Did Baby Yoda exit ‘The Mandalorian’? His future, explained
Baby Yoda, also known as Grogu, has been the runaway star of The Mandalorian. He’s adorable, he’s powerful, and he’s responsible for some of the finest Star Wars memes since the prequel trilogy. He may also be on his way out. The Mandalorian season 2 finale recently aired, and it has caused several to question whether Grogu is gone for good. Will he come back in season 3?
Mandalorian showrunners Jon Favreau & Dave Filoni have kept their plans for the future under wraps, but Film Daily was able to cobble together clues from interviews and the show itself and provide an explanation as to where Grogu is headed next. Be cautious of spoilers for The Mandalorian season 2!
Tragic backstory
The last few episodes of season 2 explain Grogu’s backstory. According to the show, Grogu was trained as a Jedi Knight, but was forced to go into hiding after the Galactic Empire rose to power. He repressed most of his training as a means of survival, but he was still captured by a Nitko encampment. His subsequent release and salvation was documented during the first season.
Grogu is captured once more by the villainous Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), and most of the season 2 finale focuses on his freedom. Mando (Pedro Pascal) and his team band together to rescue Grogu, but they too fall into a seemingly unwinnable situation.
Then, out of nowhere, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) shows up to save the day and take Grogu to safety. He assures Mando that he will take good care of Grogu and continue his Jedi training in private.
Emotional departure
The season ends with Grogu and Luke flying off to some undesignated location. It’s unknown how long Grogu plans to train with Luke, but it’s safe to assume the childlike creature will return in some capacity in season 3. From a narrative standpoint, Grogu has a lot more to contribute to the rebellion. As one of the few remaining Jedi Knights, he will be able to help civilians and rebel soldiers as they attempt to destroy the Empire.
We can’t say for sure whether Grogu will return in season 3 or the subsequent season 4, since The Mandalorian has already been renewed for additional years. Keeping him out of the show for a full season would be tough on fans, but it would also serve to highlight just how emotional the farewell was between Grogu and Mando. By keeping them apart for a longer period of time, the showrunners will make their reunion all the more potent.
In addition to narrative and emotional reasons, Grogu is, quite simply, Disney’s biggest product right now. Baby Yoda has become a phenomenon to rival that of Illumination’s Minions, and he has been plastered on everything from coffee cups and t-shirts to toys and board games. From a marketing standpoint, Grogu is modern day Star Wars.
Triumphant return
The reemerging Empire has Grogu’s blood and scientists who are working on cloning tech, so it’s possible that we could get a different (or possibly evil) version of Baby Yoda before we get to see the return of the real thing.
When Grogu returns he may even be a Teen Yoda, which opens up tons of new brand opportunities and follows suit with the way Disney utilized Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
Disney is keenly aware of the character’s brand strength, so fans who are concerned about Grogu’s exit should take solace in the fact that he’s too valuable to write off. He will be back eventually, and he will be more powerful than ever.
The Mandalorian seasons 1-2 are currently streaming on Disney+.
