1168 – The Foundling | Mandaborian on Mandalorian Chapter 20 S3E4

Notable Language:

• Load Up The Old Plus
• Retractable Wrist Ropes
• Paldron

Notable Culture:

• Don Draper / Mad Men
• Oedipus
• Obi-Wan

Notable Talking Points:

• This is a Mad Men Speculative Tangent Show
• This isn’t a Warner Brothers cartoon!
• A forearm metal clap

Episode 1168 – The Foundlings | Mandaborian on Mandalorian Chapter 20 S3 E4

 

[START OF RECORDING]

 

SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time for the podcaster who just had a…well, first, I was saying the name of one of the characters on the show, or…later we’re gonna be talking about the Mandalorian. I was trying to say it in a fun way just to get ready to record and then I realized it sounded like a jingle, a one…and two-word jingle from a nineties deodorant. So, a lot of you won't know the jingle or the deodorant. I don't know, the deodorant may still be around. But that’s the kind of podcast you’re tuning into. If you’re new, this is a sleep podcast. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. But I’m here to keep you company because you deserve a good night’s sleep, to take your mind off of stuff because I’ve been there and a lot of other listeners have been there, too.

 

I just want to help. This show is not for everybody, but it does take a couple tries to get used to, so give it a few tries. See how it goes. If you already know the show isn’t for you or later you decide…sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou has other sleep podcasts and stuff on there. But I really hope I can help you fall asleep, because you deserve a good night’s sleep. Your life will be better, right? I know it’s not easy in the deep, dark night. So, I’m here to help, to keep you company so that you could drift off. Coming up or structurally what to expect, we’ve got support — that’s how the podcast comes out free twice a week — then a long, meandering intro which is separate from the support, meant to ease you into bedtime, and then we’ll be talking about The Mandalorian, Season 3, Episode 4, which is…16 plus 4…17, 18, 19, 20.

 

20; holy. Probably could be Chapter 20. But yeah…oh, 'cause I said…I had a couple things. It goes…I don't normally sing in the podcast, but it’s early enough, and this isn’t really singing; I said, by Grogu…and then I said, baby…maybe I said Baby Grogu, Grogu…and Grogu. So, tonight…that’s just what’s in my head. I said, okay, we’re gonna go downstairs, we’re gonna record the opening for…and I said, okay, well…and then Grogu popped in my head and said, I’m…oh, maybe that’s what it said; I’m Grogu. I’m here to take your mind off of stuff and keep you company. Thanks so much for coming by and thanks for making it possible, my patron peeps.

 

INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake, if it’s thoughts, things on your mind…so, thoughts, thinking stuff, thoughts, feelings, anything coming up for you emotionally like feelings, emotions, physical sensations related to…stuff that’s there, it could be changes in time, temperature, routine. You could be traveling, you could have guests, you could be going through something, you could be anticipating something.

 

Whatever it is; the only reason I go through that stuff is so you know you’re not alone and that there’s someone out there in the audience listening right now who can relate to how you feel, who has probably been through something similar. But a lot of us, myself included, we could probably relate to how it feels. That’s why I call it the deep, dark night. Not only do I want to help and not only do I believe you deserve a good night’s sleep, but there’s a lot of other people that you don’t even know that could relate to how you feel that want something better for you, because you deserve it. You do deserve a bedtime that’ll make your life more manageable, a bedtime you don’t have to dread, a bedtime you feel neutral about and that…'cause I’ve been there.

 

That’s the thing; I can relate to how it feels but I’ve also been there, dreading bedtime. Like, dreading Sunday night on Friday evening, and definitely afternoon on Saturday. Holy cow. The thing is if you get the rest you need, your life is gonna be better. It’ll be more manageable and ideally you could be out there flourishing. So, that’s really what I want. That’s really what I’m here for. I’m really happy to be able to try to help or to make you feel less alone in the deep, dark night. So, what I’ll do here is I’ll send my voice across the deep, dark night. I’m gonna use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents, all to go off topic…or, not on purpose, unfortunately.

 

I lean into it, but…so, superfluous tangents and pointless meanders just mean that I go off topic, then I get mixed up, then I try to remember what I was talking about, then I say, wait a second, what was I talking about? Yeah, it’s wild. What is it? Creaky, dulcet tones is…just means my voice is not traditionally soothing. But really, I’m here to keep you company. This is a podcast you don’t really listen to. You could listen to it at a low mumble, you could listen to me under a few pillows or blankets, across the room, or you could listen to me up close. I’m here to help whether you’re listening or not. But most people, at first, you find…oh, this is something you’re gonna forget about tomorrow. You don’t need to remember…or I’m just out-of-focus, or you’re pretending to listen.

 

I mean, that’s the most active version of Sleep With Me, is…at least initially you say, oh boy, Scoots…there Scoots goes talking about…wondering what the difference — once again — between antiperspirant and deodorant is. Then Scoots will probably link it to Don Draper somehow. Be like, well, that’s the kind of great idea Don Draper would come up with for those companies. You say, if…that would…oh, there was a show called Mad Men about the advertising…I don't know what era it was, 'cause my mind is so…not reliable. We’ll say the advertising business between the fifties and the seventies. I think it was the cusp of the sixties, right? I don't know. But Don Draper was a idealized character who was this advertising genius. Also devastatingly handsome and charming, and seemed really cool.

