The Mandalorian: Chapter 20 - The Foundling

A scene at the Jedi Temple in Chaper 20 of The Mandalorian.

In Chapter 20 of The Mandalorian, the episode mixes it up between a rescue mission and flashbacks to where Grogu was during Order 66.

Spoilers follow for the newest episode of The Mandalorian.

Storytelling aside, one of my major issues with the series this season is it’s lack of consistency in run time. I know, I know–none of the episodes are consistent in their run time since the start of the series. After last week’s hourlong episode, I made the decision to have Breakfast with Mando rather than Bedtime with Mando. The inconsistent runtimes are the reason for this because of my sleep schedule. In any event, the main event is something that we see in the trailer, only the episode expands on it.

We’re now four episodes into the season. It’s really nice to see Ahmed Best returning even if it’s a one-off appearance. But anyway, this chapter delivers what will probably be the most anticipated episode for Grogu fans. It was previously teased during the trailer so we all knew it was coming. It wasn’t a matter of if but when! But after watching the episode, I have even more questions. I’ll get to them here in a moment. There have been many theories about who it was that saved Grogu from the Clone Trooper attack on the Jedi Temple during Order 66. At long last, we finally have an answer. What’s most surprising is how the Clone Wars flashbacks are triggered during this episode.

As The Armoror (Emily Swallow) forges gear for Foundling Grogu, it triggers flashbacks to the Siege of the Jedi Temple during Order 66. The flashbacks start with the sequence in the trailer. From there, Grogu heads up the elevator, where Kelleran Beq (Ahmed Best) protects him and takes him to safety. After escaping the Clones and making it to a ship on the platform, they make it safely into hyperspace after the Royal Naboo Security Forces hold off the clones.

Meanwhile, at the Mandalorian Covert, a rescue mission is on hand when a creature flies off with Paz Vizsla’s son, Ragnar Vizsla. Their jetpacks can only do so much in a rescue mission so Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) uses her ship to track the creature. Thus, they form a rescue plan while audiences get to learn a bit more about the Creed and its way. When one is eating, they walk away and find a spot where nobody can see them taking off their helmet. Furthermore, Bo-Katan finally reveals her seeing the legendary Mythosaur in the living waters of Mandalore. But instead of letting Din Djarin now, she tells The Armorer, only to be met with disbelief.

This is not the first appearance for Ahmed Best as Kelleran Beq. The character was created for Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge. What we know about Beq is that he is the Dean of the Jedi Temple and teaches the next generation of Jedi. Unfortunately, we still do not know the rest of Beq’s fate after escaping Coruscant. Maybe Lucasfilm will feature his fate in books or comics or another flashback. I will say that it was nice to return to the Galactic Capital once more after Dr. Pershing’s return in last week’s episode.

I have several questions after this episode. One question that I have now is where are Kelleran Beq and Grogu going? What happens to Kelleran? Is he taking Grogu to the Nikto mercenaries that we meet in season 1? Or will there be someone else keeping Grogu safe in the meantime? Seeing as how Naboo forces helped them escape, one wonders if they have a role in financing the mercenaries that kept Grogu safe? We know the flashback sequence is prior to Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda coming onto the scene and recording a new code to direct surviving Jedi elsewhere. So many questions!

Halfway through the season, The Mandalorian could show better consistency with runtimes but this episode runs at a particularly quick pace with a moment many fans have been waiting to see.

DIRECTOR: Carl Weathers
SCREENWRITERS: Jon Favreau & Dave Filoni
CAST: Pedro Pascal, Katee Sackhoff, Emily Swallow, Ahmed Best, Brendan Wayne, Lateef Crowder