Image via Disney Plus / Lucasfilm / Remix by Apeksha Bagchi
Warning: The following article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian season three, episode four.
Unless you decided to commit the sin of not watching The Mandalorian’s latest episode, you are already aware that the Disney Plus series has finally solved the long-standing mystery of who saved young (and the majorly powerless) Grogu from the Jedi Purge all those years ago. But even though we see Jedi Master Kelleran Beq whisking him away to safety, the episode hints that his actual savior is one unexpected character — Padmé Amidala who protected and ultimately helped Grogu escape, right under Anakin Skywalker’s soon-to-turn-into-Darth-Vader nose.
In a flashback, we see the Jedi battling the Clone troopers while trying to keep Grogu safe (which shows how important he is). At the last moment, when it seems there are no Jedi left standing, Kelleran Beq — who makes his proper debut from the quirkiest pages of Star Wars history dispatched the enemies with some impressive double-lightsaber wielding skills.
After barely managing to evade the ones pursuing them, they land on an airstrip holding a ship guarded by members of the Royal Naboo Security Forces. Naboo forces on Coruscant at a time when the latter was the direct target of the severely unhinged Anakin? Why would they risk his wrath to save the Jedi younglings? Well, the only person that could have persuaded them to brave the task was Padmé.
She was the elected Senator of Naboo and even after her term ended — though many wanted her to continue being the monarch — she was offered the protection of Naboo’s security forces. This means she held considerable sway over them, especially the security force afforded to the senator as the captain of the guards we see in The Mandalorian episode four is named ‘Senate Guard Captain’ in the credits.
This very much possible connection binding Baby Yoda and Padmé not only reveals who really saved the youngling and ensured his safety beyond the boundaries of Coruscant but also confirms that Padmé was much more than a bland character as many thought or just the love of Anakin Skywalker who passed away from a broken heart. She was a brave soul who did fight for what is right, even if it meant betraying the man she loved.
The Mandalorian season three airs weekly, every Wednesday, on Disney Plus.
