Mandalorian season 3

In the Season 2 finale of “The Mandalorian” — which first streamed on Disney+ on Dec. 18, 2020, over two years ago — Mando (Pedro Pascal) bid a moving ...

It’s a delightful sequence that “Mandalorian” fans certainly would have enjoyed watching on the show itself, but instead unfolded on “The Book of Boba Fett” even though it had nothing to do with Boba Fett’s story. Mando confesses he has, and the Armorer’s verdict is swift and devastating: “Then you are a Mandalorian no more.” Instead, the Empire bombed the entire planet, transforming it into a wasteland — an offensive we actually see on “The Book of Boba Fett.” It was, to say the least, rather jarring, as if “The Book of Boba Fett” had lost interest in its title character’s story and decided to become Season 2.5 of “The Mandalorian” instead. At the end of Season 2, Mando defeated Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) in battle and won his weapon, the Darksaber, in the process. But the fifth and sixth episodes of “The Book of Boba Fett” shifted focus entirely to catching up with what had happened to Mando and Grogu.

Boba Fett is now a Tatooine crime boss. The Book of Boba Fett. Temuera Morrison and Ming-Na Wen star as Boba Fett and Fennec Shand in ...

At the end of the episode, he gives Grogu a choice: take master Yoda's lightsaber and become a Jedi or take Mando's Beskar armor and rejoin his companion. The leader, called the Armorer, exiled Mando from the group and told him that the only way he can become a Mandalorian again is by bathing in the living waters of the mines of the planet Mandalore. Instead, Mando gives the Beskar armor to Ahsoka and leaves. In episode six, Mando then went off on his new ship to find Luke and Grogu. One of their beliefs is that no human should be able to see their face underneath the helmet. [Grogu headed off with Luke Skywalker](https://www.insider.com/mark-hamill-the-mandalorian-cameo-reaction-2020-12) in order to be trained on how to use his Force abilities. His plan was to experiment on Force-sensitive children, including [Grogu (Baby Yoda)](https://www.insider.com/the-mandalorian-baby-yoda-name-2020-11), in the hopes of creating a new Force-powered clone army. Mando wins the battle but this may not be the only time he has to fight to defend the lucrative weapon. However, Luke acknowledges that Grogu is still distracted by worldly attachments. Together, they took over the palace of the former crime boss Jabba the Hutt, and fought to create their own crime family on the planet Tatooine. [Boba escaped the monstrous Sarlacc pit due to his Beskar armor](https://www.insider.com/star-wars-movie-tv-show-timeline) keeping him from being crushed or melting inside the Sarlacc's stomach acid. However, it can only be taken when won in battle.

It's been longer than you might think since The Mandalorian was on, even with a detour into The Book of Boba Fett. Here's what you need to know before ...

[Gina Carano and Lucasfilm permanently parted ways](https://gizmodo.com/gina-carano-is-no-longer-a-part-of-star-wars-1846244896) after filming on season two concluded, after she became the center of [multiple social media rows](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/11/gina-carano-fan-backlash-transgender-parler-cara-dune-mandalorian-rosario-dawson) where Carano disparaged pronoun use, peddled in anti-mask-mandate rhetoric, and boosted conspiracy theories about the integrity of the 2020 U.S. Dune was meant to eventually spin off into her own separate series, [Rangers of the New Republic](https://gizmodo.com/so-what-is-a-ranger-of-the-new-republic-anyway-1845914375), but that is now no longer happening and the character has essentially vanished into the ether. Ahsoka had other plans, as we learned there that she was seeking information on the whereabouts of Grand Admiral Thrawn—the Chiss Imperial last seen in the [finale of Star Wars Rebels](https://gizmodo.com/the-ending-of-star-wars-rebels-was-perfect-because-it-w-1823519195), where he, his flagship the Chimera, and the young Jedi apprentice Ezra Bridger were whisked away to parts unknown by some hyperspace-capable space whales. [Probably](https://gizmodo.com/preview/the-mandalorian-s-new-ship-makes-no-sense-1850168556). [not really, no](https://gizmodo.com/10-questions-we-have-after-the-book-of-boba-fett-season-1848493237). [end of Mandalorian season two](https://gizmodo.com/the-weapon-of-a-jedi-knight-1845941931). The producer referred to Grogu and Din’s adventures as having taken place over “many years,” before noting that it had been two years since Grogu went to go train with Luke. [They’re not great at it](https://gizmodo.com/boba-fett-star-wars-chump-1848498513), and that’s all you really need to remember. Din believes Gideon will be executed by the Republic, but we’re going to take a wild stab in the dark and say that doesn’t happen in season three. [Naboo N-1 Starfighter](https://gizmodo.com/book-of-boba-fett-naboo-starfighter-ebay-prices-1848435677) to be his new ship of choice—with its Astromech port even reworked into a secondary passenger seat for a certain little green baby. Whether or not he’ll do that, or even embrace returning to the clan that has ousted him, remains to be seen. This is strictly against the clan’s rules, and so after a brief duel between Paz and Din over the Darksaber, he’s told he’s on his own.

