The Mandalorian Season 2 on Disney+ concluded several Fridays ago. This season definitely embraced the original premise of the show, and had just enough surprises from other Star Wars favorites to keep fans enticed.

If you were to search the Mandalorian online, the two-word summary you would find is “space western.” As soon as I saw that phrase, I knew it perfectly captured exactly what the Mandalorian was going for — the show has undeniable tastes of a western. First off, the music sounds much like the soundtrack of The Good The Bad and The Ugly, a famous western-style movie. Secondly, the plotlines of episodes earlier in the season much resemble common plot lines of westerns. The season opener, “The Marshal,” was mainly about the Mandalorian trading favors with the leader of the town. The Mandalorian wanted the Marshal’s armor, and he needed the Mandalorian’s help in killing a giant sand beast that had terrorized his town for years. But this armor wasn’t just any armor: it was Boba Fett’s Mandalorian armor. No one mentioned knowing anything about Boba Fett for the entirety of the episode, and just when you were beginning to think that the episode had no bearing on the overall storyline whatsoever, a faraway shot of what appears to be Boba Fett flashes before your eyes just before the end credits roll.

What? Boba Fett’s not dead? Didn’t he die in the Sarlacc Pit in Return of the Jedi? Boba Fett’s appearance left questions that needed to be answered. As the season progressed, however, this was not the only time that characters returned. In episode 13, “The Jedi,” a fan-favorite Ahsoka appears to give the Mandalorian guidance on what to do with The Child (affectionately known as “Baby Yoda”). However, I think that the biggest thing we learn from episode 13 is that “Baby Yoda” has a real name… and that name is Grogu! It was an interesting and likely difficult decision to give “Baby Yoda” a real name, as The Child already had such a huge following through memes, merchandise, and more. While I was extremely surprised at first, I personally feel that the more I think of “Baby Yoda” as Grogu, the more I like it. I must include that I have not watched The Clone Wars, so I don’t know much of Ahsoka’s story or if it was appropriate for the makers of this show to include her in the episode. However, I do believe that she gave the Mandalorian and Grogu good help and advice, as well as allowing the audience a way to see into Grogu’s mind that we hadn’t yet seen before.

Ahsoka’s suggestions led to the Mandolorian taking Grogu to a special Jedi temple to call out to other Jedi. These Jedi would theoretically come and be Grogu’s Jedi Master, taking him to complete his training as Ahsoka suggested. However, while attempting to call to the Jedi, the Mandalorian battles several opponents protecting Grogu, starting with Fennec Shand, a blast from the Season 1 past, and then Boba Fett himself. When the forces of Moff Gideon capture Grogu, the Mandalorian joins forces with Boba Fett and Fennec to rescue him.

Next, the Mandalorian rescues Mayfeld (also from Season 1) from his prison sentence to help him obtain an Imperial code to rescue Grogu. During their infiltration of an Imperial base, the Mandalorian reveals his face in front of other living beings. I found this turn interesting, as the helmet removal was such an integral part of the show up to this point. However, it did allow us a glimpse into the Mandalorian’s mind. Does he truly believe that his creed is a bit extreme in their ways, just as another Mandalorian, Bo-Katan Kryze, suggested in “The Heiress”? Or was this move purely tactical and meant nothing? Either way, the build up to the finale involved the return of many characters in the attempt to rescue Grogu from the hands of the despicable Moff Gideon.

The Mandalorian’s siege team consisted of the Mandalorians he met on Trask (Bo-Katan Kryze and Koska Reeves), Cara Dune, Boba Fett, and Fennec. They quickly devised a plan to rescue Grogu and capture the Dark Saber from Moff Gideon so that Bo-Katan can become the rightful ruler of Mandalore. Long story short, Moff Gideon tricks the Mandalorian, who accidentally wins the Dark Saber from him, and leads them all into a trap in the command room when extra Dark Trooper droids approach. However, as the strike team, Moff Gideon, and Grogu wait in the command room, Grogu senses something. And then we see it. The most familiar X-wing in the Star Wars universe. Could it be?

A hooded figure enters the ship and activates a green lightsaber. This figure has a gloved right hand as they slash the evil droids with the lightsaber. All the while, the strike team nervously listens and watches the figure on monitors. Finally, they defeat the droid army and the doors open. My breath had been held in anticipation for the entire scene, and then… it’s Luke Skywalker! It’s really him! But how? Something about his face looks a little strange. Is it another actor? Is it digitized? Is it Mark Hamill with a lot of makeup? It turns out that it is indeed Mark Hamil, who has been digitally younger-ized. Similar technology was used in Rogue One and The Rise of Skywalker. Of course… the Mandalorian’s creator John Favreau has a love of interesting visual effects, afterall.

Ultimately the audience discovers that Luke Skywalker has come for Grogu whose summoning at the ancient temple worked. Grogu must now leave the Mandalorian and go with Luke to complete his training. The episode ends with just that: no resolution on the Dark Saber, no resolution on Moff Gideon and why he wanted Grogu in the first place, and no resolution on why all of these original characters have made appearances in this story.

The only teaser we receive is an end-credits scene of Boba Fett and Fennec walking into Jabba’s Palace, now run by an older Bib Fortuna. They overthrow the palace and kill Fortuna, and the episode closes with Boba Fett sitting upon Jabba’s throne and a banner that reads “The Book of Boba Fett, Coming December 2021.” This foreshadowing gives us no more information on when questions about Grogu and the Mandalorian might be answered.

Overall, this season had its ups and downs. I am definitely one for story as opposed to action, and the second half of the season did not disappoint in that regard. While the story started slowly, it picked up and took turns that kept me interested as to what was coming next. In addition, the appearances of old characters from the original Star Wars saga were welcomed, in my opinion at least. The Mandalorian won’t return until early 2022. 

For die-hard Mandalorian fans, I recommend the series Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian. This series takes an in-depth look at the making of the Mandalorian, which is actually very unique and ground-breaking from a film making standpoint. Otherwise, there are many other new Star Wars mini series coming to Disney+, so be sure to look up information and the release dates for those.