Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm was a necessary move for the Star Wars saga to replenish itself with original content for the franchise. Indeed, the 2012 announcement following the merger between the Walt Disney Company and Lucasfilm brought about a significant Star Wars renaissance, ushering in a contemporary phase of projects for the ongoing space opera. More risks were taken when creating the next chapter in the Star Wars universe: stylistic changes in storytelling, character development, and cross-galaxy expeditions enhanced the new tone of the intergalactic epic.
The popularity of streaming services resulted in the birth of Disney+, which permitted the Walt Disney Company and its conglomerates to create in-house original content. Lucasfilm was enthusiastic about using this opportunity to broaden the scope of its ever-growing universe through television. The Mandalorian was the flagship Star Wars series to grace the digital platform and struck nearly instant success. The series brings the Star Wars franchise back to its space-western roots, following a lone bounty hunter as he makes his way through the outer reaches of the cosmos.
Brimming with sharp and captivating performances backed by engrossing narratives, the high praise that was given to The Mandalorian is rightfully earned. The series has featured many iconic moments but these are the ones from across the first three seasons that stand out.
Updated November 26, 2023: This article has been updated following season 3 of The Mandalorian to include even more great moments from the series.
10 Grogu and Bo-Katan Save Mando (Chapter 18: The Mines of Mandalore)
After taking his helmet off in season 2, Din Djarin became an Apostle. That’s why Grogu and he went back to Mandalore, so Djarin could bathe in its Living Waters and become a Mandalorian once more. There, Djarin gets captured and Grogu, with the help of Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff) rescues him. Not only that but once Djarin baths in the sacred waters, Bo-Katan sees a Mythosaur, a supposedly extinct creature that changes her way of thinking about her future.
This is an important moment for all three characters. Grogu proves his resourcefulness and is improving in his understanding of the world and what it means to be a fighter and a Mandalorian. His father bathes in the Living Waters and is seen again as a respected member of his creed, and Bo-Kattan’s encounter with the Mythosaur will take her on a new path for the rest of the season, one that might unite all the Mandalorians.
9 Din Djarin Meets Grogu for the First Time (Chapter 1: The Mandalorian)
The Mandalorian was the first live-action Star Wars series to come to fruition after years of false starts and discontinued projects. It was with great self-confidence that the series acted as an intersection for the production values of Star Wars feature films as an incentive to increase Disney+ subscriptions. From its pilot episode, The Mandalorian embodies the true authenticity of Star Wars, from cantina-like bars to carbonite-freezing action. At the heart of the excitement of it all lies The Mandalorian himself: a world-weary bounty hunter clad in armor that catches the flare from the twin suns of Tatooine just right.
On the hunt for his bounty, The Mandalorian is quickly made aware that he is not alone on his quest. While scouting the compound, he is suddenly in the company of IG-11 (Taika Waititi), who declares himself as a friend instead of a foe. Each believes that they are the only bounty hunter on the same assignment before joining forces to take down Nikto threats in a histrionical shootout. Upon reaching their asset, the pair are surprised by their sought-after loot: a 50-year-old infant bearing a striking resemblance to Yoda. Overlooking the fact that an unnamed, unidentified being appeared to be a child, IG-11 makes attempts to kill his target. In The Child's defense, The Mandalorian eliminates the droid altogether.
This impulsive split-second decision is the structure upon which the relationship between Grogu and The Mandalorian grows. Their fated meeting results in The Mandalorian taking The Child into his care, henceforth assuming the role of The Child's guardian. His unspoken vow to protect Grogu roots from his choice of killing the droid and sparing the Force-sensitive being. From there, The Mandalorian accepts his newfound way of life and understands that is his moral obligation to keep The Child free from harm from the greatest intergalactic threats. As their journey carries on, the bond between the dyad deepens.
8 "This is the Way" (Chapter 3: The Sin)
"This is the Way" held a deeper significance being a mere catchphrase parroted by Star Wars fans following the release of "Chapter 3: The Sin." The Way itself is taken from Mandalorian history, religion, and culture. The third episode of the first season brought prominence along with The Way, a strict code of conduct dictating how the Mandalorians should live. The Way of the Mandalore is closely followed by Mandalorian zealots who have dedicated their lives to extremist teachings, such as those who belong to The Children of the Watch, that include never taking of their helmet in front of anyone
"This is the Way" doubles as a decree that has been passed down from generation from Mandalorian to Mandalorian, carrying on their tradition. The inclusion of The Way and its companion affirmation unearth more about the Mandalorians, their way of life, and their unwavering allegiance to embrace the expectations of The Way. Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) seemingly experiences a sense of ease when confirming "This is the Way" throughout the first season, as it becomes an integral part of his identity.
7 Boba Fett Returns (Chapter 14: The Tragedy)
After decades, fans finally got to see Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) kick ass and prove that the mercenary still has a lot of fight on him. He proves so by both destroying Stormtroopers in a Tusken Raider outfit (his show would later explain their relationship) and also, finally, getting his armor back and proving the mercenary who many people fell in love with in the original trilogy, as he kills his enemies with ease and style.
Audiences already knew Fett was alive, but this is the episode where he shows how much of a badass he really is, both with and without his armor, as he and his colleague bounty hunter Fennec Shand (Ming-Na) save the day, and help Mando keep Grogu alive and well. This was the first time Boba Fett actually did anything cool on screen. This moment proves how much the universe can benefit from his “kick ass first, ask questions later” style. So much so that this might’ve been a better look for him than some of the stories the character gets into on his own show, The Book of Boba Fett.