If you recall, that was when Mando (Pedro Pascal) and friends, after defeating Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), saw Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) head off to Jedi ...

If you want to catch up on this yourself but don't really feel like taking in all of The Book of Boba Fett, you can access it pretty easily. You saw what Mando was like without Baby Yoda and we saw what Grogu was like without the Mandalorian and neither of them was doing too good. The Armorer tells him that because of this, a violation of Evan is the culture editor for Men’s Health, with bylines in The New York Times, MTV News, Brooklyn Magazine, and VICE. As it turns out, Peli Motto (more on her in a moment) helped the little fella hitch a ride back to Tatooine to link back up with his father—as she could tell that both of them were missing one another. While at first happy to see them—The Armorer melts down Mando's Beskar spear, turning it into a chainmail armored vest that he plans to give Grogu as a gift—their encounter makes way for some conflict. [Pedro Pascal](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a30056754/who-is-the-mandalorian-pedro-pascal-actor/)) and friends, after defeating [Moff Gideon](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a30267279/the-mandalorian-moff-gideon-giancarlo-esposito/) (Giancarlo Esposito), saw Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) head off to Jedi training with [Luke Skywalker](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a35012121/the-mandalorian-luke-skywalker/) (a digitally deaged Mark Hamill). Eventually, he tracks down two fellow Mandalorians that we met before in The Mandalorian: The Armorer and And at that point, we catch up quite a bit with Mando (real named [Din Djarin](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a30345321/the-mandalorian-name-face-dyn-jarren/)), learning what he's been up to since the Season 2 Mandalorian finale, a few key plot points from there, and even setting some vital stuff up for Mandalorian Season 3. When we first meet up with Mando, he's kind of back to the life he was leading when we first met him—being a badass bounty hunter without any real purpose. If you once again think back to The Mandalorian Season 2, Mando's ship—his Razor Crest—was destroyed. In the trailers for Season 3, Mando and [Grogu](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a34806557/the-mandalorian-grogu-baby-yoda-name/) are back together on a new adventure.

The reason Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), also known as the Mandalorian or Mando, wears his mask all the time is not just for protection. It is an integral part ...

In "The Book of Boba Fett" episode five, Mando is looking for a new ship, which leads him to Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris) in Tatooine. In ["The Book of Boba Fett"](https://www.insider.com/book-of-boba-fett-jennifer-beals-character-master-2022-2) episode six, we see [Luke attempt to train Grogu.](https://www.insider.com/the-mandalorian-season-2-luke-skywalker-mark-hamill-cameo) However, it eventually becomes clear that Grogu's attachment to Mando has hindered his ability to learn the ways of the Jedi. Grogu chooses the latter and is reunited with Mando in "The Book of Boba Fett" season finale. It is actually an ancient Mandalorian weapon that can be used to reunite the people of Mandalore. [also known as Baby Yoda](https://www.insider.com/the-mandalorian-baby-yoda-name-2020-11), with a Jedi to train him in the ways of the Force. As a result, Bo-Katan refuses to take the Darksaber from Mando, leaving him to figure out what to do with the weapon. It would not be surprising if the Darksaber actually puts a new target on his back. Hence, when Mando returned to the tribe in "The Book of Boba Fett" episode five, they banish him for breaking their code. But since then, he's amassed a large number of allies, including Grogu, of course. Mando reluctantly agrees to help Peli fix it and claim it as his new ship. It is an integral part of the tribe he was raised by. [Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito).

