Paz Vizla is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise who appears in the Disney+television seriesThe Mandalorian. He is a member of a tribe of Mandalorian warriors along with the show's protagonist, who is known simply as "The Mandalorian". Paz initially clashes with him, but later assists the Mandalorian's rescue of "The Child" from a remnant of the Galactic Empire. Strong and physically imposing, Paz is a heavy infantry fighter who uses a large minigun-like blaster, as well as a jet pack. Paz Vizla is voiced by Jon Favreau, the creator and showrunner of The Mandalorian. Favreau also voiced Pre Vizsla, another Mandalorian character with a similar last name, in the computer-animated television series . The live-action body double for Paz Vizla was Tait Fletcher, a stunt performer and former mixed martial artist, who also played a different character in the of The Mandalorian. Paz Vizla has received a positive response from fans and reviewers; Inverse writer Jake Kleinman called him a "fan-favorite character" who made a large impact despite his relatively brief running time. Several action figures and toys of the character have been produced and sold.
Appearances
Paz Vizla is one of the Mandalorian warriors in the tribe on a secret enclave on the planet Nevarro led by the Armorer during the events of the first season of the Star Wars television series The Mandalorian. The Mandalorians are in hiding after having suffered persecution by the Galactic Empire, and although the Empire has fallen out of power by this time, the clan has not yet regained its former status. Paz is a heavy infantry fighter, who uses a large minigun-like blaster, as well as a jet pack. He appears in the episode "". When the show's title character, a bounty hunter known simply as "The Mandalorian", brings Beskar steel to the Armorer for her to forge him new armor, Paz angrily observes that the steel was provided by a remnant of the Empire. Paz objects to the Mandalorian collaborating with Imperials, and the two of them draw knives and begin to fight each other as a result, but they stop when the Armorer intervenes. Later in the episode, when the Mandalorian is attacked by multiple bounty hunters after he rescued a young alien known as "The Child" from the Imperial remnant, multiple Mandalorain warriors come out of hiding to assist the Mandalorian and attack the bounty hunters, including Paz. The episode ends with Paz using his jet pack to fly alongside the Mandalorian's spaceship, with Paz saluting the Mandalorian before flying away. As a result of revealing their presence, the Mandalorian tribe is later destroyed by the Imperials. However, the Armorer noted that some of the warriors may have escaped off-world, leaving Paz's fate unknown. A pile of helmets belonging to the slain warriors are shown in the season finale "Chapter 8: Redemption", and fans have noted that Paz's helmet was not among them, suggesting his possible survival.
Characterization
Paz Vizla is physically imposing, displaying great height and tremendous strength. Tough and aggressive, he is good in a fight, as seen by his efficiency in attacking and repelling multiple bounty hunters during the climactic scene in "Chapter 3: The Sin". Paz has a brash and confident personality, and is more outspoken than most of the other Mandalorians in his tribe; Scott Snowden of Space.com called him "the alpha-Mandalorian in the room". Paz despises the Galactic Empire due to its persecution and destruction of the Mandalorian people. His hatred for the Empire runs so deep that he opposes any collaboration or association with them whatsoever. This distinguishes him from the show's title character, the Mandalorian, who reluctantly accepts a bounty hunting assignment from Imperials, a decision that ultimately leads to a brief physical skirmish between him and Paz. However, Paz has a respect for the Mandalorian culture and his tribe that supersedes his personal feelings of distaste toward the Empire. This is displayed by the fact that he willing to step down from his fight with the Mandalorian when the tribe's leader, the Armorer, reminds them of the moral code and way of the Mandalorian people. Despite their previous differences, Paz and the Mandalorian ultimately display a mutual respect for each other. This is demonstrated by his willingness to place his own safety and that of his tribe at risk to help the Mandalorian at the end of "Chapter 3: The Sin". When the Mandalorian notes that this action places the sanctuary of the tribe's enclave at risk, Vaz responds with the clan's credo, "This is the Way", highlighting his respect for both the tribe and for the Mandalorian himself. Snowden called this "a genuine lump-in-the-throat moment as the Mandalorian's comrades have sacrificed everything to help the bounty hunter do the right thing". The mutual admiration between Paz and the Mandalorian is also evident in their final scene together, when Paz salutes the Mandalorian before they part ways.
Portrayal
Paz Vizla is voiced by Jon Favreau, the creator and showrunner of The Mandalorian. Favreau also previously voiced a Mandalorian warlord named Pre Vizsla on the computer-animated television series , though any possible relation between Paz and Pre remains unknown. Tait Fletcher, a stunt performer and former mixed martial artist, was the live-action body double for Paz Vizla, with his face unseen due to Paz's helmet. Fletcher also appeared in the series premiere "", in which he played an unnamed man who gets into a bar fight with the Mandalorian. That was the role Fletcher initially accepted when he joined The Mandalorian, and was not aware he would also be playing Paz Vizla until later. He described Paz as "a galvanizing character that really exposes the ferocity and dignity with which we hold the Code of the Mandalorians." Paz Vizla's name is not spoken in "Chapter 3: The Sin", but the character is identified by name in the closing credits.
Critical reception
Paz Vizla has received a positive response from fans and reviewers. Inverse writer Jake Kleinman called him a "fan-favorite character" who "made a big splash" despite his relatively brief running time, particularly describing his salute to the Mandalorian as an "iconic" moment. Bayani Miguel Acebedo of Epicstream described him as "undoubtedly one of the more memorable Mandos in the show". James Whitbrook of Gizmodo called him a "badass character" and "unsung hero" of the series who "looks cool as hell". Niner Times writer Noah Howell called the character "just the best", and particularly praised the scene in which Paz and the other Mandalorians rescue the protagonist at the end of "Chapter 3: The Sin". A headline for a /Film story by Ethan Anderton described him as an "awesome new The Mandalorian character that isn't Baby Yoda". Christopher Marc of HN Entertainment called Paz an "interesting new character" who he hopes to see again. Scott Snowden of Space.com said he "looks like the product of a marriage twixt Boba Fett and War Machine".
Merchandise
An action figure of Paz Vizla has been released by Hot Toys, though it is identified only as "Heavy Infantry Mandalorian". The figure is in height, taller than most Star Wars Hot Toys figurines due to the character's larger size, and includes such accessories as a minigun blaster, alternate hands, a knife, a themed base to pose him upon, and special effects pieces for his jetpack to simulate rocket blasts. Additionally, a Funko Pop figurine of Paz Vizla was announced on December 31, 2019. Hasbro also released a action figure of Paz as part of the company's toy line.
