After this week’s ‘The Mandalorian’ ‘Star Wars’ fans wonder if the New Republic is really better than the Empire

This article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 3

The closing moments of Return of the Jedi show scenes of celebration across the galaxy as the Empire falls. The second Death Star is now space dust, the Emperor is dead (for now at least…), and a bright new future beckons. But, as we’ve seen across The Mandalorian and in the sequel trilogy, the New Republic that replaced it definitely has its own problems.

With the credits having rolled on this week’s The Mandalorian, many Star Wars fans are wondering whether it’s even an improvement. The meat of the episode focused on Omid Abtahi’s Dr. Pershing as he entered the New Republic Imperial rehabilitation program, which set out to reintegrate the many former members of the Empire into this new world.

Unfortunately for Pershing, it turns out they’re quite thorough about making sure former Imperials are good little boys and girls. Pershing was convinced to sneak into a ruined Star Destroyer to retrieve some equipment to continue his cloning research, discovering to his horror that this was all a trap designed to test his obedience. His adventure ended with him being strapped into a mind control device, with the power cranked up to melt his brain into goo.

Having seen this, fans are wondering whether the Rebellion actually accomplished any real change if the New Republic is this sinister:

It’s not a great look for them:

To be fair, if you’re a drooling wreck, we guess you’re relaxed:

You might almost think there’s some commentary underway about how outwardly liberal and friendly democracies can get up to some truly heinous stuff…

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss:

After all this, we’re suddenly less skeptical about the First Order’s rapid rise to power in the sequel trilogy. After all, if the New Republic were already leaping to dehumanizing mental torture no wonder so many people signed up for Empire 2.0. At least the Empire’s torture was honest about what it was!

The Mandalorian airs Wednesdays on Disney Plus