Here are all the Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano, long-awaited answers about Baby Yoda, and a surprise connection to an established Star Wars villain, and that's only scratching the surface of what The Mandalorian season 2's latest episode covered.
"The Jedi" brings Din Djarin and his young companion to Corvus, as per the directions of Bo-Katan Kryze from earlier in The Mandalorian season 2. There, Mando is introduced to the local Magistrate, Morgan Elsbeth, who serves the Imperial remnants and rules over the local population with an iron (or beskar) fist. Naturally, Magistrate Elsbeth finds herself at odds with the noble Ahsoka Tano, and the characters are in the midst of a violent feud when the Razor Crest pulls up. Mando takes advantage of the Magistrate to find Ahsoka, who reveals Baby Yoda is actually called Grogu, and was evacuated from Coruscant before the Empire fully took hold. Although Ahsoka is reluctant to train the budding green Jedi herself, she tasks Djarin with a brand new mission.
Viewers are no doubt still recovering from the shocking reveals made in "The Jedi," but as the dust settles, The Mandalorian's latest episode offers a predictably generous sprinkling of references to existing Star Wars canon, just waiting to be found.
Ahsoka Tano
The most obvious Star Wars callback in "The Jedi" is the character referenced by the episode's title. Ahsoka Tano had already been announced for The Mandalorian season 2, and her arrival was set up several episodes earlier by Bo-Katan Kryze, but fans still weren't entirely prepared for Rosario Dawson's take on the character. Ahsoka Tano features predominantly in Star Wars Rebels, tie-in novels, and much more. Despite a rocky start, Ahsoka evolved into arguably the most popular protagonist in Star Wars canon, but her debut in The Mandalorian marks the Togruta's first live-action credit. Dawson nails Ahsoka's most recognizable traits, from her signature lightsaber pose to her determined personality. While "firsts" can be memorable without necessarily being "good" or "bad," Ahsoka in The Mandalorian is very welcome indeed.
The Town Entrance
The Magistrate's settlement on Corvus is guarded by a distinctive gated entrance complete with a long bell that warns when angry former Jedi with dual lightsabers appear. This design might seem fresh and modern, but the structure actually derives from historic 1975 concept art produced for the first Star Wars movie by the legendary Ralph McQuarrie. The Mandalorian has already borrowed McQuarrie's ice spiders for season 2, and the design of Corvus now also owes a debt to McQuarrie's vision. Interestingly, the idea of white lightsabers is another element of "The Jedi" that traces back to McQuarrie's art. Although Ahsoka has wielded these pale blades before, The Mandalorian marks their first appearance in live action. It seems the older Star Wars gets, the further back in time the visuals look for inspiration.
Convor Owl
When Din Djarin is hunting Corvus for a sign of Ahsoka Tano, a small owl can be spotted perching in one of the many barren trees. This creature isn't merely a random bird, however - it's a convor. First seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, convor owls have appeared throughout the animated world of Star Wars and are physically similar to the regular old barn owl in real life. The convor's presence on Corvus is fitting, as Ahsoka befriended one of the birds back in Star Wars Rebels. Morai the convor was a companion of Ahsoka and Ezra Bridger, and a Force-sensitive being in her own right. The bird glimpsed in The Mandalorian might even be Morai herself, but the audience aren't afforded a clear enough shot to say for sure. Either way, the owl is a neat nod to Ahsoka's past.
The Tusken Attack
After leaving the Magistrate's compound, Din Djarin hunts Ahsoka Tano among the trees of Corvus. The bounty hunter uses his scope, and spots some strange, placid beasts in the distance, before being jumped by Ahsoka from behind. This scene closely mirrors Luke Skywalker being attacked by Tusken Raiders in A New Hope. While trekking through the Tatooine desert alongside R2-D2 and C-3PO, Luke whips out his binoculars and spies some resting Bantha up ahead, but just as his guard drops, a Tusken Raider emerges, knocking the farm boy out cold. This isn't the only iconic Star Wars scene "The Jedi" borrows heavily from.
