The Mandalorian is back, and with it, a deeper look into the history of Mandalore and the Mandalorian warrior race. The upcoming season will focus on the ancient warrior group known as the Death Watch, which has been a part of the Star Wars universe since the early days of the franchise. The Death Watch’s introduction in the comics and The Clone Wars series has set the stage for its significance in Season 3 of The Mandalorian.
The Death Watch, led by Tor Vizsla, was first introduced in the 2002 comic book miniseries Jango Fett: Open Season. This comic explored Fett’s backstory and his mentorship under Jaster Mereel, a True Mandalorian leader. The Death Watch’s goal was to draw the Jedi Order’s attention to the planet Concord Dawn, where they falsely accused the True Mandalorians of crimes, leading to the execution of the True Mandalorians, including Fett.
The Death Watch played a significant role in The Clone Wars, where they threatened the peace on Mandalore under Duchess Satine Kryze’s democracy. Count Dooku, working alongside the Death Watch, attempted to overthrow Satine, but Obi-Wan Kenobi foiled his plans. The Death Watch’s leader, Pre Vizsla, also introduced the Darksaber, an ancient weapon stolen from the Jedi Temple, which became synonymous with ruling the Mandalorian tribes.
The Mandalorians also made appearances in The Clone Wars, where Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex joined forces with Bo-Katan to take down the Death Watch and Maul’s “Shadow Collective.” After Order 66, the Death Watch was replaced by “Clan Saxon,” led by Gar Saxon, a former Death Watch supercommando.
A Still From The Mandalorian Season 3 (Photo: The Mandalorian Season 3)
In Star Wars Rebels, Sabine Wren obtained the Darksaber and returned to Mandalore to defeat Clan Saxon and unite the remaining Mandalorian tribes under Bo-Katan’s leadership. The novel Battlefront: Twilight Company revealed that the Death Watch would serve as mercenaries during the Rebel Alliance’s war against the Galactic Empire.
The absence of the Darksaber from conflicts on Mandalore threatens Bo-Katan’s chance to rule, and in this power vacuum, the Death Watch’s descendants formed the “Children of the Watch,” adhering to extremist religious practices opposed by Bo-Katan and the New Mandalorians. The rise of the Children of the Watch promises an epic standoff in Season 3 of The Mandalorian, with Din Djarin and Bo-Katan standing up to the zealot group and bringing justice back to the honorable history of Mandalore.
As The Mandalorian returns, it’s clear that the show will explore the complex history of the Mandalorians and the Death Watch, weaving together various threads from the comics and television series to create a rich and immersive story. The Mandalorian releases new episodes every Wednesday on Disney+.
