The Mandalorian recap: Everything you need to remember before watching The Mandalorian and Grogu

There’s a lot riding on The Mandalorian and Grogu when it releases in cinemas on 22 May.

This is the first Star Wars movie since 2019’s divisive ‘Rise of Skywalker,’ and it continues a storyline that’s been building over three seasons of the Disney+ show.

That’s a lot of TV – 24 episodes! – and it asks a lot of viewers to already know what’s happened before starting the new season of The Mandalorian.

Disney and Lucasfilm are working hard to assure fans that The Mandalorian and Grogu’s story is self-contained and accessible whether you’re a longtime fan or completely new to the series.

Just in case you need a quick reminder before the new movie, we’re revisiting the first three episodes of the story of Mando and Grogu.

Let’s quickly establish when The Mandalorian fits into the Star Wars saga before we get started.

The Mandalorian takes place after the events of Return of the Jedi. The newly formed New Republic is trying to establish order, but the galaxy is thrown into turmoil by rogue Imperial officers causing problems.

Throughout the first three seasons of the show, we’ve seen the remnants of the Empire are fragmented but still trying to maintain control throughout the galaxy. And as established in the first season of Ahsoka, the powerful Grand Admiral Thrawn is still alive and could rally these scattered forces to oppose the New Republic.

Here’s everything else you need to know ahead of the new film.

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What happened in The Mandalorian season 1?

I first encountered Din Djarin – Mando, as most of us call him – as this incredibly focused bounty hunter operating out of Nevarro, working for the Bounty Hunters’ Guild. He’s immediately established as someone who gets the job done, no questions asked. Then this really intriguing gig comes along – a mysterious client, brilliantly played by Werner Herzog, hires Mando to track down a hidden asset. The reward? A hefty sum of beskar, the incredibly strong metal used for Mandalorian armor – which, let’s be honest, is a pretty great incentive!

The job sends Mando to the planet Arvala-7, where he defeats the mercenaries protecting the target. It’s then revealed what the bounty actually is: a small, adorable creature named Grogu, also known as Baby Yoda or The Child.

Following a quick run-in with Jawas who’d pilfered parts from his ship, the Razor Crest, Mando discovers Grogu might have a unique ability. This power seems to be why the remnants of the Empire are so interested in him.

At first, Din Djarin agreed to give Grogu to The Client and was even rewarded with a new suit of armor. However, he later changed his mind and decided to save Grogu from the remaining forces of the Empire.

When Din Djarin chooses to protect Grogu, he’s forced to travel throughout the galaxy, taking on various jobs for money. These include defending a small fishing village from attackers, helping prisoners escape, and even a quick trip to the notorious desert planet Tatooine.

Mando’s efforts to escape the bounty hunters sent by the Imperial Remnant are unsuccessful, forcing him back to Nevarro. There, he confronts Moff Gideon, a dangerous Imperial leader who intends to exploit Grogu’s unique abilities and connection to the Force for evil.

To save Grogu from the Empire, Mando makes a huge sacrifice: he shows his face to the child for the very first time. This breaks a long-held and deeply important rule for Mandalorians, who are forbidden from ever removing their helmets.

I’m really invested in The Mandalorian, and it’s so satisfying to see Din Djarin succeed. He couldn’t have done it alone, though! Luckily, he’s picked up some amazing allies along the way – Greef Karga, the head of the Bounty Hunters’ Guild, the tough ex-Rebel Cara Dune, and even the unforgettable Ugnaught engineer Kuiil. Thanks to their help, Mando was able to take down the Imperial forces on Navarro and, most importantly, keep Grogu safe.

Din Djarin, known as Mando, is determined to find a Jedi so Grogu can be with others of his species. Meanwhile, Moff Gideon, having survived the crash of his ship, has reclaimed the Darksaber, a famous Mandalorian weapon.

What happens in The Mandalorian season 2?

In season two, Din Djarin (Mando) and Grogu continue their journey, searching for a Jedi who can teach Grogu how to use the Force.

Following his assistance to Cobb Vanth, a marshal on Tatooine, Din Djarin—known as Mando—needs to safely deliver Frog Lady and her eggs to the planet Trask. He hopes to find other Mandalorians there.

On the planet Trask, Mando encounters Bo-Katan, a Mandalorian leader who fought during the Clone Wars. She saw firsthand how the Empire destroyed her home. Bo-Katan follows a different set of beliefs than Mando – she’s part of a group that allows removing their helmets – which makes Mando initially wary of her and her fellow Mandalorians.

Bo-Katan and Din Djarin form an uneasy alliance, and Bo-Katan tells him about Ahsoka Tano, a Jedi in hiding who could potentially help him.

After a rough trip to Trask, the Razor Crest is badly damaged. Mando returns to Nevarro hoping Greef Karga, now in charge of the planet, can help with repairs. Mando agrees to destroy an old Imperial base on Nevarro in exchange for the fix. During this mission, he discovers Moff Gideon was planning to use Grogu’s blood to unlock and transfer the child’s powerful Force abilities into clone bodies.

