The Mandalorian welcomes back a MAJOR original character in shock season two finale

**SPOILER ALERT**

The Mandalorian reached its season two finale on Friday, and with it came the return of not one but TWO MAJOR characters from the original Star Wars Saga trilogy.

The episode, titled Chapter 16: The Rescue, also revealed more about the mythic Dark Saber weapon, along with the menacing Dark Trooper droids and even a surprise sneak peek to another upcoming Star Wars spinoff series.

The Mandalorian reached its season two finale on Friday: With it came the return of not one but two MAJOR characters from the original Star Wars Saga trilogy

As The Mandalorian takes place relatively soon after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi from 1983, franchise fans have often wondered why Luke Skywalker or any of the other main characters from that film are not present in the show. 

They got their answer with season two’s finale, as it featured a de-aged Mark Hamill reprising his iconic role of the Jedi Luke Skywalker in an unbelievable twist at the end of the episode. 

This finale’s title was spoiler enough, as it centered around the daring rescue of Grogu a.k.a. the Child – commonly referred to as Baby Yoda – by the Mandalorian and his allies.

This finale's title was spoiler enough: It centered around the daring rescue of Grogu a.k.a. the Child ¿ commonly referred to as Baby Yoda ¿ by the Mandalorian and his allies

This finale’s title was spoiler enough: It centered around the daring rescue of Grogu a.k.a. the Child – commonly referred to as Baby Yoda – by the Mandalorian and his allies

The cute-faced baby green alien has been the central figure of most of The Mandalorian’s conflict and drama throughout the past two seasons, most recently when he was kidnapped by Moff Gideon from the planet Tython.

And in The Rescue, the Mandalorian, aided by Boba Fett, Cara Dune (Gina Carano), Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan and others, track them down on Gideon‘s Imperial star cruiser for a multi-tiered retrieval operation.

The only thing in their way are a bunch of Storm Troopers and their much more dangerous counterparts – a platoon of black droid Dark Troopers. 

The only thing in their way are a bunch of Storm Troopers and their much more dangerous counterparts: A platoon of black droid Dark Troopers

The only thing in their way are a bunch of Storm Troopers and their much more dangerous counterparts: A platoon of black droid Dark Troopers

Then, of course, there’s Gideon himself, played by the brilliant Giancarlo Esposito, who also served as the premier arch villain of Breaking Bad.

Just as in the season one finale, Moff Gideon wields the Dark Saber in this episode – a hypnotically beautiful weapon that possesses more power than anyone imagined.

The plan starts off simple enough: a group of the warriors will land on the cruiser and attract lots of attention in an attack formation, while the Mandalorian himself will slip through the shadows and go find Grogu – also making sure to manually override the lock and keep the deadly Dark Trooper robots in their holding cell.

The plan starts off simple enough: A group of the Mandalorian-led warriors will land on the cruiser and attract lots of attention in an attack formation...

The plan starts off simple enough: A group of the Mandalorian-led warriors will land on the cruiser and attract lots of attention in an attack formation…

...while the Mandalorian himself will slip through the shadows and go find Grogu

…while the Mandalorian himself will slip through the shadows and go find Grogu

Mando almost succeeds, but one Trooper makes it out and almost vaporizes him before he manages to blast the rest of the platoon out into deep space.

The rest of the group, including Ming-Na Wen’s Fennec and Koska Reeves played by Sasha Banks, makes it to the bridge of the ship and neutralizes everyone else, but Gideon is nowhere to be found.

Just then, the Mandalorian finally reaches Grogu’s prison chamber – only to find Moff Gideon holding the Dark Saber over the child’s head.

Mando almost succeeds: But one Dark Trooper makes it out and almost vaporizes him before he manages to blast the rest of the platoon out into deep space

Mando almost succeeds: But one Dark Trooper makes it out and almost vaporizes him before he manages to blast the rest of the platoon out into deep space

Later: The Mandalorian finally reaches Grogu¿s prison chamber ¿ only to find Moff Gideon holding the Dark Saber over the child¿s head

Later: The Mandalorian finally reaches Grogu’s prison chamber – only to find Moff Gideon holding the Dark Saber over the child’s head

Hand-to-hand combat ensues, and although Mando gets the best of him, Gideon is relieved when the Dark Troopers return to the ship, aided by their built-in jet packs.

And just when all hope is lost, a mysterious X-Wing fighter appears – a vehicle left over from the heroic Rebel Alliance.

Aboard it is a brown-cloaked figure wielding a green Light Saber, who almost effortlessly neutralizes the entire Dark Trooper platoon using both his weapon and the Force. 

And sure enough, the mysterious Jedi turns out to be none other than Luke Skywalker himself, who appears at just the right time to take Grogu off for his needed Jedi training. 

Hand-to-hand combat ensues: Although Mando eventually gets the best of him, Gideon is relieved when the Dark Troopers return to the ship

Hand-to-hand combat ensues: Although Mando eventually gets the best of him, Gideon is relieved when the Dark Troopers return to the ship

Hand-to-hand combat ensues: Although Mando eventually gets the best of him, Gideon is relieved when the Dark Troopers return to the ship

And just when all hope is lost: A brown-cloaked figure wielding a green Light Saber almost effortlessly neutralizes the entire Dark Trooper platoon using both his weapon and the Force

And just when all hope is lost: A brown-cloaked figure wielding a green Light Saber almost effortlessly neutralizes the entire Dark Trooper platoon using both his weapon and the Force

With him, as always, is R2-D2, the beloved droid who first enamored Star Wars fans in 1977’s A New Hope. 

The Mandalorian‘s parting of ways with the Child is surprisingly emotional, causing actor Pedro Pascal to once again remove his seemingly permanent Mandalorian helmet and show his teary-eyed face.

The moment is indeed fitting of a finale, and only time will tell whether the two pivotal characters will meet again.

And if the return of Luke Skywalker himself were not enough, the episode also packed a surprise sneak peek after the end credits at another upcoming series – The Book Of Boba Fett, starring the brilliant Temuera Morrison, coming in December 2021.

And sure enough: The mysterious Jedi turns out to be none other than (a digitally de-aged) Luke Skywalker, who appears to take Grogu off for his needed Jedi training

And sure enough: The mysterious Jedi turns out to be none other than (a digitally de-aged) Luke Skywalker, who appears to take Grogu off for his needed Jedi training

With him, as always: R2-D2, the beloved droid who first enamored Star Wars fans in 1977's A New Hope

With him, as always: R2-D2, the beloved droid who first enamored Star Wars fans in 1977’s A New Hope

The Mandalorian¿s parting of ways with the Child is surprisingly emotional: The moment caused actor Pedro Pascal to once again remove his seemingly permanent Mandalorian helmet and show his teary-eyed face

The Mandalorian‘s parting of ways with the Child is surprisingly emotional: The moment caused actor Pedro Pascal to once again remove his seemingly permanent Mandalorian helmet and show his teary-eyed face