Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7.
The Mandalorian season 3 only has one episode left, and there are quite a few storylines that the finale can cover. Some of The Mandalorian season 3 episodes deviated too much from the main storyline, but season 3, episode 7 “The Spies” put the show back on track. Moff Gideon's (Giancarlo Esposito) return, Din Djarin's (Pedro Pascal) capture, and the Grand Admiral Thrawn namedrop all point to a high-stakes, game-changing The Mandalorian season 3 finale.
The Mandalorian’s “The Spies” confirmed that Moff Gideon is just a part of a much larger ploy involving Imperial warlords. The Imperial Shadow Council has been backing up Gideon’s operation since the beginning, although Gideon also has his own agenda. The confirmation that Grand Admiral Thrawn is somehow working from the shadows also has major implications for Star Wars’ future. From what happens to Din Djarin to what exactly Project Necromancer is, here are seven theories for how The Mandalorian season 3 will end.
7 The Mandalorian Season 3 Ends With Din Djarin's Death
The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7’s ending saw Din Djarin being captured by Moff Gideon. Din was taken to the “debriefing” room where, presumably, the Mandalorian will be tortured. What Moff Gideon wants with Din Djarin isn’t clear, although it could be just a personal vendetta for the villain. Gideon may also want to use Mando as bait to capture Grogu, in which case he would need Din Djarin alive. Regardless, The Mandalorian season 3 cannot end with Grogu rescuing Din and both walking off of Mandalore alive, as that would be a rehash of season 2’s finale.
The Mandalorian season 2, episode 8 “The Rescue” followed Din Djarin and his friends infiltrating Moff Gideon’s lightcruiser to rescue Grogu. Now, the roles are flipped; Din has been kidnapped by Gideon, and Grogu must come to the rescue. After The Mandalorian season 3’s premiere retconned most of season 2’s ending, thus reducing the show’s stakes, the finale must have some emotional weight. Killing off Din Djarin in The Mandalorian would be a risky move, but it would not be too surprising considering how Mando’s season 3 story has played out. Now that Din has taken the backseat as the Mandoverse grows bigger, Mando’s death cannot be ruled out.
6 The Empire Defeats The Mandalorians In The Season 3 Finale
Moff Gideon’s plans were frustrated by Din Djarin and Grogu during the finales of both The Mandalorian seasons 1 and 2. After so much buildup leading to Gideon’s return in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7 “The Spies,” having the show’s main villain lose again could be a mistake. Moff Gideon, or at least the Imperial Shadow Council itself, will probably defeat the Mandalorians in the season 3 finale. That doesn’t mean The Mandalorian season 3’s ending will see another Mandalorian purge, only that the heroes’ current plan of reclaiming Mandalore might fail. With lots of resources and backup from the Shadow Council, Gideon has the upper hand against the Mandalorians.
This would not be the first time Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) tries to save Mandalore from the Empire and fails. The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7 finally revealed how Moff Gideon obtained the Darksaber; Bo-Katan surrendered to the Empire. Hoping that her planet would be spared, Bo gave Gideon the Darksaber, yet the bombing of Mandalore during the Night of a Thousand Tears still happened. If the Mandalorians fail to reclaim their planet in The Mandalorian season 3’s finale, then Bo-Katan’s journey becomes even more tragic.
5 Grand Admiral Thrawn Returns In The Mandalorian Season 3's Ending
The Mandalorian has been setting up Grand Admiral Thrawn’s return since season 1. After Ahsoka namedropped the Chiss antagonist in The Mandalorian season 2, Thrawn has now been referenced during the Imperial Shadow Council’s meeting shown at the beginning of “The Spies." Lars Mikkelsen will play Grand Admiral Thrawn in Ahsoka, reprising his Star Wars Rebels role. Still, while Thrawn appeared in the Ahsoka trailer, Mikkelsen’s Thrawn could perhaps make his actual live-action debut in The Mandalorian season 3’s finale. The Mandoverse shows are building toward something bigger, including a Dave Filoni Star Wars movie, for which Thrawn would be the perfect villain.
