We’re halfway through the second season of Disney’s “The Mandalorian” and it has been nothing short of mind-blowing. More bombshells have been dropped in this season’s first half than in the entirety of its freshman run. Hardcore fans were given an amazing teaser in the previous season finale with Moff Gideon wielding the legendary Darksaber. And now, it’s only ramping up from there, ever since we learnt of Boba Fett’s return.
Jon Favreau’s “The Mandalorian” isn’t just some fun, self-contained story within a small pocket of the Star Wars’ universe. Oh no, the show is setting up some major plot points that could have monumental implications for the franchise. For both its past and future.
So join us, as we do a deep-dive into everything you need to know about Din Djarin, the Mandalorians and their eventual conflict with the Imperial remnants! Note, there will be spoilers ahead concerning the “The Mandalorian”. You have been warned.
Famous Faces and Sacred Swords
The series is set after the fall of the Empire and, as Din and Mandalorians have said, the Great Purge. A period of time in which Mandalorians were hunted down by the Empire. During the events of “Star Wars: Rebel”, we saw characters like Bo Katan and Sabine Wren fight to restore Mandalore to its former glory. The homeworld to a nation of the galaxy’s greatest warriors. Their main claim to fame is that they are able to face off against Jedi and actually prevail against them without having to rely on the Force.
Things took an interesting turn, however, in an episode of “Star Wars: Rebels”. In “Trials of the Darksaber”, it was actually revealed that there was a Mandalorian who joined the Jedi Order. His name was Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian Jedi and the eventual ruler of the Mandalorians. He also crafted a one-of-a-kind weapon known as the Darksaber. A black lightsaber that was housed in the Jedi Temple. A sacred relic that was later reclaimed by the descendants of House Vizsla. To the Mandalorians, Tarre Vizsla was essentially their version of King Arthur and the Darksaber was their Excalibur. A holy weapon that granted those who wielded it the right to be Mand’alor, their leader.
As we’ve stated earlier, the Darksaber is now in the hands of Moff Gideon. A prominent Imperial officer who took part in the Great Purge. Yes, the man who aided in the mass genocide of the Mandalorians is in possession of their most holy weapon. Now, that’s an insult that the Mandalorians can’t take lying down. Which brings us to the third episode of the second season “Chapter 11: The Heiress”. In the episode, we see Din saved from a group of aliens trying to harvest his Beskar armour by a trio of Mandalorians.
It just so happens that one of them is Bo-Katan Kryze, a member of House Vizsla and the rightful heir to the Darksaber. Fun fact, she has also appeared in both “Star Wars: Clone Wars” and “Star Wars: Rebels”. She’s essentially Mandalorian nobility. In the episode, she informs Din that she intends on uniting the disparate Mandalorian clans to restore the planet of Mandalore to its former glory. Din, of course, rejects her offer to join her in her crusade. He’s set on returning the Child to his people, the Jedi.
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Needless to say, this season of “The Mandalorian” has been an utter joy for hardcore Star Wars geeks out there. The return of the Darksaber and Bo-Katan means big things are in store for the show and we’re fairly certain of what’s to come.
The War for Mandalore
Now, the signs seem very clear of where “The Mandalorian” is heading in terms of its narrative endgame. The reemergence of Imperial remnants, the Darksaber and Bo-Katan are all setting up a major conflict to come between the reunited Mandalorians and the Imperial remnants led by Moff Gideon. At some point, the story will most likely see Din join Bo-Katan in her fight to restore Mandalore and reclaim the throne. That part we have very little doubt about. What this war would look like though, now that’s where we get into speculative territory.
In the latest episode of the show, “The Jedi”, we see “Clone Wars” fan favourite Ahsoka Tano make her first live-action appearance. She is played by Rosario Dawson from Netflix’s “Daredevil”. In the events of “Star Wars: Rebel”, she played a major role in aiding the Resistance and the Mandalorians in their battle against the Empire. In the final season of the “Clone Wars” series, we even see her battle Darth Maul, who became Mand’alor for a time.
We know Din seeks to return the Child back to his people, the Jedi Order. Perhaps through Tano, he may find Force-sensitive allies to join Bo-Katan’s crusade against the Empire. Tano has a ton of history with the Mandalorians. In the past, she’s both fought against them and for them. She has also helped Bo-Katan and her Mandalorian resistance in wrestling back their home-world from Maul. Both the Jedi and the Mandalorians have suffered a “purge” under the Empire. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to see them teaming up against Moff Gideon.
The stars are lining up! Disney isn’t just flooding easter eggs and callbacks for the sake of mere fan service. No, they’re carefully laying out established characters alongside fresh faces to draw fans both old and new back into the franchise. This could be the new direction in which Star Wars is heading towards. Moving its focus away from one particular group of religious warriors to another. Disney has even toyed around with the idea of making a full-fledged theatrical film centred around “The Mandalorian”.
Disney’s sequel trilogy has come and gone, and the story of the Jedi and the Skywalkers have come to a close. It’s time for the franchise to reinvent itself in light of its most recent success. The age of the Jedi is over…the time of the Mandalorians has come!
So what do you think about all this news? Do you think the Mandalorians would make a worthy successor to the Jedi as the face of the franchise? Are you looking forward to the eventual battle between the Mandalorians and the Empire? Let us know in the comments down below!
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