What To Watch Before The Mandalorian (Updated for Season Three)

Ready to start the new Disney+ series The Mandalorian? Not sure what you need to watch first? While the show is based around all new characters, it is still part of the larger Star Wars universe. Seasons one and two have already had several surprise appearances, and the same is expected for Season Three. Here is what to watch before The Mandalorian, including updates for seasons two and three.

Editors Note: The films and episodes included in the watch list for each season are listed in chronological order within the Star Wars universe, not in the order they were released.

Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for The Mandalorian and other Star Wars stories. I you want to remain spoiler free, skip the list of films and television episodes to watch before The Mandalorian.

What Do You Need To Watch Before Watching The Mandalorian?

Created by writer and director Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian is the first Star Wars series for Disney+. Favreau co-executive produces the show with Dave Filoni.

Since the series focuses on an entirely new character, there is nothing absolutely necessary you should watch before starting Season One.

That said, it is still based on Star Wars characters and stories created by George Lucas. A general understanding of Star Wars is helpful.

While not entirely necessary, watching the Original Trilogy and Prequels before The Mandalorian will give you a basic understanding of the universe.

However, the show has increasingly relied on stories that originated in the animated series The Clone Wars and Rebels.

It is also worth noting that all the Star Wars movies, TV shows, and books are connected in some way. While you can pick and choose what you want to consume, stories and characters introduced in one property can cross over to another at any time.

For more background and character development, you may want to explore other stories.

What Do You Need To Watch Before Watching Season One of The Mandalorian?

While Season One stands almost entirely on its own, there are a few things you should watch after Season One to clarify certain parts of the story.

A member of the Mandalorian clan Vizsla, Paz Vizsla fights alongside Din Djarin in “Chapter 3: The Sin.”

Series creator Jon Favreau voices the character. Favreau previously voiced another Mandalorian, Pre Vizsla, in The Clone Wars.

Pre Vizsla and other members of the clan become increasingly relevant as the series progresses.

Often considered just an easter egg for Season One, the droid R5-D4 appears in “Chapter 5: The Gunslinger.”

Called just “Red” in A New Hope, this is the droid that has a bad motivator when Luke and Uncle Owen are buying droids from the Jawas. However, the droid becomes more relevant in subsequent seasons.

A New Hope also offers some added backstory about Tatoonine and the Tusken Raiders.

One of the key plot points of the season is how the Empire attempts to acquire “the child.” This relates to several The Clone Wars and Rebels episodes where Emperor Palpatine also abducted Force-sensitive children.

One of the biggest surprises in Season One is the appearance of the Darksaber. Once the weapon of the ancient Mandalorian Tarre Vizsla, it is a symbol of the ruler of Mandalore.

The Darksaber appears in a number of The Clone Wars and Rebels episodes. The Rebels episode “Trials of the Darksaber” (Season 3, Episode 15) does a great job of summarizing the saber.

Here is the list of movies and television episodes to watch after The Mandalorian Season One:

• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 1 “Holocron Heist”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 2 “Cargo of Doom”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 3 “Children of the Force”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 12 “The Mandalore Plot”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 13 “Voyage of Temptation”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 14 “Duchess of Mandalore”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 14 “Eminence”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 15 “Shades of Reason”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 16 “The Lawless”
• Rebels – Season 2 Episode 10 “The Future of the Force”
• Rebels – Season 3 Episode 11 “Visions and Voices”
• Rebels – Season 3 Episode 15 “Trials of the Darksaber”
• Rebels – Season 3 Episode 16 “Legacy of Mandalore”
• Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope

What Do You Need To Watch Before Watching Season Two of The Mandalorian?

Based on the trailer, the only thing you need to watch before Season Two of The Mandalorian is the first season. While the Darksaber was a surprise in Season One, the second season goes even further. As a result, there are a number of things you should watch concurrently or after this season.

It is the first on-screen appearance of Marshall Cobb Vanth, the current owner of Boba Fett’s Mandalorian armor. While the episode “Chapter 9: The Marshal” offers a great summary of the character, Cobb Vanth is first introduced in Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath series.

Droid Arfive appears in the first two episodes of the season, now working for Peli Motto.

The Mandalorian Bo-Katan Kryze, along with other members of her Nite Owls group, appears in “Chapter 11: The Heiress.” Bo-Katan is the estranged sister of Satine Kryze, once the ruler of Mandalore.

Bo-Katan is first introduced in The Clone Wars episode “A Friend in Need” (Season 4, Episode 14). She appears in several other The Clone Wars episodes, including in Season Seven from 2020.

Katee Sackhoff originally voiced the character in The Clone Wars before joining the live-action cast of The Mandalorian.

“Chapter 13: The Jedi” is the first live-action appearance of Ahsoka Tano. The former Jedi Padawan of Anakin Skywalker, Tano was one of the main characters of The Clone Wars series. She later appeared in Rebels.

Ashley Eckstein originated the role as the voice of Ahsoka Tano in The Clone Wars. Rosario Dawson plays the live-action version of the character.

Season Two also includes the return of the legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett. Jedi Luke Skywalker also makes an appearance. The Original Trilogy offers background on both characters.

Temuera Morrison, who played Jango Fett in the Prequels, portrays Boba, while Mark Hamill reprises his role of Luke Skywalker from the Original and Sequel Trilogies.

