The final episode of The Mandalorian Season 2 brought nothing less than a rollercoaster of emotions. The joy and excitement of Luke Skywalker’s glorious arrival was considerable – but came coupled with a heartbreaking story pivot that meant the adorable Grogu would leave his proto-father figure Din Djarin behind to begin his Jedi training. Cue a tear-stained separation between Mando and his little green baby. But those worried that the duo would remain apart for the upcoming Mandalorian Season 3 had their fears quelled in The Book Of Boba Fett – which included two instalments barely featuring the titular character, instead depicting Grogu’s Jedi training with Luke and Mando’s lonely travails across the galaxy without his young ward. In the Boba Fett finale, father and son were properly reunited, ready to continue their adventures together in Season 3.
At Star Wars Celebration, chief Mando actor Pedro Pascal opened up about Din and Grogu’s reunion – one he didn’t initially expect. “It was scary, wasn't it? To be separated like that,” he said. “Jon [Favreau] and Dave [Filoni, showrunners] called me, and they told me that they would be bridging seasons two and three with The Book Of Boba Fett, as far as Mandalorian and Grogu were concerned. I just thought that was brilliant. What I didn't expect is such a beautiful, lonely episode that Bryce Dallas Howard directed so incredibly. And also, for the reunion to be precious, but also just quite sudden and natural.” With Grogu stepping into the fray of the Fett finale, putting a stop to the Rancor’s rampage with his Force powers, Pascal teased a new dynamic for the pair going forward. That heroic intervention, he says, “reflects the power that Grogu is developing, starting to ask the question: who will be protecting who?”
It’s clear that these two need each other more than ever – and they’re ready to blast off once more, now in Mando’s N1-Starfighter. Does Pascal prefer his new hotrod to the gone-but-not-forgotten Razor Crest? “I refuse to decide!” he laughs. “I'm not over the Razor Crest, but I love my new ship.” The galaxy awaits.
The Mandalorian Season 3 comes to Disney+ in February 2023.