The Mandalorian, Din Djarin, escapes captivity and he and Grogu confront Moff Gideon. Axe Woves reaches the Mandalorian fleet, warning them of Moff Gideon's attack and sending them to reinforce Bo-Katan and Din Djarin on the surface of Mandalore.
Tropes:
- Abandon Ship: Axe Woves orders all the Mandalorians aboard the light cruiser to evac to their gunships and attack the surface, moments before it is swarmed by TIE Interceptors and Bombers.
- Agony of the Feet: Twice in the fight with the Praetorians, Din catches one off-balance by shooting him in the foot.
- All Your Base Are Belong to Us: The Mandalorians that abandon the light cruiser then reinforce Bo-Katan and the Mandalorian clans on the surface of Mandalore. Woves dives out a bridge window at the last moment before crashing the cruiser into Moff Gideon's base, severely damaging the base and killing Gideon.
- Ambiguously Absent Parent: The Armorer notes that they don't know where Grogu's biological parents are or if they're even still alive.
- And the Adventure Continues: With Grogu formally adopted by Din, The Armorer bids that he leave Mandalore and resume his bounty hunting to begin Grogu's trials, with Din approaching Carson Teva with an under-the-table offer to hunt Imperial Remnants and generally keep peace in the Outer Rim... after they spend some time winding down with a much needed vacation in their new home on the outskirts of Nevarro.
- The Apprentice: After the battle is won, the Mandalorians gather at the Living Waters shrine for a ceremony in which Ragnar, son of Paz Vizsla, takes the Mandalorian Creed. Grogu cannot speak yet and thus cannot take The Creed, but he is publicly acclaimed as Din Djarin's apprentice as a Mandalorian and given the name, "Din Grogu."
- Back from the Dead: After Din secures a replacement IG-unit head from Carson Teva, the Anzellan droidsmiths manage to rebuild IG-11, who takes up the vacant office of Nevarro's marshal.
- Badass in Distress: Din starts the episode tied up and being dragged through the halls by Imperial Super Commandos, but quickly turns the tables on them and gets free with a brief assist from Grogu.
- Bat Out of Hell: Gideon's TIE Interceptors hang upside-down from the ceiling of his base when not in use, which (combined with their unusual wing shape) causes them to resemble a colony of bats taking flight when they launch.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Gideon ordered the light cruiser shot down, which is exactly what happens. He just didn't count on it being pointed at his own base when it went down.
- Bloodless Carnage: Although Din kills a Super Commando and a Praetorian Guard by way of a knife to the throat, neither enemy is seen to bleed.
- Bookends: The season began with Ragnar Viszla's initiation ceremony being interrupted by a monster attack. This episode (and the season) ends with the Armorer re-doing the ceremony in the Mines of Mandalore, and this time it goes off without a hitch.
- Breaking Old Trends: This is the first time a season finale doesn't include a scene with Din Djarin taking his helmet off.
- Bullying a Dragon: A very downplayed example, as a group of Mouse Droids accost the Astromech R5-D4. They can't actually harm him, and in merely taking off, R5 sends a couple of them plummeting off a ledge.
- Call-Back:
- Grogu tries to use IG-11's bacta spray on Din, as was done to Din in the finale of season 1, though he fails to consider that it doesn't work through clothing.
- Grogu uses the Force to protect himself, Din and Bo-Katan from the fires of the exploding base just like he protected everyone from the flamethrower-wielding Stormtrooper back in "Redemption". When the fire subsides, he even flops to the ground to rest the same way he did in the previous episode.
- R5-D4 has the same rocket thrusters R2-D2 used in the Prequel movies, and is just as capable at taking control of security systems as R2.
- Call-Forward:
- The Super Commandos Din faces before he gets to Gideon wield the same anti-riot/Z6 riot control batons and shields FN-2199 will use on Finn.
- Din offers his services to the New Republic as an independent contractor fighting Imperial remnants in the Outer Rim, basically a proto-Resistance.
- Canon Immigrant: Crossing with Continuity Nod. Just as in Legends, the final version of the Dark Trooper technology is an evolution from a nigh-indestructible and heavily armed Battle Droid into a nigh-indestructible and heavily armed Powered Armor suit for Gideon that combines the best of both worlds. Bonus points for Gideon looking to use Force Sensitive Clones to drive them, a nod to Star Wars: Rebellion where Dark Trooper suits were driven by Dark Side users.
