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.

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.

Here is the answer to how many episodes are in The Mandalorian season 3 on Disney+ in total, with the continued adventures of Baby Yoda.

Like seasons 1 and 2, season 3 of The Mandalorian is made up of a grand total of eight episodes. So if you haven’t got Disney Plus, you might want to look into signing up. We figure we’re on safe ground spoiler-wise, but after parting company with Grogu, season 3 begins with Baby Yoda back with his daddy thanks to the so-so

The Mandalorian season 3 finally makes its long-awaited premiere on Disney Plus soon. Here's when you can expect it in your neck of the woods.

Where are you watching it from? CEST on Wednesday, March 1 KST on Wednesday, March 1 CT on Wednesday, March 1 ET, and 2:00 a.m. MT on Wednesday, March 1 PT, 3:00 a.m. PT on Wednesday, March 1 It’s been over two years since we last caught up with the pair on their own show. We don’t know what the pair will get up to this season, but we do know that we will once again be happy to go along for the ride. [Disney Plus](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/the-mandalorian/3jLIGMDYINqD) on Wednesday, March 1, at 12:00 a.m. Ever since Mando and Grogu reached for one another in the premiere episode of The Mandalorian, audiences have been on-board with this story more than anyone could have imagined.

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.

The show returned to the streamer it helped launch this week with its season 3 premiere, which reunited viewers with Mando and Yoda (a.k.a. Din Djarin and Grogu) ...

Are you looking forward to the second episode of The Mandalorian season 3? The Mandalorian season 3 episode 2, “Chapter 18”, will premiere on Disney Plus on Wednesday, March 8, at 12:00 a.m. On that note, here’s when you can expect to tune into the sophomore installment of The Mandalorian season 3.

Given The Mandalorian's trend of naming episodes “chapters,” I saw what they did there when they announced The Book of Boba Fett. I wasn't surprised when Din ...

It’s not an easy task to deliver a balanced piece of Star Wars storytelling anymore, between all the tangled webs of narrative and the slippery slope of fan service. After a scene featuring a cameo that I didn’t know I needed, and another healthy dose of action, The Mandalorian leaves this chapter on a quietly intense note. It has been noted that this is among the shortest episodes of the series, clocking in around 35 minutes, but it could have fooled me. It’s clear that the trailers were not a complete tease, and the new season should deliver more opportunities to see these walking Swiss army knives in action. Din has transgressed against the way of his Mandalorian sect, the orthodox Children of the Watch who upheld the most ancient traditions of the Mandalorian society, by removing his helmet in view of other living people—first to infiltrate an Imperial base for information, and again to say goodbye to Grogu. Fortunately, by the end of The Mandalorian‘s season 3 premiere, I was pleased to find that things were back on track narratively.

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).

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.

The clanging, chiming sound of a blacksmith battering metal opens the episode. As The Armorer (Emily Swallow) pieces together a new helmet, in a sequence ...

You can also check out our other coverage of the show [here](https://www.dexerto.com/tag/the-mandalorian/). Still, this is the way. “This is the way.” Spoilers for The Mandalorian to follow… Brief reminder: In Season 2, Bo-Katan wanted to reclaim Mandalore by besting Moff Gideon in battle, as that’s the only way to officially be worthy of the Darksaber. She calls him a fool and accuses his “cult” of giving up on Mandalore long before the purge. Aside from that, Nevarro is worlds apart from the outer rim’s earlier reputation, now a hub of culture; storefronts and stalls are bustling and buskers play music on the streets. She tells him to go home, and he says he’s going to Mandalore. For example, we see Grogu gazing at purrgil swimming through the whirl of hyperspace, and a late dogfight with pirates shows how far we’ve come with small-screen VFX. He says he wants to join her, but after she failed to return with the Darksaber, there’s “nothing left to join.” We’ve seen Din remove his helmet on a few occasions, and his transgressions have caught up with him. Just as he’s about to swear to never remove his helmet, a ginormous crocodile emerges from the Concordian depths; it makes Lake Placid’s monster look like a baby. As The Armorer (Emily Swallow) pieces together a new helmet, in a sequence reminiscent of Tony Stark assembling his Iron Man Mark 1 suit, drums thunder along the beach outside.