(L-R): Grogu and Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) in Lucasfilm's THE MANDALORIAN, season three, exclusively on Disney+. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM.

[recent ranking](https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/star-wars-tv-shows-ranked/the-mandalorian-season-3-2/) of every “Star Wars” TV show, “The Mandalorian” ranked No. Created by Jon Favreau, “The Mandalorian” premiered in 2019, coinciding with the launch of the Disney+ streaming service. “The Mandalorian” Season 3, like all past seasons of the show, will stream exclusively on Disney+.

Before The Mandalorian season 3 begins, here are the Book of Boba Fett episodes we recommend watching to help catch you up!

Are you going to try to catch up on The Book of Boba Fett episodes featuring the Mandalorian before you watch The Mandalorian season 3? While the episodes aired in the spinoff, they continue the narrative from The Mandalorian picking up where the season 2 finale left off and setting up the events of The Mandalorian season 3. While The Book of Boba Fett was pitched as a spinoff, it ended up being used to directly bridge the gap between the second and third seasons of The Mandalorian.

What time does episode 1 of The Mandalorian season 3 stream? What is it about? Digital Trends has all the information about the hit Disney+ Star Wars show.

When does episode 1 of The Mandalorian season 3 release? Without watching those episodes, you might be confused when episode 1 of The Mandalorian season 3 starts as things are different for Grogu and company since season 2 ended. Here’s the official plot synopsis for season 3 of The Mandalorian: “The journeys of the Mandalorian through the Star Wars galaxy continue. [The 10 best Star Wars bounty hunters, ranked](https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/star-wars-10-best-bounty-hunters-ranked/) [Like The Mandalorian? The episode is directed by Rick Famuyiwa. [The Mandalorian](https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/the-mandalorian-season-3-poster-featurette-disney-plus/) is set for a triumphant return in March.

Critics shared their first social media reactions to Chapters 17 and 18 of The Mandalorian, which kick off the series' third season on Disney+.

Gets back to the classic kind of adventure that hooked me in the first season, with plenty of sweet moments for Din & Grogu" While Episode 1 wasn't seen as the most impressive start to a few, it appears that things really hit the ground running in Episode 2 and set up a thrilling ride for the following six weeks. "'The Mandalorian' starts slowly in the S3 premiere (despite a big action scene) with some table-setting and reintroductions. ...Episode 2 though is incredible in every sense of the word. Get ready to be on the edge of your seat from the very start!" "The first 2 episodes of 'The Mandalorian' kicks off with a bang! Season 3 wastes no time getting back to the action and thrilling adventures of Din Djarin and Grogu. Ep 1 was a good welcome back but ep 2 really got things going. #Grogu might be cuter this season and it’s a terrific balance with Pedro Pascals stoic Din Djarin. Action packed right off the start. "I’ve watched the first two episodes of 'The Mandalorian' S3 & I’m loving it so far. Both eps are stuffed w/ all the things I love about Star Wars: Weird, crazy creatures, cool missions, great fights, lots of lore, fun Grogu moments.

The EP of the show and the director of S3, episode one “The Apostate”, Rick Famuyiwa, told Deadline that the outcome of Dune was at the top of the mind of the ...

