They were so focused on whether they could that they neglected to pause and consider if they ought to. Din Djarin and Grogu are returning for new adventures in a galaxy far, far away after over a year since The Book of Boba Fett and more than two years since The Mandalorian’s Season 2 finale. The Season 3 premiere of The Mandalorian had some impressive moments, such as the amazing giant crocodile battle, but it also had some unimpressive creative decisions. One of the most notable of these was the reappearance of IG-11, the android bounty hunter who died at the end of the first season and is voiced by Taika Waititi. Although the Star Wars universe is familiar with characters returning from the dead, the return of IG-11 in The Mandalorian is inexplicable. This is because the show fails to provide a reason for IG-11’s return while also diminishing the significance of his self-sacrifice in Season 1.
The History of IG-11 in ‘The Mandalorian’
IG-11’s tale commences in the initial episode of The Mandalorian, where he appears as a bounty hunter given the mission to eliminate Grogu, the same package Din is entrusted to acquire. As we later discover, Grogu is a child with Force sensitivity. When Din looks into the child’s eyes, he decides to betray IG-11 and the Bounty Hunting Guild by shooting the droid. During this first encounter, IG-11 displays himself as a merciless assassin who is even willing to self-destruct to prevent his foes from obtaining his design if he is defeated. So, even if Din and IG-11 team up to reach Grogu, we do not feel too upset when the droid is killed.
At the end of the first season, IG-11 makes a surprising return when vapor farmer Kuiil rebuilds and reprograms him with new directives. Kuiil explains that IG-11’s memory was erased when Din shot him down, allowing him to transform the droid from a cold-blooded killer to a helpful companion. Despite Din’s initial distrust, IG-11 proves to be a valuable asset in the battle against Moff Gideon and his Stormtrooper army.
Kuiil assigns IG-11 with the duty of safeguarding Grogu before his death. IG-11 fulfills this task by activating his self-destruction mechanism in a lava river on Nevarro during the final battle with Moff Gideon. The droid’s selfless act is a result of his redemption arc, transforming from a killer into a protector of his new friends. The loss of IG-11 in the first season finale emphasizes the harsh realities of war and adds emotional weight to the story. However, bringing IG-11 back for Season 3 undermines his previous character development and sacrifices. Additionally, the show’s disregard for internal logic in bringing back the droid is a grave error.
IG-11 Back in ‘The Mandalorian’ Is a Storytelling Error and logic
In the most recent episode of The Mandalorian, the protagonist, Din, decides to return to Mandalore to cleanse himself in the sacred waters that flow on the planet. However, this task is complicated due to the destruction of Mandalore by the Empire, leaving the surface a wasteland of poison and crystallized plasma. Therefore, Din seeks a non-organic ally to accompany him to explore the ruins of Mandalore and survive the poisonous environment.
While it is reasonable for Din to take a droid with him, the decision to bring back IG-11 is confusing. In the first season, IG-11 was killed, and his memory was erased by Din. However, in Season 3, Episode 1, Din goes to great lengths to rebuild IG-11, claiming he is the only droid he can trust. This contradicts the show’s previous explanation that droids can be reprogrammed and develop their personalities, making Din’s choice to bring back a specific droid rather than enlisting a new ally senseless and unnecessary.
The latest episode of The Mandalorian sees Din planning to return to Mandalore to bathe in the planet’s sacred waters, but the planet has been destroyed by the Empire and is now a dangerous wasteland. Din wants a non-organic ally to accompany him, but it’s unclear why he chooses to rebuild IG-11, a droid that he had previously destroyed. Moreover, once IG-11 is reactivated, he reverts to his original programming and tries to harm Grogu, which contradicts his reprogramming in the first season. To make matters worse, Season 3 destroys IG-11’s memory chip, making it pointless to go through the trouble of rebuilding the droid. Din claims that he trusts IG-11, but given his past behavior and the destruction of his memory, it’s unlikely that the droid will be a reliable partner.
The question is raised as to why a bounty hunter who values survival above all else would embark on a mission that defies practicality, and why The Mandalorian is undoing IG-11’s character arc. The reason appears to be fan service. The show’s writers believe that by bringing back a beloved character, they can please fans who have been watching since the show’s inception. However, this decision seems to ignore logic and emotional stakes, indicating that the series has lost its direction in a cinematic universe that prioritizes references over storytelling.