into four-lane highways to somewhere else, the local school closed. She also finds lasting beauty on the landscape, a steady local economy, and a cast of genuine country dwellers. With a casual lyricism, the author unravels the intricate and intriguing longleaf pine ecosystem, from the wiregrass that burns to keep the trees regenerating to the Chickasaw plums and tannin-wracked rivers, red-cockaded woodpecker and peach-colored clay. She lights a little more fire under her writing when it comes to human behavior, and not just in scorning the rapaciousness of the lumber companies, but in tribute to the old system of barter and obligation that still holds, promoting mutual beneficence, trust, and balance. With a fine quilter's hand, Ray weaves new stories (of music festivals, riverkeepers, referendums, her son movinglot of questions.

As soon as Xi'an enters the picture, there's some tension. A flirty back and forth between the two leads to an eventual comment from Bill Burr's Mayfeld: "Do we need to leave the room or something?" Within a moment, references to Xi'an's being "heartbroken" and the pair being referred to as "lovebirds" make things abundantly clear.

But as if that wasn't enough, we get more. Once they all board Mando's ship, Mayfeld again starts teasing about The Mandalorian never taking off his helmet."You ever see his face?" he asks Xi'an, before she smiles, gasps, and says "A lady never tells." Stunning stuff for Star Wars, and now the gears are turning.

Disney

We know from a few weeks back that Mando hasn't taken his helmet off in the presence