The Mandalorian season 3 premiere will be very confusing for Star Wars fans who didn't binge The Book of Boba Fett where key events took place.

[Disney+](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=127X991730&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disneyplus.com%2Fen-gb%2F&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitalspy.com%2Ftv%2Fustv%2Fa43122241%2Fthe-mandalorian-season-3-episode-1%2F), where season 3 premieres on March 1. [The Book of Boba Fett](https://www.digitalspy.com/boba-fett/) (where said brain lizards were introduced). "Yet we felt that time had to be spent apart and we had to show progression, so that when we meet Grogu now we understand why his abilities are different. And now, fans of said show who didn't watch Boba Fett are forced to fill in the gaps for themselves. I guess you could do Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as like Butch Cassidy a few episodes and the Sundance Kid separately. By the end of Boba Fett's season, Din found himself a new ship and a new quest to boot. [The internet's favourite daddy](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a42533978/the-mandalorian-season-3-pedro-pascal/) is back with his adorable child in tow, and they've arrived just in time to help some Mandalorians fight off a big old space gator. Well, mostly for themselves, because The Mandalorian season three premiere does eventually explain at least some of this backstory, particularly in regards to Din's new quest. And come to think of it, didn't [Baby Yoda](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a34809548/the-mandalorian-baby-yoda-animatronic-figure-black-friday/) go off with Luke Skywalker after a gut-wrenching goodbye? "You’d be apart from them, but you’d check in. It's business as usual then for Din and Grogu, except, wait: wasn't Mando's ship destroyed at the end of [season two](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a30082688/mandalorian-season-2-air-date-cast-plot-trailer/)? For fans tired of that show, this was

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.

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 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.

But they reunited (in the finale of The Book of Boba Fett), Grogu has a spiffy new beskar chainmail shirt, and Din Djarin is headed to the planet Mandalore to ...

Now, the traditionally ad-free tier is ( [$10.99 per month](https://disneyplus.bn5x.net/c/221109/564546/9358?subId1=tomsguide-us-1437146979709259000&sharedId=tomsguide-us&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disneyplus.com) (opens in new tab). [Disney Plus](https://disneyplus.bn5x.net/c/221109/564546/9358?subId1=tomsguide-us-1158433418434273000&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disneyplus.com%2F) (opens in new tab) gives you access to the entire Disney vault of classics like Frozen, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast as well as newer hits like The Mandalorian, Loki and more. Get the most value with the [$12.99 bundle](https://disneyplus.bn5x.net/c/221109/564546/9358?subId1=tomsguide-us-1158433418434273000&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disneyplus.com%2F) (opens in new tab) that throws in Hulu and ESPN Plus. There's also the new Disney Plus Basic, an ad-supported tier at [$7.99 per month](https://disneyplus.bn5x.net/c/221109/564546/9358?subId1=tomsguide-us-6677369609675396000&sharedId=tomsguide-us&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disneyplus.com) (opens in new tab). ET / 8 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. Who knows what other surprises are in store for Din and Grogu? PT / 8 a.m. [Disney Plus.](https://disneyplus.bn5x.net/c/221109/564546/9358?subId1=tomsguide-us-1033910802593861400&sharedId=tomsguide-us&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disneyplus.com%2Fseries%2F-%2F3jLIGMDYINqD) (opens in new tab) ET / 12 a.m. He still wields the Darksaber, but has been declared un-Mandalorian by the Armorer for taking off his helmet. [Disney Plus](https://disneyplus.bn5x.net/c/221109/564546/9358?subId1=tomsguide-us-9582254105713758000&sharedId=tomsguide-us&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disneyplus.com%2Fseries%2F-%2F3jLIGMDYINqD) (opens in new tab).

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.

Mando and Baby Yoda shouldn't have dealt with such important story beats in a show that wasn't even theirs to begin with. A cameo episode is one thing, but the ...

As the title suggests, this is the first time we see Mando since the finale of Season 2 and the first time he appears in The Book Of Boba Fett. He’s off training with Luke Skywalker (who they did an even better job with this time around in terms of CGI and facial animations and so forth). The episode is basically devoted entirely to Mando, and feels more like an episode of The Mandalorian that got lost in another show. A cameo episode is one thing, but the stuff that went down in Boba Fett is crucial to the larger story. Boba Fett needed a better show that was devoted more entirely to his character (or no show at all, for that matter). The show actually swerved pretty wildly away from its ostensible protagonist, Boba Fett, and became a weird Mando interlude of sorts, bridging the story that ended in Season 2 with Season 3, which drops today on Disney Plus.