 

But Don Draper would always come up with these great ideas. Again, one part of my brain wants to point out to me that Don Draper’s fictional. But most of my value system’s based on fictional characters. What can I do? I say, it’s not…I don't even say WWDD, because I’m not Kate…I know I’m no Don Draper. Another thing my…my nana would say, don’t even…she does…she says, I don't even know Don Draper, but you’re no Don Draper. More Drip, Drip Draper. I say, thanks, nana. What about Don Dripper? She says, probably. So…oh, but Don Draper would come up with that. He’d be like, okay, so we have a…we have a new deodorant client coming in. You may be thinking, I thought I tuned in for a sleep podcast. Is this the Mad Men rewatch? No, just more of a Mad Men speculative tangent show.

 

But Don Draper would say, okay, so, we’ve got a new…okay, well, yeah, so, deodorant; we’ve got, whatever, five companies making deodorant. It makes you smell better. You’ve tried aerosols, you’ve tried those roller balls, but what is really the issue here? Sweat, perspiring. We’ve decided…and they say, but no one wants to hear about sweat, Don. Oh, I know. This is why I’m unveiling our new campaign. It was Peggy’s idea, actually. Then I plussed it, but…so, it’s called antiperspirant. It’s something every…and maybe it was like…there would be a sequence where Peggy was looking out the window at some protester saying they’re anti-something, and then her and Don talk about it later. I don't know, something like that. So, oh, this is a sleep podcast that you don’t really listen to.

 

Obviously, you say, hun, what was Scoots talking about last night? Was he talking about his favorite…? No…I don't know. Was he talking about Peggy-Sue? No, I don't think so. Was he talking about orange juice again? No…oh, no, but I think he was…he was talking about drapery. I think he was talking about deodorant for drapery? I can’t remember. I just slept so good. So, that’s how the show works. So, you don’t really listen to me. You say, uh-huh, uh-huh. I don't know what you’re talking about, Scoots, but…okay. So…oh, so just barely listen to me. Also, this show doesn’t put you to sleep. I’m here to keep you company while you fall asleep.

 

Not to put you to sleep; to be your friend in the deep, dark night, to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-bud, your bore-bestie, your neigh-bore, your bore-bor, to keep…take your mind off of stuff, to be here for you while you fall asleep. There’s no pressure to fall asleep. That’s why the shows are over an hour, because you have plenty of time. I’ll be here and you could listen to episode after episode after episode. There’s people listening who can’t sleep or that need a break during the day, and I’m here for them, and I’m here for you. Whether you’re listening or not, I’m here to tell you a story and talk about The Mandalorian. Eventually, yes. Eventually, nana. Eventually we’ll talk about The Mandalorian, barely. You’re right, nana, so right.

 

But yeah, a lot of times I’ll go off topic and get mixed up because that’s what works. If you’re here and you’re doubtful or you’re skeptical or you’re like, what is this show? That’s a sensible way to get to this podcast. This podcast contains very little sensible things, and if you’re like me and a lot of other listeners, you’ve probably tried a bunch of other stuff. You’ve probably gotten a ton of advice about why you can’t sleep or what you should do. Maybe you spent a lot of money on different things or maybe you’re just like, tonight, I gotta get some sleep, and you’re searching or somebody told you about the show. So, if you get here frustrated, I understand it. Then if you’re even more frustrated when you get here, that makes sense, too, 'cause this show does not follow a traditional format.

 

The real reason I made the show was because I had tried other sleep stuff and I said, how come there’s not something that’s like a friend, that’s like a strange friend that’s just gonna talk to me? Why does everything have to have this layer to it…and I can’t even describe the layer. It’s like, I don’t need any kind of performance pressure at bedtime, even if it’s like, can you imagine the starry sky? Oh no, I can’t. Listen to the soothing sound of the crickets. Then I’d be like, well, normally the crickets would soothe me, but since you said that, I’m supposed to listen? Well, if I have to listen to them, it’s not soothing; that’s kinda like work. Also, usually I’m more…yeah. So, that’s why I started making this show…2013. What was my point, even? Oh, but at first when you get here, you’re gonna…this show, it can be very disorienting.

 

You’re like, I thought this was gonna be relaxing. Or, when does the sleepy stuff start? A lot of regular listeners are kind of guffawing 'cause they say, oh, it already started. It’s already been broughten, and it’s been broughten nowhere. Scoots is always bringing nothing. Yup, for sure. So, the…yeah. So, give this show a few tries. I guess that’s what I was saying. I think I’ve heard from a million people that said, hey, I didn’t like the podcast or it didn’t work on the first couple tries…oh, and then I realized, oh, it’s always never working. He was serious when he said it’s always never been broughten and he’s always never bringing it, but he is…but it’s…in that sense, it’s being brought, but it’s been brung. It’s already been brung, so I don’t need to brought it. Yeah, if you’re confused, so am I.

 

So, that’s that; a show you don’t listen to, no pressure to fall asleep, you don’t like it on your first try…structurally it’s very different, too. The reason it’s structured the way it is is just to benefit the most amount of people. So, it starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, so you feel seen and welcomed in and to give you the sense that I’m little bit different and strange. You say, okay, that person remembers jingles I’ve never heard…he likes to make jingles with Grogu’s name. So, there’s that part, then there’s support so the show could just come out free twice a week, and the support makes that possible.