After the Empire destroys Mandalore, Bo-Katan lost possession of the Darksaber. In the Dave Filoni Star Wars cartoons, she gets possession of the Darksaber. Grogu, Greef and Din take the robot to the elven troll droidsmiths, but they’re all thumbs in fixing him; they need a memory circuit. “I need a droid I can trust to explore Mandalore,” Din tells Greef. Din attempts to shoot him, but it’s the gold bust of Greef that falls on IG-11’s head. Why, is this a flashback from when Din was inducted into the tribe? As we know, that’s the only way Din can be forgiven for the sin of going helmet-less. And Din is all, ‘Well, I’ll show you’. Again, key words here in this baptism is that the young cub will never remove his helmet. [might be lurking](https://deadline.com/2023/02/mandalorian-season-3-gina-carano-cara-dune-dave-filoni-rick-famuyiwa-1235273638/) after the actress who played her, Gina Carano, was dismissed from The Mandalorian over her controversial remarks on social media. The Armorer has just forged a new helmet for a young candidate that’s being sworn into the Mandalorian sect Children of the Watch. However, he still has scuffles with ruffians, like a bunch of squid-looking pirates, who come through.

After an extended absence, · Drawing a parallel to Din's own spiritual journey, and existence as an unwilling apostate, the episode—aptly titled “The Apostate”— ...

One of the most exciting aspects of Season 3 of The Mandalorian is the fact that Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder now have billing on the series, which was long overdue considering both men bring the physicality to the role that audiences have fallen in love with since Season 1. It’s clear that these two are going to have a lot of friction in Season 3, which makes for a great contrast to how helpful she has been during his previous quests. Despite their newfound masses, The Armorer and the rest of the Children of the Watch are overpowered and losing to the beast. From there, the episode shifts into the formulaic “mission of the week” styling that The Mandalorian has become known for. Drawing a parallel to Din’s own spiritual journey, and existence as an unwilling apostate, the episode—aptly titled “The Apostate”— opens on Concordia with a young member of the cult taking his vows. [The Mandalorian](https://collider.com/tag/the-mandalorian/) has finally returned with its exhilarating Season 3 premiere, which sees Din Djarin (voiced by Pedro Pascal) picking up where things left off in The Book of Boba Fett.

Among the new characters who cross paths with The Mandalorian is Vane, a pirate who makes his way to Nevarro with a gang of his comrades to enjoy some drinking ...

What did you think of the character Vane in The Mandalorian season 3? Here’s who plays Vane in The Mandalorian season 3! The Mandalorian has cast a wide net with many amazing guest performers across its first two seasons and that continues with the casting of actor Marti Matulis in the role of Vane in

Pedro Pascal returns as Din Djarin in 'The Mandalorian' Season 3, the latest chapter in Disney+'s 'Star Wars' franchise.

- "Chapter 20" - March 22 Season 3's premiere episode was titled "The Apostate." - "Chapter 19" - March 15 - "Chapter 17" - March 1 New episodes will release from March 1 to April 19, and they will also land on the platform at midnight PT, which is 3 a.m. Din is determined to undo his exile.

The Mandalorian season 3 kicks off with 'The Apostate', a relaxed but fun episode full of familiar faces that sets up the next steps in Din Djarin and ...

