Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2.The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2 takes Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin and Grogu to the ruined planet of Mandalore, providing a wide variety of Star Wars Easter eggs in the process. After the admittedly recap-heavy plot of The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1, Din begins the true journey set out for him by reaching the planet of Mandalore. While the premiere episode spun its wheels slightly in terms of plot momentum, it still contained its fair share of Star Wars Easter eggs.
The plot accelered in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2, entitled "Chapter 18 - The Mines of Mandalore". This returned to a planet that's been featured heavily in previous Star Wars TV shows and novels, meaning there are plenty of Easter eggs and references. The most important is a mysterious creature on Mandalore, one particularly important for the future of The Mandalorian. Here are all the Star Wars Easter eggs.
22 The Mandalorian Opens With Familiar Star Wars Species'
The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2 opened with some small Easter eggs - familiar races at Peli Motto's hangar on Tatooine. There, Peli is shown swindling a Rodian with the help of some Jawas. Both are prominent Star Wars species.
21 Tatooine Is Celebrating Boonta Eve
Another significant Star Wars Easter egg links The Mandalorian to George Lucas' prequel trilogy. The planet of Tatooine is apparently celebrating Boonta week, complete with a podrace through the center of Mos Eisley. This fits in with Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, when Anakin Skywalker is podracing on Boonta Eve. The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2 references Boonta week, suggesting the full Boonta celebrations last a week - complete with a fireworks display taking place when Din and Grogu leave Tatooine.
20 The Mandalorian’s Lurmen Mention Links To The Clone Wars
Grogu Force jumps into Peli's arms, prompting her to ask, "Now who taught you how to leap like a Lurmen, huh?" The Lurmen are a small, monkey-like species seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 1, episodes 13 and 14. They are indeed extremely agile - and in fact, at least one Lurmen was Force-sensitive, so it's quite possible some boost their natural agility with the Force. It's quite amusing to note Lurmens as a comparison for Grogu in The Mandalorian season 3.
19 Grogu's Growing Force Powers Are Reminiscent Of Yoda
This Force jump into Peli's arms also makes Grogu much more reminiscent of Yoda; the aged Jedi Master was proficient in the combat form of Ataru, which requires the same kind of Force leaps. Grogu's training with Luke Skywalker has clearly left Grogu much more proficient with the Force; this is shown throughout The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2, with Grogu depending on the Force to defend himself. It will be exciting to see whether Grogu goes on to demonstrate some new powers too.
18 The Mandalorian Mentions Boba Fett & The Hutts
Pell name-drops both Boba Fett and the Hutts, making the first reference to events in The Book of Boba Fett. There, Boba established himself as a local crime boss, taking over Hutt territory. Din Djarin helped him keep his territory, so Peli is wondering whether Din has been hired for another crisis.
17 Peli Motto’s Familiar Star Wars Droids
The Mandalorian season 1, episode 3 revealed Peli uses a group of pit droids. They turn up again, still working for her in The Mandalorian season 3. This time, they're accompanied by a BD unit - made popular in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - and R5-D4, the very same droid from the first Star Wars movie.
16 R5-D4 Served In The Rebel Alliance
R5-D4 was introduced in the first Star Wars film, one of the droids seen on the Jawa Sandcruiser. Rae Carson's "The Red One," published in the anthology book From A Certain Point Of View, revealed R5 deliberately sabotaged his own motivator because he believed R2-D2 needed to be sold to the Lars family. There have indeed been reports in books that he subsequently served in the Rebel Alliance, although Peli Motto could be overstating his significance. Without R5, Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 would never have met.
15 The Mandalorian Moon Of Concordia
After leaving Tatooine, Din and Grogu travel to Mandalore where they lay eyes on the Mandalorian moon of Concordia. Din mentions that Concordia is where he was raised, which is an Easter egg to both his Death Watch upbringing and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. In The Clone Wars, Concordia was shown as the home base of Death Watch, led by Pre Vizsla. This tracks with why Din was raised there, due to his induction into Death Watch during the time of the Clone Wars.
14 Din’s Pressurized Mandalorian Helmet
There's always been intense debate about how Mandalorian helmets work in terms of navigating toxic or deadly environments. Those are finally answered in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2, where Din pressurizes his helmet against the harsh Mandalorian atmosphere - with an audio nod to the sound of Darth Vader's artificial breathing. It's a subtle detail, but a fun reference to the Sith Lord.
