The Mandalorian season 3 features the return of a familiar, adorable Star Wars species – and the internet is loving it

The Mandalorian
(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

The Mandalorian season 3 episode 1 reintroduces one of Star Wars's most adorable species – and the internet can't get over it. A warning that the following contains spoilers for the new episode, so turn back now if you're not up to date! 

In the episode, when Din Djarin and Grogu visit Nevarro, Mando is on a mission to restore IG-11 to life. Unfortunately, the droid wakes up intent on collecting the bounty on Baby Yoda, which means he has to be destroyed once more. Din, though, is undeterred, so Greef Karga directs him to some Anzellans who might be able to help him. 

The Anzellans are a group of tiny, incredibly cute creatures, and you probably recognize the species from The Rise of Skywalker – the scene-stealing Babu Frik is one of them. Babu doesn't seem to be part of the group of critters in The Mandalorian, but seeing more of his kind is making the internet very excited anyway – particularly as one moment sees Grogu hugging one of the Anzellans a little too tightly. 

Grogu and an Anzellan in The Mandalorian season 3

(Image credit: Disney/Lucasfilm)

"Babu Frik calling Grogu a bad baby was not on my bingo card to say the least," says one bemused fan. "GROGU VS BABU FRIK LMAOOOO," is another person's response

"Grogu hugging Babu Frik was the best lol!" laughs another viewer. "That episode of #TheMandalorian was really great. Loved seeing Bo-Katan again. That opening scene with all the Mandos was really cool as well. Grogu playing with that Babu Frik species who was the droid repairer was funny," is another person's verdict

"GROGU AND BABU FRIK THANK YOU VERY MUCH," says one fan. "Was Grogu trying to eat Babu Frik?" someone else wonders

The Mandalorian continues on Disney Plus weekly, and you can keep up to date with our The Mandalorian season 3 release schedule

For more on the new episodes, see our exclusive interview with Jon Favreau, which touched on Grogu's Jedi journey, breaking the internet, and if season 4 will be the end, as well as what Pedro Pascal had to say about Mando and Grogu's bond and the "epic" third season

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Molly Edwards
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm a Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.