- Character Development: It's very understated, but in the closing scene of Ragnar swearing The Oath, the Armorer notably leaves out any mention of removing his helmet, suggesting that after the Children of the Watch and Night Owls worked together to retake Mandalore, she's beginning to relax the Children's most extreme fundamentals.
- Colony Drop: Axe crashes the burning cruiser into Gideon's base.
- Combat Pragmatist: Din gets through a lot of fights in this episode by shooting enemies in the foot and capitalizing on that.
- Continuity Nod:
- Ragnar and The Armorer perform the Mandalorian initiation standing in the Living Waters as Djarin did six episodes back, though avert accidentally plunging down the deep drop, having obviously been forewarned by Din and Bo-Katan to watch out for that last step, plus lighting now installed in the chamber. And unlike Ragnar's attempted initiation seven episodes ago, the giant monster in the water leaves him alone.
- During the explodiong base scene, the camerawork and the music playing is reminiscent of Kanan Jarrus' sacrifice. Thankfully, Grogu holds strong and everyone comes out this particular fireball alive.
- While relaxing at Din's new cabin on Nevarro, Grogu levitates a nearby frog just like he did while training with Luke.
- The last time we see Din is in a circular iris wipe that narrows down to just him and Grogu before closing. The first time we saw him from the front in the first episode was when he walked through a circular door in a bar.
- Creator Cameo: Dave Filoni is sitting at the bar again while Din and Teva are talking (he's the one wearing the hat).
- Curb-Stomp Battle: In stark contrast to their fight in season two, Moff Gideon inflicts a brutal one on Mando (and Bo-Katan), owing in no small part to his beskar Powered Armor. It takes Axe practically dropping a cruiser on him to end the fight.
- Death by Irony: A double dose, as Gideon is killed when his former flagship is dropped on his base after it was shot down on his command.
- Death from Above: Gideon's base suffers from a mix of It's Raining Men and a Colony Drop in the form of an Arquitens-class light cruiser deciding to crash into it after being shot out of orbit by the base's own compliment of TIE Interceptors and Bombers.
- Dynamic Entry: Din Djarin is getting beaten up hard by Moff Gideon, when Bo-Katan comes to his rescue with a sudden and brutal jetpack-powered tackle, sending the villain sprawling.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: After a long journey, Moff Gideon is dead, Mandalore has been reclaimed by the now-unified Mandalorians, and Din Djarin has formally adopted Grogu as his son and apprentice.
- Evil Is Petty: After being denied the Darksaber one last time, Gideon makes sure to crush the weapon while fighting Bo-Katan, to disarm and demoralize her, as well as to spite her for denying him the weapon.
- Eye Awaken:
- One of Moff Gideon's clones suddenly awakes while Grogu stares at him, startling the child.
- The submerged Mythosaur opens its eye and glances upward, seemingly in response to Force connecting with Grogu.
- Final Battle: The Mandalorian clans, led by Bo-Katan, Din Djarin, Axe Woves, the surviving Mandalorians living covertly on and under Mandalore, and The Armorer, unite their forces and defeat Moff Gideon and his evil forces in the climactic decisive battle toward which Season 3 had been building.
- Forgotten Fallen Friend: No one even mentions that Paz Viszla sacrificed himself.
- Going Down with the Ship: Axe Woves stays at the helm of his cruiser until moments before it crashes into Gideon's base. Once he's sure the ship won't drift off target, he breaks a window and jumps clear.
- Good-Guy Bar: The cantina at the New Republic Ranger base on Adelphi features again, with a strong implication that the series protagonists Din Djarin and his adopted son/apprentice Din Grogu will be regular patrons there now too in subsequent seasons.
- Guns Akimbo: Din makes use of two blasters he takes off of the Super Commandos while fighting Gideon and the Praetorian Guards.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Subverted twice with Axe Woves. When he reaches the Mandalorian cruiser, he orders everyone to evacuate and return to ground. He pilots it all by himself as he takes on Gideon's fleet, seemingly to sacrifice himself as the cruiser takes significant damage. Later in the battle, it is shown that he is still alive, the cruiser now plummeting into the atmosphere, and he tells Bo-Katan to get everyone out before he rams the cruiser into the base. However, he blasts open one of the windows with a gauntlet rocket and jets out at the last minute, ultimately surviving. He's seen again no worse for wear at the ceremonies in the triumphant denouement.
