WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Mandalorian, "Chapter 11: The Heiress," streaming now on Disney+.
After months of anticipation, Star Wars: The Clone Wars voice actor Katee Sackhoff made her live-action debut as Bo-Katan Kryze in the latest episode of The Mandalorian. Titled "Chapter 11: The Heiress," in a nod to her status as Mandalore's rightful leader, the episode saw Bo-Katan cross paths with Din Djarin and the Child on the estuary moon of Trask, on the heels of their misadventures traveling there in "Chapter 10: The Passenger".
Far from being alone, Bo-Katan was accompanied by two other Mandalorians, including Koska Reeves (played by Sasha Banks), a warrior whose armor bore the emblem of the Nite Owls. An organization of female Mandalorian fighters led by Bo-Katan, the Nite Owls initially sided with the splinter group Death Watch in opposition to Mandalore's pacifist government during the Clone Wars. This decision was especially personal for Bo-Katan, whose sister, Satine Kryze, was the Duchess of Mandalore at the time.
The Nite Owls and Death Watch's leader, Governor Pre Vizsla of the Mandalore moon Concordia, would go on to overthrow Satine's rule after aligning themselves with Darth Maul and his brother, Savage Opress. When Maul then killed Pre Vizsla in combat and took control of Mandalore, the Nite Owls split in two, with Bo-Katan leading those who opposed the idea of an outsider ruling their world. She then attempted to free her sister from prison with the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had protected Satine during Mandalore's Civil War and developed a quasi-romantic relationship with her. Unfortunately, their mission failed and Maul murdered Satine, as an act of revenge against Obi-Wan.
After helping Obi-Wan escape the planet, Bo-Katan and her faction of Nite Owls instigated a civil war against Maul and his forces for control of Mandalore. Their conflict culminated in The Siege of Mandalore, which saw Bo-Katan join forces with former Jedi Ahsoka Tano and members of the Republic's clone army to defeat Maul. This is also why Bo-Katan knew who Ahsoka was when she encountered Din on Trask.
Following Maul's defeat, Bo-Katan was then made Lady of House Kryze and Regent of Mandalore, only to lose the title when she refused to follow Emperor Palpatine. Years later, near the beginning of the Galactic Civil War, Bo-Katan and her Nite Owls eventually teamed up with Clan Wren to rally against Mandalore's government and their support for the Empire. As seen on the animated series Star Wars Rebels, this was when Sabine Wren gave Bo-Katan the legendary black-bladed lightsaber known as the Darksaber.
In addition to being an important part of Mandalore's history and culture, the Darksaber is also the weapon Maul used to murder Satine. This explains why Bo-Katan is so determined to recover it in "The Heiress," along with other relics of Mandalore that have been stolen and sold on the black market since the fall of the Galactic Empire.
Seeing as The Mandalorian's big bad, Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), is currently in possession of the Darksaber, it's safe to say this won't be the last we see of Bo-Katan and the Nite Owls in Season 2. Esposito has already revealed he broke multiple prop Darksabers while filming this season, which suggests there could be an epic duel for the weapon between Gideon and Bo-Katan in the episodes to come.