The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1: Ending Explained! What Does Grogu See In The First Episode?
The adventures of The Mandalorian and Grogu return to Disney+ for the third season. The first episode, available from March 1, continues where we left off with the protagonists at the end of The Book of Boba Fett. Din and the little Jedi are on their way to Mandalore, homeworld, and now in the ruins of the people of Mando. The weak episode brings old and new acquaintances to the stage, thus outlining the various subplots that we will see during the new season of The Mandalorian. More than the beginning of a new path, The Apostate (this is the title of the first episode) seems more like an episode of transition, and it’s a real shame.
Having said that, one scene, in particular, left us surprised and intrigued. We are referring to a moment starring Grogu who, in hyperspace, seems to see something as majestic as it is interesting. This is because he would be a junction element with other Star Wars products, in particular Rebels and Ahsoka; upcoming series. And it is therefore without too much delay that we are going to analyze the scene in detail. The article contains spoilers about the plot and is therefore recommended to be read after viewing.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1: The Story Plot
Let’s say it right away: the plot of this first episode of The Mandalorian Season 3 does not reserve big surprises, even if the status quo with which this third season opens could raise some eyebrows to the less passionate spectator of the Star Wars universe. When we first see the Mandalorian, we find that Grogu has rejoined him. This is not a continuity error that cancels the conclusion of the previous season, but a continuation of the events that occurred in The Book of Boba Fett, the series released in December 2021. There, in a couple of episodes of the season that almost seem like a prologue to the facts narrated here, the deeds of our Mando were resumed by recounting Grogu’s decision to abandon training with Luke Skywalker and return to travel.
Having accepted this fact – which however does not affect the judgment of the episode in question – we can say that from this season, The Mandalorian seems to abandon a certain verticality of events to focus on a rather horizontal storyline, even if these first 35 minutes prove nothing ‘nothing but a nice and successful introduction to the adventure. Din took off his helmet, going against the creed of his people: now he is no longer a Mandalorian. To return to being considered such, he will have to bathe in the sacred waters of the mines of Mandalore. To reach him, he needs to visit an old acquaintance on Nevarro, he will face an unexpected danger and learn what his fate could be for him.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1 Ending Explained: Connection with Rebels And Ahsoka
During the episode, Mando and Grogu seem to wander around the galaxy in search of means and information for their mission: to get to Mandalore. Here the protagonist played by Pedro Pascal will be able to find his redemption, as he is now considered an apostate from his cult. He violated an important taboo, namely removing his helmet in front of a person. Only in the living waters located in the heart of the planet will he be able to return to being a true Mandalorian.
Having concluded the quest concerning the Jedi nature of Grogu, The Mandalorian is about to build The Mandalorian mythology. Beyond that, in one of the hyperspace journeys, the little one seems to glimpse something that leaves him speechless: mammoth creatures travel the galaxy like a real spaceship. Star Wars fans know what it’s all about and yes, your eyes don’t lie, it’s the Purrgil.
First introduced in Star Wars Rebels, the Purrgil is a semi-sentient species in the likenesses of massive bluish-green whales. Their ability to travel in hyperspace is said to have inspired the races of the galaxy, thus allowing them to create the hyperdrive. They move in groups, furrowing deep space in a fantastic play of colors. Their encounter with the Jedi Ezra Bridger set up the finale of the animated series Rebels and the still-open cliffhanger that followed. The character’s fate is still shrouded in mystery and could be answered in Ahsoka.
Meet the Purrgil, The Gigantic Space Whales From Star Wars
As we said, the studies of the first space navigators on the Purrgil revealed how coaxial fuel could be found in places subject to strong interstellar energy. An example of this is the planet Kessel, yes, one of Han Solo’s routes. Before The Mandalorian, space whales made their first appearance in the fifteenth episode of the second season of Rebels. Here Ezra saves Purrgil from the mining guild, forging a strong bond with them. The padawan, in fact, through force managed to connect mentally with the creatures and thus learn their nature.
After these events, the Purrgil will return one last time in the final season of the series. During the liberation of the planet Lothal, the characters sent a signal into space seeking the creatures’ help. Their purpose was to thwart the empire and their control over the galaxy. In response, a group of Purrgil ultra (a larger species) arrived. These wiped out the blockade on the planet and Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn’s Seventh Fleet. Three Star Destroyers and Thrawn’s flagship are destroyed. To defeat his enemy, Ezra will use force to control the three Purrgil Ultra, which will wrap the flagship with Thrawn inside. Later they will launch into hyperspace but take with them the Jedi who sacrificed himself for the greater good.
In the finale of Rebels, we see Sabine Wren – a Mandalorian – join Ashoka to probably go in search of Ezra. Anakin Skywalker’s former padawan made his first live-action appearance in season 2 of The Mandalorian, then briefly returned in an episode of The Book of Boba Fett. Ashoka will have a whole series of him and as we know the production seems to have found its Sabine in Natasha Liu Bordizzo. It is fair to think that we will also see a live-action version of Ezra, whose fate we will finally discover. We don’t know if this storyline will find its way into the third season of The Mandalorian, but in the meantime, the show seems to have laid a solid foundation for the future. Will we see the Purrgil again in future episodes? The scene analyzed here would probably be an end in itself. When it comes to an expanded universe everything is possible, this is the way.