Coruscant's Jedi Temple & Order 66
Through the power of the Force, Ahsoka Tano is able to communicate directly with Baby Yoda - another major first for The Mandalorian. Not only does Ahsoka discover that the youngster is actually called Grogu, she also uncovers the character's Star Wars backstory. Grogu was trained at the Jedi temple on Coruscant (first seen in 1999's The Phantom Menace) and then spirited away in the aftermath of the Clone Wars, narrowly avoiding the Order 66 massacre from Revenge of the Sith. The truth of Baby Yoda's backstory re-frames the Star Wars prequel trilogy. The Jedi Formerly Known as The Child was likely present on Coruscant throughout the prequels, and then managed to escape Anakin Skywalker's infamous youngling slaughter.
Yoda & The Empire Theme
The Mandalorian fans were eagerly anticipating what Ahsoka Tano would say after first clapping eyes on Baby Yoda, since she's one of the few characters alive who knew the actual Yoda. Until now, no one in The Mandalorian has even recognized Grogu's race - a stroke of good fortune given his status as a wanted man. But Ahsoka was well acquainted with Yoda, and she mentions the original Jedi Master in The Mandalorian's latest episode, telling Din Djarin that Yoda is the only other member of Grogu's kind she's aware of. One of Star Wars' most famous figures, Yoda was introduced in The Empire Strikes Back and has featured heavily across all mediums since. In a potential hint towards The Mandalorian's future - Grogu seems to stir from his sleep when Ahsoka mentions Yoda's name, as if recognizing the word. For John Williams fans, a brief section of Yoda's theme from The Empire Strikes Back plays during this scene.
Obi-Wan's Force Speech
Until now, Din Djarin hasn't known exactly how to describe Baby Yoda's abilities, but Ahsoka Tano finally provides the ignorant bounty hunter with a name and explanation. Revealing Mando's partner in crime as a practitioner of the Force, Ahsoka asserts that the Force "gives" Baby Yoda his power, going on to describe the phenomenon as an "energy field created by all living things." This speech is virtually word-for-word how Obi-Wan Kenobi explains the Force to Luke Skywalker in the first 1977 Star Wars movie. Although the parallel pays homage to the origins of Star Wars, there's a plausible in-universe explanation for why Ahsoka and Obi-Wan might've spoken these same words. Kenobi trained Anakin, who went on to mentor Ahsoka - perhaps Anakin used the same phrasing as his master during Ahsoka's sessions, and now she has adopted the very same lesson.
Baby Yoda's Force Test
After learning Anakin Skywalker's Force test at the Jedi temple on Coruscant, as seen in The Phantom Menace. Although Anakin is tested using images instead of rocks, he successfully es the exam, before Mace Windu declares he will not be trained (taking the Ahsoka role), and this incurs the anger and confusion of Qui-Gon Jinn (adopting Mando's part).
Yoda's Sensing Fear Speech
The Mandalorian's "The Jedi" episode pays tribute to a second famous Star Wars speech. Despite Din Djarin's plea, Ahsoka has no desire to train Baby Yoda, as she's reluctant to send the youngster down the same path that corrupted Anakin. Ahsoka senses fear within her fellow Jedi, and is concerned that Grogu's emotion might evolve into something more sinister, as it did with her fallen Jedi master. The way Ahsoka reveals Grogu's inner fear is strikingly similar to how Yoda chastised Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back. Ahsoka says, "his attachment to you makes him vulnerable to his fears... his anger." The line alludes to Yoda's "fear leads to anger" warning, and in a fascinating twist, both characters were secretly referring to Anakin Skywalker.
A350 Blasters & KOTOR Droids
After the Ahsoka Tano/Din Djarin alliance is made official, the bounty hunter begins dishing what he learned during his encounter with the Magistrate at the beginning of the episode. Mando reveals that the citadel's guards are armed with A350 blaster rifles and Elsbeth specifically is guarded by a pair of HK-87 assassin droids. Though hardly household names, these two pieces of equipment have history in the Star Wars franchise. Although A350 blasters specifically are a fresh addition to The Mandalorian, the Blastech A300 line of weapons is well established. In Knights of the Old Republic video game, but were made canon thanks to the Smuggler's Guide book. Including HK droids in The Mandalorian brings these mechanical assassins into live-action.
