The Mandalorian has finally given answers to one of the series’ biggest mysteries. The series follows the titular character played by Pedro Pascal as he takes care of a force-sensitive child named Grogu who was collectively referred to by audiences as Baby Yoda due to being of the same species as the famous Jedi. Ever since this Star Wars series premiered Grogu has been a character surrounded by mystery and his true name was not even revealed until season two.
Season two also revealed that he was in fact at the Jedi Temple during Order 66 and that a Jedi Master helped him escape. A quick glimpse of Grogu’s escape was seen in The Book of Boba Fett and in the fourth episode of The Mandalorian season three, audiences finally got a glimpse of the Jedi Master who saved him.
Audience theories ranged from fan-favorite characters like Quinlan Vos to Barriss Offee. Yet the reveal was a Star Wars character likely few people suspected that is a major payoff for the wider Star Wars franchise. Here is who saved Grogu.
Grogu Was Saved By a New Character
In season three, episode four of The Mandalorian, titled “Chapter 20: The Foundling,” Grogu has a flashback to the night of Order 66. He is surrounded by Jedi Knights who are holding off Clone Troopers when you can vaguely hear one say “get him to Beq.” Grogu gets in an elevator by himself as all the Jedi who were protecting him have been killed. The door opens up but instead of a Clone Trooper waiting for him, it is a Jedi.
Yet the Jedi is not a household name, and not someone anybody likely suspected. The door opens to reveal that it is Jedi Master Kelleran Beq standing there, and he helps get Grogu to safety and off Coruscant. Many audience members likely were wondering who he is, and possibly what was so important about his character to be the one to save Grogu. The character is played by Ahmed Best who most audiences may not recognize at first, but he has a long history with Star Wars that has not always been pleasant for him.
Who Is Kelleran Beq?
Kelleran Beq is a new character in the Star Wars universe, as he made his debut in 2020 on the web series Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge. The series is a Jedi-themed game show for kids that has the young contestants competing as Jedi Padawans in a series of obstacle courses and knowledge tests to gain the rank of Jedi Knight.
Kelleran Beq is the series’ host and is played by actor Ahmed Best. Jedi Temple Challenge premiered in June 2020 which was five months before the episode of The Mandalorian which revealed Grogu was saved by a Jedi at the Temple, hinting that this was planned for some time.
While Jedi Temple Challenge is non-canonical, the idea is that Beq is a real character in the Star Wars universe similar to the Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple at various Disney theme parks, which include Darth Vader and Darth Maul. In the Star Wars universe, Beq is a Jedi Master who supervises padawans as they go through the Jedi trials and hence explains his role on the game show.
It also explains why he is the character that saves Grogu. Ahsoka mentioned that only a select group of masters knew about Grogu, so it makes sense that a Jedi Master most commonly associated with training young Jedi would not only know Grogu but be the one to save him.
Ahmed Best Has a Complicated Relationship with Star Wars
Kelleran Beq is played by actor Ahmed Best. Best is most famous for playing the character of Jar-Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequels. A much-hyped character before the release of The Phantom Menace, Jar-Jar Binks’, became critically hated by fans and casual viewers alike, with many citing the character as one of the worst in Star Wars.
Best received much of the criticism with many even leveling personal attacks against the actor in place of the character which is a sad trend that some Star Wars “fans” continue to do to this day. The character of Jar-Jar Binks was so disliked that the actor even considered suicide.
Yet in recent years, the prequel trilogy has seen a new resurgence in fans mostly because the young audience who saw them as kids are now old enough to be shaping the discourse. Best received a standing ovation at ‘Star Wars Celebration.’ Likely in a way to make up for how poorly he was treated by the fanbase, Lucasfilm has brought Best back into Star Wars. First was as the host of Jedi Temple Challenge, but now in a pivotal role in The Mandalorian.
There is a nice meta-commentary there on the actor who was associated with one of the most hated aspects of Star Wars being the one responsible for saving the new fan favorite. Best will always be linked to Star Wars, but now the association can hopefully be more positive.
Will Kelleran Beq Return?
Grogu’s flashback ends with him and Kelleran Beq jumping to hyperspace out of Coruscant. The episode might have revealed who saved Grogu, but it also raised more questions to be answered. Beq says he got help from a friend and then approaches a Naboo starfighter.
The events of Order 66 happened early before Padme knew Anakin had turned to the dark side so it would have to be another Naboo character who lent them the ship. Could it possibly be Jar-Jar Binks himself, and is this the franchise trying to give the character some form of redemption?
There is also the question of what happened to Beq. Grogu is found by the Mandalorian about 28 years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, and Grogu is alone. Beq likely died at some point, but when and how he died is unclear. This is a storyline that likely will be planted throughout The Mandalorian, but also could be revealed in series like Ahoska and The Skeleton Crew.
The Bad Batch takes place in the immediate aftermath of Revenge of the Sith so there is a chance the story could be picked up in that series. Kelleran Beq has now gone from a rather new obscure character to a pivotal part of the Star Wars franchise.
