The Mandalorian: Everything you should know before the season 2 premiere

The premiere of season 2 of The Mandalorian is looming large, promising a return to a galaxy far, far away with the titular bounty hunter Din Djarin and his adorable sidekick, Baby Yoda. (Yes, we know the character is officially called The Child, but that’s a topic for another article.)

It’s been nearly a full year since the final episode of season 1 of The Mandalorian and a lot has happened in 2020 (to put it mildly), so if you could benefit from a brief recap of the Star Wars spinoff series’ first season, you’re probably not alone. Here are all the important things to know about The Mandalorian as we get closer to the arrival of season 2, which premieres October 30 on the Disney+ streaming service.

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The story so far

The Mandalorian is set several years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, and season 1 introduced us to bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), who lived a secluded life with a small group of fellow Mandalorian refugees while taking on dangerous missions throughout the outer rim of the galaxy. During one particularly difficult mission, he discovers that the target he was tasked with bringing to a sinister ex-Imperial officer is actually a Force-wielding infant of the same mysterious, species as Yoda. After initially returning “The Child” to the Imperials, he has a change of heart, and rescues it from their clutches.

He now finds himself on the run with the adorable Baby Yoda, pursued by powerful agents of the fallen Galactic Empire as he attempts to find a safe home for the infant.

The allies

Although Din Djarin prefers solitary life, he acquired several allies over the course of the Star Wars series’ first season. Among them is Greef Karga (Carl Weathers), a local leader of the bounty hunter guild, and Cara Dune (Gina Carano), a former Rebel soldier who now works as a mercenary.

While Karga and Dune survived the events of the first season, not all of Djarin’s allies were so fortunate. Kuiil (Nick Nolte), an Ugnaught farmer who assisted Djarin in finding Baby Yoda, is believed to have died while helping in the rescue mission. The bounty hunter droid IG-11 (Taika Waititi), who also assisted in rescuing Baby Yoda, sacrificed itself to save Djarin, Karga, Dune, and the infant.

The enemies

It speaks to Djarin’s skills that there weren’t many of his enemies left alive after the events of The Mandalorian season 1. However, one former Imperial officer remains in dogged pursuit of Baby Yoda and his protector: Moff Gideon, a former high-ranking officer of the Imperial Security Bureau who appears to remain in command of a large unit of Imperial troopers. As revealed in the final episode of season 1, Gideon is also in possession of the Darksaber, a unique lightsaber in the Star Wars universe with links to both the Mandalorians and the Jedi Order.

The big mysteries

With Djarin and Baby Yoda on a quest to find a safe home for Baby Yoda, some big questions hover over the series as it enters its second season. With regard to Baby Yoda, the questions of how it came to be on the remote planet where Djarin found it, and where Djarin can possibly find a new, safe home for it, will likely shape the events of the show’s second season.

But those aren’t the only lingering questions as we begin season 2 of The Mandalorian. How Gideon ended up with the Darksaber has prompted plenty of speculation among Star Wars fans, and will likely lead to more exploration of the history of the Mandalorians — the legendary group of warriors who were both ally and enemy of the Jedi at various points in time.

The new additions

Disney has kept many details about what to expect in season 2 of The Mandalorian a closely guarded secret, but we do know some of the characters and cast members joining the series in the second season. That list includes several well-known popular characters from the greater Star Wars franchise.

Set to appear in The Mandalorian season 2 is actress Rosario Dawson (Luke Cage, The Defenders) as Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker’s Jedi apprentice who was one of the heroes of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series, as well as veteran Star Wars actor Temuera Morrison (Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones) as the iconic bounty hunter Boba Fett. Joining them will be Battlestar Galactica actress Katee Sackhoff as the live-action version of Mandalorian soldier Bo-Katan Kryze, who also played a key role in The Clone Wars series, while Deadwood actor Timothy Olyphant will portray Cobb Vanth, a character introduced in the Star Wars: Aftermath novels penned by Chuck Wendig.

How each of these additions to The Mandalorian cast will connect with Djarin and Baby Yoda’s adventures is yet another mystery of the show’s second season.