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.

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.

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee wowed fans during the special launch event for Disney+'s The Mandalorian Season 3 in Hollywood.

That for me in a nutshell is what Star Wars is about. “I’ve been waiting two years to see this stuff come to fruition,” Lee said in a DisneyD23 Instagram story. His character Carson Teva is even featured in the official trailer for the new season. Lee is a self-proclaimed super fan who has his own “geek podcast” devoted to all that is Star Wars. I’m living the dream and I’m so grateful. “I’m so happy to be an ambassador for everyone out there.

A man in armor and a cape walks down a marble hallway as a small creature. Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu, a.k.a., Baby Yoda, have rejoined since “The ...

But to leave the planet, Din and Grogu have to evade a band of pirates. So, at the end of this chapter, this is where we leave the Mandalorian: standing before someone who has been both an ally and an enemy, and asking for help. But to help him survive the potentially hostile planet, he needs the help of the assassin droid IG-11, which sacrificed itself to save him and his cohorts back in Season 1. When those pirates show up and start making demands, Din lends his gun to a Wild West-style shootout in the streets. Our heroes’ final stop this week is on Kalevala, a planet near Mandalore, where they find a near-empty castle and an embittered acquaintance: Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff), the fallen Mandalorian political leader. Favreau and the director Rick Famuyiwa begin this new season with a scene in which a Mandalorian boy receives his first helmet from the Armorer (Emily Swallow), and is asked to make his pledge never to remove it. This has been a point in this show’s favor from the beginning. Din tells the Armorer that he believes enough of Mandalore still stands for him to perform the necessary rituals and cleanse himself. If, on the other hand, you also watched the spinoff series “ [The Book of Boba Fett](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/arts/television/the-mandalorian-boba-fett-temuera-morrison.html),” you know that in its last few episodes, Din and Grogu reunited to help their pals on Tatooine take down a vicious criminal gang. That is when our heroes come speeding in from outer space in their N-1, to save the day. Given that it has been a while since the last real “Mandalorian” episode, Favreau shows an impressive amount of restraint in keeping this premiere relatively short. Most of Mandalore has been rendered uninhabitable by years of civil war and the death throes of the Empire.

The Mandalorian Season 3 has arrived! Join beskar-armored hero Din Djarin and the foundling Grogu on a new adventure, streaming only on Disney+.

You can stream both series on Disney+ — and go behind the scenes with the Disney+ docuseries, Disney Gallery.This is the Way.For more on The Mandalorian, explore StarWars.com’s previous coverage:Check out the Season 3 poster and trailerBrush up on the story so far in StarWars.com’s The Mandalorian\u0026nbsp;refresher Bake some blue milk macarons inspired by the seriesFind out which Mandalorian armor suits you with StarWars.com’s quizGo inside the innovative technology powering The Mandalorian Din Djarin is a Mandalorian no more, according to the Armorer.And with the premiere of The Mandalorian Season 3 today on Disney+, we find the once proud Mandalorian warriors scattered throughout the galaxy, a fractured people.

Chapter 17 of The Mandalorian, "The Apostate," is full of easter eggs and references to other parts of the Star Wars galaxy! Here are the callbacks we've ...

This location was first introduced in the very first episode of The Mandalorian. [she was recruited by New Republic special forces](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-wars-the-mandalorian-gina-carano-cara-dune-canon-status/). This bit of worldbuilding was first introduced in the now non-canon Legends continuity. We’ve seen all these species on The Mandalorian and Along the way, we learn that a character from [The Mandalorian](https://www.denofgeek.com/the-mandalorian/)‘s past is making a surprise return. – This season is all about Mandalore, the home world of the Mandalorians. We’re back on the volcanic planet of Nevarro this episode. It now serves as Bo-Katan’s base of power, although without the Darksaber it’s unclear how much power she still has with the Mandalorians. Unfortunately, the only way to bring back the more nurturing version of IG will be to find a part the Anzellans need to fix him properly. Despite being reprogrammed by Kuill in season 1, a revived IG-11 reverts back to its original directive: eliminate the Child. Nevarro’s gone legit and the pirates have been cut out of the spoils. [“The Apostate,”](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-wars-the-mandalorian-season-3-episode-1-review/) we reunite with Mando and Grogu for a new adventure to Mandalore.

