Fans of The Mandalorian are counting down the days till February 2023. That’s when Season 3 of the hit Disney+ show makes its debut. So what’s in store for Mando and his surrogate son, Baby Yoda? While teaser footage and a trailer released earlier this year showed us that the pair were heading to Mandalore, their visit to Din Djarin’s home planet won’t be a peaceful one, with at least two people gunning for the duo.
The new season of The Mandalorian will arrive on Disney+ February 2023. Filming began in October 2021, following a COVID delay, and wrapped in March 2022. As the first two seasons of the show both had eight episodes, it’s likely Season 3 will have the same.
When we last saw Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Baby Yoda (aka Grogu), they had reunited in The Book of Boba Fett. That’s after Grogu chose not to continue training in the ways of the Force with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Our “clan of two” were seen leaving Tatooine in the Mandalorian’s souped-up N-1 Starfighter.
Mando is in possession of the Darksaber after defeating Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) in combat. That technically makes him the ruler of Mandalore. But there’s a hitch—he was told by the Armorer (Emily Swallow) that he broke a cardinal rule of his sect. Because he took off his helmet, he’s no longer a Mandalorian. She tells him that “according to creed, one may only be redeemed in the living waters beneath the mines of Mandalore.” Footage seen so far from Season 3 appears to show that that’s where Din and Grogu are headed.
Mandalorian warrior Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) returns in Season 3, looking to reclaim the Darksaber and, with it, the title of ruler of Mandalore. (According to lore, Mando can’t just give her the Darksaber, she has to defeat him in battle to get it.) Bo-Katan is seen in the trailer sitting on a throne in a broken-down palace and she doesn’t appear to be too pleased to spot Din: “Your cult fractured our people—where were you then?” she tells him, referring to the Children of the Watch. Fans will remember that Din also owes her a debt—in Season 2, she agreed to help rescue Grogu from Moff Gideon as long as Din would help her and her Nite Owls take back Mandalore. “She’s not necessarily happy,” Sackhoff told ScreenRant at the D23 Expo in September 2022, adding that she spends a lot of time with Grogu this season.
The last time we saw Moff Gideon, he had been turned over to the New Republic to be tried for his crimes. But he’s back in Season 3, and badder than ever.
“[Gideon] has an agenda all of his own,” Esposito told Steele Wars at Star Wars Celebration in June 2022. “He’s been a warden of a certain part of the galaxy. He wants to bring all the other wardens together for what reason? Why can’t he just live in peace in his own little piece of paradise? There’s gotta be a reason that he’s bringing all of them together because he must have an agenda of his own.”
4. What did the new trailer reveal—and what about those fan theories?
So. Many. Mandalorians. Bo-Katan can be heard in the trailer asking Grogu, “Did you think your dad was the only Mandalorian?” And footage from Season 3 showed several of the helmeted warriors, mercenaries, and bounty hunters seen engaging in battle (does this mean that Bo-Katan’s Nite Owls and Din’s Children of the Watch are teaming up?). We also see the ruins of the Mandalore capital of Sundari. In addition, we see Mando and Baby Yoda in a dark underground cavern that looks to be the Mandalore mines.
It also looks like the Death Watch is back, with Mandalorians spotted wearing the group’s icon in a fight on a city street. Bo-Katan once served among Darth Maul’s Death Watch and it was this group that rescued Din as a child.
Another shot also hints that Maul’s legacy may play a part in Season 3. Maul lost Mandalore and the Death Watch when he was defeated by Ahsoka Tano in the animated Clone Wars series. However, the trailer shows Mandalorians wearing red and black armor associated with Maul. The Armorer also wears a helmet that features horns that harken back to Maul’s horns. (Ray Park, the actor who played the red and black warrior, has not been shy about his desire to return as the Sith lord.)
We also get a glimpse of Dr. Pershing (Omid Abtahi), the Imperial scientist and cloning engineer who we saw previously conducting experiments with Grogu’s blood (rich in midi-chlorians, which Force-sensitive beings use to communicate). A popular fan theory is that the focus of Pershing’s midi-chlorian experiments is bringing Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious back to life. After all, he made a reappearance in the 2019 Star Wars film The Rise of Skywalker.
