Since we first saw Baby Yoda–the well-established fan nickname for our favorite green-eared Star Wars friend Grogu–we knew this kid was the future of Star Wars. But it took Bryce Dallas Howard directing the fourth episode of The Mandalorian, the one called “Sanctuary,” before the extent of our love for this slight fellow became fully apparent. In a barely inhabited swampy forest on the planet Sorgan, we watched Grogu experiencing a pastoral life. And in only a few slowly paced scenes we knew we could watch an entire two-hour movie of Grogu just… being. Grogu tending his garden? Sounds great. Grogu playing with a critter in his yard? Excellent. Grogu drinking soup or nibbling on blue macarons? Perfect!
Some animators at Lucasfilm/Disney finally figured this out, too. And now you can spend your holidays just relaxing around the yule log with your two favorite Star Wars characters.
Since the advent of black and white television, stations have played the simple film of a crackling fireplace to set the mood for the holidays. When VHS video arrived, video stores sold looped tapes featuring a merry yule log. It was all a way to have something playing on the television perhaps when guests came over for a holiday party, or to have a moment of zen at any time during the holidays.
If the idea of the sound of a crackling fire appeals to you, you can now get the Star Wars’ galaxy’s take on it. A new YouTube video uploaded by Lucasfilm is an hour of a repeated thirty-seconds of Din Djarin watching Grogu levitate stones on Tatooine with the twin suns burning in the background. A Tusken Raider on a bantha lumbers by. X-Wing fighters leave the atmosphere, and speeder bikes zoom past.
It’s not the Star Wars Holiday Special, but it will remind a generation how they saw their first glimpse of a Mandalorian via the special’s animated short film, then an animated Boba Fett with his tuning fork-esque Amban phase-pulse blaster.
Just cast this YouTube video to your television and you’re set. Let it run like you would the classic yule log videos, which are still available via a variety of streaming services.
The first two seasons of The Mandalorian are streaming on Disney+, along with Din and Grogu’s return in the first season of The Book of Boba Fett. Season 3 of The Mandalorian begins March 1, 2023, on Disney+.
Happy holidays!
C.J. Bunce / Editor / borg
