'The Mandalorian and Grogu': 4 Events That Are Important To The Wider 'Star Wars' Universe

WARNING! SPOILERS for The Mandalorian and Grogu.

The Mandalorian and Grogu has so far proven relatively successful at the box office, already making back its modest (for a Star Wars film) budget. The film's reviews, however, have been more mixed. One common criticism is that the film doesn't add anything new, or move forward the ongoing 'Mando-verse' narrative. However, this take is not entirely fair, or correct.

The Mandalorian and Grogu was never meant to make any big swings. Writer Dave Filoni and Director Jon Favreau have been clear on the fact that the film is a standalone adventure, made for casual viewers to be able to jump in and follow the story whether they've seen the The Mandalorian TV series or not. It accomplishes this well. However, the film also features a number of moments that, while not necessarily affecting Mando directly, will impact the wider universe.

Here's a few events in The Mandalorian and Grogu that will be important to the wider Star Wars universe.

1. The Death of Imperial Warlord Barro in the opening scene

Following the events of The Mandalorian season three, Din Djarin, aka The Mandalorian, takes a job with the New Republic to create a more stable life for his adopted son, Grogu. The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in the midst of one of the pair's missions for the New Republic, hunting down Barro, a remaining Imperial Warlord. While they were technically supposed to bring him in for questioning, the mission ends in Barro's fiery death.

The film is not the first time seasoned The Mandalorian viewers will have seen Barro. He first appeared in 'The Spies', the penultimate episode of The Mandalorian season three, in a meeting of a secret Shadow Council of former Imperials planning to retake power. The group discusses the potential whereabouts of Grand Admiral Thrawn. In killing Barro, Mando was struck a larger blow to the remnants of the Empire than he really understands, but will likely become important in other stories set in this era of Star Wars history, such as the upcoming season two of Ahsoka.

2. The capture and impending interrogation of Lord Janu Coin

Mando and Grogu's next mission in the film is to rescue Rotta the Hutt, heir to his father Jabba's criminal Empire, in exchange for information on the mysterious Imperial Commander Coin, from Rotta's Aunt and Uncle, the Hutt Twins. It is only after securing Rotta that they learn that Lord Janu, the man they rescued Rotta from, is Lord Janu Coin, aka the very same Commander Coin that the New Republic was seeking intel on. Naturally, the duo (along with Rotta and their extraction pilot Zeb) turn back to capture Coin.

Like Barro, Coin appeared on the Shadow Council in 'The Spies'. Unlike Barro, Coin survives his encounter with Mando. Sigourney Weaver's character, Colonel Ward, implies that Coin is being cooperative during questioning.

This will likely come into play in the second season of Ahsoka. During Ahsoka's first season, General Hera Syndulla repeatedly attempts to warn the New Republic Senate committee that the missing Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn is likely alive and plotting a return. The Committee largely dismisses Hera's concerns as wishful thinking, as if Thrawn is alive, so is her also-missing friend Ezra Bridger.

With the combination of Ezra's return, and whatever intel Coin provides, the Committee will now most likely be forced the potential threat posed by Thrawn.

3. The Hutt Crime Syndicate is effectively defunct

After Rotta's initial rescue, he reveals that the Twins only wanted him 'rescued' so they could dispose of him themselves and remove him as a rival to their control of Jabba the Hutt's criminal empire. However, Rotta makes it clear throughout the film that he wants nothing to do with the Hutt Syndicate.

This means that when the Hutt Twins are killed during the climax of the film, there is no-one to step into the seat of power, and The Hutt Crime Syndicate is left more or less defunct. Seeing as the Hutt Syndicate has been around for hundreds, possibly thousands of years at this point, the loss is a big deal. Whether this creates a power vacuum, or other Crimelords simply step in to take what once belonged to the Hutts, this moment is certainly one that will have a lasting impact on the Galaxy's criminal underbelly, which will then most likely bleed into other events.

4. Grogu has become more capable than Mando gave him credit for.

For a large amount of The Mandalorian and Grogu's runtime, Mando remains extremely protective of Grogu, trying to keep him away from the worst of the dangers they face. This changes when Mando is abducted and transported to Nal Hutta by the Bounty Hunter Embo. Grogu and the Anzellans mount a rescue, and when Mando is poisoned by a Dragonsnake, Grogu spends days on his own nursing his adoptive Father back to health. Many fans also noted that in the film, Grogu no longer faints or becomes obviously exhausted after using the Force, which had been a common occurrence in The Mandalorian TV series.

While this entry does affect Mando more directly as it involves Grogu saving his life, it is also important moving forward. As is commonly mentioned in both the film and TV series, Grogu will far outlive Din Djarin. Any time he shows he can handle himself without Din around is an important one.

Next time, some fans should watch The Mandalorian and Grogu with fresh eyes and deeper thinking. It brings a lot more to the table than it may have first appeared.