Things are getting intense! Moff Gideon is still after us, so I’m following Mando as he goes to this planet called Corvus hoping to find Ahsoka Tano. That’s where he finds out something amazing – Grogu wasn’t just some random kid, he was actually training to be a Jedi! And even more shocking, he somehow survived the terrible Order 66, when almost all the Jedi were wiped out. It’s incredible!

Ahsoka and Din Djarin team up to confront Morgan Elsbeth, an Imperial official, hoping she knows where the admiral Thrawn is hiding. However, Ahsoka explains that she’s no longer a Jedi and can’t continue training Grogu.

Okay, so the solution? It’s pretty clever. The character proposes taking Grogu to Tython, this really old Jedi planet. Apparently, there’s a special stone there – a ‘Seeing Stone’ – that Grogu can use with the Force to basically send out a galactic ‘hello’ to any Jedi who might be out there and able to respond. It’s a long shot, but it feels like their best bet right now.

As Grogu focuses on his training, Mando has a confrontation with the famous bounty hunter Boba Fett. Fett wants the armor Din Djarin found on Tatooine earlier returned to him.

To thank Mando for safeguarding Grogu, Boba Fett gets his armor back. This happens just before they face off against Moff Gideon’s powerful Dark Troopers, who are trying to take Grogu.

It was awful to watch, but even with everything we did to protect him, one of the Dark Troopers actually got Grogu and brought him back to Gideon. It was clear Gideon wanted to use Grogu’s powers with the Force, and this just moved his plan forward. It felt like a huge setback after everything we’d fought for.

Driven to locate Grogu, Mando travels to the planet Morak with Mayfield, a former Imperial officer who is now an ally. After discovering the location of Moff Gideon’s ship on Morak, Mando assembles a team – including Fett, Cara Dune, and Bo-Katan – to go rescue Grogu.

Mando rescued Grogu from Gideon’s ship, but then found himself surrounded by Dark Troopers. Just when things looked hopeless, an X-Wing arrived, and a mysterious Jedi Knight came aboard, quickly defeating Gideon’s forces. It was then revealed to be Luke Skywalker, who offered to take Grogu and finish his Jedi training.

After a tearful goodbye, Mando and Grogu part ways.

What about The Book of Boba Fett?

As a huge Star Wars fan, I’d say The Book of Boba Fett mainly follows what Boba’s been up to, but it also cleverly sets the stage for what’s coming in season three of The Mandalorian. It really feels like a connecting piece between those two shows.

Luke Skywalker offers Grogu a difficult decision: continue learning the ways of the Jedi, or return to Din Djarin (Mando).

He naturally chooses to reconnect with his son, and together they help Boba Fett safeguard the people of Tatooine.

What happened in The Mandalorian season 3?

Season three picks up a few loose plot threads from the first two seasons.

Moff Gideon, who was captured by the New Republic last season, has broken free. Din Djarin, known as Mando, now possesses the Darksaber – a historic weapon traditionally held by the ruler of Mandalore – after defeating Gideon in season two. However, Mando is currently considered an outcast by his Mandalorian people because he has repeatedly removed his helmet, violating their strict code.

In season three, Din Djarin, also known as Mando, tries to reclaim his home planet with the help of the different Mandalorian groups he’s met. To rejoin his people, he needs to participate in a traditional cleansing ritual with Mandalore’s special waters and fully recommit to the Mandalorian way of life, meaning he can never take off his helmet again.

While investigating, Mando discovers Moff Gideon has established an Imperial stronghold on Mandalore. There, Gideon is constructing a new team of Dark Troopers, using beskar steel sourced from the planet itself.

During a climactic battle with Gideon, the Darksaber is broken and Gideon is finally defeated. Grogu uses the Force to shield both his father figure and Bo-Katan from a blast.

After returning to their home planet, the different Mandalorian groups came together to rebuild their society.

Mando goes back to Nevarro, a place he previously protected from pirates. As a thank you, he and Grogu are given a new home just outside the city. Mando then agrees to only accept bounty hunting work from the New Republic going forward.

Will there be a season 4?

So, here’s the interesting scoop from Jon Favreau: Season four of The Mandalorian is already written! Apparently, it was all mapped out before Disney and Lucasfilm decided they wanted to make a full-blown movie with Din Djarin and Grogu. Now, what happens after that? Well, it all hinges on how well this first movie does. If it’s a hit, we’ll likely see more seasons. If not… things get a little less certain. It’s a bit of a ‘wait and see’ situation for fans like me.

Disney and Lucasfilm are taking a chance with ‘The Mandalorian’ and Grogu, hoping the story will resonate with audiences as they bring the characters to the big screen for the first time in seven years. It’s uncertain whether the story is large enough to justify a theatrical release.

It’s clear Mando and Grogu are beloved characters, and the movie is designed to be easy for anyone to enjoy – you don’t need to have watched the show beforehand to understand and appreciate it.

Authors

Matthew Trask

2026-05-22 12:20