With the pirates out of the way (for now), Din states he’s come back to try to resurrect IG-11 in order to get some extra help on Mandalore. Seeing Din trying to understand the Anzellans’ broken Basic (English in the Star Wars universe) while uncomfortably sitting inside the cramped space is exactly the kind of zany Star Wars imagery we’ve come to expect from The Mandalorian. The final scene of the episode sees Din and Grogu visiting a Mandalorian castle on Kalevala, another planet (seemingly untouched and peaceful) in the Mandalorian system. Only its upper torso appears to have survived the explosion, but it’s now part of a statue that reminds the town’s citizens of their atypical hero. After some back-and-forth, a showdown ensues – The Mandalorian likes to remind viewers it’s a Western at its core – and everyone but Vane falls dead to the ground. Moreover, there’s a construction boom, and Greef Karga promptly offers Din and the Child the chance to settle down and live off the land. Despite what legend and Mandalorian pessimism says, the planet isn’t poisoned nor completely uninhabitable, and some scavengers are even making a profit out of stuff and minerals they find on the planet with little trouble. Amidst all the chaos and confusion, he risks his life to save the kid from getting devoured before Din Djarin saves the day with a plasma torpedo from his shiny new It seems like the Armorer knew Din wouldn’t be able to redeem himself, since Mandalore was off-limits according to them, but that wasn’t made clear at all in Chapter 5 of The Book of Boba Fett. As a result, the apostate Mandalorian has at the very least earned an audience with the Armorer. But it’s not your average “mission of the week” episode, as the (roughly) 30-minute runtime provides more than enough space for visiting several locations and meeting a handful of major characters. Things get off to an unexpected but rocky start as we witness a Mandalorian initiation ceremony that is interrupted by a giant gator-turtle-like creature.

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers about the third-season premiere of “The Mandalorian,” “The Apostate.” CNN —. Success has its privileges, ...

[“The Book of Boba Fett”](https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/26/entertainment/the-book-of-boba-fett-episode-5-recap/index.html) (really “The Mandalorian Season 2B”), the premiere felt low-key in its narrative scale. What that left, in an episode written by executive producer Jon Favreau, were enjoyably small bits of comedic business, most of them involving Grogu, a.k.a. (Karga did explain the absence of Cara Dune after Disney opted to

The Mandalorian Season 3 premiere goes back to the show's beginning, checking in on the state of the world and key characters while setting Din Djarin on a ...

Her speech to Din about the power of the Darksaber as a symbol and how her movement fell apart without it underscores the burden of the artifact Din now carries. There are also apparently plenty of other members of his sect around, and it wouldn’t be surprising if one of the characters from this episode’s opening scene later emerges as a new rival for Din. Grogu’s best moment is grabbing and hugging one of the Anzellans working on repairing IG-11, earning him the reprimand “bad baby.” Hopefully he just wanted to cuddle and didn’t plan on slurping the mechanic down like a frog. The recurring gag where Din shares Grogu’s name with former allies who basically refuse to acknowledge it feels like a nod to any fan who prefers to keep calling the critter Baby Yoda. The only way he can be cleansed of his sins is in the living waters in the mines of the devastated planet Mandalore. He and Din quickly dispatch a group of pirates serving Captain Gorian Shard (Nonso Anozie of Sweet Tooth), a new character that will undoubtedly continue to cause trouble this season.

The Mandalorian Chapter 17, "The Apostate," brings Din Djarin and Grogu back together for a whole new adventure!

Other than the IG-11 revelation, we already sort of knew the rest of the motivating factors behind Din and Grogu’s mission to Mandalore and the brewing conflict with Bo-Katan. The fan-favorite droid was one of the very best things about the first season, and while his death was a fitting tear-jerker, it’ll be great to see him (and Taika Waititi) re-enter the fold. The return to Nevarro and reunion with Carl Weathers’ Greef Karga (that’s High Magistrate Karga to you) serves the sneakily profound purpose of giving Din and Grogu’s journey to this point a sense of scope and just how much time has passed since season 1. The dynamic between Kryze and Din is fast becoming one of the most fascinating aspects of the story, and it’ll be interesting to see how it continues to play out as the season moves forward. It’s this attention to detail that helped the Original Trilogy capture the imaginations of so many, and it’s nice to see the old tenets of the franchise still upheld so respectfully by Rick Famuyiwa’s camera. The introduction of pirate king Gorian Shard (Nonso Anozie) is a standout moment just for the expert characters design. And Pedro Pascal’s ability to tell a soulful story without the use of his face, partnered with an animatronic scene partner, speaks to how great he is as an actor and why we’re all so obsessed with him at the moment. Following the duo’s stint in the less-than-stellar [The Book of Boba Fett](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-wars-the-mandalorian-season-3-book-of-boba-fett-problem/), this re-introduction to the mainline [Star Wars](https://www.denofgeek.com/star-wars/) series is a much-needed palate cleanser. Some of the best moments of the episode are the brief respites we get of Din and Grogu simply sitting together. And then as Daddy Din and Grogu swoop in for the save, we get to feast our eyes yet again on his bitchin’, souped-up Naboo N-1 Starfighter, which has got to be one of the coolest-looking signature starships in franchise history. There are some deep-seated, philosophical quandaries at the heart of Din’s desire for atonement and redemption with his clan of religious zealots vs. [The Mandalorian](https://www.denofgeek.com/the-mandalorian/)’s season 3 premiere, “The Apostate,” is that it reminds us that this show is all about adventure.