 

Then there’s an intro which is separate from the support, and I just want to point that out because sometimes when people don’t like the support part, they lump the intro in with it and they say, oh, it’s like thirty minutes of ads. But the intro is separate from the support. It’s…goes for like, about twenty minutes or so, and it’s a show within a show meant to ease you into bedtime, to introduce the podcast in a different way every single time, over 1,200 times, I think, but so that it’s familiar if you’re a regular listener, but it’s also just kinda creating a buffer between getting ready for bed and getting in bed, or it can be part of your wind-down routine. So, that’s the intro, and then between the intro and the story is support, and then we’ll talk about the Mandalorian. If you’ve never seen the show, that’s fine.

 

Believe me, it’s got so much cute stuff in there, including the cutest game of paintball ever. Not even paintball; wrist painting or something. I don't know. So, that’s the structure of the show, that’s why I make the show. I’m really glad you’re here. Really…I really hope I can help you 'cause I’ve been there. If you’re listening now and you already know this isn’t the podcast for you, there is a website; sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou…has other sleepy stuff on there and stuff like that. You could check that out. But give the show a few tries. See how it goes. I’m glad you’re here. I work really hard, I yearn and I strive, and I really hope I can help you fall asleep. Thanks for coming by, and here’s a couple ways I’m able to do it for you for free twice a week.

 

Alright everybody, Scoots here. We’re here with another episode of The Mandoborian on Mandalorian. I’m just trying to find, as usual…I’m only semi-prepared. It’s just 'cause we share an iPad around these parts. But now I’m having trouble typing it in. Load up the old Plus, as they…as no…as I always say, but no one says it. Get on that Plus. I think people do say it, but…not giggling, because it just sounds so…for a company that espouses synergy…I mean, well, let’s not get into the synergy. I’m not even…I’m just saying 'cause…eventually I will probably have some of the snacks from last episode around, but…oh, whoa boy, whoa…that’s not the episode we want. Slow down. I was trying to delete that download. Okay, that…no, no, we don’t need that download. Dismiss. Remove download. Thank you.

 

Okay, so, this is downloading. The Foundling. Chapter 20, Season 3, Episode 4. Chapter 20, The Foundling. Once again, another layered title. This series hasn’t started coming out yet when I’m recording these. I try to get eight…ideally there’s eight episodes done before they come out. That won't be the case of Mandalorian, but I do have other…another series…a bunch of episodes in the hopper there. But I was listening to The Apostate and I said, man, I may be…my speculations may be wrong. But I don't know, this episode definitely sets up…sets some things in…that could be…I mean, that’s the beauty of this show or well-done shows like this, is things have been set in motion, but we don’t necessarily know where the…which direction they’ll end up going.

 

But The Foundling definitely…so, I said, okay, The Apostate probably does have more than one meaning. The Convert definitely probably has…well, maybe not on…oh no, yeah, two…we have two converts, possibly three in the episode The Convert. The Foundling definitely…I mean, there’s a bunch of foundlings there, but there’s two that are in the course of the story, and then a…they put a…what are they called? Put a something on it. Not a ring on it, but kinda three rings on it for fun. I don't know, the phrase ‘return to your roots’ just popped in my head. But I was thinking the Mines of Mandalore…that I said…that’s when I listen and I go back…I say, oh, that was a missed tangent. But I didn’t know what other episodes of this season would be called at that point, 'cause I could have searched for more than one Mine of Mandalore, right?

 

There is; they’re mining…well, I guess it’s multiple. But they only go…they go…the Living Waters are below the Mines of Mandalore? I don't know. So, okay…yeah, let’s get this going, huh? Alright, subtitles are on. One of the interesting things that…I think it’s the Plus…that when you’re logged in…again, I’m not positive of this but I want to complement it, but it could be another app. I don't know if I like it or not but I do say that’s a good feature…is when you turn on Closed Captioning on one device and then you go to a different device, the Closed Captioning’s on. I say, that’s a thoughtful feature. Actually, believe it or not, as…speaking of ill-prepared, I have the wrong notebook here. I have the notebook for Make Great Pets, Episode 9. Let’s see…we’ll just look. This is…we’ve got time. Episode 11 and Episode 9.

 

Maybe…those are the only two. That’s almost a whole notebook, eh? But yeah, that’s Episode 11, Ant Farm, and Episode 9…still pending. I’m recording that tomorrow. Alright, we’ll be back here in…I mean, you won't notice the difference, but I’m gonna go get my notebook and I’ll be back. It’s funny 'cause my notebook is green, so I…and the Make Great Pets episode is a paper color. What do you call that? Not brown, but that…I don't know. I guess it’s a light-brown paper? Also, this episode is directed by Carl Weathers. I didn’t find that out ‘til the end of the first watch and then I didn’t remember it again. But so, I just think that it’s cool. It’s really revealing about Carl Weathers, 'cause this is a very…I mean, the episode does have…well, it has a couple different…you’d have to look back at what other episodes Carl Weathers has directed.

 

But just thinking about the threads in this episode, it…yeah. So, anyway, this episode’s called The Foundling, and it opens with a flashback. Yeah, let’s start it. We got the little Disney+ Original, and the recap. I swear on my name and the name of my ancestors. This is the foundling from Episode 1. I swear on my name and the name of the ancestors I shall walk the way of the Mandalore. Then the Mandalorian’s saying it as he goes and takes a bath. Then they say, Din Djarin is…says he’s got the Living Waters. We see the Mythosaur. Din Djarin, you’re redeemed. Bo-Katan Kryze, you’re also redeemed. I don't walk the way. Did you bathe in the waters…take your helmet off? Then you…welcome here. You may join our covert, Bo-Katan of Clan Kryze. You’re one of us. Kryze, Kryze?