- Hope Sprouts Eternal: After escaping the Imperial base, the Survivor Captain leads Bo-Katan, Koska, and the other warriors to an underground cavern full of plant life. He explains that not only have the pockets of survivors around the planet been cultivating crops to eat, but that plant and animal species thought extinct during the various wars on Mandalore have started to return after the bombing, giving hope that the planet can be made habitable once again.
- Hypocrite: Gideon in spades:
- The previous episode had Gideon mocking Brendol Hux as being obsessed with cloning... while having cloned a small army of himself.
- Gideon taunting Bo-Katan by saying that Mandalorians are nothing without their gear... while wearing Beskar Powered Armor.
- Impromptu Tracheotomy: Din kills a Super Commando and the last of the Praetorian Guards by stabbing them in the throat with a knife.
- Iris Out: The episode ends with one, focusing on Grogu and a poor creature he's levitating.
- It's Raining Men: The Armorer leads the rest of the Mandalorians to assault the base and rescue Bo-Katan's scouting party. A swarm of jetpack-wearing Super Commandos rise to meet them and a pitched furball ensues.
- Karmic Death: Gideon's fate, in multiple ways; while fighting Din (whose adopted son he's been chasing since the beginning), Grogu (whom he's abducted and experimented on), and Bo-Katan (whom he backstabbed and whose people he slaughtered, the latter of which can also be said about Din and Grogu), he's killed when his former command ship(that he ordered shot down) is crashed into his base on Mandalore (by Axe Woves, another Mandalorian), a planet which once suffered Orbital Bombardment at Gideon's own command.
- Kick the Dog:
- As the Praetorian Guards attack Grogu, Moff Gideon attacks Mando each time he tries to help him, preventing him from doing so.
- Moff Gideon destroys the Darksaber in an attempt to break Bo-Katan.
- LEGO Genetics: Gideon has used Dr. Pershing's research to isolate the genes necessary for Force-sensitivity in Grogu and graft them onto clones of himself to make an army of Force-wielding super soldiers.
- Made of Iron: Both Din and Bo-Katan have their hands painfully squeezed by a Powered Armor clad Gideon, with Bo's hand enduring enough force to crush the Darksaber (itself made of beskar). Despite this, both Mandalorians keep fighting effectively. Though upon closer observation, Bo-Katan notably doesn't use her right hand after it was crushed, focusing on her left in all moments afterward, including re-igniting the Great Forge.
- The Men First: After ordering Abandon Ship, Axe Woves stays aboard the cruiser to delay the TIEs while everyone else gets to the surface. He even refuses the offer of another Mandalorian to stay with him.
- Missed Him by That Much: The TIE Interceptors sent up by Gideon exit the atmosphere mere moments after the Mandalorian support ships enter it. Because the atmosphere obscures sensors, the TIE fighters detect nothing except the light cruiser, exactly as intended.
- Moral Myopia: Unsurprisingly, Gideon has this. He is coldly furious over Din dashing all his latest-model Clones that were likely Force-sensitive while in their tanks, calling Din basically a baby-killer over destroying what is most emphatically Gideon's vanity project. This is from the man who is attempting to complete his act of genocide upon the Mandalorians.
- Mythology Gag: Once he pulls out a shock staff, while wearing his armor, Gideon looks a great deal like a Purge Trooper. Given his fighting skill, he may even have been one before working his way up the ranks to Moff.
- Narcissist: Gideon's ego is at its fullest here, as the clones he has been hinting at making are of himself and he claims they would have been the perfect soldiers with the Force.
- Papa Wolf: Din takes on the Praetorian Guard to save Grogu, but unlike most cases, Grogu assists Din and gives him the edge he needs to kill the Elite Mooks.
- Poke the Poodle: While working Gideon's security, R5 is spotted by an Imperial mouse droid, which signals the alarm. Since all the troopers are preoccupied, all it can do is gather up its mouse droid buddies, who then ineffectually ram the bigger astromech droid. R5 casually jets off once his task is complete, sending two droids into the pit.
