'The Mandalorian': Why Some Fans Are Excited Over The 'Space Whales' In 3x01

After nearly two years of waiting, The Mandalorian has returned to Disney Plus for its third season. With the events of Book of Boba Fett having returned Grogu to his rightful place at Mando's side, episode 3x01, 'The Apostate', was able to dive right back into Din Djarin's main goal for the season: Travelling to the supposedly destroyed Mandalore and bathing in the waters there so he can regain his Mandalorian status in the eyes of his cult-like Mandalorian sect, the Children of the Watch.

While travelling through Hyperspace with Mando on the way to Navarro to seek help from their ally, the now Magistrate Greef Karga, Grogu takes notice of a group of whale-like creatures travelling alongside them. While more casual fans may have assumed the lingering focus on this shot was simply for visual spectacle, fans with an awareness of the wider Star Wars universe, particularly the animated shows, were very excited by the appearance of the 'Space Whales', which may be very important for other Mando-era series going forward.

So, what are the Space Whales?

Well, for starters, they aren't actually called 'Space Whales'. The creatures in question, visually a cross between a whale and a squid, are known as the Purrgil. A larger sub-species, dubbed Purrgil Ultra, also exist. The Purrgil breathe a gas called Clouzon-36, and when their bodies are carrying enough of this gas, they have the natural ability to travel through Hyperspace in Swarms, using simu-tunnels of their own creation. Long, long before the Star Wars timeline we know, the intelligent beings of the Galaxy far, far away were inspired to create their own means of Hyperspace travel by watching the travel habits of the Purrgil.

Unfortunately, by the time of the rebellion against the Empire, the Purrgil's role in the invention of Hyperspace ships has been all but forgotten. As Hera Syndulla explains to her crew, the Purgill are considered pests due to their tendency to wander into Hyperspace lanes without notice, causing ships to crash into them. For this reason, and because no-one remembered or appreciated the fact that the Purrgil had actually been their first, many ships would shoot them on sight.

A Boy and his Purrgil

Because of this perception of the Purrgil as pests, the opening minutes of the Star Wars: Rebels episode 'The Call' have Hera Syndulla initially wanting to open fire on a Swarm of the creatures when she believes they are blocking their path towards the Imperial-held Mining Guild gas refinery to which they are embarking on a mission to steal much needed fuel. Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger, who possesses a unique talent for bonding with animals through The Force, talks her out of it, pointing out that the Purrgil are heading the same way they are, and simply following them will still get them to their destination.

Upon reaching the Refinery, Ezra realises the Purrgil are troubled, and despite Hera's orders to forget them and focus on their mission, investigates further, eventually discovering that the Refinery is blocking the Purrgil's access to the Clouzon-6 they need to live and continue their Hyperspace travel. While fighting the Mining Guild workers in the hope of helping the Purrgil while also stealing the Fuel the rebels need, Ezra briefly falls into a pit of dangerous unrefined gas, but is rescued by the King Purrgil. Ezra's special bond with the creatures helps Hera develop a new respect for them. Meanwhile, Ezra sees a vision in the eye of the Purrgil King that has great ramifications later in the series.

Into the Unknown

Aside from Ezra's vision, it would be relatively easy to dismiss 'The Call' as a sweet filler episode with an environmentally friendly message. In reality, the Purrgil prove to be the biggest Chekhov's Gun in the entire Rebels series. In Rebels' Grand Finale, 'Family Reunion and Farewell', Ezra uses his Force abilities to call upon the help of multiple Purrgil Swarms, turning the tide in the Rebellion's efforts to free the planet Lothal from Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Ezra commands a group of Purrgil Ultra to take hold of Thrawn and his command ship, the Chimaera. The creatures then Hyperspace jump deep into the Unknown Regions of Space, taking Thrawn, Ezra, and the majority of Thrawn's remaining forces with them. While this causes a loss of communication between the Rebels and Ezra, his Crewmates aboard the Ghost never give up hope that the young Jedi will one day be found alive.

So, What does this all mean for going forward?

For The Mandalorian series itself, maybe nothing, at least not in the short term. However, if Mando and Grogu's big reunion taking place in The Book of Boba Fett has taught us anything, it's that the show's set in the Mando-era will have close ties in terms of characters and plot. Grogu's lingering gaze on the Purrgil is probably an Easter Egg connecting to another upcoming Star Wars series: Ahsoka, starring Rosario Dawson as Anakin Skywalker's former Padawan Ahsoka Tano.

During Ezra and Ahsoka's final meeting in Rebels, he requests that she come find him after the fighting is done. At the time, it seems a simple request, but given Ezra's disappearance at the end of the series, things become a lot more complicated.

In her first live-action appearance in the The Mandalorian episode 'The Jedi', Ahsoka is chasing leads on Thrawn's whereabouts. Though she does not mention the young Jedi by name, Rebels fans made an educated guess that Ahsoka believes finding Thrawn will lead her to Ezra

This places would place Ahsoka's Mandalorian and Book of Boba Fett appearances before the epilogue of Rebels, in which Ahsoka travels to Lothal to enlist the Mandalorian former rebel Sabine Wren in the search for Ezra. Ahsoka will most likely begin around this point, and given the Purrgil's role in Ezra and Thrawn's disappearance, it is not unreasonable to expect the creatures will play a role in that series. In fact, Sabine even has a Purrgil painted on her armor's shoulder plate in the Rebels epilogue, a design detail in honor of Ezra that for continuity's sake, will also likely be seen in Ahsoka.

Some fans have theorised that the events of Ahsoka will eventually tie back in to The Mandalorian, with both series ultimately leading to a live-action adaptation of the classic Thrawn Trilogy novels.

If that's the case, we're certainly in for an exciting ride in years to come.