The Mandalorian theories: Is Baby Yoda really a dark force creator (and more)?
The Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau confirmed when we can expect Season 2, what Moff Gideon’s Dark Saber means, Mando’s true mission, the link to Darth Maul, and theories about Baby Yoda! Let’s dive right in.
There was so much to love about the penultimate episode of The Mandalorian’s first season on Disney Plus. The finale was a gift to viewers, except for the part when Baby Yoda was hit. Several times. At which time I almost threw my remote at the TV.
Chapter 8 of The Mandalorian, “Redemption,” started out strong, with two anonymous Star Wars storm troopers hilariously killing time, while waiting on the job, bantering, and demonstrating their famous “bad guy aim” with some incompetent target practice. Just too good. The talents under the helmets were none other than Jason Sudeikis and Adam Pally, the latest big names to guest star on the extremely popular series.
The“Redemption” episode closed out a terrifically satisfying season with panache, reuniting the Child (Baby Yoda) with his Mando-father figure, an exciting battle, unveiling Mando-Din Djarin’s face (oh there you are, Pedro Pascal), but with Moff Gideon still emerging from the lost battle a dangerous foe for Mandalorian next season.
The Armorer even explains how Djarin is tied to the Child-Baby Yoda, branding the signet “clan of two” on his armor. Aww. She tells Mando, “you are as its father” (tears). So good.
Unlike Star Wars:The Rise of Skywalker, the quality of storytelling on Disney’sThe Mandalorian was like a luxurious, perfect meal, doled out slowly, with full satisfaction, and savored every bit of the way. The gap between the two are oceans apart in terms of intelligent and sophisticated narrative.
https://twitter.com/cavalaxis/status/1210758265610489857
The deft directing of Mandalorian’s Chapter 8 was handled by the uber-talented Taiki Waititi, who also voiced the character IG-11, opting to self-destruct (after treading lava), sacrificing himself to perform the ultimate “nurse and protect” gesture to save the Child/Baby Yoda (and the rest of the crew).
Disney Plus’s Mandalorian series showrunner, Jon Favreau, gave the fans the ultimate gift afterwards: the fall 2020 Season 2 announcement (thank you!), along with a Gamorrean figure, which some have theorized may make its Mandalorian debut next season. At any rate, it isn’t much of a surprise, considering that Pedro Pascal has said he was committed for several seasons, and Favreau already admitted he was working on the next Mandalorian season script earlier this year. Still, we all needed an official timeframe until we see Baby Yoda next. I’ve already marked my calendar, and it says “the return of Baby Yoda” (I really wish I was kidding).
But The Mandalorian Season 1 finale wasn’t short on mysteries to tackle in Season 2, among them the Dark Saber Moff Gideon used to cut his way out of the awesome Vader-esque TIE fighter. The rare Star Wars weapon was first spotted in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and then again in Star Wars Rebels.
More from Disney Plus
- What you need to know before watching the Disney+ Doctor Who specials
- 10 Thanksgiving movies on Disney+ for your holiday watch list
- The Naughty Nine and more to stream on Disney+ this week (Nov. 20)
- Wish won’t be on Disney+ in time for Christmas or New Year’s (release date predictions)
- Whitney Houston did appear on Dancing with the Stars! It was in 2009, 14 years ago
The black-bladed saber is a known Mandalorian weapon, specifically linked to Death Watch commander Pre Vizsla, voiced by showrunner Favreau himself. It’s all coming full circle now, isn’t it? You can read more about the history of the legendary saber here and here.
How it came into the hands of Gideon is another manner, a thread that is sure to be explored in the next season. We know he already knew of Din Djarin through the resistors of the Mandalore, the stealth registration of Mandalorian identities, participating in the Empire’s purge of the Mandalorian homeworld.
Viewers had been treated to flashbacks of a traumatic scene from Djarin’s childhood, when his home was attacked by Separatists and he lost his parents. In Chapter 8, the full scene played out and it not only clarified why he hated droids, but also unveiled that it was the Death Watch Mandalorian group that saved him, indicated by their blue and grey armor. The Death Watch would have come under the command of Darth Maul later and change their armor to black and red. You can read more about their history here.
Alas, we are now full circle. What’s fascinating about the Mandalorian is how conveniently it is filling out the timeline gaps in between the Fall of the Empire at the end of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and new Star Wars movies, starting with The Force Awakens, and the re-emergence of military dictatorship, The First Order.
There is so much ripe material to explore for a second Mandalorian season, with Gideon sure to continue his hunt for the Child, which begs the left-over questions about Baby Yoda’s heritage and well, everything possible about the cute little bugger. Mando is off to try to find any of the Jedis, who the 50-year-old child is connected with. But George Lucas has never revealed what species Yoda actually is, and we still don’t know where this new “Yoda” came from. As far as we do know, only one other of that species has been seen in all the Star Wars lexicon.
And what about Baby Yoda’s Force powers? From the way he took down the Flame Trooper and sent him flying out in a blaze of fire, we know his powers are strong. He also almost force choked Cara Dune in a previous episode. And why was he hooked up to a scientific/medical machine at the beginning of the season?
The ability to force choke someone has always been associated with the Dark Force in the Star Wars universe, except in very few cases. Does Baby Yoda have the capacity to wield the Force with Darkness or Light? OK, OK, every fiber of my being says that there is no way in hell that precious, adorable creature (that I am pre-ordering in time for spring 2020 delivery) is anything but sunshine and rainbows. But there could be a surprise twist to Baby Yoda’s powers, is all I’m sayin’ (OK, I’ll stop now before I’m yelled at on the internet).
We have an entire year to contemplate all these theories and questions before Season 2 is upon us, so in other words, like an eternity on the internet. Happy tweeting, folks!
Season 2 of The Mandalorian comes out on Disney + in Fall 2020. Stay tuned here for all your Mandalorian news.