Summary
The Mandaloriandid quite a bit to explain the First Order’s rise to power and Emperor Palpatine’s resurrection, but one small detail in season 2 secretly set up the sequel trilogy even more effectively.The First Orderwas the main antagonist of the sequel trilogy ofStar Warsmovies, but those films only briefly touched on the group’s origins. Instead,Star Warsshows likeThe Mandalorianhave explored the origins of the First Order in detail, and explained that it grew directly out of the Galactic Empire throughthe Imperial Remnant.
The Imperial Remnant went a long way in setting up the First Order, butThe Mandalorianaccomplished much more than just that.The Mandalorianseason 3 brought the idea ofProject Necromancer, the plan to resurrect Emperor Palpatine by producing a clone capable of holding his essence, to the New Republic era oftheStar Warstimeline. The show was also indirectly responsible for the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, asThe Mandalorian’s popularity allowedAhsokato tell that story. WhileThe Mandalorianset up the First Order very commendably, there’s one easy to miss detail that makes those explanations even better.
The Imperial Shadow Council Explained: Essential Canon Team That Shapes The Galaxy
Star Wars has just revealed the Imperial Shadow Council, a major coalition essential in shaping the galaxy’s future after the original trilogy.
Star Wars Subtly Confirmed The Imperial Remnants Didn’t Have Star Destroyers
In thefinale ofThe Mandalorianseason 2, Din Djarin and his allies boarded Moff Gideon’s ship to rescue Grogu.Interestingly, though Gideon was one of the Imperial Remnant’s most prolific officers, he wasn’t in command of a Star Destroyer, but rather the much smallerArquitens-class light cruiser. Beaumont Kin, an in-universe historian, noted that Gideon wasn’t alone in commanding such a small vessel, most of the Imperial Remnant that was active in the galaxy at the time did the same. Kin explained further in Chris Kempshall’s “Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire.”
What is interesting when looking at the forces of the Imperial remnant that existed on the edges of New Republic space in the lead up to Grand Admiral Thrawn’s return, is the scarcity of larger capital ships… Where had all the remaining Star Destroyers and other vessels gone?
Luckily, Kin also offered an answer to the question of where the Star Destroyers were duringThe Mandalorian: they were being used as the foundation of the First Order.
After the Empire’s defeat at the Battle of Jakku in 5 ABY (After the Battle of Yavin), a group of Imperial leaders fled to the Unknown Regions of theStar Warsgalaxy map.They chose the Unknown Regions specifically because they knew they wouldn’t be followed there, and because they knew they could hide within the region until they had built up their strength enough to return to the galaxy. Part of the reason the Unknown Regions were so secluded, however, was because no one really knew what was in them.
Beaumont Kin suggested that there was something dangerous lurking within the region, and that the Imperial Remnant kept their Star Destroyers there to protect against such threats.
We must wonder if perhaps when the founders of the First Order escaped the known galaxy, they took the bulk of their surviving military equipment with them. It would not be enough to reconquer the galaxy with, but it might assist them in staying alive long enough to one day make their return.
With the Star Destroyers to keep them safe and the threat of the Unknown Regions to keep them hidden, the Imperial Remnant was able to build up its power for decades.Keeping the Star Destroyers in the Unknown Regions likely also let the Remnant establish a power base in the area, one that would eventually grow until it became the First Order. Thus,The Mandaloriansubtly explained exactly how the Imperial Remnant was able to operate on a small scale in the charted regions of the galaxy while keeping the bulk of its forces hidden.
Moff Gideon
An important and influential member of the Imperial Shadow Council, Moff Gideon was personally responsible for the Purge of Mandalore. Moff Gideon deliberately seeded reports Mandalore was uninhabitable, secretly claiming the world and beginning efforts to extract its precious beskar. Moff Gideon’s ambitious attempts to clone herself were disrupted by Din Djarin, and he died when the Mandalorians retook their homeworld.
The subtlety of Moff Gideon’sArquitens-class cruiser highlights two of the best things aboutStar Wars. Whenever a new story leaves a question unanswered, such as how the sequel trilogy didn’t fully explain how the First Order came to be, it’s almost guaranteed that anotherStar Warsstory will answer it at some point in the future. Additionally, Gideon’s ship is a great example of how endlessly detailed the franchise is. Something as simple as the size of a villain’s ship can become a very important piece of lore, a factThe Mandalorianproved handily.
The Mandalorian & Grogu
July 28, 2025
Purchase Dr. Chris Kempshall’s “Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire” on Amazon
The Mandalorian
Cast
Released on July 24, 2025 The Mandalorian follows a lone gunfighter navigating the galaxy’s outer reaches after the Galactic Empire’s fall. As a skilled bounty hunter, he operates in a lawless universe, undertaking various missions on the fringes of the New Republic’s territories.