 

Get the back padding and then we get the Lucasfilm Ltd and the…whatever it’s called, Star Wars thingamajigs, and, yeah, then…what else we got? Oh, so it opens with…we get great views; mountains. Whatever this planet is, they’re laying low on and there’s drills going on. Really beautiful shot. Water, vistas, scrub. Then all sorts of drills. There’s more Mandalores than we knew. So, this shows there’s a large number of Mandalorians there. I would put it at maybe high…double digits, maybe triple digits at various ages. They’re all doing different…they’re staying and practicing, and Bo-Katan’s walking through, looking around. So, we get the sense of…I don't know, I get the sense…oh, where’s this going? So, just a fun little sequence of practice, kinda like sports practices. Bo-Katan is kind of observing.

 

Then a great flip-you-on-your-head sequence that gives you a little bit of laughs, especially on a rewatch. It did take me…the rewatch to figure this out. I did not figure it out on the first one. But we have…so, I won't spoil it for you, but it seems like Baby Grogu’s working on Force practice, but one of the things is a crab. Then his papa comes and says, put the rocks down, kid. It’s time you learn with the other foundlings. You say, what? Papa…and then he says, do I have to be the only foundling that gets carried? I mean, Grogu likes it. Then we get more comedy…a comedy reveal. Or, maybe not…it’s a comedy reveal, but just a nice reveal. We see all the foundlings practicing and the Mandalorian says, next challenger. Grogu makes a couple sounds.

 

The kids are teen to pre…I don't know, I guess they’re middle-schoolers? So, Grogu is not even up to the kid’s knee. He’s only halfway up these other kids’ knees. I guess I gotta rewind it for the dialogue, 'cause…even Grogu’s like…looks at the kid, who was the foundling from Episode 1. Like, really? He’s the next challenger. Bo-Katan says, dude, are you sure about this? He goes, he’s gonna go from foundling to apprentice. He’s gotta learn. Then he calls over a…he calls this guy judge; get over here. He challenges. Too small. I’m his ward. Override. Grogu is…no override. What do you want him to do? He goes, paintball…wrist paintball. Okay, get the paintball…the wrist paintball things. The other kid has…is the foundling who we’d call the Rescue Kid because this is the second time…this kid must have a unique odor to him.

 

I’m not even being insulting. He must have a unique odor signature because he…these beings on the planet love this kid. Some people say with skeeters…and I’m particularly one of those people…I’m not sure if it’s our humidity or our scent or it’s just our projection that we feel this way, but that we attract more skeeters to kiss us with their loving embrace than other people. If you did a study, this kid…he’s two for two, and in some sense, three for three if you really think about…if his scent lingers. Kinda like a dog can smell stuff. I’m not talking about a overwhelming smell. More of his essence. But he’s got his arms crossed. This is a good sequence, too. He says…goes, that kid doesn’t even have a helmet. Yeah, he’s too young to speak the creed, so he can’t wear a helmet. He’s too young to deal with me, man.

 

Grogu says…right…the Mandalorian says, one does not speak unless one knows. Isn’t that the creed? Is that what it is? Let me rewatch it again. He’s too young to fight. He’s too young to dance. One does not speak unless one knows. Is that not the creed? The kid says, well, I know. Then the Mandalorian says, perhaps this is a lesson for you, then. So, again, pretty open-minded but assertive, everybody, in the world of Mandalorians. They let people learn their own thing. Say, this is the creed, but you’ll…we’ll see. The Mandalorian’s also very confident in Grogu. Then we see Bo-Katan’s caring side, 'cause she sets him up. She goes, my dad was the same way. He’s just proud of you. You’re gonna do great. Grogu goes, okay, what am I into? So, they each have three paintballs that they shoot out of their wrists, kinda like web-slingers.

 

Each hits one point, but it’s gotta be visible. Highest score wins. They don’t say what they would do in the case of a tie. The Mandalorian says, squeeze your wrist to launch them. Bo-Katan goes, he’s never done this before? He goes, he’s got this. Trust me. So, then there’s a little showdown. Paintball…one to Kid Rescue. He gets paintball one. Grogu looks back at him; says, don’t look at me. Look at him. Says, ready paintball two. Then Mandalorian says, I’ve seen what you can do, Grogu. Focus. Come on, show him. It’s okay. You could be yourself. That’s really the message. Grogu’s…okay. They say, okay, ready, get set. Then Grogu does a double flip and then triple shot. Also, I noticed his ears were in different levels when he was getting ready to do that. Bo-Katan goes, did you teach him that? Not me.

 

Then the other Mandalorian, who we…who’s the one…who’s a little bit…was a little bit on their case, he says to the kid, one does not speak unless one knows, dude. Then the kid goes off by the water. Here’s an…here’s a thing; if you’re at that covert and you’re a kid, don’t go down to the edge of the water by yourself. A big bird comes, thinks it’s one of its foundlings, a bird foundling, and picks him up in a loving embrace and says, let’s go back to the nest, honey-poo. I guess this is something probably from Warner Bros cartoons, but in the world of The Mandalorian, they say, you can’t do that. This isn’t a Warners Bros cartoon. So, four Mandalorians go after this big bird…follow it through these canyons, and the Mandalorian…and then…I think his name’s Riz Val or Piz Vala. He follows.

