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The Latch

What the Hell Is Happening In ‘The Mandalorian” Season 3? A Rolling Update

April 14, 2023
Lizzo and Jack Black in The Mandalorian season 3 episode 6.
Disney

Season 3 of The Mandalorian has fallen into a bit of a lull. After an explosive debut and an even stronger sophomore outing, our expectations for Mando and Grogu’s next adventure were high. Six episodes in, and it feels like those expectations have not been met. The Mandalorian season 3 feels like a series of detours from the main storyline, which if we remember correctly, involved a cloning program and the resurrection of the Mandalorian homeland.

Despite this, The Mandalorian season 3 has been fun! We’ve had epic space battles and the return of Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff). Marshal Cara Dune was given an unceremonious exit after Gina Carano posted a series of transphobic and anti-Semitic remarks. We’ve also had cameos from Lizzo, Jack Black and Christopher Lloyd!

A lot of disparate stuff is happening this season, so we’re keeping track of just the most important bits right here. Below, you’ll find a complete recap of the most important moments of The Mandalorian season 3, episode by episode. We’ll also keep track of our biggest unanswered questions and keep a running tally of every cameo to grace our screens. This is the way.

How Does The Book of Boba Fett Connect to The Mandalorian?

Season 3 actually picks up after The Book of Boba Fett, which served double duty as The Mandalorian season 2.5.

At the end of The Mandalorian season 2, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) says goodbye to Grogu when Luke Skywalker takes the youngling to be trained as a Jedi. If you didn’t watch The Book of Boba Fett, you would have been very confused in The Mandalorian episode 1 when Mando and Grogu were somehow reunited.

So ICYMI: in Boba Fett, Din relinquishes the beskar speak so the Armourer can forge chainmail from Grogu. However, when she finds out Din removed his helmet (in the season 2 finale to say a proper goodbye to Grogu) she decrees he is “no longer Mandalorian”.

Din then goes to Tatooine to get a new ship (the speedy N-1 Starfighter) and takes off to see Grogu. But Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) warns him about distracting Grogu from his Jedi Training. A heartbroken Din gives Ahsoka the armour for Grogu and leaves.

But Grogu has other plans.

When presented with the armour and Yoda’s lightsaber, Grogu chooses the armour — and the Mandalorians over the Jedi. He hitches a ride to Tatooine and runs into the arms of his adopted father, and after a bit of fighting on both of their parts — Grogu picked up a few tricks during his time with Luke — they fly off into the stars for The Mandalorian season 3.

What Happens In The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1?

Din is still technically “no longer Mandalorian” after his exile, but he can redeem himself by bathing in the Living Waters of Mandalore. The Armourer reminds Din that the Living Waters were destroyed during the Purge. Din and Grogu head there anyway, with a quick detour to see Bo-Katan first.

What Happens In The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 2?

On Mandalore, Din is jumped by a creepy, eyeball-heavy alien in a spidery mech suit. He drops the Darksaber during the scuffle (he seriously can’t use this magic sword, huh?) and sends Grogu to get help. Grogu gets Bo-Katan, who kills the monster with the Darksaber before handing it back to Din. Only by winning it through combat can a Mandalorian wield the Darksaber and rightfully rule Mandalore.

The three make it to the Living Waters, and Din must still be foggy from the attack because he’s dragged under. Bo-Katan comes to his rescue again — and is met a huge, ancient beast in the water. It looks a lot like a Mythosaur, a spiritual creature for Mandalorians who are all thought to be dead.

What Happens In The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 3?

Episode 3, “The Convert”, feels like a different show. After a speedy intro where Din, Grogu and Bo-Katan return to the planet where Din’s cult group is hiding out, the episode jumps to Coruscant. Dr. Pershing (Omid Abtahi) is giving a talk on cloning. The ex-Empire scientist is now a reformed member of the New Republic, albeit one who is interrogated regularly about his allegiance. “The Convert” presents some interesting storylines, including perhaps our first (?) ever evidence that the New Republic isn’t 100% the good guy to the Empire’s bad guy. This episode might become more relevant later but for now, it stands alone.

What Happens In The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 4?

Grogu is training with another Mandalorian foundling, who is then snatched up by a monstrous bird on what is surely the worst days of his life so far.

The Mandalorians give chase until their jetpacks run out of fuel. They lament that this happens all the time — implying their kids are regularly taken as bird snacks and that they jetpack after them every time, never learning from their mistakes.

The Mandalorians are himbos, confirmed.

Luckily for them, Bo-Katan is much smarter. She saves the kid, and is welcomed into the cult group for her efforts.

We also get a flashback to the Jedi Temple Purge and finally see how Grogu survived. He was rescued by a Jedi named Kelleran Beq. Beq is played by Ahmed Best, the actor who was bullied by the Star Wars fandom for playing Jar-Jar Binks. We love a comeback!

What Happens In The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 5?

A couple of pirates who caused trouble for Din in episode 1 — and who I had completely forgotten about until now — reappear in episode 5. They assault Nevarro and would have taken the planet if the Mandalorians hadn’t arrived. In exchange for their help, Greef Karga gives them a plot of land on Nevarro. At least, the Mandalorians have a new home.

Meanwhile, Captain Teva (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) finds the wreck of a New Republic prison transport ship. He discovers this is the ship that was holding Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito). Two problems: Gideon is missing, and there are traces of beskar among the wreck.

What Happens In The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 6?

What a bizarre, wonderful 39 minutes of television! Din, Grogu and Bo-Katan head to Plazir to recruit more Mandalorians, but are swiftly intercepted by the planet’s royals, who are played by none other than Lizzo and Jack Black. They’re obviously having a ton of fun, and so are we in this episode. It’s a “case of the week” situation involving rogue droids and Christopher Lloyd. This episode, “Guns For Hire”, was directed by Bryce Dallas Howard. She maintains her track record of making the best, most fun and inventive episodes of The Mandalorian.

In the end, Bo-Katan reclaims her army and Din finds a loop hole to give her the Darksaber. It’s all very hmm coded but Din and Bo are both happy, so sure!

What Happens In The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 7?

Well, well, well, where has this been all season? Things kicked off in episode 7, “The Spies,” with Din, Grogu, Bo-Katan and the other Mandalorians beginning to rebuild their homeworld. But all is not what it seems on Mandalore, and our army of legendary warriors fall into Moff Gideon’s trap. Like we said, the Mandalorians are himbos.

The episode ends with Din in Imperial control, Paz Vizsla dead to the Praetorian Guard, and Bo and Grogu retreating to lick their wounds.

The only reprieve was Grogu piloting his IG-12 mech suit.

Cameos In The Mandalorian Season 3

  • Amy Sedaris as Peli Motto (episode 2)
  • Ahmed Best as Kelleran Beq (episode 4)
  • Steve Blum as Zeb Orellios (episode 5)
  • Tim Meadows as Colonel Tuttle (episode 5)
  • Jack Black as Bombardier (episode 6)
  • Lizzo as The Duchess (episode 6)
  • Christopher Lloyd as Commissioner Helgait (episode 6)

Questions We Still Have About The Mandalorian Season 3

  • What is all of this leading to? There are only two episodes left, which doesn’t seem like enough time to retake Mandalore
  • Is Moff Gideon alive? He wasn’t in the prison ship wreckage, implying that he was busted out by Empire allies. We also still don’t know who pulled the heist off. It’s unlikely the Mandalorians are behind it, but someone is definitely trying to make it look like they are
  • Will Grand Admiral Thrawn appear in the finale, or is this season merely setting him up for Ahsoka?
  • How much chaos will Grogu wreck in his IG-12 mech suit? (The answer: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.)

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