13 The Weight Of The Darksaber
Once Din is attacked by the Alamites of Mandalore, he unveils the Darksaber for the first time in The Mandalorian, season 3. As in The Book of Boba Fett, Din Djarin struggles to use the Darksaber; according to the Armorer, it is because he tends to fight against the blade. This concept was first set up in Star Wars Rebels, when the Darksaber was used by another Mandalorian named Sabine Wren, who claimed the Darksaber was heavier than she had expected.
12 Sundari Links To Star Wars: The Clone Wars
During The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2, Din and Grogu walk through the ruined Mandalorian capital city of Sundari. This is an Easter egg to Star Wars: The Clone Wars, in which Sundari appeared multiple times. It was featured significantly in The Clone Wars season 7, which told the story of the Siege of Mandalore - an invasion by Republic forces, with the goal of overthrowing Darth Maul.
11 The Mines Callback To The Siege Of Mandalore
Din Djarin and Grogu make their way through the sewers of Sundari - a surprising Star Wars Easter egg. In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano pursued Darth Maul through the same sewers. Attentive viewers will recognize the architectural style.
10 Grogu’s Solo Journey Links To Prequel Era Yoda
After Din is incapacitated in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2, Grogu travels to get aid from Bo-Katan. This sequence shows Grogu journeying solo for one of the first times in the show, in which he is very reminiscent of Yoda from the prequel trilogy. In the prequel era, predominantly Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Yoda was shown to fly a Jedi starfighter with the aid of an astromech, often R2-D2. Grogu traveling with R5-D4 calls back to this, making the young Jedi-Mandalorian seem very similar to the old Jedi Master.
9 Bo-Katan’s Mandalorian Gauntlet
Bo-Katan has a major role in The Mandalorian season 3, flying to Mandalore in her Gauntlet. This Mandalorian ship first appeared in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Bo-Katan was shown flying it in The Mandalorian season 2. Hopefully the Gauntlet's capabilities will be explored in detail.
8 Bo-Katan’s Mention Of The Clone Wars Era
When looking out over the broken city of Sundari, Bo-Katan references the era of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. She explains to Grogu that Sundari was once a beautiful civilization that now only serves as a tomb. Sundari was in a rather better state of repair in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, when it was shown at the height of its power.
7 Bo-Katan References The Prequel & Original Jedi
After traveling beneath Sundari, Grogu and Bo-Katan begin scouring the mines to find Din. During their journey, Bo-Katan mentions to Grogu that she once knew many Jedi. This is a welcome reminder Jedi and Mandalorians have worked together before, with Bo-Katan allying with Ahsoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker. She is also well aware of the friendship between Sabine Wren and Jedi Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger in Star Wars Rebels.
6 Bo-Katan’s Mandalorian Shield
Similarly to Din earlier in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2, Bo-Katan is attacked by the Alamites. Bo regularly uses her Mandalorian holo-shield during the fight, the same shields used throughout Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels. The shields are emitted from a gauntlet worn by Mandalorians and can withstand a fair amount of punishment, as shown in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2. Bo-Katan doesn't just rely on armor to protect herself.
5 Star Wars’ New Creature: Alamites
This sequence introduces new creatures apparently named Alamites. Bo-Katan explains the Alamites used to live in the wastelands beyond the cities of Mandalore. She also muses that, if the Alamites survived the Empire's attack on Mandalore, other creatures or people may have too.
4 Bo-Katan’s Mandalorian Season 2 Musical Theme
Viewers may recognize Bo-Katan's familiar musical theme throughout The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2. This was introduced in season 2, composed by Ludwig Göransson. He could not return for season 3, due to his packed schedule, but replacement composer Joseph Shirley still finds great usage for Göransson's original themes.
3 Bo-Katan’s Skill With The Darksaber
Din Djarin may struggle with the Darksaber, but Bo-Katan takes it from him and proves extremely proficient. This indicates Bo-Katan's internal consistency and resolution of purpose, because the Darksaber responds to the will of its wielder. Still, she hands it back to Din, clearly unwilling to take it from an ally.