Season 3 also sees the reappearance of a droid from Star Wars lore. You can spot R5-D4, the droid with the bad motivator from 1977’s A New Hope, in Peli Motto’s (Amy Sedaris) workshop in earlier episodes of The Mandalorian. In the trailer for Season 3, the droid is serving as Din’s astromech on his ship.
Speaking of returns, the trailer also offered a glimpse of Babu Frik, the little Anzellan who toiled in a workshop on Kijimi in The Rise of Skywalker.
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
5. Who’s returning?
In addition to Pascal, Baby Yoda, Sackhoff, Esposito, Abtahi and Swallow, Carl Weathers returns as Nevarro magistrate Greef Karga. Temuera Morrison, who plays Boba Fett, also made an appearance at the Mandalorian panel at Star Wars Celebration. There is speculation that he and Fett’s cohort Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) will make an appearance in Season 3. Rosario Dawson, who plays Ahsoka Tano and has been busy filming her own spinoff series, also took to the stage. Maybe we will see her in The Mandalorian again before Ahsoka debuts later in 2023. The teaser released in June offered glimpses of Sedaris and Paul Sun-Huyng Lee (who plays Captain Carson Teva). Meanwhile, photos from the set also showed Simon Kassianides filming a scene for the new season. Kassianides previously played a member of the Night Owls.
Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
6. New cast members
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news in March that Back to the Future’s Christopher Lloyd stars in an undisclosed role. In addition, Saturday Night Live alum Tim Meadows is also joining the cast.
Andy Kropa/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
7. A dream cameo
Mandalorian creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have cast famous faces in cameo roles. Those cameos include Horatio Sanz, Jason Sudeikis, and Danny Trejo. But there is one person who remains at the top of their list: Star Wars creator George Lucas. The writer, director, and producer previously played blue-skinned politician Baron Papanoida in 2005’s Revenge of the Sith, with Filoni telling Entertainment Weekly that if Lucas popped up on The Mandalorian, “He’d have to be the son of Baron Papanoida or something like that.”
The former MMA fighter, who played Cara Dune in Seasons 1 and 2 of The Mandalorian was fired by Disney in February 2021 for controversial posts on social media. She also ridiculed the wearing of masks to protect against COVID-19. In a statement at the time, Lucasfilm said, “Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future. Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.”
In an interview with Tucker Carlson in September 2022, Carano said, “I became a fan favorite in The Mandalorian, but they didn’t even let me do any interviews once I started becoming controversial, and I wasn’t beating to their drum.” She insisted that she was a victim of cancel culture mentality: “They came after me so hard, they tried to make an example out of me.”
Weathers and Jurassic World actress Bryce Dallas Howard directed previous episodes of The Mandalorian. They’re both back behind the camera for Season 3. Weathers told fans at Star Wars Celebration that he got really lucky with a “really good script and good actors” for his episode, adding, “It’s a wonderful sandbox to play in.”
Merrick Morton/Lucasfilm/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
10. Will Samuel L. Jackson make an appearance?
When we last saw Samuel L. Jackson in the Star Wars universe, his character, Mace Windu, lost a hand to Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen). He was also blasted out of a window by Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid), seemingly falling to his death in 2005’s Revenge of the Sith. Jackson is eager to make a return and admitted on the Happy Sad Confused podcast in March 2022 that he’d spoken to his Argylle co-star Howard about it.
“There’s a huge history of people with one hand returning in Star Wars…The only person I’ve ever said that to about coming back was Bryce Dallas Howard, ’cause I just did a movie with her,” Jackson said. “And she directs episodes of The Mandalorian, so, ‘You think you might be able to hook a brother up? I mean, you like me, right?’ She’s like, ‘I love you, you’re amazing!’, ‘So put me back in there. Put me in, Coach. I’m ready!’ You know, I’ll learn to lightsaber left-handed. Come on, hook me up.”
Yes! Favreau confirmed in May 2022 that he is already working on Season 4. “As we tell stories, those stories take on lives of their own and they have trajectories. And then as those trajectories begin to organically intersect, larger stories with more characters start to make more sense…As Dave’s doing Ahsoka, it’s very much informing the writing I’m doing for Season 4,” he told CinemaBlend at Star Wars Celebration in June 2022 of his co-creator Filoni.
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
Courtesy image
1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