Here is the list of movies and television episodes to watch after The Mandalorian Season Two:

• The Clone Wars – Season 1 Episode 2 “Rising Malevolence”
• The Clone Wars – Season 1 Episode 3 “Shadow of Malevolence”
• The Clone Wars – Season 1 Episode 4 “Destroy Malevolence”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 6 “Weapons Factory”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 8 “Brain Invaders”
• The Clone Wars – Season 4 Episode 14 “A Friend in Need”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 14 “Eminence”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 15 “Shades of Reason”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 16 “The Lawless”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 17 “Sabotage”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 18 “The Jedi Who Knew Too Much”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 19 “To Catch a Jedi”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 20 “The Wrong Jedi”
• The Clone Wars – Season 7 Episode 9 “Old Friends Not Forgotten”
• The Clone Wars – Season 7 Episode 10 “The Phantom Apprentice”
• The Clone Wars – Season 7 Episode 11 “Shattered”
• The Clone Wars – Season 7 Episode 12 “Victory and Death”
• Rebels – Season 2 Episode 10 “The Future of the Force”
• Rebels – Season 2 Episode 21 “Twilight of the Apprentice, Part 1”
• Rebels – Season 2 Episode 22 “Twilight of the Apprentice, Part 2”
• Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
• Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
• Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

What Do You Need To Watch Before Watching Season Three of The Mandalorian?

Unlike the previous seasons, you need to watch The Book of Boba Fett before starting The Mandalorian Season Three. While any part of the Boba Fett spin-off could appear in the third season, the final three episodes directly relate to Din and Grogu’s story.

Season Three continues to develop the storyline around the Mandalorians Bo-Katan, Paz Vizsla, and the mysterious Armorer. Arfive appears once again, serving as a navigation droid for Din and Grogu.

“Chapter 21: The Pirate” marks the live-action debut of Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios, the Lasat warrior from Rebels.

As with seasons one and two, expect the list of things to watch after the season to grow with each episode. While Season Three is still airing, here are the movies and episodes to watch before, concurrently, or afterward:

• Rebels – Short #3 “Entanglement”
• Rebels – Season 1 Episode 3 “Droids in Distress”
• Rebels – Season 2 Episode 14″Legends of the Lasat”
• Rebels – Season 2 Episode 17 “The Honorable Ones”
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 1 “Chapter 1: Stranger in a Strange Land”
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 2 “Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine”
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 3 “Chapter 3: The Streets of Mos Espa”
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 4 “Chapter 4: The Gathering Storm”
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 5 “Chapter 5: Return of the Mandalorian”
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 6 “Chapter 6: From the Desert Comes a Stranger”
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 7 “Chapter 7: In the Name of Honor”

Spoiler-Free List of Films and Television Episodes To Watch Before The Mandalorian

Here is the complete list of movies and TV episodes to watch before The Mandalorian:

• The Clone Wars – Season 1 Episode 2 “Rising Malevolence”
• The Clone Wars – Season 1 Episode 3 “Shadow of Malevolence”
• The Clone Wars – Season 1 Episode 4 “Destroy Malevolence”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 1 “Holocron Heist”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 2 “Cargo of Doom”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 3 “Children of the Force”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 6 “Weapons Factory”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 8 “Brain Invaders”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 12 “The Mandalore Plot”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 13 “Voyage of Temptation”
• The Clone Wars – Season 2 Episode 14 “Duchess of Mandalore”
• The Clone Wars – Season 4 Episode 14 “A Friend in Need”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 14 “Eminence”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 15 “Shades of Reason”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 16 “The Lawless”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 17 “Sabotage”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 18 “The Jedi Who Knew Too Much”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 19 “To Catch a Jedi”
• The Clone Wars – Season 5 Episode 20 “The Wrong Jedi”
• The Clone Wars – Season 7 Episode 9 “Old Friends Not Forgotten”
• The Clone Wars – Season 7 Episode 10″The Phantom Apprentice”
• The Clone Wars – Season 7 Episode 11 “Shattered”
• The Clone Wars – Season 7 Episode 12 “Victory and Death”
• Rebels – Short #3 “Entanglement”
• Rebels – Season 1 Episode 3 “Droids in Distress”
• Rebels – Season 2 Episode 10 “The Future of the Force”
• Rebels – Season 2 Episode 14 “Legends of the Lasat”
• Rebels – Season 2 Episode 17 “The Honorable Ones”
• Rebels – Season 2 Episode 21 “Twilight of the Apprentice, Part 1”
• Rebels – Season 2 Episode 22 “Twilight of the Apprentice, Part 2”
• Rebels – Season 3 Episode 11 “Visions and Voices”
• Rebels – Season 3 Episode 15 “Trials of the Darksaber”
• Rebels – Season 3 Episode 16 “Legacy of Mandalore”
• Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
• Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
• Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 1 “Chapter 1: Stranger in a Strange Land”
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 2 “Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine”
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 3 “Chapter 3: The Streets of Mos Espa”
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 4 “Chapter 4: The Gathering Storm”
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 5 “Chapter 5: Return of the Mandalorian”
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 6 “Chapter 6: From the Desert Comes a Stranger”
• The Book of Boba Fett – Season 1 Episode 7 “Chapter 7: In the Name of Honor”