Star Wars is as well known for its production design as it is for its epic storytelling, and often, those two elements work in perfect harmony. Some of the most famous galactic ephemera and most exciting set pieces have come in the form of the franchise's vehicles. From sleek Nubian Royal Starships to intimidating Super Star Destroyers, the many modes of transport and machines of war help make the world of Star Wars feel like a real universe unto itself. The latest iteration, The Mandalorian on Disney+, proudly continues that tradition started by George Lucas and Ralph McQuarrie with the titular character's ship, the Razor Crest.
Fans first lay eyes upon the ship only a few minutes into the first episode of The Mandalorian, docked on the ice planet, Maldo Kreis. After a brief and almost deadly scuffle with a Ravinak, Mando is airborne and ferrying his current bounty back to Greef Karga. His captor, a Mythrol man, comments that the Razor Crest is "a classic," then asks if it's pre-Galactic Empire. Mando doesn't answer, and the Mythrol excuses himself to below deck, to make use of the ship's vac tube. He's clearly up to no good, which Mando is smart enough to deduce, but before he gets found out, he discovers a cargo hold full of other bounties, frozen in carbonite. The series has only just begun, and already, fans are given multiple hints that suggest the Razor Crest is mysterious and important.
The first season includes several episodes that heavily revolve around Mando's ride. It's stripped for parts by Jawas in "Chapter 2: The Child," and repaired by Peli Moto during a pit stop to Tatooine in "Chapter 5: The Gunslinger". The Razor Crest is as much of a home as Din Djarin has, and eventually, as much of one as the Child has. It's highly entertaining to see it serve as both the setting of some of the show's most tense scenes and a place where the 50-year-old toddler of Yoda's species can plan with the control panel as if it was made by Fisher-Price. Even bigger clues to the ship's significance are provided in "Chapter 6: The Prisoner" when a former associate of Din's gives him temporary shelter, but only because he needs the Razor Crest for a mission.
It's revealed that the former military gunship is neither on Imperial nor New Republic grids. It can also evade detection and jam codes, making it as valuable as "a Canto Bight slot machine," according to another rogue agent. The point of the episode is that Din's former crew double-crosses him, yet he prevails. It's some good character building, for the Mandalorian and his personal transport alike. It becomes clear that Din and the Razor Crest both have complicated pasts and are sought after across the galaxy.
If that reminds you of another iconic pilot/ship combination, that's probably not by accident. In a case of why fix what isn't broken, Mando and the Razor Crest have much in common with Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon. Both characters are gruff loners with hearts of gold and both ships are hunks of junk that get the job done. It might not be as pretty as a Naboo Starfighter or as powerful as a First Order Dreadnought, but it has character, so much so that it becomes a character in its own right, like the Falcon is to the Skywalker Saga. Hopefully, Season 2 of The Mandalorian will explore the Razor Crest's history and utility in greater detail.
Created by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Taika Waititi and Emily Swallow. Season 2 premieres Oct. 30 on Disney+.