The Mandalorian Ending: That Alien Baby Explained (And Why It's A Big Deal)

Although the launch of Disney+ has certainly had its fair-share of issues--like users not being able to log on--the new streaming service offers up plenty of content you'll want to check out, including the original Star Wars series The Mandalorian. The first episode of the show is available now to stream, and the final moments of Episode 1 have The Mandalorian looking into the adorable eyes of a baby Yoda. Well, it's not specifically a baby version of that character--as far as we know--but it is a younger version of that alien species.

Warning: More spoilers for the final moments of Episode 1 of The Mandalorian ahead. Turn away now if you care.

The first episode of The Mandalorian has the titular character on the hunt for a 50-year-old bounty. That's all the information he has. However, after teaming with IG-11--who is also after the same bounty--the two discover that their 50-year-old bounty is actually an infant, and it looks a whole lot like Yoda.

As explained on the show, not all alien species age the same way, and a 50-year-old human isn't going to look as young as whatever Yoda's species does at that same age. When Yoda passed on in Return of the Jedi, he was 900 years old.

What is this baby in Mandalorian and Yoda's species called? Well, it's never been given an official name, and to this point, there have only been two of this species to appear on the screen. Aside from Yoda, there was Yaddle, who appeared in Episode 1 and was part of the Jedi High Council. She met her end in a Star Wars comic after Darth Vader stuck a lightsaber into her.

While little is known about this species as a whole, the two of the species we've seen have been force sensitive, so there's a good chance the baby alien--which people have been referring to as "The Asset"--could develop these powers, and that's why the remnants of the Empire want to get a hold of it so badly.

In his review of The Mandalorian, GameSpot's Chris E. Hayner said, "With its first episode, The Mandalorian has made a statement about what a live-action Star Wars TV show looks like. Now, with the remaining seven episodes in Season 1, it needs to make a statement about how a Star Wars plot should unfold over a longer form of storytelling."

We'll learn more when Episode 2 of The Mandalorian arrives on November 15.