The casual Star Wars fan watching this week’s episode The Mandalorian might think they are watching a nice little flashback to the Star Wars prequels era. But for observant Star Wars obsessives, the same scene is a showcase for an actor they know very well, in a role they would probably never see again.
[Ed. note: This piece contains spoilers for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4, “Chapter 20: The Foundling.”]
While The Mandalorian has hinted at Grogu’s past with the Jedi Order in previous seasons, and how he ended up hidden in an inland fortress. Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) was hired to fire, the show has only told, not shown, until now. In “The Foundling” we get a whole Grogu flashback to the fall of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Jedi bravely fall in battle with Clone Troopers trying to protect the little man’s hoverpod and deliver him to Jedi Master Kelleran Beq, played by none other than Ahmed Best.
Best is, of course, best known for providing voice and movement Star Wars‘ first fully computer-generated main character, Jar Jar Binks. He joins Andy Serkis on the list of Star Wars actors who have been allowed to use their real faces in a role after bringing one of the franchise’s most infamous all-CGI characters to life.
But this isn’t the first time we’ve seen Master Beq! People wondering what his backstory is can go check it out Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge, Disney Plus’ 2020 Star Wars themed game show that was more fun than it had any right to be. It actually was Legends of the Hidden Templewith Best as Beq and some droid friends as hosts who guide padawan duos (child contestants) through physical and mental trials.
Beq is definitely getting an action upgrade, from game show host to dual-wielding combat master – but again, the show established that his fighting skills had earned him the nickname “Sabered Hand”. We’re not quite sure where this plot arc goes – Beq and Grogu escape on a chrome-plated ship manned by Naboo security agents, and then the flashback ends.
But if Grogu had to escape from Coruscant with a Jedi, at least he has one with plenty of experience with youngsters.