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Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD for the first episode of The Mandalorian on Disney+, called "Chapter 1."
Yesterday we finally saw the debut of Disney+ and with it came the first episode of The Mandalorian the first live-action television series in the history of the Star Wars franchise. We knew this new show was going to be big, but it wasn't until we saw the first episode that we realized just how big it could be.
'Chapter 1" of The Mandalorian was a perfect first episode, because it gave us a bunch of questions that we will, one assumes, need to keep watching in order to find their answers. If you haven't had a chance to see it you can check it out by clicking here for a 7-day free trial of Disney+. Here's everything we're wondering about The Mandalorian's first episode.
Will The Mandalorian Ever Take That Helmet Off?
Early in the episode, The Mandalorian's first bounty asks him about a rumor, that Mandalorian's never remove their helmets. Now, we know that this isn't really true, as Mandalorian's have removed their helmets before in Star Wars history. However, throughout the first episode, we never see him do it. There isn't so much as an indication that it happens off screen.
We have to wonder if we'll ever see the face of Pablo Pascal through the entire show. If this Mandalorian not removing his helmet is going to be a thing, then it may be some time before it ever happens, even if it eventually does. It's a pretty bold move when you think about it. Hollywood usually goes to insane lengths to make sure that the star of the show's face is visible as much as possible, but apparently not here.
Does The Mandalorian Have A Name?
Throughout the marketing build to The Mandalorian, the main character was only ever refereed to by that name. At the time, it seemed likely this was just part of the marketing plan, an attempt to prevent revealing details about the character. Surely, the character had some other name that we would learn when the show began, but apparently, not so much.
It's not like Mandalorian's don't have other names. We knew who Boba Fett was before we ever knew what a Mandalorian was, and other people knew that name, so it's not like it was being kept secret. Here, however, it seems the name is being kept closely guarded, much like the face. Is this something normal for other Mandalorians or just this one? It would be nice if the show gave him a name if only so that we could stop just calling him The Mandalorian.
Why Would Anybody Want To Buy This Alien's Glands?
I seriously can't be the only person who thought the opening sequence of The Mandalorian was a little creepy. We had your normal Star Wars cantijna, but inside a couple of people were contemplating cutting out the glands of another patron in order to sell them. That...that's just terrible.
I get that these guys are all different species, but they're all sentient creatures. Cutting out the glands of another person is pretty terrible and I can't imagine what the "musk" could possible do for a person that would make the knowledge of where it came from worth while for the buyer.
What Does The Mandalorian Have Against Droids?
As far as we can tell, The Mandalorian doesn't really have any friends. He doesn't seem to like anybody. But he appears to have a particular hatred for droids. At the beginning of "Chapter 1" he refuses to use a land speeder that is being piloted by a droid. Later, when he has his run in with the bounty droid IG-11, he's clearly not thrilled, and he specifically makes a negative remark about the fact that his competition is a droid.
Clearly, part of The Mandalorian's history is going to relate to a negative feeling for droids. Something happened in his past to make him, at the very least, not care for droids. Not even wanting one to drive a speeder from point A to point B is a pretty serious negative feeling. Where did it come from and what does it mean?
What's The Mandalorian's History With The Empire?
The Mandalorian is set following the events of Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi. The Galactic Empire has been defeated and the galaxy is dealing with the aftermath. It's a bit of a mess, which is to be expected, especially on the economy. When the Mandolorian meets Greef Carga to get paid, Greef attempts to pay him in Imperial credits, and the Mandalorian rejects the payment.
Greef Carga is quick to point out that the Imperial credits are still legal tender, "They still spend" he says. If they do, then what's the problem with taking them? Our hero is willing to take half payment rather than take the Imperial credits which, for a guy who makes his living this way, and seems driven by the money, feels like a significant sacrifice. So why is he making it? Is there a personal reason he's refusing to take Imperial credits?
How Do Bounty Hunter Tracking Fobs Even Work?
Bounty hunting is probably a profession most closely associated with the old west or Star Wars, but it's a real thing. The occupation of tracking down bail jumpers exists because, if somebody runs, you don't usually know where they might have gone, and so you need to hire somebody to figure it out. Except in The Mandalorian it appears everybody has their own tracking device.
If you know exactly where somebody is, it doesn't take a lot of skill to simply follow the trail set out in front of you. True, it's always possible things could get ugly, so training for a fight is important, but it seems like literally anybody can do this job if you always know exactly where you need to go every time.
What Was The Great Purge?
While we've met a handful of Mandalorian characters in various Star Wars shows and movies, there's still a great deal we don't know about the people or the planet they come from. When the Mandalorian hands over the rare metal beskar to the Mandalorian blacksmith, she makes reference to it having been collected during something called the Great Purge.
We know that Mandalore is a planet that was largely destroyed by war over a long period of time, including, some sort of large battle with the Jedi. While the Great Purge is a name that's new, it could refer to an event we're aware of, or it could be something new being introduced to the timeline. It's not clear if this event happened decades or centuries in the past.
What's A Mandalorian Signet?
Shortly after mentioning the great purge, the blacksmith asks our hero if his signet has been revealed. He says no, but she promises it will happen soon. One assumes if he had it, she would use it on the piece of armor being made for him.
A signet is a logo or a small seal. It's a sort of symbol which identifies and authenticates. Apparently, all Mandalorians have some sort signet, I guess, but it's not something they get automatically. It needs to be revealed. Do they have to earn it from some higher Mandalorian authority? Does it come to them in a vision? Will our Mandalorian get his by the end of Season 1?
Where Did IG-11 Get His Commission?
When the Mandalorian arrives at the location he's searching for, his discovers a bounty droid, IG-11, has beat him there. What's more, the farmer Kuiil, voiced by Nick Nolte, informs the Mandalorian that he isn't the first that the man has helped locate the bounty. A lot of people are looking for this thing.
But were did they all come from. IG-11 seems to imply he got this bounty through standard channels, but Greef Carga gave our hero this bounty off the books, so it wouldn't appear this was something the guild was getting involved in. What's more, while the Mandalorian's employer wants the bounty alive if at all possible, IG-11 is under strict orders to kill it. So who exactly wants this thing dead?
What Makes This Baby Yoda So Valuable Or Dangerous?
And then this, of course, brings us to the biggest question of them all. What's the deal with this bounty? It's a 50-year-old creature of the same race as Master Yoda, but even at 50, it's appears to be essentially an infant. A lot of people have been sent after this cute little guy, and some have been sent to kill it.
It's certainly true that we've seen very few creatures that look like Yoda in the world of Star Wars, we don't even know what the race they belong to is called, but there was never any specific indication that they were in any way rare or special. And yet, it seems that they are, now we just need to learn why that is.
Some of these questions are certainly set to be answered through this season of The Mandalorian. Some may be answered as soon as the next episode. Others we may be waiting much longer to understand. On the plus side, we won't need to wait too long for to see if some of those answers are forthcoming, Episode 2 will be here on Friday.