It's a fun return for the Star Wars adventure on Disney Plus, but what have you missed between seasons?

Mando takes the remains of IG-11 to the Anzellans, jabbering animatronic mechanics in delightfully Star Wars style. - The Trandoshans also appeared in the Boba Fett series. It turns out the statue is made of the droid's actual remaining parts, allowing the Mando to resurrect the bot. Vane and his thirsty pirates insist on a drink for old times' sake, reminding Karga that he paid them for murder and mayhem back in the good old days. Luckily the Mando swoops in to save the day. This seaweed-encrusted freebooter looks inspired by the fantastical creatures of the Pirates of the Caribbean, warning Mando that he better start believing in ghost stories because he's in one. Their leader, the Armorer, builds a new helmet in a fetching shade of turquoise, carried onto a beach where a youngster feels the sun on their face for the final time. It was one of the best installments of the otherwise underwhelming series and is well worth a watch, but that doesn't change the fact that season 3 of the Mandalorian only just started and you already have homework. That episode also reveals a chunk of backstory about the Mandalorian's sect, the Children of the Watch, and why they left Mandalore -- check out our full Well, in between seasons, the stars of the Mandalorian appeared in an episode of another Disney Plus series, The Book of Boba Fett. In the [finale of season 2](/culture/the-mandalorian-season-2-finale-recap-a-star-wars-legend-tracks-down-mando-and-baby-yoda-luke-skywalker/) the Mando dropped off Grogu with everyone's favorite Jedi, Luke Skywalker. Season 3 episode 1 is a concentrated burst of entertainment showcasing all the best bits of Star Wars: laser gun shootouts, soaring space battles and tentacle-faced pirate captains.

The premiere falls victim to the Star Wars shared universe and 'Book of Boba Fett,' while still obscuring Pedro Pascal's wonderfully expressive face.

Favreau seems to be signaling that he values the cool visual of the helmet more than he does the value of letting one of [the most expressive actors](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-recaps/the-last-of-us-episode-6-recap-pedro-pascal-powerhouse-joel-ellie-threat-rutina-wesley-1234678616/) working in television today use his greatest weapon. (*) In “The Return of the Mandalorian,” the Watch was basically down to the Armorer and Paz Vizsla. Perhaps the arc of this season will be Din recognizing that some of the Watch’s rules are bad, in the same way that Ahsoka eventually recognized the dangers of the Jedi rules against emotional attachments. “The Return of the Mandalorian” and everything that’s happened since has walked all of that back. [Breaking Bad-ish scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKMdzJFcyro)) where the malfunctioning, legless IG-11 crawls around the floor with his one remaining arm to try to kill Grogu. Meanwhile, hilariously, the one Book of Boba element that does get re-explained is the part about Mando’s banishment and path to atonement, which is already in the opening montage. First he needs to get IG-11 fixed, because he needs a droid to help him go to Mandalore, and this is somehow the only one he trusts, even as we saw in both Season Two and especially in “The Return of the Mandalorian” that he has largely gotten over his fear of droids. [The Mandalorian](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-recaps/mandalorian-season-2-finale-rescue-recap-1105641/) Season Three. So he has to travel the galaxy to find a replacement memory circuit, and only then can he go back to Mandalore to see if it’s even safe to visit. And I imagine any Mandalorian-only viewers were baffled by a lot of “The Apostate.” Mando and Grogu are reunited and Mando has a sleek new ship, neither of which are explained. So we are reminded of IG-11’s sacrifice [in the Season One finale](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-recaps/mandalorian-season-finale-recap-redemption-931455/), Greef Karga discussing the gentrification of Nevarro, and the purge of Mandalore. We do not see a single frame of footage featuring Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, or Grogu, even though Mandalorian Season Two ended with Mando and the little guy saying goodbye, seemingly forever, and even though

