Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2.The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2 introduced the Alamites of Mandalore, thus fixing a long-running issue with Disney's Star Wars efforts. Since the inception of the Star Wars franchise in 1977, one of its prevailing traits has been the whacky, outlandish, otherworldly creatures and species involved. This was shown throughout George Lucas' prequel and original trilogies, with each species being created with extensive backstories, histories, and lore in mind.
Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, however, a common complaint of their Star Wars projects has been the lack of memorable new species. While some stand out, such as the Anzellans showcased in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1, oftentimes Disney's new aliens lack the memorability of Lucas' designs, or the extensive mythology that accompanies them. That being said, The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2's newest creation makes steps towards mending this issue through the introduction of the Alamites.
What Are The Alamites In The Mandalorian?
In The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2, "Chapter 18: The Mines of Mandalore," the Alamites are introduced almost immediately after Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin and Grogu land on Mandalore. After sending R5-D4 into the caves of Mandalore's surface, the droid disappears from Din's radar and Mando enters the cave to see what became of his new droid companion. There, the Alamites ambush Din, revealing themselves to be hostile, cave-dwelling predators of Mandalore.
Later in the episode, the Alamites return to attack Katee Sackhoff's Bo-Katan Kryze of the old Mandalorian royal family and Grogu in the duo's attempt to rescue Din. It is here that Bo-Katan reveals more information about the Alamites. She first states that she and Grogu would have been their next meal, revealing the Alamites' carnivorous nature. Bo-Katan reveals that the Alamites were around before the Great Purge of Mandalore and used to live in the desert wastelands beyond Mandalore's cities. Now the creatures live in the ruins of Mandalore's great cities, such as Sundari, and the cave formations surrounding them, attacking anyone who gets close.
What Role Will The Alamites Play In The Mandalorian Season 3?
With the Alamites' appearance in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2 - and the unusually deeper focus shown towards their mythology for Disney's alien creations - the question is raised whether they will play an important role in The Mandalorian season 3. With Mandalore expected to be the core location for much of the season, or at least the recolonization of the planet by the scattered Mandalorians will be a focus, it is likely that the Alamites will be seen again. The Alamites could play a role not dissimilar to that of the Tusken Raiders in the original Star Wars: hostile native creatures of a specific planet.
While it is unlikely the Alamites, or any other creatures of Mandalore for that matter, will be central antagonists, they could certainly be recurring enemies. Outside of Moff Gideon, the majority of antagonistic roles throughout The Mandalorian have fallen to inhabitants of various planets. From the Klatoonian raiders of Sorgan and Mando's old criminal contacts in The Mandalorian season 1 to the ice spiders, magistrate of Corvus, or the Dark Troopers in The Mandalorian season 2, oftentimes most enemies are situational. This is likely the same role that the Alamites will play in The Mandalorian season 3; hostile enemies that likely recur, albeit not as primary antagonists.
New episodes of The Mandalorian release every Wednesday on Disney+.