The Mandalorian, season 1 episode 3: 8 callbacks, Star Wars references and Easter eggs you may have missed

The Mandalorian’s third episode sees its masked protagonist make an unexpected decision after finally handing in his bounty to the authorities.

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Episodes one and two of the Disney+ series have seen Pedro Pascal’s nameless bounty hunter track down and capture a 50-year old child of Yoda’s species. Finally dropping his ward off with the sinister “Client”, played by cinema icon Werner Herzog, Mando tries to put the past behind him, immediately taking on a new bounty mission.

Before he reaches his target, however, he lets his conscience get the better of him, and he returns to bust his adorable friend out of captivity. One massive shootout later, and the Mandalorian is on the run, with the Child safely by his side.

As with all the episodes in the Star Wars spin-off series, “Chapter Three: The Sin” was filled with references to the original sci-fi saga.

Here are eight of the Easter eggs you might not have noticed...

1. Twi’leks

One of the most visually distinctive species in the Star Wars universe thanks to the long appendages dangling from their skulls, the Twi’leks make a brief appearance in this episode, hanging around on the planet Nevarro. Previous Twi’leks seen in the series include Jabba the Hutt’s unctuous henchman Bib Fortuna, and turquoise Jedi Aayla Secura.

2. Jawas

The high-voiced junk traders from A New Hope were given a shining appearance last episode. This week, we get another glimpse of them, outside of their familiar desert environment for once.

3. TT8L/Y7 droid

TT8L droids are the round ‘gatekeeper’ droids that most Star Wars fans would recognise from the beginning of Return of the Jedi, at the gates of Jabba the Hutt’s palace. In this episode, the Mandalorian confronts one such droid to gain entry to the Client’s compound.

4. Camtono

Hardcore Star Wars fans noticed long ago a scene in The Empire Strikes Back when non-speaking character (later named Willrow Hood in character guides) is seen runnning around Bespin holding an ice cream maker. Dubbed a “camtono”, the incongruous object appears again here, used to hold the precious beskar that is the Mandalorian’s reward for Baby Yoda’s bounty.

5. Super battle droids

The powerful robots from Attack of the Clones are featured in a flashback to the massacre of the Mandalorian’s family. Bulkier, deadlier and far less chatty than your standard battle droids, these guys are clearly not to be trifled with.

6. Mon Calamari

The bounty that the Mandalorian agrees to take on, before changing his mind and rescuing the Child from the Client’s laboratory, is a Mon Calamari – the same species as classic Original Trilogy rebel leader Admiral Ackbar.

7. Zabrak bounty hunter

In the background of the bounty hunter guild hangout on Nevarro, you can clearly make out the horned head of a zabrak – the same type of alien as fearsome Sith warrior Darth Maul .

8. The Trash compactor pipe

In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reference, the same type of pipe that Han Solo uses in the original Star Wars to help push apart the walls of the Death Star garbage compactor can be seen leaning against the wall in an alley.