The Mandalorian Season 3 References A Niche But Important Star Wars Legend

This post contains spoilers for "The Mandalorian" season 3 premiere.

One of the best things about shows like "The Mandalorian" is that a single world or phrase can open up new avenues of storytelling, and help one understand the landscape and geography of "Star Wars" better. The season 3 premiere of "The Mandalorian" presents a perfect example of this, when Greef Karga talks about how Nevarro is now an economic powerhouse, thanks in part to its placement along the Hydian Way.

The Hydian Way first became part of "Star Wars" lore way back in the late 1980s, debuting in "Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game." It became more important in future "Star Wars" storytelling, referenced across games, books, and television shows.

In the current canon, the Hydian Way is a vital hyperspace route that connects the Corporate Sector to the Core Worlds, and then heads back out to the Outer Rim. Think of it as one of the biggest, busiest, and most reliable freeways in the galaxy. It's played an important role in the current canon of "Star Wars" as well. During the Clone Wars, Plo Koon ("Mandalorian" writer/EP Dave Filoni's favorite) was sent to the Hydian Way route to stop the advances of General Grievous. 

In James Luceno's first rate book about Grand Moff Tarkin (aptly titled "Tarkin"), much of the action plays out in a chase along the Hydian Way. And thanks to Beth Revis's recent book, "Princess and the Scoundrel," we know there was a casino ship that operated in the Hydian Way, a place where Han and Lando once met up with the Tonnika sisters.

In the Legends canon, more than three thousand years before the events of "The Mandalorian" the Hydian Way hyperspace route caused a crisis in the Old Republic when the Mandalorians blockaded the hyperspace route with Mandalorian cruisers. This eventually brought the Old Republic to its knees and they were forced to deal with the Mandalorians significantly. All of this played out in the "Knights of the Old Republic" video game.

Could we see the Mandalorians return to their former glory and use the Hydian Way as an economic chokepoint to get on the radar of the New Republic? As Greef Karga is keen to point out, it puts Nevarro on the map of economic prosperity. Could the blockade of the route be something the pirates rebuked by Din Djarin and Greef Karga take on? The possibilities for how the show could use the Hydian Way are endless.

Of course, there's also the very real chance this is just an Easter egg and there won't be anything to it. Anything is possible. Nods like this, though, are proof the creatives behind "The Mandalorian" care about the lore, and will tie it all together however they can.

New episodes of "The Mandalorian" release Wednesdays on Disney+.