- P.O.V. Cam: At the beginning, there's a shot of what Din is seeing (thus through his helmet visor) as he's bound and dragged by Imperial Super Commandos.
- Psychic Radar: Though the Mythosaur gives no indication of its presence or existence before all the assembled Mandalorians during Ragnar's initiation at the Mines' Waters, Grogu senses it through the Force, and the Mythosaur in turn seems to sense Grogu back.
- Punch Catch: Gideon does this to Din during their fight, crushing his hand hard enough to bring him to his knees in the process.
- Rage Breaking Point: Gideon is seething when Din kills his Force-sensitive clones.
- Rank Up: Grogu goes from being a Mandalorian Foundling to an Apprentice under his official father, Din Djarin.
- The Reveal:
- Gideon's plan has been to create an army of clones of himself that can use the Force. This explains why he wanted to study Grogu's blood, and what he needed Dr. Pershing's strand-cast research for.
- The renaming of Grogu to Din Grogu after his official adoption by Din Djarin, who's also a foundling, means "Din" is not a first name, but either surname (since we have no idea about naming conventions of his original people) or a title all foundlings get when they're officially adopted by a Mandalorian.
- Screaming Warrior: When Gideon once again demands the Darksaber from her, this time offering a warrior's death if she agrees, Bo-Katan responds by screaming in rage and charging at the Moff.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Technically, Din couldn't be employed by the New Republic as a bounty hunter, so it'd have to be done on the quiet. Din knows Carson's already going to take the deal, much as he says he needs to think about it.
- Sequel Hook: Moff Gideon may have been vanquished... but the Shadow Council he answered to is still active, and warned of the rise of Mandalore.
- Sword and Sorcerer: Din and Grogu while fighting the Praetorian Guards. Din fights them directly while Grogu uses the Force to throw them off-balance.
- Think Nothing of It: At the end, Carson Teva expresses gratitude to Din for getting rid of Moff Gideon. Din replies that Gideon was both their enemy and that if he hadn't taken him down, Teva would've gotten him eventually.
- Throwing Your Sword Always Works: Din kills one Super Commando by throwing a knife at him.
- Tired of Running: After Grogu saves him from the Super Commandos holding him captive, Din tells him that they can't run from Gideon anymore; if they don't stop him now, he'll never stop hunting them.
- Took a Level in Badass:
- Moff Gideon gets his ass handed to him by Mando at the end of season two. Here, he manages to curb-stomp Mando, and afterwards he defeats Bo-Katan. Were it not for Mando and Grogu's Big Damn Heroes moment, he would've killed her. This, however, is as much a case of "Took a Level in Powered Armor" as it is direct skill increase.
- R5-D4, who earlier in the season was afraid to simply roll away from the N-1 on Mandalore's surface, infiltrates Gideon's base and hacks the computers to assist Din and Grogu. He even zaps one of the Imperial mouse droids when it tries interfering with him.
- Although not strong or experienced enough to fight them without help, Grogu's acrobatics allow him to keep ahead of the Praetorian Guard, telekinetically knocking them down to defend himself, helping Din and Bo-Katan by telekinetically depriving the guards and Gideon of their weapons. Also, strong displays of Force power previously left Grogu passing out afterwards; here, he manages to hold back a massive explosion, saving Din and Bo-Katan's lives, and when the threat has passed, he has to sit down, but is otherwise fine.
- Villainous Breakdown: Defeated and with his plans ruined, Gideon can only scream in helpless rage as the cruiser crashes and immolates him.
- With My Hands Tied: Din is able to fight off the two Imperial Super Commandos while his hands are still tied together. They do almost get the better of him after a struggle, but then Grogu arrives and takes them out with IG-12.
- Would Hurt a Child: The Praetorian Guard pursue Grogu with lethal intent after the child steps in to help Din, continuing to hack and slash at him even after IG-12 is dismembered.
- Wrecked Weapon: The Darksaber is destroyed by Moff Gideon and the pieces are lost in the fires that consume the base. As it was the symbol of Mandalore tradition, its loss signifies the end of many of the old ways but also the beginning of new ones.