The Mandalorian's Season 3 premiere sets the stage for an adventurous third season of the hit Disney Plus Star Wars show.

We still don’t have a clear sense of who the Big Bad will be this season or what struggles Mando and Baby Yoda will face on Mandalore, let alone in their search for the droid’s parts. He tells her to make up her mind and that he’s going regardless and he’ll find out the truth and let her know. Her forces have melted away thanks to her lack of the Darksaber, which Mando currently possesses and which she needs to take in battle for it to not curse her. Then Mando needs to either shake off his attachment to the Armorer and her fanatical Covert or he needs to find atonement in the Living Water. And then the fight for Mandalore can begin in earnest, whatever that looks like. We actually don’t know if one of these is Frik or if they’re just other Anzellans who sound just like him (thanks to Shirley Henderson doing the voices of all of the above). For all of Bo-Katan’s talk of superstition when it comes to Mando’s faction, she and her people sure hold a lot of their own magical beliefs. Mando and Baby Yoda were visiting Nevarro and Karga with a purpose: To resurrect IG-11 (Taika Waititi) the bounty droid turned nurse droid who sacrificed himself to save the group. Once in hyperspace, while Papa Mando naps, Baby Yoda stares out the domed window of his little room and sees shadowy shapes in the beams of hyper-light. They look like space whales, and this is easily one of the best moments in the entire episode. They let Vane get away which comes back to haunt Mando and Grogu when they leave Nevarro and are ambushed (unsuccessfully) by Vane and his men. Next, we see how things have changed, especially for Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) and his hometown of Nevarro, which is almost unrecognizable now in its time of prosperity, unfettered by either Imperial holdouts or New Republic bureaucracy.

The anticipated return is designed to reorient the audience after a lengthy layoff, but the familiar formula efficiently, charmingly, and thrillingly ...

(The details of Mandalorian history are hard enough for fans of The Clone Wars and Rebels to retain, so it may be challenging for this season to summarize it succinctly for newcomers.) Bo’s sister Satine [ died](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Satine_Kryze#Death) in Sundari prior to the Purge, and Bo has soured on the infighting that left the planet vulnerable to takeover. [Kalevala](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Kalevala), a planet in the Mandalore system that was mentioned (but not shown) in The Clone Wars. have handled Tatooine’s spice problem.) Greef isn’t so respectable that he’s forgotten the value of [a blaster at your side](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/f7c70262-a03d-4717-87d9-8a73fc323d0f), and he’s quicker on the draw than Vane, a Weequay miniboss with an [authentically piratical name](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Vane). [Chapter 12](https://www.theringer.com/mandalorian/2020/11/20/21587831/mandalorian-the-siege-chapter-12-recap), magistrate—sorry, high magistrate—Greef Karga has done wonders for the place, and enriched himself in the process. [purrgil](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Purrgil), a species of semi-sentient, starship-sized space whales that [first appeared](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-91PbGwYW0Y) on Season 2 of Star Wars Rebels. (The finale, [not so much](https://www.theringer.com/star-wars/2022/2/9/22925838/the-book-of-boba-fett-finale-breakdown-chapter-7-in-the-name-of-honor).) From a certain point of view, Book of Boba 5 and 6 (plus part of 7) were the start of Season 3; ultimately, the distinction between The Mandalorian and Book of Boba comes down to which menu you click on the Disney+ Star Wars screen, which doesn’t matter that much. [she did](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHTny_llWA0&t=0m10s) before melting down a beskar spear to fashion Grogu’s mail in The Book of Boba Fett, she unscrews a stopper and sprinkles a vial’s liquid contents into a cauldron; it seems likely that this offering is a sample of the living waters beneath the mines of Mandalore, which Mando must immerse himself in to atone for briefly breathing fresh air. (Maybe the planet has healed enough to support life again—or perhaps, in a classic sci-fi twist, the supposed poison will turn out to be a false rumor spread by the Empire to ward away the natives.) They leave things where The Book of Boba Fett left them last year: Exploring Mandalore’s supposedly destroyed mines is the only way and (Way) for Din to undo his excommunication. [explodes like a beached whale](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6CLumsir34), [splattering its guts](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/13/oregon-whale-explosion-anniversary/) on all assembled. [star of Star Wars](https://www.theringer.com/tv/2020/10/28/21537784/mandalorian-season-2-preview) also powers “The Apostate”—and it’s as sturdy and endearing as it was when it debuted in late 2019. The premiere doesn’t shed a lot of light on any of the [core questions](https://www.theringer.com/mandalorian/2023/2/27/23617511/the-mandalorian-season-3-preview-eight-questions-grogu-mandalore-darksaber) fans had entering this season, and it doesn’t introduce many new ideas or raise the series’ stakes. Like the two season premieres that preceded it, “The Apostate” opens on a planet that the episode never names, a trick that makes The Mandalorian’s vision of the Star Wars universe seem as expansive and magnetic as the original trilogy’s.

