The Mandalorian season 3 features the return of a familiar, adorable Star Wars species – and the internet is loving it

The Mandalorian
(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

The Mandalorian season 3 episode 1 reintroduces one of Star Wars's most adorable species – and the internet can't get over it. A warning that the following contains spoilers for the new episode, so turn back now if you're not up to date! 

In the episode, when Din Djarin and Grogu visit Nevarro, Mando is on a mission to restore IG-11 to life. Unfortunately, the droid wakes up intent on collecting the bounty on Baby Yoda, which means he has to be destroyed once more. Din, though, is undeterred, so Greef Karga directs him to some Anzellans who might be able to help him. 

The Anzellans are a group of tiny, incredibly cute creatures, and you probably recognize the species from The Rise of Skywalker – the scene-stealing Babu Frik is one of them. Babu doesn't seem to be part of the group of critters in The Mandalorian, but seeing more of his kind is making the internet very excited anyway – particularly as one moment sees Grogu hugging one of the Anzellans a little too tightly. 

Grogu and an Anzellan in The Mandalorian season 3

(Image credit: Disney/Lucasfilm)

"Babu Frik calling Grogu a bad baby was not on my bingo card to say the least," says one bemused fan. "GROGU VS BABU FRIK LMAOOOO," is another person's response

"Grogu hugging Babu Frik was the best lol!" laughs another viewer. "That episode of #TheMandalorian was really great. Loved seeing Bo-Katan again. That opening scene with all the Mandos was really cool as well. Grogu playing with that Babu Frik species who was the droid repairer was funny," is another person's verdict

"GROGU AND BABU FRIK THANK YOU VERY MUCH," says one fan. "Was Grogu trying to eat Babu Frik?" someone else wonders

The Mandalorian continues on Disney Plus weekly, and you can keep up to date with our The Mandalorian season 3 release schedule

For more on the new episodes, see our exclusive interview with Jon Favreau, which touched on Grogu's Jedi journey, breaking the internet, and if season 4 will be the end, as well as what Pedro Pascal had to say about Mando and Grogu's bond and the "epic" third season

TOPICS
Molly Edwards
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm a Senior Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English. 

Read more
Sigourney Weaver in The Gorge
Sigourney Weaver was "delighted" to join the Star Wars franchise but says Grogu was the whole reason she signed on for The Mandalorian & Grogu: "He's a little badass"
Mando and Grogu in The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian & Grogu: everything we know so far about the next Star Wars movie
The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian season 4 release date speculation, potential cast, trailer, plot, and movie details
Star Wars Visions anime
First look at Star Wars anime Visions season 3 is a "psychedelic battle" exploring the "tormented psyche" of a stormtrooper
The Mandalorian
Bo-Katan's actor may have accidentally answered whether she is appearing in The Mandalorian and Grogu movie with this cryptic response
Jude Law in Skeleton Crew
Skeleton Crew episode 7 ends with a sinister Star Wars callback to Revenge of the Sith
Latest in Star Wars TV Shows
Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka
A Star Wars actor just quietly confirmed that filming has begun on Ahsoka season 2
Ben Mendelsohn in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 could be about to turn one of the darkest events in Star Wars even darker
The Death Star in the Andor season 2 trailer
New Andor season 2 trailer is an intense new look at the returning Star Wars show that sees the Rebels discover the Death Star
Ben Mendelsohn in Andor season 2
Andor showrunner says season 2's more fast-paced structure is a "fascinating experiment" that is "born out of desperation": "I don't know if anyone's ever done it before"
Star Wars Visions anime
First look at Star Wars anime Visions season 3 is a "psychedelic battle" exploring the "tormented psyche" of a stormtrooper
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2
Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy says his Star Wars show is trying to be "more serious about this sh*t than anybody ever has been"
Latest in News
Lies of P art showing P walking in a snowy forest
Lies of P director loves FromSoftware and respects the Soulslike tag, but says "I'm really serious, I'm not lying, I'm very truthful, our focus is to create our own style of game"
Tony Dalton as Jack Duquesne
Daredevil: Born Again fans are loving the MCU cameos in this week's episodes – especially the Hawkeye reunion
Chris Hemsworth's name on the back of a director's chair
Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal live blog
Screenshots from the Alien Evolved Edition TRPG teaser trailer
Alien Evolved Edition TRPG just burst through the million dollar crowdfunding mark with the vigor of a face-hugger on steroids
Halloween director John Carpenter
15 years on from his last horror movie, Halloween's John Carpenter says he'd "love to direct again" – but he has one condition
Lies of P Overture art of P
Lies of P director says Overture DLC is at least 15 to 20 hours long for "experienced" players, packing tons of bosses and ideas the devs couldn't fit at launch