The Mandalorians Meet Yet Another Monster Neighbor That Wants To Eat Them

This post contains spoilers for episode 4 of "The Mandalorian" season 3.

Our main takeaway from this week's episode of "The Mandalorian" is that it's probably a good time for the Children of the Watch to find some other planet to live on — one where there are less giant monsters trying to eat them. The first episode of season 3 opened on a tasty looking, giant alligator creature attacking the tribe. In episode 4, there's yet another natural threat waiting just a mountain over.

After our brief interlude to Coruscant under the New Republic last week, "The Foundling" refocuses back to our core cast. After physically seeing the Mythosaur in the Living Waters, Bo-Katan continues her new crisis of faith as she takes new comfort in living by the creed. Now that Din has returned to his people as a redeemed man, he plans to integrate Grogu into the orthodox tribe as well. How does he plan to do that when Grogu is far too young for his own set of Beskar armor? The answer is pure, dad-like faith in Grogu's abilities. Using the Force, Grogu bests one of his peers in combat, who happens to be the son of Paz Vizsla (voiced by showrunner Jon Favreau), named Ragnar (Wesley Kimmel), the boy who had just taken the creed back in the season 3 premiere's opening minutes.

Ragnar, embarrassed by his defeat at the hands of baby Grogu, runs away from the tribe and right into trouble. Little did he know, in the outskirts of their desert planet oasis is yet another creature with a hunger for fresh Mandalorian. All of a sudden, a giant bird monster swifts Ragnar away to feed its nest of baby birds, and it's up to the rest of the tribe to find and rescue him.

So, what's the name of the bird creature that attacks Din's clan, and is there any basis for it in canon? At first glance, it appears to be the pterodactyl-like Pterosaur from Star Wars Legends. Upon further inspection, however, it seems to be an entirely original creature made for the show. As for now, it is also unnamed, just like the mega-gator that made its appearance in the season 3 premiere. Still, both these two creatures represent something that makes this season of "The Mandalorian" feel a lot more authentically "Star Wars"; the wide variety of non-human creatures, both those familiar and new. From the tree of Kowakiaan Monkey Lizards on Nevarro to the threats around every corner of the desert planet the Children of the Watch hide on, it makes the show's universe feel much more textured and alive despite its budgetary limitations.

In the end, Din and his tribe are able to defeat the bird creature and save Ragnar from its nest. They even take the three children and decide to raise them for their own. (Is this barbaric? Either way, the mother attacked first.) It's Bo-Katan's contribution to the fight that is especially honorable. Two episodes ago, she deemed Din and the Children of the Watch cultists, and now she's fighting beside them and protecting their own. In a short amount of time, we've watched Bo-Katan internally battle everything she once previously believed in. Is ruling Mandalore and taking possession of the Darksaber still her ambition? Or has she finally found belonging in the Mandalore diaspora?

Whatever happens next, it would do everyone good if the Children of the Watch found a safer home. Maybe third time's the charm?

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