 

He runs out of gas or somebody runs out of gas first, then Piz Vala or Riz Vala…I’ll figure out his name; don't worry. Maybe I won't 'cause a lot of times, it has their name. Then the Mandalorian runs out of gas with him. Oh, Paz…Paz something. He says, we ran out of gas. It always gets away. But then we see Bo-Katan’s ship following the bird. He says, my ship’s got plenty of gas, so don't worry. Then we go to the title scene, The Mandalorian, and…Chapter 20, The Foundling. Hey, let’s pause it and look up what ‘foundling’ means. How about that, right? Okay, we don’t want to do that, here. Let’s see. Do, do…okay, so, from the Oxford thing…I’m gonna give you basics, but…cared for by others. Yeah. So…oh, what’s the difference between a foundling…oh, many characters in literature are foundlings.

 

Oedipus, Superman are two famous foundlings. Oh, that’s Superman; yeah. Said, hey, I found you, and now we’re gonna take good care of you. So, yeah, I guess so. Oh, then let’s see the Wookieepedia. I think it has the same basic thing. The Mandalorian was an actual foundling. Huh, that’s interesting though, because this…but it’s also a term, because Kid Rescue…I don't know…well, I don't know everything about Mandalorian culture, but Kid Rescue doesn’t seem to be a technical founding. But yeah, it’s a term used by Mandalorian culture for children who are adopted by people of the Mandalore. That’s from starwars.fandom.com. So, yeah. Okay, so…oh, we get a great shot here; seven minutes, fifty-three seconds. We get a lot of quality jet trails in this, and this one kinda shows daytime.

 

We get these mountainous…desert, mountain vibes…painted desert-style, and Bo-Katan’s ship is streaking across the sky with a cool jet trail. Then back at the covert…and they go out…says, yeah, I kept a high altitude, followed the bird. I know where the bird is. We’ll just get together and we’ll muster things up, and go find the kid. She has a 3D map; she says, see these tall things…great place for a bird’s nest, a giant bird’s nest, in this case. A long ways away. Bo-Katan says, I’ll get him. Paz says, it’s pretty high. Can’t use jet packs and these are…okay, this is an important one. I did want to look this one up. So, Bo-Katan says…they say, yeah, don’t…no jet packs. We’re gonna have to sneak up there. Bo-Katan says, these are no higher than the peaks of Kyrimorut. While I’m at the Star Wars Fandom site, let’s look this up.

 

It’s K-Y-R-I…Kyrimorut or something. This is in…under the Legends…Northern Hemisphere of Mandalore, 21BBY…I don't know what that means. That was a stronghold…Northern Hemisphere of the Outer Rim world of Mandalore where a dwelling was there, and it was from the Skirata clan and a refuge for any clone, trooper, or commando who wished to desert the grand army of the Republic during the Clone Wars. So, this is good information. Following the rise of the Galactic Empire…and the thing…Order 66, which we’ll get into…we could go into that right now. They took clone deserters from the new Imperial Army as well as a small number of refuge Jedi who wanted to avoid the Empire. It’s in the forests, fringed by trees…a wide lake…trading post town nearby.

 

The main building was circular, submerged in the ground…grass roof. Gave it camouflage from the air. Narrow windows, wood panels…this is seriously detailed. A number of readouts…had a big central room, main living room, armory — obviously; you need armor — fully-stocked kitchen/dining area, everything you’d need. Designed to be secluded and hidden. Possessed a hangar to store ships. It was mostly self-sufficient, growing most of its food, but in the early weeks of the Galactic Empire’s reign, it was not enough and they had to purchase supplies from the outside. History-wise…yeah, construction began in 21BBY. Skirata…and…let’s see. I’m just trying to skip…so, I guess this is in a couple different books and stuff. Trying to think…okay, then after 66, there was the 501 Legion trying to deal with stuff.

 

Somebody came and hid it out there. As the Republic transformed into the Galactic Empire under Palpatine, they welcomed former clone commanders…I don't see anything about behind-the-scenes. Maybe this is so fresh…it doesn’t even have any references of the Mandalorian yet. But let’s do Order 66 now just while I have this open…if I could find it, because there’s gonna be a sequence coming soon with Grogu. While we’re doing research, we might as well do some research coming up. Okay, Order 66. Now, this…okay, so, I do…a little, small tangent about this. So, this happened in the third…Clone Protocol 66. It was a contingency order for the clone troopers of the Republic that they had to obey without question.

 

It said that all Jedis were not friends with the Republic and they need to become Force…members of the…just the Force…ethereal Force only in another dimension. That’s Palpatine’s plan. So, that was…they said…'cause Palpatine obviously didn’t want to have to deal with any Jedi. Initially alls we knew is that Obi-Wan and Yoda and…were the only Jedis around, and they were hiding out. Then Luke and Leia were Force-sensitive. There’s a lot here, but…I was just trying to think what else we need to know. But we see some of this play out later in the episode, which is surprising. Oh, but I guess when…I don't know when I had heard about this Order 66, but it was…I had thought just Darth Vader…I had thought it wasn’t…so, in the movie and all the stuff that’s written about it, it was just something that happened.

 

It was coordinated across the universe or whatever at one time to say, okay, let’s take all the Jedi…they don’t work for us anymore, and we’ll ask them to retire. That was successful. It was led by Palpatine and Darth Vader, or form…whatever his name is, Anakin Skywalker. I guess he wasn’t Darth Vader yet. But I thought before leading up to these movies or maybe during when the first three…the prequels came out, I kind of imagined it almost like a Darth Vader show, or that that would be the last movie or another movie where it was just Darth Vader and a team of other heavies going around and helping Jedis retire and saying, hey, let’s…let me help you get set up here on a off-world here with some nice stuff. I thought that would be interesting, but that was just my fantasy.

