Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1.The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1 reintroduces Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and his ward grogu, but leaves a lot of unanswered questions about the Disney+ TV show’s future direction. A lot has changed for the pair of adventurers since The Mandalorian season 2, and the season 3 premiere had to spend a good deal of time catching viewers up on the events of The Book of Boba Fett. In spite of this strong element of recap, though, The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1 still advanced the story in an exciting new direction.
The episode swiftly reestablished the journey for Din Djarin and Grogu, one set up in The Book of Boba Fett. Din is now an apostate, having gone against every vow he made as a Mandalorian when he removed his helmet. The Mandalorian is returning to Mandalore, in a story that will draw in all his supporting characters – and features some surprising returns. But, although the direction of travel is clear, there are still lots of mysteries ahead for The Mandalorian, some of which will surely be explored going forward. Here are all the unanswered questions, both great and small.
11 How Does A Mandalorian’s Helmet Seal?
While hardly the most crucial question raised by The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1, the opening scene shows a young inductee of Death Watch being provided with his own helmet. The helmet seals around his head, despite the young Mandalorian not wearing his armor, raising the question of how the helmet seals in the first place. Given the lack of armor, it is likely that Mandalorian helmets provide a vacuum seal that enables the wearer to survive in space or other toxic environments – when in full armor.
10 What Does The Purrgil That Grogu Sees In Hyperspace Mean?
Grogu sees a herd of purrgil in hyperspace, so-called “space whales” that can travel through this mysterious plane under their own power. This seems like a subtle way to foreshadow the increasing importance of purrgils to this era; they’re expected to feature in the upcoming Ahsoka show, given Ahsoka Tano is believed to be looking for Grand Admiral Thrawn, who was lost in hyperspace due to an incident involving purrgil. This could also be a nod to Grogu’s developing Force powers, because some books from the Star Wars: The High Republic range have hinted hyperspace is an aspect of the Force itself. Some Jedi have a particular affinity to this plane, and Grogu could well develop hyperspace-related powers.
9 Can IG-11 Really Return?
An important question raised by The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1 is whether the droid IG-11 can truly return. Mando unsuccessfully attempts to revive the lovable droid, but needs to find a memory circuit – which would seemingly change the droid’s identity, The Mandalorian season 3 needs to answer the question of whether Din’s only droid friend can come back.
8 Why Does Mando Need IG-11?
The IG-11 subplot is an odd one, however, because it’s unclear why Din Djarin needs IG-11 in the first place. All Din reveals about his intention to bring IG-11 back is that he needs a droid he can trust to help explore Mandalore. However, thus far, The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1 has failed to provide a compelling enough reason as to why Taika Waititi’s IG-11 is actually wanted. Hopefully, future episodes of The Mandalorian season 3 will make IG-11’s potential return essential to the show’s overall story, answering why Mando needs his old friend back.
7 Is Mandalore Really Ruined, Or Can It Be Redeemed?
The planet of Mandalore also raises some questions for the future of The Mandalorian season 3. In season 3, episode 1, Din provides a crystallized shard from Mandalore’s surface, potentially hinting the planet is not poisoned and can be redeemed. With The Mandalorian season 3’s core plot surrounding Din’s return to Mandalore, it is likely that a big element will surround whether the planet is lost for good or can once again be used as a home for the Mandalorian people. Din must travel to the ruins of the Mandalorian capital city of Sundari, which means it surely won’t be long before this particular question is answered.
6 What Does The Mandalorian Inscription Say?
The crystallized shard from Mandalore in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1 has an inscription in the language of Mando’a, raising the question of what it says. A Reddit user has translated the passage, which comes from the Bible, with the following script coming from Exodus 10:5-6, KJV, and the bolded letters referencing what is shown on the crystallized Mandalorian shard:
And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:
And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh.
This passage comes from the tale of the Exodus in the Bible, in which the Jews were living in slavery under the Egyptians. God then hears their cry and sends Moses to lead them out of slavery to the Promised Land. Interestingly, the Mandalorian culture in Star Wars is heavily influenced by the Jewish diaspora which could explain why this specific passage was chosen for The Mandalorian season 3. This could liken Pedro Pascal’s Mandalorian to Moses, leading his scattered, broken people out of despair and back to their homeworld.
5 Will Cara Dune Return & Be Recast In Star Wars?
A seemingly throwaway line of dialogue writes the character of Cara Dune out of The Mandalorian season 3 – unsurprisingly, given actress Gina Carano was fired. She hasn’t been killed off, however, instead having been inducted into the New Republic’s Special Forces – likely the original plot for the canceled Rangers of the New Republic Disney+ spinoff. This line raises the possibility Cara Dune could be recast, with the spinoff renewed.
4 Will Moff Gideon Return In The Mandalorian?
In the same scene, Carl Weathers’ Greef Karga also explains that Moff Gideon will be facing a New Republic tribunal for his crimes. This line seems to hint that Gideon could return to The Mandalorian. While the show is seemingly focusing on the state of the Mandalorian people in season 3’s story, shots in the trailer have shown Coruscant, meaning the tale will broaden out as it continues.
3 Will Gorian Shard Play A Big Role In The Mandalorian Season 3?
One of the most intriguing aspects of The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1 was the inclusion of Gorian Shard, the Pirate King. From his fantastic design and newfound feud with Din Djarin, a burning question is whether Gorian Shard will play a big role in The Mandalorian season 3. He would certainly seek revenge against both Din and Greef Karga, and the trailer showed action scenes on Nevarro, so it looks as though this character will indeed return.
2 How Will Bo-Katan Fit Into The Mandalorian Season 3’s Story Now
Bo-Katan Kryze returns in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1’s final scene, and her journey seems to have come to an end after Din Djarin took possession of the Darksaber in season 2. Thie means Bo-Katan’s arc has stalled; she isn’t even interested in being a rival. It thus seems likely she’ll wind up teaming up with Din Djarin, but it will be interesting to see how Lucasfilm handle that.
1 Will Din Djarin Embrace His Role As The Leader Of Mandalore?
Stemming from this, it’s still unknown whether Din Djarin will embrace his role as leader of Mandalore after The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1. According to lore, the wielder of the Darksaber holds the power to unite the Mandalorian people; Din now possesses the weapon after besting Moff Gideon in combat. However, the show has made clear in its first two seasons that Din holds little ambition for leading Mandalore, especially given his upbringing among the Children of the Watch. The Mandalorian season 3 seems to be setting up a change of heart in which Din Djarin truly embraces the Darksaber and Mandalore, and it will be exciting to see how that happens. Death Watch, cult-like upbringing.
New episodes of The Mandalorian release every Wednesday on Disney+.