Season 3 features protective space dad Mando (Pedro Pascal) and adorable Grogu (Baby Yoda) on yet another journey steeped in "Star Wars" allusions.

They appear to have a connection to the Death Watch, a Mandalorian terrorist group introduced in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” Perhaps Season 3 of “The Mandalorian” will finally reveal what happened between [Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff)](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-11-27/star-wars-the-mandalorian-katee-sackhoff-bo-katan-dave-filoni) leading the Mandalorians against the Galactic Empire in “Rebels” and her [first appearance](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-11-13/mandalorian-star-wars-bo-katan-kryze) in “The Mandalorian.” Purrgils were first introduced in “Star Wars Rebels,” where a certain Jedi padawan was able to forge a connection with them using the Force. [Mandalorian and “Star Wars” lore](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-10-29/the-mandalorian-star-wars-clone-wars-rebels-history). “The Mandalorian” has proved that blaster shootouts and the antics of a hungry cute toddler remain entertaining. One of “Andor’s” strengths was in showing how ordinary people live under Imperial rule when powerful space wizards or honor-bound warriors are not around to save the day.

Insider looks at the nods to the wider "Star Wars" galaxy and other Easter eggs you may have missed. The season premiere sees the bounty hunter and Grogu start ...

["The Rise of Skywalker"](https://www.insider.com/the-rise-of-skywalker-star-wars-references-2019-12) will recognize the miniature Anzellans, because one of them showed up in the 2019 movie. On the right of Bo-Katan's throne is a sculpture of Mandalorians fighting other Mandalorians. Since the character is played by a seasoned actor, this may not be the last we see of pirate king Shand. However, this may be a reference to the famous "Star Wars" pirate king Hondo Ohnaka and his pirate crew. Once the droid is disabled again, Greef takes Din to the Anzellan droidsmiths to try and fix him. ](https://www.insider.com/the-mandalorian-season-3-book-of-boba-fett-star-wars-2023-2) The spaceship was just a bunch of scraps until Mando and his friend Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris) rebuilt it for the rogue to use as his new spaceship. Also, Hondo and his crew were Weequay, an alien species that looks like the pirate attempting to attack Greef and Mando, Vane (Marti Matulis). This doesn't exactly go well when the droid reverts back to his old programming and tries to kill Grogu on the spot. His cape is a lot brighter than the previous season, and he now has two small droids following him to keep the cape untangled. He continued: "And then you called me and you said, 'You're working with my nephew,' and I didn't know [if he] was in the crew. [Although their numbers had dwindled after Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) attacked the sewer base on Nevarro](https://www.insider.com/the-mandalorian-season-3-7-details-to-remember-before-watching-2023-2), the season three premiere establishes that the group has bolstered its ranks with new members in that time. And it's definitely useful to have that many soldiers when a giant creature interrupts the proceedings.

Grogu, front, and Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) in Season Three of Lucasfilm's The Mandalorian, exclusively on Disney+.Lucasfilm Ltd./Disney+.