6 The Mandalorians Fight Together (Chapter 24: The Return)
This is, for now, the last episode of the series, and it ends on an incredibly high note. It has a happy ending for both Djarin and Grogu and reunites all the Mandalorians under one united front while they also get back what’s more important to them: their planet. The whole episode has great moments, but none is better than when all the Mandalorians, led by Bo-Kattan start fighting the Empire goons, proving those are no match for them. It’s a great way to remember why the Mandalorians are one of the most feared people in the whole galaxy, and this battle is the perfect example of it.
Bo-Kattan leading his troops and igniting the dark saber going into battle would make a list by itself, but what makes the moment better is seeing how, if their planet is the reward, Mandalorians of all creeds and philosophies can leave behind their differences for a greater good.
5 Cobb Vanth and The Krayt Dragon (Chapter 9: The Marshall)
The Mandalorian season 2 premiered on October 30, 2020. It was not only the first major Star Wars project since the disappointment of The Rise of Skywalker but also was a nice treat for audiences stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first episode of season 2 brought the big epic scale of Star Wars to the home of the viewers, including a climactic showdown that changed aspect ratio.
The episode finds The Mandalorian teaming up with Sheriff Cobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphanant) who is wearing Boba Fett's armor to take down a massive Tatooine creature known as The Krayt Dragon. The episode sees the duo joined by Tusken Raiders and townspeople working together for a common goal. From using their jet packs to fight the creature in the air to an incredible death, The Mandalorian season 2 opened with a bang.
4 Ahsoka Tano Practices the Force with Grogu (Chapter 13: The Jedi)
The coming-of-age of Ahsoka Tano has been told twice over through Star Wars: Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars as the young Torguta Jedi faces the greatest threats across the galaxy. Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) mentions that Din Djarin must come across a Jedi during his journey, leading him to Ahsoka. She then realizes that Grogu is Force-sensitive and tests his ability, though declines the offer to train him. Ahsoka, in the company of her signature silver sabers, makes an expectedly grand self-introduction in the later episodes of The Mandalorian Season Two.
Originally tasked by the Magistrate to kill the Jedi, Din Djarin and Ahsoka's meeting reroutes itself as a less-fatal resolution. She does not offer an explicit explanation after refusing the offer to teach The Child how to use the Force. Considering her past as a Padawan studying under Anakin Skywalker, her choice to dismiss the invitation may come from the fear that she, or Grogu, may follow the same path of darkness as her Jedi Master did. Ahsoka later revealed more details of Grogu's past and informed Din Djarin that The Child's residual trauma makes him more vulnerable. It is then when he argues in favor of Grogu receiving the proper training for a Jedi that Ahsoka warns The Mandalorian that fear has an effect on "fully-trained Jedi knight, to the best of us."
3 Grogu Saves Mando From a Mudhorn Using the Force (Chapter 2: The Child)
This was just the start of the show, as audiences spent their first full episode with Grogu (back then, still known as Baby Yoda). Other than how cute he was, people still didn’t know how to feel about him, and how much of a role he would have going forward, as this was called The Mandalorian, not The Mandalorian and his child. That’s until this moment in episode two when it looks like a Mudhorn is going to kill Din Djarin (who back then was just The Mandalorian).
When Grogu uses the Force to save Din Djarin and stop the Mudhorn, is as surprising as is exciting, proving this little fella might have much more story to tell and powers than might’ve looked at first sight. The audience has learned more about Grogu, but it was at this moment that he went from an adorable curiosity to a fascinating mystery of a character.
2 Luke Skywalker Arrives (Chapter 16: The Rescue)
Mark Hamill's return to Star Wars is perhaps one of the most unexpectedly surprising moments in Star Wars yet. Skywalker slashing through Gideon’s throngs of Dark Troopers, and assuming guardianship over Grogu is simply one of the best moments in The Mandalorian. It remains to be one of the franchise’s best-kept secrets to date and surpassed those who were determined to leak the finale’s most electrifying moments. “It was very tricky," The Mandalorian creator said to Good Morning America about keeping details surrounding Skywalker's reveal air-tight, "because it’s very hard to keep a secret nowadays, especially with Star Wars because people are so curious about it. And there are so many people involved with the process with visual effects finishing, making it, filming it, the studios, everything. Every piece of casting leaked, and we were so scared right up until it aired that our surprise cameo was gonna leak too.”
Ahsoka previously suggested that The Mandalorian and Grogu visit the Jedi Temple on Tython in hopes The Child could reach out to another Jedi through the power of the Force. As a result of Grogu using the Seeing Stone, he was capable of bonding with Skywalker after communicating with him through a meditative, trancelike force field. His arrival is announced through the presence of a single X-Wing, and it is then that it becomes clear that Skywalker is to attend the monumental rescue of Grogu. The Mandalorian sends off its second season with Skywalker taking The Child into his care with the probability that he will train him on how to practice the Force.
1 Din Djarin Removes His Helmet For Grogu Before Saying Goodbye (Chapter 16: The Rescue)
It is well-established that Mandalorians are not to remove their helmets under any circumstances, as it is viewed as a direct offense against their societal code. Din Djarin does not ethnically belong to the Mandalore race, though he takes great pride in The Way and its teachings. After he removes his helmet, The Mandalorian is given a more personal identity beyond just his bounty-hunting past and his Beskar armor.
There is a greater sense of individuality associated with an unhelmeted Din Djarin, who chooses to reveal his face at principal times. The ability to now put a face to a name is a humanizing aspect for the character and for the series. Din Djarin, for the first time in the series, makes no attempt to hide his emotionally vulnerable state. The reveal is a testament to the bond between the two, and the love felt for The Child.
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