The time has come. Mando and the Child are almost here. This is the way, and we couldn’t be more excited! That’s right, the show that has had everyone talking since the launch of Disney+ in November 2019 is finally returning with its second season in just a matter of hours!
Unlike its freshman run, the sophomore season of “The Mandalorian” has a lot of hype to live up to, not only because the first season was a critical success but also because at this particular moment with the future of the films uncertain, “The Mandalorian” is the only Star Wars property currently airing. And just like every Star Wars movie and show before it, “The Mandalorian” has several rumours swirling around about what we can expect.
While most of these rumours haven’t been confirmed, we do know that season one ended with the Mandalorian escaping from Moff Gideon. Now, he has been tasked with investigating the origins of the Child and returning him to his people, but as Jon Favreau promised, many surprises and Star Wars Easter eggs will be in store throughout Mando’s next journey. And while I have the utmost faith that Jon Favreau and Co. will deliver another stellar season of “The Mandalorian”, I must admit there are a few things I’m hoping we’ll get to see happen in this galaxy far, far away.
1. Further character development for the Child
The Child aka Baby Yoda was the greatest thing to ever happen to the internet in 2019 and we’re certainly all very excited that we will be receiving a whole new crop of memes in the next few months. However, we still know very little about this 50-year-old green alien. Given that Mando’s mission is to return the Child to his people, I hope that we get a lot more answers about who the Child is, where he comes from and why he is such a valuable asset. I think some enhanced character development is just what Baby Yoda needs to be even more adorable this second time around.
2. An appearance from Ahsoka Tano
Ahsoka Tano is arguably the most popular Star Wars character to not have appeared in one of the Skywalker Saga films. She quickly became the star of “The Clone Wars” in the show’s infancy and despite appearing in “Star Wars: Rebels”, there is still so much we don’t know about Ahsoka, especially what exactly happened to her after the Empire falls. I definitely think “The Mandalorian” should do its best to keep its focus on Mando and the Child, but the first-ever live-action appearance of Ahsoka Tano (played by Rosario Dawson) is just too delicious of a rumour not to be true. I think I speak for a majority of Star Wars fans when I say, even a cameo appearance from Ahsoka would suffice.
3. More than a cameo for Sasha Banks
Speaking of cameos, I really hope that isn’t what is in store for Sasha Banks. For those who don’t know, Sasha Banks is a professional wrestler with the WWE, and as a major fan of wrestling, I can admit I was ecstatic to see my two worlds come together in the Season 2 trailer. It’s unknown who she will be playing, although rumours have circulated that it could be “Star Wars: Rebels” fan favourite, Sabine Wren. Whether she plays someone from Star Wars canon or a completely new character, my personal hope is that she gets a fleshed out storyline for at least one full episode (if not more), and a kick-butt action sequence to boot!
4. Keep the story contained
As I said before, there is a lot of pressure on this season of “The Mandalorian”, especially since it’s the only Star Wars property airing right now. And given that it takes place in such an expansive universe in the post-Empire ruled regime, it wouldn’t be surprising if the show tried to step outside of the box and tell stories beyond the scope of Mando. However, what made the first season compelling was that it didn’t try to tackle so much at once. It was a simple, character driven story and I’m all in for new characters and fun storylines, but for Season 2 to maintain the critical acclaim it received in its freshman run, it must not stray too far from its roots, no matter how tempting it might be.
5. A visit to Batuu
This wouldn’t be a Disney blog if I didn’t mention the Disney parks. Exploring new worlds has always been a staple of the Star Wars universe. Season 1 of “The Mandalorian” saw a lot of travelling for Mando and the Child and Season 2 is likely to see the same. However, wouldn’t it be fun if we actually saw the planet Disney park lovers visit on the regular? Rest assured, I’m not saying we should have a full on advert in “The Mandalorian”, but even a brief pass through of Batuu would be a lot of fun and wouldn’t be much of a stretch for Mando since he visits so many other planets throughout his journey anyway.
6. Further details on Moff Gideon
Mando came across a plethora of baddies throughout his time with the Child, but his final battle with Moff Gideon was definitely his biggest challenge. Even though Mando may have escaped his wrath in the Season 1 finale, Moff Gideon is sure to be back with a vengeance. What makes Moff Gideon such an intriguing big-bad going into Season 2 is that we still don’t fully know what exactly his motivations to snatch the Child are. We know he is a warden of the galaxy and remnant of the Imperial Empire, but there is still so much to explore with his character. He’s definitely someone we hope to learn more about this season because he has the potential to be a next level Star Wars villain.
7. The identity of the Armorer revealed
Out of everything on this wishlist, this one is the least likely to happen. The Armorer is the leader of a tribe of Mandalorian warriors, including the Mando we’ve come to know and love. Respected by all, the Armorer is certainly a mystery and not removing her helmet is the way of her people. So unless it is forcibly removed by someone else, the chances of seeing the woman behind the helmet is unlikely. However, she and her tribe did get themselves involved in Mando’s dispute with Moff Gideon, so there is always the possibility that during this friction she will be unmasked, which opens up so many more stories to tell for this Mandalorian leader.
8. Romance
We saw glimpses throughout Season 1 of the inner softy hidden behind all the armoury and Season 2 may be the right time to explore a potential romance between Mando and someone else in the Galaxy. Care Dune is an option but they gave off platonic vibes since Day 1. Mando’s best chance of finding love is with someone new and as he continues to grow as a character, finding someone who he cares about could help him let his guard down, which is sure to have both positive and negative consequences. It’s important to explore different facets of Mando’s character and adding a little romance to his life is potentially a great way to do that.
What do you hope to see happen this season of The Mandalorian? Let us know in the comments below or on one of our social media channels. And make sure to catch the premiere of The Mandalorian Season 2 on Disney+, Friday, October 30th.
Frozen Mouse Fever 