The Mandalorian: Which episodes are written and directed by Dave Filoni

Creator Jon Favreau is credited with writing The Mandalorian, but Dave Filoni has contributed his writing and directing talents multiple times in these Mando episodes.

Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian Episode 1 "Directing" - Werner Herzog and Dave Filoni on the set of THE MANDALORIAN. Image Courtesy Disney+
Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian Episode 1 "Directing" - Werner Herzog and Dave Filoni on the set of THE MANDALORIAN. Image Courtesy Disney+

Do you know which episodes of The Mandalorian are written and directed by Dave Filoni? Dave Filoni is the Chief Creative Officer at Lucasfilm and has been making Star Wars for over a decade now. After lending his creative talents to The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, Filoni shifted to live-action with The Mandalorian, which premiered in 2019.

Since then, Filoni, who is also credited with writing Ahsoka, has written and directed several episodes of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. Here are all episodes of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett written or directed by Dave Filoni.

The Mandalorian: Chapter 1

THE MANDALORIAN, Season 3
(L-R): Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff), Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), Paz Vizsla (Tait Fletcher), Grogu and the Armorer (Emily Swallow) in Lucasfilm's THE MANDALORIAN, season three, exclusively on Disney+. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

Many people may not know that Dave Filoni directs the series premiere of The Mandalorian. This episode launched it all, and it's where fans met bounty hunter and Mandalorian Din Djarin. The mysterious hero didn't say much, but the episode is a classic now, with dozens of memorable moments, including the surprise reveal of Grogu at the end. Filoni's direction is part of why the show made an immediate impression on audiences.

The Mandalorian: Chapter 5 "The Gunslinger"

marvel-the-mandalorian-season-2-issue-1_article-feature_5342792e
Marvel’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian – Season 2 #1. Image courtesy StarWars.com

"The Gunslinger" is written and directed by Dave Filoni and takes place entirely on Tatooine. It seems like a weekly adventure, with not much happening apart from Din Djarin doing his usual bounty hunter stuff while Peli Motto fixes the razor crest and keeps an eye on Grogu. However, it's the live-action debut of Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) and a surprise Boba Fett (Temeura Morrison) reveal at the end of the episode that makes this one vital to setting up future stories.

The Mandalorian: Chapter 13 "The Jedi"

HUC2-FF-002860-3840x1610-6d2abbf
Ahsoka. The Mandalorian season 2. Courtesy of Lucasfilm.

Dave Filoni returned as director for The Mandalorian Season 2 "Chapter 13: The Jedi," which is a significant episode not just for the show but for the entire Mandoverse. Written and directed by Filoni, it marks the live-action debut of Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano. It's also important for Grogu fans as the episode includes Grogu's backstory and name reveal. Don't think I missed Grand Admiral Thrawn's name drop either.

The Book of Boba Fett: Chapter 6 "From the Desert Comes a Stranger"

THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT
(L-R): The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) in Lucasfilm's THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT, exclusively on Disney+. © 2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

Chapter 6 of The Book of Boba Fett is written and directed by Dave Filoni, and for good reason. It marks the live-action debut of Cade Bane and appearances by Ahsoka Tano and Luke Skywalker. The episode shows Grogu's training with Luke, who presents him with a choice of whether to continue his Jedi training or return to his father, Din Djarin. Din tries to meet Grogu but is persuaded by Ahsoka not to interrupt Grogu's training. Overall, it's an episode that tells us a lot about all the main characters. It also gives fans a scene they've waited for: Ahsoka and Luke talking.