The Mandalorian at 5: The 5 most shocking moments from the series

The Mandalorian has taken fans on quite a journey in the past 5 years, and the rollercoaster ride includes several shocking moments that the fandom still talks about. There is plenty to talk about, from jaw-dropping cameos to monumental reveals and Din Djarin's historic helmet reveal.

We count down the 5 most shocking moments from The Mandalorian series so far.

1. "Species age differently..."

The Mandalorian's biggest surprise was revealed as a little green bundle of joy in the final few seconds of the series premiere. As a wide-eyed baby that looked strikingly familiar stared back at Mando, fans lost their minds and hearts forever. It was the best-kept secret of any Star Wars project, besides Darth Vader being Luke Skywalker's father (unless David Prowse said something).

No one expected the show to go in this direction, especially since most of the episode focused on what a big, tough, and cold fellow the titular hero was. This twist ensured the show would always remain several steps ahead of every Star Wars show when it came to shocking moments.

2. "Are you a Jedi?"

Din Djarin's mission was to find a Jedi who would agree to train his Force-sensitive companion, and after Ahsoka refused to train him, the internet was flooded with theories about who would. Everyone had their ideas, and some even believed Ahsoka would change her mind by the end of the season. On set, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni kept everything a secret from everyone except Pedro Pascal, and the script indicated that Plo Koon would be the Jedi who rescues everyone trapped on Moff Gideon's ship and takes Grogu for training.

Fans were blown away when a single X-Wing showed up, and a black-robed hero with a green lightsaber sliced through Gideon's dark troopers like butter. Mark Hamill was de-aged for his post-Return of the Jedi character with the help of a stunt double. The rest is history, and the epic fan reactions to Luke's return are everywhere on the internet for fans to geek out over for years to come.

3. "The kid's coming with me..."

A change of heart and a few seconds of reflection are all it took for Din Djarin to make the most life-changing decision of his life. As he sat alone in the Razor Crest after handing Grogu over to The Client in exchange for a Camtono of Beskar, Mando's eyes lingered on the missing silver knob the child was drawn to. Even with the helmet on, it was clear he went through multiple emotions ranging from guilt, to regret, and fear before he shut the cockpit down and decided to go back and save The Child.

The director of "The Sin," Deborah Chow, later admitted in an interview that she specifically requested that Pedro Pascal be in the Mando suit for this pivotal scene. Her wish was granted, and Pascal donned the iconic armor and gave a nuanced, physical performance illustrating Din Djarin's dilemma. This decision would change Din and Grogu's life forever, and this moment is as impactful today as it was 5 years ago.

4. "We just call him Brown Eyes..."

We must give credit where it's due because every time Mando removes his helmet, it's a shock. It's not that we don't know what Pedro Pascal looks like, but there's something incredible about a faceless man suddenly having a face. In "Chapter 15: The Believer," the stakes were high as Din had to get coordinates to find Moff Gideon's ship before the baddie did something terrible to Grogu.

Entering the Imperial facility on Morak was only half of it, and the job couldn't be completed until Djarin allowed a machine to perform a facial scan. This meant removing his helmet, and as the tension built in the final seconds before he took his helmet off, it felt like something would save him in time before he took it off. Nevertheless, there was no saving Grogu without this crucial step. Several awkward interactions later, the job was complete, and we got our best look yet at Pedro Pascal's performance as Mando.

5. "I'm a simple man, making his way through the galaxy. Like my father before me..."

"Chapter 14: The Tragedy" marked the official return of Boba Fett, confirming that he survived the Sarlacc Pit. Along with Fennec Shand, Boba follows Din in search of his armor, which was in Din Djarin's possession. After destroying a group of Stormtroopers, Fett proves his claim on the armor, as it belongs to his father, who was Mandalorian. From here, Boba and Din become allies, and Boba plays an important role in the final two episodes of the season. For long-time Boba Fett fans, this was a surprise decades in the making and proved that nothing is impossible on The Mandalorian.

The Mandalorian is streaming on Disney+.