 

I didn’t know anything about Star Wars history or anything, but I was like, oh, that would be cool to watch. Not enjoyable…but anyway, so, that’s not what happened. I didn’t see… and I don't know a lot about this 'cause I didn’t see the Obi-Wan show, so…I mean, at some point I’ll probably watch it. Okay, so anyway, they were going through the planning. Let’s get back to the episode, huh? Talking the foothills…we’re gonna climb up just like I used to at this other place. Paz and Shirek-hawk…the training team will go with you, and the Mandalorian. We’ll get some lariats…I have to keep quiet. Birds can hear stuff. Then Grogu watches them take off and the armorer says, yeah, you can’t go with them. You’re too young. There’s much work to do, though. Come with me, Grogu. All in good time. Come, Grogu.

 

If you wish to become a Mandalorian, there’s much work to attend to. So, this is new stuff, this whole episode, this part of The Foundling. So, Grogu follows the armorer into the armory and we actually get some POV Grogu shots. Grogu’s looking around. The armorer is at the forge. It’s basically like, have a seat; it’s time to talk in metaphor and directly. So, she starts heating up a bowl of metal. Grogu sits down at a table, which obviously is prepared because it’s the right height, the chair. Says, this is the forge. It’s time for not just a metaphor, but part of it, the heart of Mandalorian culture. Where we shape Mandalorian steel, we shape ourselves, as we do that. Or, that’s your metaphor, Scoots. Grogu watches. We begin as raw ore. Oh boy, I’ve been raw as ore before. Then we refine ourselves through trial and adversity.

 

Isn’t that the truth? Grogu’s watching. Grogu’s ears are moving. Then we go to the thing that pounds stuff…and checking out a breastplate and stuff. The forge can reveal things as it pounds, reveal weaknesses. This is the part where they hammer, the hammering part of metalsmithing. So, the hammering begins. Grogu’s ears are moving. Grogu looks down and then has a flashback to the Jedi Temple…this whole Order 66 playing out. Ends up, Grogu was a part of it. There’s lightsabers, there’s four different ones…I’m not sure if these are Jedi. I guess these are Jedi, but they’re outnumbered. They’re trying to help everybody get away, but there’s clone troopers everywhere. Grogu’s is in his floating pram already, or a different one, and gets on an elevator…gets…Grogu’s holding a blankie.

 

So, even younger than…I don't know, I guess I get the timeline mixed up. I meant to look that up, but I don't know if we will. But Grogu is…goes down, and then a Jedi is waiting for him. Says, everything’s gonna be alright, kid. He grabs…so, he goes double-saber. I think this is Kellen Beck…but then more troopers come. First it’s four on one, but it’s a Jedi, so he doesn’t have too much trouble with those four. They have a speeder bike with a side-car, so he’s like, get in, Grogu. Then more troopers start coming, but again, it’s three or four more. He’s pretty skilled. Then another group comes, maybe five or six or seven, so he says, let’s bail. They take off on the speeder bike. We see the Jedi Temple’s not doing great.

 

We’re on Coruscant 'cause we see the city, which was nice that we had last episode, because we touch on some of the same locations. But there’s a clone ship in pursuit. Again, I think this guy’s name is Kellen Beck, so that’s just what I’m gonna say, 'cause he’s driving. He’s trying to keep Grogu safe, but his…they’ve damaged the speeder bike. Luckily they didn’t separate the thing. They go…they do diving and then they even go through this…one of the tunnels the train went through. We see skyscrapers, we see the platform, and maybe even the same train station, because they go through and Grogu goes in and out of hiding in his sealed-up capsule. He’s even like, what are you doing, man? You’re doing a little speed game? But the Jedi knows what he’s doing, so he goes through a train station. They lose the Jedi ship.

 

We see Mount Lollipop or whatever in the square, and then he takes off. So, this must be during…before the…in-between the first three movies…oh, at the end of the first three movies, movie three, Rise of the Sith, right? Okay, then they land at a platform with a ship on it. Again, I’ve been reading…I was like, is that the heart of gold? It just remind…even though it’s silver, there’s a sweet ship there. They go, how many others you got? They go, no others. Then more clones show up. So, he meets up with this other team, the Jedi, and they say, hey, you take the kid and go. So, they get in this super sweet silver ship and they get ready to take off. Then there’s more clone TIE Fighter-type things. They come in. They take off, so then we have a little pursuit. Grogu’s like, oh boy. We leave the atmosphere, which is amazing.

 

I don't know if somebody on the show is a fan of aircraft, 'cause we really get some cool stuff. They go into hyperspace and then Grogu’s kind of in two places at once, going from that even to hyperspace, ears down, to…back to the forge flashing. Now there’s actual hammering going on with the armorer. So, she’s actually hammering stuff out and then putting it in water and sealing…or sizzling and doing some, whatever, fusing. Says, the ancient tradition…you donate a small portion of what you earn to your foundling’s Beskar. Those scraps of Beskar I use to form your next piece of armor. She presents…she’s got this round thing. It’s got some sort of microchips in it. She goes, Mandalorian steel will help keep you stronger, this rondel. I guess I gotta look that up. But she puts it on his chest. It’s a round thing.

