In order to fully understand The Mandalorian season 2, one needs to be clued up on Star Wars Rebels and The Clone Wars as well. The dramatic first season finale of The Mandalorian ended with Moff Gideon revealing he wields a legendary weapon, the Darksaber. There's a sense in which that set the pattern for all the recent announcements, which frankly make The Mandalorian season 2 feel like a continuation of the stories told in The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.
Lucasfilm was remarkably spoiler-averse when it came to The Mandalorian season 1, even managing to avoid any major leaks about Baby Yoda. It's much harder to keep casting announcements secret, of course, and Lucasfilm probably don't mind, given it means they have good news to share during the coronavirus pandemic. Rosario Dawson has been cast as a live-action Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker's apprentice in The Clone Wars and a major figure in Star Wars Rebels; Temuera Morrison will be appearing as Boba Fett, and Katee Sackoff will be reprising her Clone Wars role of Bo-Katan.
Of course, that does mean viewers will potentially have a lot to catch up on. Fortunately, every episode of Star Wars animation is available on Disney+ — but for those who don't want to watch it all (or don't have the time), here's everything one needs to know ahead of The Mandalorian season 2.
What Is The Darksaber?
The Darksaber is a one-of-a-kind weapon, created by a Mandalorian named Tarre Vizsla over a thousand years ago. Tarre Vizsla became ruler of Mandalore, and it has acquired a legendary status among Mandalorians. For centuries, the Darksaber was kept in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, but it was ultimately returned to the Mandalorians. It was kept within Clan Vizsla as a sort of family heirloom for generations. The blade resurfaced during The Clone Wars, when Darth Maul claimed it and took ownership of the Mandalorian terrorist group called Death Watch. It was recovered in Star Wars Rebels and handed to Bo-Katan, rightful regent of Mandalore, who was battling to end the Imperial occupation of her world. Clearly that story hasn't ended well, given that the Darksaber has found its way into the hands of the Empire; it was seen wielded by Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian season 1 finale.
Who Is Bo-Katan Kryze?
Bo-Katan Kryze was the last Mandalorian seen using the Darksaber. Bo-Katan was introduced in The Clone Wars, the extremist sister of Mandalore's ruler, Duchess Satine. She longed for a return to Mandalore's traditional, militaristic ways, and was willing to go to any lengths to achieve her vision of Mandalore — even overthrow her sister. Unfortunately, this schism happened at the same time as the Clone Wars, and Bo-Katan soon found herself caught in the insidious plans of Darth Maul, who successfully conquered Mandalore.
Bo-Katan and her Death Watch allies worked together to overthrow Maul, and she was appointed regent of her homeworld. Her regency probably only lasted days, because the Siege of Mandalore — the military conflict in which Maul was overthrown — coincided with the events of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. An Imperial puppet government was appointed, but Bo-Katan remained unhappy with this twist, and was persuaded to trigger a new civil war in Star Wars Rebels. This culminated in the Purge of Mandalore, in which the Empire launched a devastating strike on the planet in order to demonstrate the foolishness of rebellion; the Purge of Mandalore has not been seen, but it explains why so few Mandalorians are known to be alive in the post-Return of the Jedi era.
Katee Sackoff voiced Bo-Katan in both The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, and is returning for The Mandalorian season 2. The extent of her role is unknown; it's entirely possible Bo-Katan appears in flashbacks, perhaps in scenes explaining how Moff Gideon acquired the Darksaber.
Where Has Ahsoka Tano Been All These Years?
Ahsoka Tano is one of the most important figures in Star Wars TV. She was introduced as Anakin Skywalker's apprentice in The Clone Wars movie, a twist that took viewers by surprise, but Lucas and showrunner Dave Filoni skillfully wove Ahsoka into the overarching Star Wars narrative. Ahsoka left the Jedi, with her disaffection for the Council unwittingly help turn Anakin Skywalker against them. She returned to ally with Bo-Katan during the Siege of Mandalore, and came to regret that decision, because she almost fell foul of Order 66.
Ahsoka briefly attempted to live as a civilian, but she eventually decided she couldn't just watch as the galaxy suffered under the Empire's yoke. Instead, she approached the sympathetic Senator Bail Organa, and became one of his Fulcrum agents — spies, infiltrators, and messengers who helped establish Rebel cells across the galaxy. In Star Wars Rebels, that ultimately brought Ahsoka into contact with a cell based on Lothal, and another Jedi survivor. She learned the truth about Darth Vader — that he was her former master — and barely survived the experience.
There are still many gaps in Ahsoka's story. She was last seen headed into the Unknown Regions after the events of Return of the Jedi, attempting to recover a friend who had disappeared. Five years later, she is destined to cross paths with the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda — a being she's certainly going to be thrilled to meet, given Ahsoka trained under Yoda.
What Is The Link Between Boba Fett & The Mandalorians?
The Mandalorian season 2 will also feature the return of Boba Fett, but it's important to remember Boba Fett is not actually a Mandalorian. Even his father Jango Fett wasn't a Mandalorian, as Prime Minister Almec fumed in an episode of The Clone Wars. "Jango Fett was a common bounty hunter," Almec observed. "How he acquired that armor is beyond me." George Lucas himself chose to establish a difference between the Fetts and the Mandalorians, probably because that way he could build Mandalorian culture and society from scratch, not having to worry about contradicting Boba Fett lore. As detailed in The Clone Wars, Boba Fett essentially became an outlaw, not a Mandalorian — and there's most likely a great deal of bitterness between the two parties.