Although The Mandalorian season 3 is almost upon us, questions like “Who is Grogu?” (Or, of course, “Who is Baby Yoda?”) lingers. Yes, despite 2-plus seasons of television (we’re not forgetting The Book of Boba Fett), the Mandalorian’s adorable sidekick remains a relative mystery.
While Grogu was able to work his way into the heart of Din Djarin (the Mandalorian’s real name), and get the masked bounty hunter to break the rules of his people, his background is still full of questions. Fortunately, we learned a lot about Baby Yoda along the way.
So without further ado, let’s move on to what we know (and what happens) Grogu (aka Baby Yoda).
Who is Grogu?
Whether you call him (and yes, male Grogu) Grogu, Baby Yoda, The Child, or favorite Mando, Grogu is a Force-sensitive member of the same race as Yoda, the legendary Jedi Grand Master.
We first learn that Grogu is Force-sensitive when he saves Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) from a dangerous Mudhorn.
Show runner Jon Favreau hinted at a large level of importance for the character: “As fun as it is to reveal new characters and surprise them, it also fits into a larger narrative about what’s happening in the galaxy after the Revolution. This is an important character.”
This quote is supported by watching the Star Wars: Galaxy Edge attraction from Disneyland’s Hollywood Studios Park in Orlando. Newsweek (Opens in a new tab) I found a post on Reddit indicating that The Mandalorian’s armor will one day gain a child-related token, which this season apparently will revolve around a steel-hearted Beskarian bounty hunter who decides to take care of this baby Yoda.
At one point in Episode 3, The Mandalorian debates about which sigil should persist on his armor, and refuses to accept the original offer, which mirrors the aforementioned possibility.
How old is Grogu?
Grogu is 50 years old, and was born in 41 BC (before the Battle of Yavin). Last we saw, The Mandalorian takes place on 9 ABY (after the Battle of Yavin).
We know Grogu’s age because The Mandalorian was told the bounty he was looking for in Episode I was 50 years old. At the age of 50, Grogu has lived through Order 66 and the Fall of the Jedi.
How do we know Baby Yoda’s name is Grogu?
It took 13 episodes of The Mandalorian to reveal that the character we named Baby Yoda had a real name. We learned this when Jaren and Grogu met Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) in Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian: “The Jedi.”
Tano, herself a Force-sensitive, reached out to Grogu to find out his name.
What’s the story behind Grogu’s return?
Tano also revealed that Grogu was originally raised in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, but had to go into hiding after the downfall of the Jedi Order.
All we know at this point is that Yoda and Grogu are part of the same species. However, we’ve only seen one other member of their species previously – Yaddle, a female who appeared in Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi.
That’s why you won’t be judged because you think Grogu and Yoda are not closely related. However, Yoda died at the age of 900, much older than Grogu is now. With so little we know about their species, it’s hard to assume anything about how they are related.
What are the types of Baby Yoda?
Shockingly, we never learned the name of Yoda’s species. in Wikipedia (Opens in a new tab)Yoda’s species are literally referred to as “Yoda’s species”.
Is Grogu a Jedi now?
At the end of The Mandalorian season 2, Din Djarin allows Grogu to go out with Luke Skywalker, to pursue his training as a Jedi. This training, as seen in Boba Fett’s book, took place on the planet Ossus (where Skywalker’s Jedi Academy is supposed to be).
Not being the best student, Grogu used his power to find frogs for a snack. Realizing Grogu’s heart wasn’t in training, Luke offered him a choice. Grogu can take the armor that Din Djarin left him, or continue training – but he never risks reuniting with his steel-clad Bishkar friend.
So, Grogu’s Jedi training has basically been stopped.
What is Grogu’s condition at the start of The Mandalorian season 3?
Now, Grogu is flying with Din Djarin in the new N-1 starfighter built by Mando by mechanic Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris). Recent adventures have seen Grogu rescued from the evil Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), even stopping the furious malevolence that knocked Djarin down.
As for what next? Grogu’s Jedi training is an unresolved episode in his story, and we also feel Grogu finding his people is part of the character’s endgame.