Every Moff Gideon question answered in The Mandalorian Chapter 23

Warning: This article contains spoilers from The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7. 

Ever since his dramatic introduction in The Mandalorian season 1, Moff Gideon has been shrouded in mystery. In addition to the questions surrounding him since season 1, season 3 deepened the mystery further with Gideon’s absence and the mystery of what happened to him after he was taken into New Republic custody.

Gideon’s long-awaited return in “Chapter 23: The Spies” answers several major questions about him, from questions first posed in season 1, to the newer questions in season 3.

How did Moff Gideon originally acquire the Darksaber?

Ever since the season 1 finale showed Gideon in possession of the Darksaber, fans wondered how he acquired the Mandalorian weapon in the first place, especially since Bo-Katan Kryze was last seen with it in Star Wars Rebels.

Bo-Katan reveals in “The Spies” that she met with Gideon after the Mandalorians were decimated by the Empire during the Night of a Thousand Tears and defeat was inevitable.

She surrendered the Darksaber to Gideon and agreed to Mandalorians disarming and submitting to the Empire. In exchange, the Empire would spare all remaining Mandalorians and their cities that were still left standing.

Gideon kept the Darksaber for himself while he and the Empire did not honor the terms of the cease-fire and moved forward with the Purge of Mandalore.

Who is Moff Gideon working with?

Another question about Gideon since season 1 is whether he and his Imperial remnant are working alone or if they are working with other Imperial remnants. The impending return of Grand Admiral Thrawn also raised questions of whether Gideon was working with or for Thrawn.

“The Spies” clarifies that Gideon does work with other Imperial remnants. He and other prominent Imperials including Commandant Brendol Hux and Captain Gilad Pellaeon are part of a group known as the Shadow Council whose goal is the reemergence of the Empire. Gideon working with Hux demonstrates that he has ties to the Imperial remnants that will one day become the First Order.

Pellaeon promises the return of Thrawn, but Thrawn is not present during the Shadow Council’s meeting, nor does it sound like he ever is. In fact, Gideon and the rest of the Shadow Council seem like they are tired of waiting for Thrawn and want to put new leadership in place.

Gideon is an influential member of the Shadow Council, but he is not the one in charge. He has to request three Praetorian Guards and reinforcements for his TIE Interceptor and TIE Bomber squadrons from Hux and Pellaeon. This confirms that the TIE Interceptors who attacked Din Djarin and Bo-Katan and who bombed Bo-Katan’s home belonged to Gideon as he needs to replenish his forces.

Gideon gets what he wants from Hux and Pellaeon as they are in agreement that the Mandalorians must be eradicated and that the Mandalorians retaking Mandalore would harm the Shadow Council’s plans. Yet, these dynamics prove that Gideon currently does not hold the most resources among the Shadow Council.

Assuming Gideon survives The Mandalorian season 3 finale, it will be interesting to see how Gideon’s position and the dynamics of the Shadow Council change when Thrawn returns in the Ahsoka series.

In addition to Gideon’s involvement in the Shadow Council, “The Spies” confirms that Elia Kane is still working for Gideon and feeding him information from inside the New Republic. Her manipulation of Dr. Pershing in “Chapter 19: The Convert” and her role in ensuring the New Republic didn’t send reinforcements to defend Nevarro from the pirates are all part of Gideon’s master plan.

How did Moff Gideon escape New Republic custody?

Gideon was taken into New Republic custody after his defeat in The Mandalorian season 2 finale, yet rumors abounded that he escaped New Republic custody.

Carson Teva confirmed that rumor in “Chapter 21: The Pirate” as he discovered the wreckage of the ship that was taking Gideon to trial. Gideon was gone, the New Republic officers aboard were killed, and a fragment of beskar alloy was left embedded in the ship’s wall, leaving the impression that Gideon was taken or freed by Mandalorians.

Din, Bo-Katan, and the other Mandalorians searching for the Great Forge on Mandalore are attacked by an army of Imperial Super Commandos wearing beskar armor during “The Spies.” These Imperial Super Commandos are the ones who killed the New Republic officers and freed Gideon, with a fragment of their armor left embedded in the wall of the ship.

What will Moff Gideon do about the Dark Trooper program?

Gideon was proud of the Dark Trooper droids he unleashed in season 2, but they were imperfect as Din was able to kill one with a beskar spear, and Luke Skywalker destroyed the rest with his lightsaber.

Instead of abandoning the Dark Trooper program, Gideon is continuing it. This time, the Dark Trooper suit is made out of beskar alloy and Gideon is wearing the suit himself. These modifications help Gideon be protected against Mandalorian weapons and even lightsabers to a certain degree, making him an even more formidable threat.