Considering how interconnected the Mandoverse’s shows have been, Thrawn showing up in The Mandalorian season 3 ahead of his Ahsoka role is a very plausible theory. Thrawn can be the common element tying all the Mandoverse shows together, serving as the overarching antagonist. The Mandalorian season 3’s finale could be the first piece of the puzzle leading up to Filoni’s Star Wars movie, which is being described as the culmination of the Mandoverse. Gideon is tired of waiting for Thrawn’s mythical return, so a surprising Thrawn appearance in the finale could shake things up for the Imperial Shadow Council.
4 Bo-Katan Will Kill Moff Gideon With The Darksaber (Or Vice Versa)
The Mandalorian has been setting up a Bo-Katan vs. Moff Gideon duel since the latter revealed the Darksaber during season 1’s finale. Gideon never won the Darksaber in combat from Bo-Katan, meaning that the highly experienced Mandalorian warrior is the favorite to win a hypothetical fight. Gideon has Mandalorian armor, but Bo-Katan currently wields the Darksaber. After three seasons of buildup, The Mandalorian has to settle Gideon and Bo-Katan’s personal rivalry. Bo-Katan killing Moff Gideon is the more likely outcome, although Gideon killing Bo is not too far-fetched. If Din Djarin dies, then the first scenario is much more feasible.
Now that Grand Admiral Thrawn’s return is imminent, Moff Gideon’s story in The Mandalorian may be coming to an end. Moff Gideon’s death at the hands of Bo-Katan could be what accelerates Thrawn’s return, as Gideon is arguably the most important figure in the Imperial Shadow Council right now. The Mandalorian season 3 finale could see the heroes celebrating Gideon’s defeat, only for Thrawn’s return to prove how strong the Empire still is.
3 Grogu Will Ride The Mythosaur In The Mandalorian Season 3’s Finale
The Mandalorian season 3 hasn’t given Grogu too much to do. While less Grogu in season 3 isn’t surprising after how Grogu-centric season 2 was, the Child’s story hasn’t really progressed since "Baby Yoda" reunited with the Mandalorian. Apart from The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4 “The Foundling," in which it was revealed who saved Grogu from Order 66, the kid has been a glorified extra in season 3. The Mandalorian season 3’s finale must point Grogu’s story in a new direction, perhaps by having Grogu ride the Mythosaur. In this scenario, Grogu is the Mandalorian foretold by the prophecy, not Din or Bo-Katan.
2 A New Mandalorian Becomes The Show’s Titular Character
According to Rick Famuyiwa, The Mandalorian’s executive producer and the finale's director, Din Djarin may not be The Mandalorian’s titular character forever. Famuyiwa mentioned Bo-Katan wielding the Darksaber and how that raises the question of “who is the Mandalorian” at this current point of the show. Therefore, even if Din Djarin dies in The Mandalorian season 3, the show could continue, now following a different Mandalorian. The most obvious choice for The Mandalorian’s new main character is Bo-Katan, who has been sharing the spotlight with Din in season 3. Another option is Grogu, who is now a Mandalorian himself.
1 Project Necromancer Picks Up Steam After The Mandalorian Season 3
“Project Necromancer” was namedropped during The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7 when the Imperial Shadow Council was discussing their plans and Thrawn’s return. Details on Project Necromancer have yet to be revealed, although a safe prediction is that it ties into Emperor Palpatine’s return in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Star Wars: The Bad Batch’s season 2 story, The Mandalorian’s cloning plotline, and Thrawn’s imminent return are all connected, presumably leading up to Project Necromancer. The Mandalorian season 3’s finale could better explain what Project Necromancer is and why it is so important to Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Even if the Imperial Shadow Council is simply planning to bring Palpatine back, Project Necromancer could tie into more immediate Star Wars stories. The galaxy only learns about Palpatine’s return after Supreme Leader Snoke’s death, but Thrawn could have other goals before resurrecting the Emperor. It would make far more sense if Project Necromancer was about Thrawn’s own agenda, rather than just bringing Palpatine back. Thrawn and Palpatine always had different goals, after all. Either way, the questions surrounding Thrawn might begin to be answered after The Mandalorian season 3’s finale.
The Mandalorian season 3 finale releases Wednesday on Disney+.