There are no lightsabers in The Mandalorian and Grogu — and that means no appearances from the few Jedi who are still kicking around the galaxy after the fall of the Empire. Director Jon Favreau wasn’t fibbing when he called the film a “a ground-level experience of what’s going on” in the wider Star Wars world: The Mandalorian and Grogu is about the little guys and the smaller-scale conflicts they face. But that doesn’t mean Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his little green son don’t get assists where needed. Their big-screen adventure is chock full of appearances from characters the average fan might sorta remember; its explosive climax gets particularly crowded with supporting players.
But you don’t really miss the likes of Luke Skywalker or Ahsoka Tano when The Mandalorian and Grogu heralds the return of the Adelphi Rangers. This band of X-Wing pilots was first introduced in the first season of The Mandalorian, and they’ve been popping up here and there to offer air support ever since. In Mando/Grogu, they fly under a new leader, Sigourney Weaver’s Colonel Ward, but their appearance feels like a substantial nod to the show that paved the way for the film.