At the moment, there are only three Star Wars movies with any real promise of materializing: one from Taika Waititi (who was hired on the strength of his Mandalorian episodic directing), one that is rumoured to be in the works from Ms. By then, we’ll likely already be on the fourth season of The Mandalorian, the second season of Andor, and who knows what other Disney+ efforts. In fact, the future of Star Wars as a franchise might just rest on the small screen, instead of the large. All of this makes The Mandalorian a gateway drug toward a stash of other, increasingly addictive Star Wars series. Which seems to be part of Disney’s ultimate design to slowly, carefully, delicately inch Star Wars agnostics closer and closer toward embracing the Force (re: Disney+ subscriptions). You can enjoy The Mandalorian no matter if you’ve binged the Clone Wars cartoon or cannot tell a Wookiee from a Woostoid to save your life.

From Din Djarin and Grogu to Greef Karga, many familiar fan-favorite characters are back in The Mandalorian season 3 along with some fresh faces, too.

Teva is played by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, best known as family patriarch [Appa in Kim’s Convenience](https://screenrant.com/kims-convenience-10-of-the-worst-things-appa-umma-did/). In The Mandalorian season 2, Bo-Katan was determined to acquire the Darksaber and claim the throne of Mandalore. Grogu parted ways with the Mandalorian in the season 2 finale, but they reunited in The Book of Boba Fett ahead of The Mandalorian season 3. The Armorer is featured in the opening scene of The Mandalorian season 3 as she performs a Mandalorian ritual. Pershing, the clone engineer played by Omid Abtahi who was hired by the Imperial Remnants to experiment with Grogu’s blood, can be spotted in the teaser trailer for The Mandalorian season 3. IG-11 is voiced by Taika Waititi, best known for voicing Korg in the third and fourth Thor movies and an imaginary Adolf Hitler in Jojo Rabbit, all of which he also directed. She also had a minor role as the voice of Emily in the video game The Last of Us Part II. [When the Mandalorian accidentally acquired the Darksaber](https://screenrant.com/why-darksaber-controls-mandalorians-leader/), Bo-Katan became his enemy. The eponymous antihero in The Mandalorian is played by Pedro Pascal. [Season 3 of The Mandalorian](https://screenrant.com/mandalorian-season-3-release-date-story-cast/) again revolves around Din Djarin and Grogu’s attempts to stay one step ahead of the New Republic officers who want to arrest the former and the Imperial Remnants who want to capture the latter. [The Mandalorian](https://screenrant.com/tag/the-mandalorian/) season 3 brings back some fan-favorite cast members from the [Star Wars](https://screenrant.com/tag/star-wars/) series’ previous episodes and also introduces some exciting new characters into the ensemble. He’s since played Joel Miller in HBO’s series adaptation of the survival horror video game The Last of Us.

I'm not talking about Din Djarin, the helmet-wearing, magnetically terse super heroic bounty hunter played by Pedro Pascal, who gives the series its perfectly ...

And it avoided many of the pitfalls derailing other Star Wars offshoots by grounding its story in surprising ways. As the first two episodes of the new season begin, Djarin is on a new quest: to atone for breaking the code of the Mandalorians by taking off his helmet and revealing his face to others. (Gideon was sent off to a war tribunal and Dune joined the New Republic's special forces. And Bo-Katan winds up joining Djarin in action, showing off her skills with the mysterious dark lightsaber he took from Moff Gideon last season and still struggles to wield himself. What I loved here, was the deepening bond between Grogu/Baby Yoda and the Mandalorian/Djarin. Over several episodes in the Boba Fett series, we see Grogu decide to return to the Mandalorian who had become a father figure to him. [had to break such a sacred Mandalorian rule](https://collider.com/the-mandalorian-helmet-explained/) in the first place. Djarin has to reconnect with old allies to get back there, including Carl Weathers' Greef Karga, now a wealthy, somewhat obsequious official; Amy Sedaris' weathered, deal-making mechanic Peli Motto and Katee Sackhoff's descendant of Mandalore's royal family, Bo-Katan Kryze. That's because important developments for this series happened on another Disney+ Star Wars story, The Book of Boba Fett. You can practically feel the series' storytelling machinery ponderously cranking into gear through each of these visits. (As an aside, there's a serious problem with a spinoff series like Boba Fett, if its best episodes essentially feature another program hijacking the storyline.) Check out episode seven of the second season to see why Djarin