Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 3.
The TIE interceptors seen in The Mandalorian season 3 could be pointing to Grand Admiral Thrawn. Having been set up for a Star Wars appearance for some time now, the iconic Imperial leader has yet to make an official live-action debut. However, that doesn't mean he's been inactive, as some of the tactics displayed by the forces of the Imperial Remnant in The Mandalorian feel awfully familiar.
In The Mandalorian season 3, episode 3, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff) are leaving the homeworld of Mandalore when they're attacked from behind by a squadron of TIE interceptors, their point of origin currently unknown. However, the starfighters pursue the Mandalorians from Mandalore to the nearby world of Kalevala, where Bo-Katan's family castle resides. While Djarin and Bo-Katan were busy dealing with the interceptors, a group of TIE bombers destroyed Bo-Katan's home while also setting a major trap, a strategy that's been seen before employed by Thrawn himself.
The TIE Fighter Tactics Are VERY Similar To Thrawn's
Enraged that the Imperials destroyed yet another one of her homes, the former regent of Mandalorian pursues the TIE bombers, and even takes one of them out before the dark truth is revealed. The bombers were merely bait meant to lure Bo-Katan and Din Djarin straight into the path of a second, much larger force of TIE interceptors who'd been lying in wait in the planet's atmosphere. Although the two Mandalorians and Grogu managed to escape the system with their lives, the impressive sneak attack was a tactic that's definitely been seen before.
In the animated series Star Wars Rebels where Thrawn made his first on-screen debut, the Empires' Grand Admiral employed a similar strategy against the forces of the Rebel Alliance (seen in season 4, episode 9 "Rebel Assault"). During a campaign that served as one of the first battles where the Rebels flew their brand-new X-Wings, an initial force of TIEs was defeated in orbit before Rebel fighters were attacked by a second Imperial wave hiding in the atmosphere of Lothal and headed straight for them. As such, it's a very similar sequence that could be pointing toward Thrawn's hand behind the attack on Kalevala in The Mandalorian season 3.
The Mandalorian Season 3, Episode 3 Could Set Up A Thrawn Appearance
Following The Mandalorian season 3, episode 3, it's quite possible Thrawn could debut in live-action sooner than Star Wars fans think. Having been named-dropped by Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian season 2, the assumption has been that Thrawn's whereabouts since his disappearance before the original trilogy will be revealed in the upcoming Ahsoka series. However, he could also be revealed sooner as the overarching leader of the Imperial Remnant. After all, it's unknown who's been in charge since Moff Gideon was taken into custody by the New Republic (though he potentially escaped). There's a good chance The Mandalorian season 3 pays off this potential Thrawn tease in the episodes to come.
New episodes of The Mandalorian release Wednesdays on Disney+.