 

He already has on chainmail or something. Yeah, it looks like he has a chainmail…or some sort of vest. Then we get Bo-Katan’s ship coming in to land at the rally point or wherever they’re planning on stuff. Ship lands, everybody comes out. I’m trying to think of the order here. I thought the order was interesting. Oh yeah, Bo-Katan’s in the lead, clearly the leader. Then Riz or Viz, Mando, and the rest of the team…maybe four other…? One, two, three, four, five, six, seven Mandalorians total. Not jumping on the bed, though. Seven Mandalorians jumping on the bed; one fell off and lost…almost lost their helmet, so they had to go…leave the bed and put it on. Then it’s evening. They find a area to camp in. They say, yeah, let’s get to it in the morning. This is a good spot to hang for the night.

 

They even look up the tower they’re gonna have to climb, rock tower. Bo-Katan even has a 3D map. It’s up there under…we’ll hide out down here, sleep, climb at first light. Alright, let’s…Paz…oh, it’s Paz; not Piz or Viz. Paz says, let’s make camp. Then we go to a campfire. There’s a starry sky with a moon. They’re sitting around the campfire. Somebody was making dinner, though. They start to hand out dinners, box dinners, and Bo-Katan asked the Mandalorian, how do you eat with everybody? He goes, oh no, everybody goes off on their own and eats by themselves. That way you can take your helmet off. Oh, okay. So, I thought asking questions is a great idea, 'cause I would have just taken my helmet off; been like, what? I gotta eat, yo. Then Paz says, you’re…to Bo-Katan, you’re the leader, so you get to eat by the fire. This is the way.

 

Again, really good body performance, 'cause I feel like…able to kinda show…I don't know. I just…the experience. Then Bo-Katan’s helmet comes off. She looks around again to see if anybody can see, starts eating thoughtfully. Then it’s the next day. They’re cleaning up the camp. They’re all taking knee. She went over the plan. Okay, we’ll just go up there, we’ll get the kid, and take off. No problems. Just like in the cartoons; we gotta do it with stealth. No jet packs, 'cause it’ll wake the bird up or call the bird back. It is the bird’s nest, so please be respectful of it. Then they do some rock-climbing, which is handy when you have…I mean, it must be hard, 'cause the armor’s not light, and the other stuff they’re carrying…so, I don't know if they have mechanical assists. I can’t remember. I think they do, 'cause the Mandalorian did.

 

But they have those wrist ropes. I guess, yeah, they must automatically retract. So, they’re all climbing and doing a good job. Picturesque…you get a couple shots of the background. It’s like a Grand Canyon-esque area. Eventually…more climbing, more great views. I don't know what is digital and what’s real, because…but it looks great. Just the time they took to have stuff in the background really adds to it, something you wouldn’t normally notice if it was missing, but you’d notice on some other level, I think. So, anyway, then Bo-Katan’s like, okay, let’s keep it on the down-low. We’re getting close. They’re still climbing. Even the color the sky…I don't know, maybe it’s just that I get to make this podcast, so it helps me appreciate this stuff that I miss in normal life.

 

But the clouds and stuff…okay, so, they get up, they see some leftover nesting materials, and they’re…then this giant bird’s nest made…not sticks, but trunks, almost. They have to climb the bird’s nest. We see one helmet that they’ve borrowed, I guess. This has happened before. The bird likes collecting armor, I guess. They say, let’s find the kid. Mando does a thermal scan. Says, okay, I see something over there. It must be the kid. So, then the dude…Paz says, it’s my son, so I’m running. They say, hold on, man. He starts yelling; Ragnar, Ragnar, Ragnar. Where are you? It ends up, it’s baby birds and they are literally like, hey, are you…do you have any worms, man? Then the mom comes and the mama bird is there. Luckily for…and then Riz or Paz, he tries to hide under some sticks.

 

She coughs up…she’s been…held Ragnar in his warm embrace and she says, here’s a toy for…and we didn’t realize this, but it’s a toy for the kids to play with. But then the dad makes a move…makes a bird fly away with the kid and him. So, she’s holding onto both of them now. He tries to get away; it doesn’t work. Bo-Katan almost rescues the kid, but she gets winged, hit by a wing, and she starts to fall. One of her shoulder pads falls off, her shoulder-protectors. She recovers her balance. Obviously now we’re on a ticking clock as far as how long their gas is gonna last. Mando…they start shooting ropes or web-slinger stuff at the bird, trying to slow it down. Eventually Bo-Katan gets close and holds on, and tries to get the dad free, which she does. She says, hey, let the dad go.

 

So, he does…he just manages to land and he’s out of gas, physically out of gas. I don't know about his jet pack gas. Then everybody…or maybe…yeah, there’s other Mandalorians helping. They’re all trying. Then the Mandalorian, he makes this move with…first he shoots a web-slinger, slows the bird down, then he goes cannonball to help the kid, and catches the kid and flies him back to his dad. But he does this cannonball move which is interesting, and then we get…the bird lands and then the turtle is there, 'cause the turtle’s like, you smell like that kid I wanted to kiss…because I wanted to see what flavor he was. So, then those two go and hang out. Mando brings the kid back to…Paz, is that his name? Ragnar and Paz? Yeah, Paz. He says, thanks. The Mandalorian says, this is the way. Then Paz says, this is the way.

 

Paz? Paz? And Ragnar…Ragnar. Okay, then we return to the covert in Bo-Katan’s ship. This is a fake ending, almost, 'cause you’d think the joke is…it’s kind of a joke. I’m sure it’ll pay off. But so, the ship door opens up. All the Mandalorians and Grogu and the armorer gather around. The first people off are Paz and Ragnar, and everybody starts cheering. They do a forearm metal clap. Grogu’s ears go up, like, where’s my papa? They do some handshakes. Then the Mandalorian and Bo-Katan come off. The Mandalorian…the first thing he does is pick his kid up. He goes, dad, I’m trying to be a foundling, man. Then the armorer goes, Bo-Katan, great work. It’s the highest honor of the creed to get a foundling from a bird’s nest. Bo-Katan says, this is the way. This is the way.

