Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 5.
The Mandalorian season 3, episode 5 "Chapter 21 - The Pirate" revealed that Moff Gideon was taken from the New Republic, and while it seems that Mandalorians are behind his abduction, there may be other forces at play. The show has hinted at Moff Gideon's escape since season 3, episode 3 "Chapter 19: The Convert," but now there's no denying that the New Republic has been covering it up. However, the situation is now worse than before, as the presence of beskar means the Mandalorians could be drawn into conflict with the New Republic. Of course, beskar is a prized material throughout the galaxy, meaning another group could have used it.
Until the truth is revealed, the Mandalorians are sure to be the prime suspects, which could draw several groups into conflict after the events on Nevarro. Din Djarin and the other Mandalorians have been welcomed by Greef Karga after saving the planet, who previously made clear his disdain towards the New Republic, which will only increase after they failed to help. If the New Republic were to take action against the Mandalorians, who will grow in number with Bo-Katan Kryze attempting to unite them, Nevarro and others would take up arms to defend their heroes. Ultimately, the final outcome will depend on who really took Moff Gideon from the New Republic.
Another Mandalorian Cell Could Have Taken Moff Gideon
Captain Carson Teva believes that Mandalorians took Moff Gideon, meaning that another Mandalorian cell could be responsible. In The Book of Boba Fett episode 5 "Chapter 5 - Return of the Mandalorian," Paz Vizsla stated that Moff Gideon deserved death rather than a New Republic trial, and other Mandalorians likely feel the same way. Moff Gideon lead the Empire in destroying Mandalore during the Night of a Thousand Tears, so with the blood of millions of Mandalorians on his hands, it would make sense for another cell to want to execute Gideon personally. Vizsla's attitude towards Teva also implies how other Mandalorians feel about the New Republic.
If another Mandalorian cell is responsible for taking Moff Gideon, then it will make Bo-Katan's mission all the more difficult. Uniting the Mandalorian tribes under one banner would already be a daunting challenge, but if another cell is sewing potential conflict with the New Republic, then the galaxy's leaders could see fully united Mandalorians as a threat. This other cell could also view Din Djarin and the Children of the Watch as weak for refusing to execute or punish Gideon personally. Bo-Katan told Grogu that Mandalorians have a long history of fighting each other, so a new conflict between cells is entirely possible, and maybe even another Mandalorian civil war.
The Empire Could Be Using Beskar (And Have Framed Mandalorians)
With all the trouble this would cause for both the Mandalorians and the New Republic, the far more likely culprits are the Empire. It makes sense that the Imperial Remnant would want to free one of their top leaders, and Officer Elia Kane mind-flaying Dr. Pershing implies that she could still be working undercover for Moff Gideon. Captain Teva tried, and failed, to warn the New Republic that the Imperial Remnant was growing into a serious threat, claiming that everything was connected, so his warning is unlikely to be a coincidence. The Empire has used stolen beskar in the past, meaning they could've easily planted some to frame the Mandalorians.
Could The Empire Be Based On Mandalore?
If the Empire did take Moff Gideon, then their use of beskar suggests that they could be based on Mandalore. The mines would be a perfect source of beskar, and there's a whole network of tunnels and caverns created by Imperial bombings to hide in. This would also be an effective way for the Empire to hide in plain sight, as until recently all Mandalorians believed that the planet's atmosphere was poisoned. With Bo-Katan and the Children of the Watch vowing to retake Mandalore, this would raise the stakes by giving them an enemy to fight, which may make some cells hesitate after what the Empire did last time.
Before the Mandalorians take the fight to the Empire, they'll have to deal with the New Republic and possibly another Mandalorian cell. Pirate King Gorian Shard also mentioned a pirate nation before his demise, and since Vane managed to escape, he could return with other pirates to take revenge on the Mandalorians. Captain Teva even suggested that the pirates could be connected to the growing Imperial threat, so this may be the start of an all-out war between every faction. The Mandalorian season 3, episode 6 is sure to explore this possibility further, starting with how the New Republic responds to the evidence implicating the Mandalorians in Moff Gideon's escape.
New episodes of The Mandalorian stream Wednesdays on Disney+.