The Mandalorian returned with a hefty dose of action, as Season 3 debuted on Disney Plus. In Episode 1, audiences watched as our titular hero set off on his path to forgiveness for removing his helmet, with Grogu by his side. While traveling through hyperspace, Grogu looked to connect with whale-shaped figures also making their own journey, known as the purrgil. Does their arrival foreshadow the introduction of Ezra Bridger, and Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn in the live-action Ahsoka series?
What are the hyperspace whales purrgil in The Mandalorian?
Purrgil are semi-sentient whales that have the unique ability to travel through hyperspace, and are around the size of a small starship. Larger members of a subspecies called the Purrgil Ultra are also present in deep space. To this point, they have only ever been seen in non-live-action Star Wars projects.
Are Ezra Bridger and Admiral Thrawn in The Mandalorian Season 3?
Purrgil have been mentioned numerous times in past Star Wars media, and could be seen in the animated series Star Wars: Rebels. This told the story of Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger, who was able to form a connection with the Purrgil against the evil Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Ezra used the whales to send Thrawn to an unknown location, but was caught up in the attack and ended up being transported with him. To this day, his whereabouts have never been revealed. Fans have been hopeful that Ezra could show up in live-action ever since his disappearance, and with the arrival of the Purrgil in The Mandalorian Season 3, that seems like a real possibility.
Rumors have been swirling (via Making Star Wars) about Ezra reuniting with Ahsoka in the Rosario Dawson-led live-action series coming to Disney Plus later this year (2023). They suggest that when the two are brought back together, it will be among chaos. Thrawn is reported to have sent soldiers after Ezra, and while a battle is foregone at first, it is alleged they will have to fight at some point.
So, while it may be unlikely that Ezra and Thrawn will show up in The Mandalorian Season 3, their presence is still being felt, and the foundations may have just been laid for their eventual live-action introduction in Ahsoka.
