked up all the way up on the dial, and with so many threats around, there doesn't even need to be a cantina of chaos to bring the high-octane drama.
Seeing Din and Cobb blow up the dragon best summarizes the explosive little nook on Tatooine that no one wants to wander alone. And the thing is, The Mandalorian might not be done with Mos Pelgo yet as fans still need to see what Boba did while hiding out around the town, alive after all these years.
Created by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal, with guest stars with guest stars Gina Carano, Carl Weathers and Giancarlo Esposito. Directors for the new season include Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, Carl Weathers, Peyton Reed and Robert Rodriguez.