Sorry, That’s not Baby Yoda

Considering the Baby of The Mandalorian

One photo from the newly released The Mandalorian has been speeding around Facebook faster than… well… Yoda’s lightsabering in Episode II: Attack of the Clones (Remember that? Many called it the only good moment in two hours of entitled man-child Anakin’s drippy love dialogue and Padme’s spectacular outfits overshadowing her complete lack of character. As I said at the time, millions on special effects and not a penny on script. But I digress…)

Anyway, really sorry to break it to everyone, but that’s NOT Baby Yoda. Yoda died about five years previous, in Return of the Jedi, remember? (Um, belated spoilers, but c’mon.) The baby is ironically older than Luke but still mostly unformed. This concept of a baby Yoda-creature is of course provoking additional commentary and questions:

1. Okay it’s not Yoda. But what if he resurrected himself? Well, that’s a nice thought but not exactly seen in canon. In a universe in which the Emperor and Vader extend their lives through the Dark Side, and Yoda lived peacefully with nature and finally accepted the death awaiting him, it’s HIGHLY unlikely he would decide returning for a second round was the ethical choice. Several fantasy series tackling this question have the sage realize he would need to displace a baby’s soul, which is an evil and selfish act. Yoda’s wisdom…