Moff Gideon's armor in The Mandalorian is a throwback to Darth Vader says actor Giancarlo Esposito. He plays the big bad in The Mandalorian, who is still on the hunt for Baby Yoda. Gideon was last seen standing in a room full of terrifying Dark Troopers during, "Chapter 12: The Siege," wearing menacing black armor that looks eerily similar to Darth Vader's.
Gideon's last appearance is ominous for several reasons. The first is the reveal that he had instructed an officer to place a tracking beacon on the Razor Crest, Din Djarin's ship. Djarin didn't seem to be aware of the tracking beacon in the latest episode, "Chapter 13: The Jedi," where he comes face-to-face with Ahsoka Tano. Gideon's beacon will likely come into play in upcoming episodes. The second sinister thing about Gideon's appearance is how he confidently says, "And we will be ready," when the officer confirms that Djarin still has the Child in tow.
Esposito always has great insight on Gideon's character motivations and the esteemed actor's recent interview with IGN exemplifies that. Check out what Esposito had to say about what inspired Gideon's incredible armor below.
"I think it's a throwback to this guy [Darth Vader]...I mean, it really relates in a way to me, I like to think or imagine in my brain, that he has the kind of power that Darth Vader had. And so, seeing him in his armor and his cape and armed up tells me he's a warrior. That tells me he is a soldier and has the skills to back that up and hopefully, you'll see it soon in our [upcoming] episodes."
Esposito's thoughts on why Gideon wears the armor is interesting. Gideon was seen wearing the Darth Vader-esque armor back in The Mandalorian season 1 as well. However, season 2 has been slowly but surely indicating what Gideon has planned. The ex-Imperial officer appears to be attempting to bring the fallen Empire back from the dead and he needs the Child's midichlorian rich blood to do it. Although it's hard to believe that anyone could match Darth Vader's power, Gideon's plans and his possession of the legendary Darksaber certainly make him a formidable foe for Djarin, Bo-Katan, Ahsoka, and company. Esposito did say in another interview that fans will likely see more of Gideon in The Mandalorians season 3, so it's unlikely his plans will be fulfilled in the last three episodes of season 2.
Esposito has also mentioned he thinks Gideon might be force-sensitive. That would certainly make him more likely to be somewhat on par with Vader. However, Darth Vader is one of the most iconic villains of all time and it's hard for any other evil entity to compare. Esposito does a great job portraying the dastardly Gideon in a way that's unique on his own terms, without being an outright Darth Vader wannabe.
Moff Gideon is without a doubt one of the best parts of The Mandalorian. Esposito's character is quietly menacing, which makes his yet to be unveiled plans all the more frightening. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out. The next episode of The Mandalorian premieres Friday, December 4th only on Disney Plus.
Source: IGN