Spoilers for The Mandalorian Chapter 24, “The Return”
Three seasons of The Mandalorian are in the books. We may not always get what we want, but despite the rumors of Thrawn’s entry into the mix in a post-credits scene, Disney has given us exactly what we need. Mandalorians are stronger together. This ‘ending’ is a new beginning that sets up a much larger Mandoverse, putting Din Djarin and Din Grogu at the pinnacle of it all. Yes. Yes. Yes.
The Mandalorian “Chapter 24: The Return” teased a lot in the title and may have led viewers to believe some rumors were true. Unfortunately, many will leave disappointed because they’ve put expectations ahead of the story and surprise. No big Rebels or Clone Wars animated characters have returned (aside from those who’ve had cameos this season), and now that there’s time to think about it, that’s good! It was action from the start. We picked up right where we left off with the cliffhanger ending from “Chapter 23: The Spies.” The plot didn’t suffer any shoehorn effects. Instead, we got an encapsulated season with a satisfying ending that prepares us for so much more content consumption.
Immediately back with Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff), she’s still in charge during their retreat from the secret Imperial bunker. It’s established right away that Axe Woves (Simon Kassianides) is not a turncoat working with the Empire. It’s as if Jon Favreau wanted to smash the rumor mill with the red herring hammer from the opening. Woves doesn’t only reach the commandeered Imperial Cruiser to warn the Mandalorians on board. He volunteers to pilot the behemoth alone as a decoy so his brothers and sisters can make their way into combat below. No word on whether the injured on board were evacuated from sick bay, but we’ll assume the escape pods have Bacta tanks.
When alone with only two guards escorting him to a holding cell Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) manages to overpower them long enough to put up a fight again. The stall gives IG-12 Grogu time to catch up and rescue his Mando guardian. The little green goblin is a more capable asset than we may have figured. His moment in the spotlight is only beginning. Din sees the potential and invites Grogu to help attack the Imperial base from within.
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As Bo-Katan and her followers escape to regroup, a swarm of TIE Interceptors drop like bats off stalactites and race to the Mandalorian Imperial Cruiser. Gideon intends to wipe out the Mandalorians for good. Too distracted by Din and Grogu, Gideon tracks the escapees rather than overseeing the attack on the larger group. Echoing (pre-echoing?) Kylo Ren, Gideon masks up and states, “I’ll take care of him myself,” on his way to confront the titular character.
The subtle nods to the Trilogy Chapters, especially the Original Trilogy, keep coming. Din sneaks around the complex a la Ben Kenobi looking for the Tractor Beam to shut down on the Death Star as R5-D4 performs a very R2-D2-like task. Director Rick Famuyiwa even uses the same cuts and angles we saw in A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back as the astromech unit plugs into the wall to SCOMP the base’s controls, all while avoiding pesky MOUSE droids.
As the Mandalorians evacuate their capital ship, Axe pilots the decoy toward the Imperial Base in a seeming kamikaze mission. Swarmed by attacking TIEs, he’s managed to save countless friendlies who mostly crossed paths with the attackers through cloud cover.
Mando and Grogu approach a shielded hallway using the same technology as the palace on Naboo, where Obi-Wan lost his master to Darth Maul. Din crosses through barrier shields leading to Gideon’s headquarters, overpowering the trooper guards one by one as R5-D4 keeps them locked until he’s ready for the next set of guards. Once through, Din and Grogu find a mini cloning facility. These tanks resemble those from the Dark Empire comic mini-series, but inside these tanks, they are growing Force-sensitive copies of Gideon! It’s a project obviously kept from the Shadow Council. No worries. Din finds the self-destruct button and removes the abominations from the plot.
The Mandalorian survivors lead Bo-Katan through a cave to a farming system, proving the soil isn’t dead. Mandalore can be re-inhabited and be self-sustaining. There’s hope. Then more hope. The Armorer (Emily Swallow) announces over comms that reinforcements have arrived. They can resume their attack on the base. A dogfight ensues with some amazing cinematic imagery. Jetpack Mandalorians clash like superheroes against the flying Imperial troopers.
Meanwhile, Gideon confronts Din Djarin with wrath for the destruction of his clones. The two battle as Grogu watches from the sidelines, but once the fight turns unfair, he gets involved. Three Praetorian Guards appear from the shadows to assist Gideon, quickly overpowering the Mandalorian. Still piloting the IG-12, Grogu and the guards are separated from Din and Gideon, leaving Grogu to fend for himself. Once his droid vehicle is taken out, Grogu does his best Yoda from Revenge of the Sith impersonation. The elusive Force wielder apparently learned a few defensive tricks in his time with Luke Skywalker. He’s clumsy about it, but he’s capable of the famous Force-Push!
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Bo-Katan gets to Din just in time as Gideon is able to overpower him in their fight. After instructing Din to help Grogu, Bo takes over in the fight with Gideon. Enter, the Darksaber. Gideon wants to re-win the symbolic weapon in hand-to-hand combat, but he instead destroys it with a Six Million Dollar Beskar grip when he can’t take it away. Grogu assists Din in kicking Praetorian butts, and when Bo-Katan needs their help, they are there.
All this time, Axe Woves is still descending with the disabled Imperial Cruiser, aiming it at the base. Over comms, he warns his comrades to leave the base. Those who can do, but Din, Bo, and Grogu are trapped, having been engaged with Gideon and his guards. Axe ejects at the last possible moment, and the giant cruiser sets off a chain of explosions that soon engulf the heroes and their nemesis. Unfortunately for Gideon, he does not wield the Force. Get your tissues ready. In a scene that reminds Rebels fans of the tragic death of Kanan Jarrus, Grogu shields his allies from the explosion that kills Gideon.
The New Mandalore gets its first inductee as Paz Vizsla’s son is sworn into the creed. The boy is a character to watch as he may eventually blame Bo-Katan for the death of his father. Din finagles a right for Grogu to officially join the creed too. In doing so, he has finally adopted Grogu as his child. Sir Grogu may now be called Sir Din Grogu. If not for the simple syllables, his name could soon rival Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, the Mother of Dragons, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Breaker of Chains.
In his ceremony, Grogu reaches out through the Force and finds the mind of the Great Mythosaur beneath the waters in the Mines of Mandalore. Bo-Katan relights the Great Forge for the Armorer and all of Mandalore, setting the stage to rebuild the planet and its culture with Bo-Katan in charge.
The Mandalorian “Chapter 24: The Return” doesn’t have a post-credits scene; we can probably be thankful for that. What comes next, post-action, will serve either as an ending or a reset for The Mandalorian and his apprentice. Mando finds Captain Carson Teva (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) at the New Republic outpost and offers to freelance for the New Republic protecting the Outer Rim. Din and Grogu’s new adventures will begin in season 4, and their base will be their summer ranch on Nevarro.
In hindsight, we should be thankful the simple arc of season 3 wasn’t muddled with plot points that will more likely be what looms during the Ahsoka series. As he has done when he is on-screen, Grand Admiral Thrawn shows he is a master of strategy and patience. So, we wait.