‘The Mandalorian’ Season 2, Episode 5 Recap: Baby Yoda Has a Name - The New York Times

In “The Jedi,” the latest chapter of “The Mandalorian,” Din Djarin finally makes it to the desolate forest planet of Corvus, where he intends to leave the Child with Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), a Jedi who might be able to train the little guy.

There’s nothing wrong with Grogu, which is no more or less silly than any other “Star Wars” name.

On the other hand, whenever Mando says, “Grogu,” the Child looks right at him and makes a little gurgling noise, as if to say, “Yes?” This is a delightful thing to see and hear.

Because this week’s episode was the fifth of an eight-episode season — and since Disney has already ordered a Season 3 — there was little chance Din was actually going to bid farewell to Grogu this week.

Although this episode adds significant new pieces to the show’s larger story, it almost plays like a backdoor pilot for a new live-action “Star Wars” series starring Ahsoka.

(The character has been well-represented in the animated “Star Wars” shows, appearing in both “The Clone Wars” and “Rebels.”) After she meets Mando — and after they have a brief but exciting fight — she helps him to understand only a little bit more about Grogu before she gets right back to her day job, fighting evil.

Unlike last week’s episode, which borrowed a lot of imagery directly from the “Star Wars” movies, this week’s seems more visually inspired by the “Star Wars” cartoons and video games (as well as by old westerns and samurai pictures)

The writer-director Dave Filoni does include one familiar bit of schtick from the films though, when the Mandalorian is surveying his surroundings on Corvus through a pair of electronic binoculars, marveling at some huge tree-eating animals … right before Ahsoka Tano attacks him