The Mandalorian - Season 1 Finale : Clues and Questions

From here on there be spoilers for "The Mandalorian: Redemption."

With "Redemption" thus concludes the triumphant first season of The Mandalorian.  Sure, there were some missteps here and there.  Some plot holes and miscues.  But, overall it was a rousing success and a great pleasure to watch.

It had the right mixture of drama, action and downright sentimentality.  Most importantly of all, it brought to life a character we didn't know we needed in Baby Yoda.

Okay, we need you too Mando, or should I say, "Din".

Of course, with success come scrutiny.  With this blog post I will attempt to answer some questions that were nagging me after this episode and with your help dear readers, learn what I can't divine.


Question 1 - Why risk Baby Yoda?

I believe you Moff Gideon, the Child is quite valuable.  Extremely Force capable and an heir to an unknown race.  A prize commodity indeed.

So, why by the twin stars of Tatooine are you trying to burn it out of the bar?  You know Baby Yoda is in there right?  You seem to know what it is capable of so isn't this a little over confident?

"Oh, it'll be fine.  I'll roast the others but my little Asset will be peachy keen"

What?  Seriously, that is a big gamble.  It doesn't seem like you know what you are doing at all Moffster.

Spraying our intrepid gang with TIE Fighter bolts as they emerged from the lava tunnel is a little careless too.  Don't you think? 

Did you learn nothing when the fire reversed course from the Cantina?

Perhaps you got all the info you wanted when the Asset was first captured?  Dr. Pershing said he was the only person keeping the Child alive.  But, you weren't there Moff.  Why risk destroying the Child with your cannon fire?  Why keep pursuing the Child if you had all you needed?  Were you afraid he might train more Jedi some day?  This is all quite puzzling.

You weren't the only one being careless with Baby Yoda.

IG-11, what happened to nurse and protect?  You bring Baby Yoda to a gun battle?  Maybe you didn't know Moff Gideon was in town but you most certainly knew the were plenty of Imperials there.  You mashed two on their Speeders and then shot your way into a town full of them.  C'mon man.

I know Mando is the galaxy's worst babysitter but you're making him look like Elizabeth Shue times 100!  


Question 2 - Who Rescued Young Din Djarin?

We finally got an extended version of the attack on Mandalore by the Battle Droids.  Yes, I believe the battle took place on Mandalore.  There doesn't seem to be evidence to dispute that and it is hard to picture the troopers of Clan Vizsla planet hopping to fight the Imperials.  (That's their clan sigil on the shoulder of the Mando flying young Din to safety.)  

This is especially true since we now know it's been established that young Din was on the planet when Moff Gideon was there executing "The Night of a 1000 Tears."  Or, at the very least, was administrator in it's immediate aftermath.

Mando has always told us he was a "Foundling" and rescued by the Mandalorians.  It follows that whoever rescued young Din must have become responsible for him and brought him into the ways of the Mandalorian.  Who taught us that?

The Armorer, that's who.  She even made him a sigil to show that Din and Baby Yoda are now a clan of two.  It makes one wonder why Din isn't a member a Clan Vizsla?  Did his rescuer die?  Is this why Mando did not complete his training with the "Rising Phoenix"?  

We all know that family is extremely important in the lore of Star Wars canon.  It all started with Luke Skywalker and his father.  Therefore, anyone who brought a child into the creed of the Mandalore must have been very significant.  He must act like a father until the foundling is finished his training or returned to his people.  (Such as Baby Yoda is to be trained or reunited with his people.)

So, where is this Mandalorian?  It's possible that he or she is dead.  But why introduce the character if we never see him again?  Since family is so important and Star Wars loves it's "reveals" (see Darth Vader as Luke's father) it seems quite possible we'll see this character again and perhaps learn more about Mando's training and past.


Question 3 - Why did the Rising Phoenix respond to The Mandalorian?

Or not dear Armorer. (By the way, I think we'll see her again.)

Here is Mando coming in for a soft landing thanks to the Rising Phoenix.  When Mando went tumbling off the TIE fighter of Moff Gideon I thought we'd see some pretty bad flying thanks to his lack of experience.  Nope.  He did pretty well.  No faceplants for our hero.  That seemed pretty strange.  We know he really wanted one after his rescue by the Mandalorian covert.  Why introduce it's, "not listening" from the Armorer only to have that contradicted soon after?

Did the training from Din's adopted "Father" last longer than I've assumed?  Or is Mando that gifted?

He seemed pretty talented when he latched on to Moff's TIE fighter.  Greef Karga thought that was pretty impressive and you must admit it was completely bad ass.

Which leads to my next "Tin Foil Hat" theory for season Two.


Tin Foil Hat Theory!

Din Djarin will be trained in the ways of the Jedi after discovering Baby Yoda's people!  He will come to learn to use the ways of The Force but his training will be interrupted by his pursuit of the Darksabre.

Why not?  The Darksabre has a long and deep history with the Mandalorian and Star Wars canon is also rife with people getting their training interrupted.  I can see Mando returning to Navarro if Cara Dune and Greef Karga are threatened.  Better yet, perhaps the Mandalorian that rescued Din and trained him in the ways of the Mandalore will reach out to Din and tell Din he must fulfill his destiny to recapture the Darksabre and lead his people.

That's a lot, I know. But let's hope The Mandalorian has at least five seasons and has a lot of story to tell.  The mandalorian that trained Din might not even be introduced until the end of season two.


Tin Foil Hat Theory Number Two!

This one is for fun.

Now that the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda are traveling together, what do you thing Baby Yoda's first word will be?

Here's my guess, "Mando".  He'll certainly hear it often enough as they travel around together.  Even though we know his name is Din Djarin, everyone else knows him as Mando and I can picture Baby Yoda repeating it over and over as babies do once they learn something.

"Mando, Mando, Mando, Mando, Mando" until it drives him crazy.  (Don't worry some day it will be, "Din, Din, Din", too.)  Poor Mando.  It would be funny though.


So, readers.  Do you have answers to my questions?  Can you help fill in some of the blanks?  What about my "tin foil hat" theories?  Are they beyond the Outer Rim?  Chime in with thoughts of your own in the comments below.