Taika Waititi is receiving international praise for his work in directing the season finale of the Star Wars live action series The Mandalorian.
Rolling Stone television critic Alan Sepinwall was impressed with the "splendid" episode.
"After feeling so bummed out by [Rise of the] Skywalker on so many levels, I was as relieved as I was elated by how effectively Team Mandalorian (with another Jon Favreau script, and Taika Waititi directing as well as voicing IG-11) concluded this phase of Mando and Baby Yoda’s story.
"'Redemption' gives us a good idea of what we can expect from future episodes, along with a few things fans are hoping for."
"I cannot wait to see the next stage of this thing, and am so glad to close out 2019 with a good Star Wars-related feeling," he wrote.
Hollywood Reporter reviewer Richard Newby called it an "epic" season finale packed with plenty of revelations.
"Waititi delivers a big episode, jam packed with everything that has made The Mandalorian such a sensation, ironing over some of the weak spots from earlier episodes and promising an even grander season two," he wrote.
"'Redemption' gives us a good idea of what we can expect from future episodes, along with a few things fans are hoping for."
USA Today reviewer Alex Kane praised Waititi for the "moments that make use of his penchant for humour and wit".
Social media was also buzzing with excitement for the finale, with one Twitter user suggesting Waititi directs a Star Wars film after his "amazing work" on The Mandalorian.
https://twitter.com/G999Dylan/status/1210638119655084032
Another user thought it ended almost perfectly, and said: "Great episode that sets up the next season and future of the series. Taika Waititi directed the hell out of this."
https://twitter.com/N2NOther/status/1210596498448117760
A third Twitter fan hopes Waititi will direct more in the Star Wars franchise in "whatever form that takes".
"I'm not gonna be picky … Movies, TV, stage plays, puppet theater, anything."
https://twitter.com/N2NOther/status/1210596498448117760
The Mandalorian was released on the new streaming service Disney Plus on November 12.
The second season will arrive in spring 2020, Favreau announced on Saturday.
