Social distancing in a galaxy far, far away.
Baby Yoda Easter Egg art and photo by Mark Baldo
I live in a suburb of New York City, so like much of the rest of the country, we are hunkered down, venturing out only for walks and, occasionally, groceries.
I am grateful we don’t have the virus, and heartbroken for the many thousands who have died from it.
But I am also grateful for Disney+ and Netflix. While I may have to socially distance from everyone I love, which is getting more surreal by the day, at least I can catch up on binge-worthy programs I missed.
Like “The Mandalorian.” As you probably know, this series almost single-handedly recruited tens of millions of subscribers for Disney’s new steaming service. Created by Jon Favreau, it takes place in the Star Wars universe and introduces fabulous new characters like Greef Karga, Cara Dune, and Kuiil.
And, in a sensationally staged reveal at the end of Episode 1, we also meet “The Child,” a.k.a. Baby Yoda. The character has generated billions of dollars for Disney and almost as many memes.
I love Baby Yoda. It’s impossible not to.
Not only is he incredibly cute, with big puppy eyes and floppy ears, he has super powers that allow him to heal those near death, deflect flame throwers, and levitate a rampaging Mudhorn, a giant rhinoceros-like creature with ill-intent. The Force is strong within him.
Din Djarin—the Mandalorian of the title—is a gruff bounty hunter, but under his Beskar armor lies a heart of gold. He must protect The Child from Imperial evil-doers who want to capture him and restore the Galactic Empire.
I watched several episodes yesterday, Easter Sunday, as I had no place to go—we’re basically not allowed to visit anyone—and not much to do.
It transported me to an unknown world I’d never seen before…
One with Mynocks, giant pterodactyl-like creatures who attack at night and carry you away for a late-night snack.
Klatoonian raiders with an AT-ST, a 28-foot tall ground-assault death machine.
Elite mercenaries, stormtroopers with an updated E-Web Heavy Repeating Blaster, cunning assassins, and an ex-secret police agent turned warlord with a badass TIE fighter.
At any other time, this boldly imagined universe would have seemed far more bizarre and dangerous than our own.
But, Easter without your family? Or church services? Or getting together with friends and neighbors?
This insidious COVID-19 has made them all, at least for the time being, a thing of the past.
In the world of The Mandalorian, at least you can see the Mudhorns.