The scope of The Mandalorian widened greatly in season 3, secretly retconning seven aspects of Star Wars history and lore in the process. The latest installment of the Star Wars TV show fell under more criticism than its past seasons, mostly due to its massive expansiveness taking away from Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and Grogu. The reclamation of Mandalore took up most of the storytelling space, while Bo-Katan Kryze’s redemption arc triumphed over Din’s own – but the story has still made its everlasting impact on the Star Wars galaxy.
Star Wars has been using TV shows such as The Mandalorian to not only establish stories in vacant storytelling spaces, but also to change or retcon certain ideas and decisions. The Mandalorian has been building a bridge to the sequel trilogy era ever since season 1, with much of its Grogu plot setting up the return of Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – but the decisions made in this TV show have also been impacting other parts of Star Wars lore. The Mandalorian season 3 is no exception, and here are seven of the most significant ways the latest installment has secretly retconned Star Wars history.
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7 The Armorer Is An Ancestral Title
Season 3, Episode 5 “Chapter 21: The Pirate”
The Armorer has been established as a leader within Din Djarin’s tribe of Mandalorians ever since season 1, but her exact position within the covert has long since gone unexplained. She was often considered to be one of many Mandalorian armorers, specifically one who follows the Way of the Mand’alor. In an interview about The Mandalorian season 3, however, creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni explained the Armorer is an ancestral title.
The ending of season 3, episode 5 “Chapter 21: The Pirate” makes this even more clear, as the Armorer becomes the one to establish Bo-Katan as the leader of all Mandalorians. She is a shamanistic figure within Mandalorian culture, and rather than just being one of many, she is the sole lore-keeper and overseer of the Way. This is what gives her the authority to send Din Djarin on his quests, grant him and Bo-Katan redemption, and to give Bo-Katan her graces in uniting all Mandalorians.
6 The Great Purge’s Timeline Has Changed
Ahsoka Episode 8 “Part Eight: The Jedi, The Witch, And The Warlord”
The Great Purge of Mandalore was first introduced in The Mandalorian season 1, episode 1 “Chapter 1: The Mandalorian,” but its exact timeline was never known. It was assumed to have taken place between Bo-Katan’s and Sabine Wren’s liberation of Mandalore from the Empire in Star Wars Rebels and the events of The Mandalorian, which provided a ten-year gap in Mandalore’s history. The Mandalorian season 3, however, began to hint at the Purge actually taking place much closer to the events of The Mandalorian than previously expected – most notably with the existence of survivors on the surface of the planet.
Star Wars Galactic Event | Timeline | Media |
|---|---|---|
Bo-Katan Kryze and Sabine Wren liberate Mandalore from the Empire | 1 BBY | Star Wars Rebels |
Luke Skywalker destroys the first Death Star at the Battle of Yavin | 0 BBY | A New Hope |
The Galactic Civil War comes to an end after the Battle of Jakku | 5 ABY | Aftermath: Empire’s End |
The Great Purge of Mandalore takes place | Between 5 ABY & 9 ABY | The Mandalorian; The Book of Boba Fett |
It was Ahsoka episode 8 “Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord,” however, that truly confirmed the timeline of the Great Purge, narrowing the gap from ten years to four years. The droid Huyang is the one who says this tragic event took place after the Galactic Civil War, which has thus cemented its place in Star Wars history. This is quite a change from what previous seasons of The Mandalorian implied, as they often hinted at the Great Purge happening not long after the planet’s initial liberation from the Empire.
5 Nevarro Now Sits On The Hydian Way
Season 3, Episode 1 “Chapter 17: The Apostate”
New iterations of the Star Wars galaxy map have been unveiled following the debut of new planets in The Mandalorian, but strangely enough, Nevarro has yet to be given a proper place in the greater galaxy – even as the core planet of The Mandalorian. This is because of a retcon The Mandalorian season 3 made, setting the planet on the Hydian Way trade route. Previously, its approximate location in the galaxy had been quite a ways away from the Hydian Way, and this change has thus caused the planet to be displaced and omitted from new galaxy maps until its precise location can be determined.
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4 Mandalorian Naming Conventions Have Changed
Season 3, Episode 8 “Chapter 24: The Return”
Viewers were overjoyed to witness Din Djarin officially adopt Grogu after 3 seasons of waiting, but when the moment came, it was not what viewers expected. Rather than taking on his father’s surname, as Ragnar Vizsla had done with Paz Vizsla, the Armorer gives Grogu Din’s first name, writing him in the Song as “Din Grogu.” This is something that hasn’t yet been seen before in Mandalorian lore or history, thus posing the question of whether it’s a tradition for Mandalorian apprentices who have yet to swear the Creed or if it’s Grogu’s permanent name for the rest of his Star Wars history.
3 The Imperial Shadow Council Has Reorganized
Season 3, Episode 7 “Chapter 23: The Spies”
The Imperial Shadow Council was led at first by Grand Admiral Rae Sloane, and following the Empire’s ultimate defeat at the Battle of Jakku, the Council disorganized and some of its most prominent members fled with Sloane to the Unknown Regions to build the First Order – including Brendol Hux. The Mandalorian season 3 has, however, brought the Imperial Shadow Council back, with Hux notably appearing amongst others such as Moff Gideon and Gilad Pellaeon. Now, Grand Admiral Thrawn is slated to become the leader of this Council, with his return to the Star Wars galaxy in Ahsoka making the group’s full reorganization under him as inevitable as ever.
2 Visiting The Living Waters Is A Mandalorian Tradition
Season 3, Episode 2 “Chapter 18: The Mines Of Mandalore”
The Armorer’s mention of the Living Waters in The Book of Boba Fett episode 5 “Chapter 5: Return of the Mandalorian” was the first in Star Wars history, generating a brand-new onslaught of mysticism and lore. The Mandalorian season 3 has since expanded on this exponentially, particularly where the Living Waters themselves are concerned. Bo-Katan’s brief mention of her last visit to the Living Waters confirms a visit to the mines was once a rite of passage for all Mandalorians, though the tradition was seemingly meant more for regality and show than anything else.
1 Din Djarin’s Tribe No Longers Values The Darksaber
Season 3, Episode 7 “Chapter 23: The Spies”
From the start, Din Djarin’s lack of knowledge about the Darksaber established the Children of the Watch must not care for it nearly as much as Bo-Katan Kryze and other Mandalorians do. The Book of Boba Fett, however, seemed to increase the value this weapon had amongst Din’s tribe, with the Armorer believing Bo-Katan’s acceptance of the weapon to be the reason for Mandalore being cursed and Paz Vizsla challenging Din to win the weapon for himself. The Mandalorian season 3, however, does the work of assuring viewers Din’s tribe doesn’t see the weapon as something needed for good leadership, as he tells Bo-Katan “it means nothing to me or my people.”
The Mandalorian
- Release Date
- November 12, 2019
- Cast
- Werner Herzog , Emily Swallow , Pedro Pascal , Nick Nolte , Omid Abtahi , Gina Carano , Carl Weathers , Giancarlo Esposito
- Genres
- Fantasy , Sci-Fi
- Seasons
- 3
- Season List
- The Mandalorian – Season 1 , The Mandalorian – Season 2 , The Mandalorian – Season 3
- Story By
- Jon Favreau
- Writers
- Jon Favreau
- Streaming Service(s)
- Disney+
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
- Directors
- Jon Favreau , Taika Waititi , Bryce Dallas Howard
- Showrunner
- Jon Favreau
