Mandalorian gives Jar Jar Binks’ Ahmed Best a great Star Wars cameo

The casual Star Wars fan watching this week’s episode of Mandalorian might think they’re watching a nice little flashback to the Star Wars prequels era. Star Wars obsessives will know that this scene showcases an actor they are familiar with, and in a role which they may never see again.

[Ed. note: This piece contains spoilers for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4, “Chapter 20: The Foundling.”]

However Mandalorian has hinted at Grogu’s past with the Jedi Order in previous seasons, and how he wound up hidden in a backwoods fortress Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) was hired to sack, 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 valiantly fall in battle with Clone Troopers, striving to protect the little guy’s hover pod and deliver him to Jedi Master Kelleran Beq, played by none other than Ahmed Best.

Best is most well-known for being a voice and a movement leader. Star Wars’ first completely computer generated main character, Jar Jar Binks. He joins Andy Serkis on the list of Star Wars actors who’ve gotten to use their actual face in a role after bringing life to one of the franchise’s most infamous all-CGI characters.

But this isn’t the first time we’ve seen Master Beq! Those who are curious about the backstory of Master Beq can watch it. Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge, Disney Plus’ 2020 Star Wars-themed game show that was more fun than it had a right to be. It was pretty much Legends of the Hidden TempleAs hosts Best as Beq (and some droid buddies), they guide padawan contestants through both mental and physical challenges.

Beq certainly gets an action upgrade, from game show host to dual-wielding combat master — then again, the show did establish that his fighting skills had earned him the nickname of “Sabered Hand.” We don’t know where this plot arc is going, exactly — Beq and Grogu escape on a chromed ship staffed by Naboo security officers, and then the flashback ends.

Grogu could have escaped Coruscant without any Jedi. But, he does have one who has a lot of experience working with younglings.