Main Players: Mando, Grogu, Greef Karga, and a nasty—but easily disposable—band of pirates. Director: Rick Famuyiwa, who has helmed some of the best episodes of ...

[Watch The Mandalorian on Disney+](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/the-mandalorian/3jLIGMDYINqD) [CGI Luke Skywalker Boot Camp](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a38971109/cgi-luke-skywalker-mandalorian-book-of-boba-fett/) in The Book of Boba Fett, returning to the basics that made us love the show in the first place. [Giancarlo Esposito and his bedhead.](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a35005767/giancarlo-esposito-the-mandalorian-season-2-finale-interview-moff-gideon-the-boys-better-call-saul/)) We're still warming back up to this corner of the Star Wars-verse. Give your [Grogu plushie](https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/g31137205/baby-yoda-gifts/) a high five. [The Mandalorian](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a35013423/the-mandalorian-season-3/). Pop on [The Mandalorian](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YDKxcdIXBs) [ theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YDKxcdIXBs) and dive in. Not really giving a damn that Bo-Katan is just stewing in the middle of nowhere on an uncomfortable-looking throne, he peaces out and the episode ends. Mando and Grogu travel to the closest thing this series has to a home base: Nevarro, which is hardly the sketchy bounty-hunter planet it used to be. Apparently, he needs to travel to Sundari, Mandalore's capital city, where the entrance to the mines is location. He stuffs Grogu in the droid hole and jets away. But in this episode, everyone insists to Mando that the world has been ravaged and poisoned, so much so that it isn't worth visiting. The only way to rejoin the Mandalorians?

Season premieres are hard. Season premieres of a hit Disney+ Star Wars series with an incredibly complicated and wide-ranging plot are even harder.

As with any other story about Mandalore, Bo-Katan is a major player, but instead of delivering the Mandalorian Civil War between her and Mando, it’s instead more of a cultural exchange, each learning more about the other’s faction. The Mandalorian has always prioritized the episode in its storytelling — each of its “Chapters” delivers a thematically unified, standalone story. It’s all a result of the disjointed storytelling we’ve seen since the end of Episode 2, both in-universe and out of it. The Book of Boba Fett established the Living Waters, but this episode had to repeat the explanation for those who didn’t see it. Every complaint about Episode 1 is completely dismissed by Episode 2, which immediately clicks back into gear with a trip to Tatooine to see Peli Motto. After watching the first two episodes of the season, we can promise it’s worth it in the end.

The episode opens with The Armorer (Emily Swallow) methodically forging a new helmet, a process that, from all appearances, seems to be unchanged since time ...

