This article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1.The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1 has put Mando’s new N-1 Starfighter in a whole new light. When Din Djarin lost the Razor Crest in The Mandalorian season 2, expectations were high as to what ship he would get to replace it. After all, the Razor Crest was essentially his home, and by extension Grogu's, as the pair traveled the galaxy together. With the vast expanse of Star Wars lore and ship styles at The Mandalorian’s disposal, there were plenty of options available, but few, if any, would have expected Din Djarin to end up with a Naboo Starfighter during The Book of Boba Fett.
The Mandalorian's new N-1 Starfighter proved a controversial choice, with many pointing out it wasn't especially practical for a bounty hunter. The Razor Crest had plenty of storage space for Mando’s cache of weaponry, a carbonite freezing chamber, a place to sleep, and room for four passengers, all essential for anyone traveling long distances. Additionally, the Razor Crest was a gunship, mainly used in an offensive capacity and loaded with heavy armaments. Given Din Djarin’s nomadic lifestyle, the N-1 Starfighter seemed an impractical choice - but The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1 “Chapter 17 – The Apostate” has proven just how handy it can be.
The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter Is Much Faster Than The Razor Crest
Both The Book of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian season 3 have proven how fast the N-1 Starfighter is. It outruns most ships, both in space and within a planet’s atmosphere, thanks to its sublight thrusters and dual engines. It has outrun New Republic X-wings, as seen in The Book of Boba Fett, as well as other starfighters, as proven in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1 when Din was attacked by pirates just after leaving Nevarro. Though standard Naboo Starfighters were already faster than the average ship, Peli Motto’s and Mando’s modifications have made it even faster, able to outrun almost anything it may come across in space.
The Razor Crest, on the other hand, often had trouble outrunning its pursuers; not only was it a much bulkier and heavier ship, but it wasn’t made to race, and it wasn’t modified for speed, either. The Razor Crest relied on its defensive weaponry to ensure a safe getaway. The N-1 Starfighter, however, can not only outrun its pursuers but outmaneuver them as well. The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1 not only proves once again just how fast The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter is, but how well it handles in a fight as well.
The Mandalorian's New Ship Is Far Better In A Dogfight Than The Razor Crest
One of The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1’s most exciting scenes sees Din Djarin engage in a dogfight against a few wayward pirates who are looking to get revenge. Mando finds himself facing six separate ships, and the battle takes place in the chaos of an asteroid field, but he is still easily capable of simultaneously avoiding collisions while outrunning the pirate ships. It doesn't take him long to go on the offensive, picking the pirates off one by one. Mando is an excellent pilot, to be sure, but his skills are amplified by his N-1 Starfighter. The Mandalorian's Razor Crest would have been nowhere near as maneuverable and likely would have had a much harder time navigating the asteroid field while trying to evade pursuers.
Given The Mandalorian season 3 seems to be letting go of Din’s life as a bounty hunter – at least for the time being – so he may pursue redemption and learn more about the current state of Mandalore, his N-1 Starfighter looks to be a perfect fit for this purpose. If in the future, Din Djarin decides to return to a full-time life of bounty hunting, he may find he has new needs and may acquire a different ship altogether. But for now, and for the narrative of The Mandalorian season 3, the N-1 Starfighter seems to have been the right choice of ship.
The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1 is streaming now on Disney+. New episodes release Wednesdays.