The Disney+ Star Wars universe has bounded through timelines from the early days of the Rebellion (Andor), to the underworld of the galaxy’s gangsters (The Book of Boba Fett) and to the hopelessness of a post-Jedi era (Obi-Wan Kenobi). And of course, the age of Baby Yoda. The Mandalorian has brawled, blasted, and thrilled through two excellent seasons, ending its most recent campaign on an all-timer crowd-pleaser in the deaged return of Luke Skywalker. The Disney+ flagship series can now be considered a Star Wars staple thanks to the pitch-perfect writing and direction of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni.

We were treated to welcome, though shoe-horned, Mando and Grogu cameos in Boba Fett to hold us over for Season 3 of The Mandalorian. And now more than two years since young Luke lightsaber massacred a platoon of Dark Troopers and saved the day, we’re finally on the verge of the new season of The Mandalorian. The latest slate of episodes will debut on Disney+ on March 1, right on the heels of the critical and audience darling Andor. It will be a tough act to follow, but based on the past performance and the season three trailer, The Mandalorian is more than up for this latest mission. Here’s a breakdown of the trailer.

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This Is the Way

     Disney+

The trailer begins with the trademark Neo-western notes the series has become known for and Din Djarin’s (Pedro Pascal) Beskar-muffled voice saying “Our people are scattered…like stars in the galaxy.” A small group of Mandalorians stand in a row atop a large and bleak rock formation, all pounding their chests in unison and solidarity.

Djarin then asks what they are, and what they stand for as Mandalorians. A pretty fitting question as “This is the way…” gets murkier and more amorphous as each event and episode passes.

Djarin’s newly acquired Republic-era ship is seen hurdling through hyperspace with the familiar ethereal glow surrounding its structure and then glinting off of his silver armor. The unmistakable outline and lovable head tilting of Grogu taking in the light show comes into the frame. “Being a Mandalorian is not just learning about how to fight,” Djarin says. “You also have to know how to navigate the galaxy. That way, you’ll never be lost.”

Mando and his small green companion land on a bright, sunny, and hospitable-looking world, immediately cracked by the shrill, annoying screech of a Kowakian monkey-lizard hanging from a tree and pointing down the road. Here, Mando and Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) greet each other and shake hands.

Reclaiming Lost Honor

Djarin’s N1 Starfighter cruises through a bruising rainstorm with Grogu looking on from his lap. Freshly forged Beskar is submerged in water, eased in to cool by the Armorer, who we last saw stripping Djarin of his Mandalorian status for removing his helmet in The Book of Boba Fett. This proves a crucial plot point to season three of The Mandalorian, as Djarin proclaims his intentions to travel to Mandalore to reclaim his place among the planet’s ranks of warriors. An overhead shot of a town similar to a gnarled and weathered graveyard appears as Djarin declares his intentions.

Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris) is shown waving on Djarin on takeoff from her post of Hangar 3-5 in Mos Eisley, once again bringing the series’ action to the sandy wastelands of Tattooine. The N1 is seen flying through a massive fireworks display with a fascinated Grogu glaring at the lights and then, once again, breaking the “stop touching things” rule, hitting a switch in the ship’s controls.

A sprawling and lit-up metropolis comes into the frame with a man who looks to be Dr. Pershing (Omid Abtahi) being flown around by a droid. New Republic X-Wing pilot Carson Teva (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) ominously warns Djarin that “There’s something dangerous happening out there.” A green glowing cave is shown and a long-buried Mandalorian helmet is revealed with sand pouring down its contours.

A Jedi crest emblazoned door is shown bleeding molten metal and on the verge of being breached as multiple Jedi line up, lightsabers ignited and ready to defend their ground. Is this a flashback to Order 66 from Revenge of the Sith? Or is it a new threat bearing down on a New Republic Jedi Order established by Luke Skywalker?

The Start of the First Order?

TIE fighters tear through the sky in pursuit of Djarin’s N1, pointing to this new dark threat, perhaps the First Order in its infancy as alluded to in season two’s episode The Believer. This is the episode that brought us the heralded scene of Migs Mayfield gunning down a smug and murderous former commander, led by comedian Bill Burr’s intense performance as Mayfeld.

The focus cuts to a roomful of droids, and then a group of Mandalorians preparing to drop en masse into battle from a starship. As an opponent is seen being yanked to the ground from a Mandalorian’s grappling gun, we get a quick shot of two Anzellans (Episode IX’s Babu Frik’s race of creature) cheering on the action.

The trailer concludes with a vicious and agile wild creature leaping in front of the exit of a cave, only to be thrown back onto the ground from a Force push by the approaching Grogu.

The Mandalorian Season 3 looks to be holding nothing back, furthering his excellent exploration of the newly minted post-Empire galaxy.