Is Bo-Katan right about the Children of the Watch contributing to the decline and fall of Mandalore? Even if “The Apostate” is mostly about what’s to come (with some summing up of what happened between seasons), it still offers plenty of reasons to keep following Din and Grogu’s journey. Din outmaneuvers his opponents using some nearby asteroids for cover only to wind up in the guns of the hulking vessel of Pirate King Gorian Shard (Nonso Anozie), an intimidating (if mossy-looking) villain who really does not like Din (and likes Din even less after he escapes his clutches). “Your cult gave up on Mandalore long before the Purge,” she tells Din, and the planet is “ravaged, plundered, and poisoned beyond repair.” But Din isn’t prepared to despair. The streets are filled with merchants (and a vegetable-chopping droid), musicians, and creatures of all races, including a Mon Calamari and some Kowakian cousins of Salacious Crumb. Nevarro, he wants them to know, is “no longer friendly to pirates.” When the other pirates don’t get the message, Karga and Din take them out. The Armorer takes a moment before replying, “This is the way.” And with that, the premise of The Mandalorian’s third season has been established. With the gator (and the opening titles) out of the way, Din catches up with the Armorer, who’s not mad, but she is disappointed. To Karga, it’s nonsense Din can ignore and live the good life with Grogu by his side. In the meantime, we got [The Book of Boba Fett](https://www.vulture.com/tv/the-book-of-boba-fett/), a series that was only tangentially related to The Mandalorian apart from a stretch of episodes that were absolutely crucial to the story of The Mandalorian. Could this be the end of the Children of the Watch? Helmet forged, she emerges from a cave to join the others on a lakeside beach in the middle of an otherwise desolate landscape, where she prepares, with great pomp and ceremony complete with drums and banners, to bestow the helmet on a somber-looking dark-haired kid.

Yes, Baby Yoda is back and Din Djarin has put his helmet back on. But this loving tribute to the Westerns and samurai films that influenced George Lucas' ...

But more and more it’s an open question as to how long these elevated Saturday morning cartoons can hold the attention of a mass adult audience. Perhaps it’s just franchise fatigue finally setting in, as in the case of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Djarin’s new quest is to redeem himself in the eyes of his fellow Mandalorian fundamentalists by returning to their pulverized homeworld and re-baptising himself in its holy waters. The story has become tangled up in a decade’s worth of mythology from its animated antecedents, the novelty of its deliberately wonky mix of digital and practical effects has faded, and the father-son relationship that served as the heart of the show has run its course. But over the course of two seasons (and the The first live-action small-screen installment of the Star Wars canon, the series was a departure from the whiz-bang of the Sequel Trilogy and a loving tribute to the Westerns and samurai films that influenced George Lucas’ original masterpiece.

From series regulars like Pedro Pascal and Carl Weathers to guest stars like Jason Sudeikis and Taika Waititi, The Mandalorian has always had a stacked cast of ...

Aside from his role as Doc Brown, you probably recognize Lloyd from his appearances in [Star Trek](https://www.denofgeek.com/star-trek/), Clue, The Addams Family, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Paz, who is a descendant of Tarre Vizsla, the Mandalorian Jedi who crafted the Darksaber, tried to challenge Din for the weapon in The Book of Boba Fett but lost. [Back to the Future](https://www.denofgeek.com/back-to-the-future/)’s Christopher Lloyd is set to appear in a yet-to-be-revealed role. Sackhoff has also appeared in [Battlestar Galactica](https://www.denofgeek.com/battlestar-galactica/), Longmire, [The Flash](https://www.denofgeek.com/the-flash/), and Another Life. He’s directed and acted in two of Marvel’s Thor films, he made What We Do in the Shadows, co-created Reservation Dogs, and is set to direct his own Star Wars movie. No matter what zany role Motto will play in the events of season 3, it’ll be nice to see her again. [The Clone Wars](https://www.denofgeek.com/star-wars-the-clone-wars/) and [Rebels](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-wars-rebels-best-episodes/), Katee Sackhoff reprised her role for the first time in live-action for season 2 of The Mandalorian. Despite being an adversary to Djarin and Grogu as the leader of Nevarro’s Bounty Hunter Guild in season 1, Greef Karga has quickly become one of their most loyal allies. In season 3, Karga is continuing to take his role as High Magistrate seriously as he tries to convince Djarin to settle down on Nevarro with Grogu. He may have been defeated and handed over to the New Republic at the end of season 2, but that doesn’t mean that will be the last we see of Moff Gideon. [Star Wars](https://www.denofgeek.com/star-wars/) has become such an iconic staple of pop culture that it’s no surprise that actors from a variety of backgrounds are eager to join this world, no matter how big or small the role may be. Pedro Pascal is returning as the titular Mandalorian Din Djarin for season 3.