Here's What The Protocol Droid Was Teaching In The Mandalorian Chapter 12
After chapter 11 of The Mandalorian, fans had hope that they were about to see the live-action debut of one of the most beloved characters who has yet to make the leap out of the world of the animated Star Wars shows. Alas, Mando's meetup with Ahsoka Tano didn't come with chapter 12. Instead, we made a detour to Nevarro, where Mando met up with some old friends, and the Child a.k.a. Baby Yoda had his first day of school. Awww, they grow up so fast.
While on the lava-covered planet looking to repair his ship, Mando reunited with Greef Karga and Cara Dune, who is now the marshal of the planet's settlement. Mando's visit is convenient for Greef and Cara, as they have an Imperial base that needs raiding, so while the ship is under repair, our perpetually helmeted bounty hunter lends his talents to the cause. Of course, the siege of an enemy base is no place for a smol Yoda. What's a single father to do?
Thankfully for Mando, the Nevarro settlement has its own school. He enrolls the Child and leaves him under the watchful eye of a C-3PO-lookalike protocol droid. If you were more focused on the action of the episode, you may have missed the lesson the droid was giving. But it's worth some unpacking, as there were a few fun references to events of Star Wars past.
Baby Yoda's Star Wars geography lesson
The scene of Baby Yoda being dropped off for daycare was a surprisingly fun diversion considering it was hardly the focus of the episode. The highlight for many will be the moment when the little scoundrel uses the force to steal a cookie from one of his bratty fellow classmates. However, you'd do well to pay attention to the protocol droid leading the class, as it's dolling out some useful intergalactic geography lessons.
Among the various topics being covered by the droid are the Outer Rim Territories, which, to put it in context, is a bit like the American West in the 19th century. It also happens to be where the planet Nevarro is located. Also covered is the core world of Chandrila — important for any youngster to know, as it served as the capital of the New Republic.
But perhaps the most lore rich shoutout is to the planet of Kessel and the Akkadese Maelstrom, which surrounds it. Mention of Kessel goes all the way back to the original Star Wars, when Han Solo brags that the Millennium Falcon is able to "[make] the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs." The Kessel Run refers to a route used by smugglers to dip in and out of the resource-rich planet, which we see Han doing in the prequel film Solo: A Star Wars Story during an action scene set in that very maelstrom.
If that all sounds like Greek to you, then perhaps its time you joined the Child and let the protocol droid teach you a thing or two about the galaxy far, far away.