Before The Mandalorian returns to Disney+ with Season 3, we’re doing our best and jumping into Din Djarin’s N-1 Starfighter.
As Pedro Pascal returns as Mando in the hit Star Wars series, his journey through the Outer Rim continues with Grogu, the Child, Baby Yoda or whatever you call him.
Jon Favreau is returning as showrunner, and will once again join the likes of Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, and show star Carl Weathers as director. After the dramatic clash with Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) in Season 2 and the jaw-dropping cameo of the underaged Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, there’s a lot to catch up on ahead of Season 3.
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In preparation for The Mandalorian Season 3, here’s what you might have missed in Season 2 and an episode of The Book of Boba Fett.
What happened in The Mandalorian Season 2 finale?
The Mandalorian Season 2 finale, which aired in December 2020, was aptly titled “Rescue” and featured Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) reclaiming Grogu from the clutches of Moff Gideon. While it’s unclear what Moff wants from Grogu, the Force-sensitive boy’s powers and Dr. Pershing (Omid Abtahi) has something to do with his job.
It was one of Mando’s favorites as Djarin recruited Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison), Kosha Reeves (Mercedes Varnado) and Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) to beat Gideon. Bo-Katan agreed to help, but on the condition that he demand the legendary Darkblade from the evil Moff for this. In the complex world of Star Wars lore, whoever wields the Darksaber must lead Mandalore.
Rebuilding the Mandalorian homeworld can be a bit of a challenge these days because it was largely destroyed during the “Great Purge”. Gideon took part in the Mandalorian mass genocide, and after retrieving Darkblade from Bo-Katan, his group and other splinter groups managed to escape.
The Mandalorian Season 2 finale saw Djarin accidentally defeat Gideon in combat and retrieve the Darksaber. Although she tries to give it to Bo-Katan because she doesn’t want the power that comes with her, it’s not that simple.
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While arguing over the Darkblade, Gideon’s Black Soldiers attempted to cross the bridge but were stopped by a hooded figure descending on the X-Wing. This mysterious Jedi turned out to be Luke Skywalker, who agreed to take Grogu under his wing and train his Jedi guardian.
The Mandalorian Season 2 also sets The Book of Boba Fett in a post-credits scene, apart from Josh Trank’s solo film of Boba Fett that never happened. Here, Fett and Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) raid Jabba the Hutt’s former palace, kill the current overlord Bib Fortuna and take it for themselves.
What happened in Boba Fett’s Book?
The Book of Boba Fett, better described as The Mandalorian Season 2.5, began with Djarin kidnapping his little companion and tracking down the Mandalorian mystery. After locating Armorer (Emily Swallow) and Paz Vizsla (Tait Fletcher), the latter challenged Djarin to a duel, citing his ancestral claim on Mandalore.
Although Mando won, he explained to the Armor Master how he willingly took off his helmet. He solemnly said that he could not be considered Mandalorian until he bathed in the living waters below the Mandalore mines. The armorer also reforged a piece of his beskar spear to form beskar chain armor for Grogu.
Fennec Shand sought Djarin’s help in defending Mos Espa against the Pyke Syndicate, and he accepted this free of charge, but on the condition that they visit a “little friend” first.
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Djarin found Grogu in the custody of Luke Skywalker, but when Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) warns that meeting the Boy would disrupt Jedi training, he delivers an emotional Mando gift and leaves immediately. Still, Ahsoka said that Grogu missed her a lot.
Grogu is left with Sophie’s Choice to take Master Yoda’s ancient lightsaber and follow the path of the Force or beskar chain armor to return to his life with our Mando. During one last stand against the Pykes, Grogu rejoined Djarin and used his newfound Force abilities to quell an angry resentment.
Happy to see his bodyguard by his side again, the Mandalorian jumped into the N-1 starfighter and jumped to light speed for Season 3.
What’s going on in The Mandalorian Season 3?
The trailers showed us who are among the favorites of The Mandalorian Season 3. Besides Greef Karga (Carl Weather) enjoying his new position of power, there’s more to Amy Sedaris’ comedy Peli Motto.
More importantly, Dr. There’s a cameo from Pershing that you’ll miss in the blink of an eye. We have Pershing imprisoned by the New Republic, but here we return to Coruscant for the first time since the prequel trilogy.
Although Mandalorian numbers face Jedi-like levels of execution, their power is scattered across the galaxy. Another potential mystery we’ll see answered in Season 3 is who is under the guise of the Armorer.
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Although portrayed by Swallow, there is a prominent theory that the Armorer is actually the second-in-command of Darth Maul’s Shadow Collective, Rook Cast.
After this big cameo in Season 2, can we see more of Luke Skywalker, or how about Rosario Dawson set his upcoming lineup led by Ahsoka?
Watch a trailer for The Mandalorian S3
As for the bad guys, we know Esposito is back as Gideon. Djarin predicted he would face execution by the New Republic, but Armorer doubts it will. As this high-ranking member of the Empire wishes to reclaim the Darksaber and is now on a vengeance mission, we speculate that there may be a possibility of escaping from a prison.
Speaking of Darksaber, fans think Bo-Katan will take on a more hostile role. His photographs of him brooding atop a throne show that he believes he is the true heir to Mandalore. If he still wants the Darksaber, he’ll have to defeat Djarin in battle. The Mandalorians have never been very good at stopping civil wars, and just like Bo-Katan’s departure from the general population, their forces may turn against Team Mando to claim the ruins of Mandalore for themselves.
We’re heading to the Mandalorian main world for the first time in live-action Star Wars, but from what we’ve seen, there isn’t much left worth fighting for. “Something dangerous is out there,” Djarin is warned when he does not try to wash away his sins in living waters.
With Season 2, which features Pershing in a cloning facility and a potential connection to The Last Jedi Supreme Leader Snoke, “Somehow, Palpatine is back.”
There’s one final mystery teased in Season 3, and while the trailers confirm another return to Order 66 in the Jedi Temple, we may finally find out who rescued Grogu from the Emperor’s endangered Jedi.
Whether it’s playing the savior of Christopher Lloyd’s mysterious newcomer, Grogu, or Samuel L. Jackson finally fulfilling his wish to bring Mace Windu back, The Mandalorian Season 3 looks set to continue the series’ legacy as Disney+’s most-watched series.
The galaxy far, far away is expanding faster than an army of clones, and with upcoming shows like Ahsoka and The Skeleton Crew set in the same time slot, the twin suns of Tatooine are yet to set in this era of the franchise.
The Mandalorian Season 3 premieres March 1 on Disney+.