 

By the way, I got three more foundlings in need of care, and they bring the baby birds. By the way, these are giant baby birds, so I’m sure they will…oh, hatchlings, they’re called. It’s very comedic and cute and interesting, 'cause you say, that’s nice of them. They are actually foundlings. So, we get a triple…well, three more foundlings that could be powerful. Then the armorer says, by the way, it looks like your thing is missing. Let’s fix it. I can’t replace it with the modern refinements. Do you want it with the signet of the night owl? Bo-Katan stares and she goes, would it be acceptable to wear one pauldron of the night owl and one with the Mythosaur? The Mythosaur belongs to all Mandalorians, they say, so it’s always acceptable to wear. I’d like that, Bo-Katan says. The armorer goes to work.

 

We get thinking shots, working shots, and armor shots. Don’t think we’re gonna put…I don't know if we do…we…oh, we get a pauldron or a decorative Mythosaur on there, but we don’t…I don't know if we got…what do you call that stuff? Primer or…how many layers of paint? But if it’s Beskar, maybe that’s totally…and…oh, so then Bo-Katan says, by the way, have you ever seen a Mythosaur? What would you say if I saw one? You saw what? A Mythosaur. Oh, in a dream? Yeah, that’s a good dream to have. I’d say you’re lucky. A vision of a Mythosaur is always good. No, no, no, I saw an actual Mythosaur in the deep waters, the Living Waters, the bath waters. When you choose to walk the way of the Mandalore, you will see many things. Bo-Katan looks up. But it was real. The armorer says, this is the way.

 

Then Bo-Katan turns to the camera and then looks at the Mythosaur idol, and then it cuts to our pictures. Directed by Carl Weathers. The first one is a very green Gogu…Grogu with the crabs. Very happy and cute. Then the…Grogu at dart practice, then the bird up on a tower, everybody pointing at it; there’s a big bird. Then the bird coming in saying, that kid smells great. I don't know why. Then we have Grogu and some Jedi versus clone troopers. There’s thirteen, then we have the Jedi Temple, and they’re having a bonfire there. Then we have the getaway in the speeder bike with a side-car. A different speeder bike, though; more modern. Then we have the the landing platform with the heart-of-silver ship, since it’s not gold…even though…I don't know if the heart of gold was gold.

 

Then we have them…they…we have them getting away into actual outer space. Then we have sunset with the Mandalorians walking in the mountains, then we have the campfire and everybody sitting around the campfire. Then we have the Mandalorians telling the bird, hey, let’s…can we get this kid back? Not a toy for your children. Then we have the found…the bird foundlings or hatchling foundlings, and then that’s it. That’s the end of the episode. Oh, let’s see, let me look up…what was I gonna look up? You know what the biggest question is the timeline of Mandalorian. Timeline…oh, I must have googled it before. Okay, let’s see what we got. USA Today, GamesRadar, Popverse, Nerdist, The Direct…I may have already tried to answer this this season. Okay, this one is from Star Wars News Net, so let’s try to get this one.

 

February 20…Jon Favreau tries to clarify the Mandalorian book…Boba Fett timelines. Oh, I guess this one is…says it’s more confusing. So, that’s not gonna help us. Okay, we’re finding something. Here’s Den of Geek…okay, Den of Geek…when does The Mandalorian timeline take place on the Star Wars timeline? This was by Brynna Arens. March 16, 2023. Okay, the Mandalorian introduces characters like Bo-Katan, Ashoka, and Luke Skywalker, and expands itself through spin-offs. Things could get more confusing. Fortunately there are some simple answers. The first season of the Mandalorian is officially set five years after Return of the Jedi. So, that’s 9ABY, nine years after the Battle of Yavin in A New Hope. So, Battle of Yavin…I don't…there’s also a helpful visual guide.

 

Yeah, that’s not helpful 'cause it’s just…but so, at that point…and at this point in the timeline, the Empire has surrendered to the New Republic and the successor government is formed by the Rebel Alliance a year after Jedi, and what’s left of the Empire is still trying to rebuild or maintain its power in the Outer Rim. The New Republic’s in charge of the galaxy and we’re about thirty years from this…away from the sequel trilogy? Okay, that’s with Rey and them. Huh, okay, so thirty years from that one. Means the New Republic…there’s no First Order or anything. As far as what’s happening with the Jedi at this point as we learn Leia tried to help them with training…Luke opens a school of…okay, so Luke decides to open a school on the planet to teach a new generation of Jedi.

 

Grogu becomes the academy’s first student at the end of Mandalorian, Season 2. Luke also meets…okay, that’s not a part of it. That’ll be a part of another show. How much time has passed between seasons…Grogu returns to Din…is less clear. Show-runner…Favreau said as many years…I heard it was five years, though. It was clarified…from something like that. I don't know. Okay, so, it’s after Return of the Jedi, but before…that makes sense. That’s where I thought it was, but let me see. I’m trying to think of…okay, so, Season 3 is happening at some point between five and six years after Return of the Jedi. There you go; that’s the answer. That was the answer I was looking for. Sorry. Thanks everybody for listening. It’s the end of this episode. We’ll be back with more Mandalorian coverage or more sleepy stuff soon. Goodnight, everybody.

 

[END OF RECORDING]

(Transcribed by Leah Hervoly)