The Mandalorian (or perhaps as it should be called, The Baby Yoda show) has a big problem with its names: it doesn't provide them. The Disney+ live action Star Wars TV Series follows the adventures of a stoic bounty hunter and his child companion, but even after episode 4 fleshed-out these characters, viewers still don't know their names.
The (in)famously secretive company Disney has kept a tight lid on information about its Star Wars projects. The integrity of episode 1's twist reveal was so important, in fact, that the company sacrificed having Baby Yoda toys for sale this Christmas season. In lieu of actual names, the internet has provided designations for various characters, most notably, Baby Yoda.
The Mandalorian's name problem isn't limited to its main characters either; several other significant characters are either never given names, or their names are used so sparingly, audiences don't have the opportunity to learn them. Werner Herzog's menacing villain is only known as "the Client." Gina Carano's character, Cara Dune, is only named in passing, as is Dr Pershing, the cowardly scientist working for the Client. Given how important these characters may still prove to be, one would expect their names to be communicated more memorably.
The lack of names is a bit of a motif in The Mandalorian, which is showrunner Jon Favreau's attempt to infuse the spirit of Spaghetti Westerns into Lucasfilm's iconic space opera franchise. Classic Westerns like Clint Eastwood's Dollar Trilogy, sometimes referred to as the Man With No Name Trilogy, also feature a protagonist who is unnamed; in those films, Eastwood's character goes by a nickname. So far, The Mandalorian's main character goes by the monikers "the Mandalorian" and "Mando"; however, actor Pedro Pascal recently revealed his character does have a proper name: it's Dyn Jarren.
Thankfully, the internet makes it easier to keep track of character names that are seldom mentioned in the show. The internet additionally has the power to provide terms of endearment for these characters, as has happened with the Baby Yoda phenomenon. Yet, one can't help but wonder if Disney hasn't created a big problem for itself with its characters' names. How do you merchandise a character without a name to identify them?
The Star Wars franchise is full of iconic names: Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Darth Vader, and even Boba Fett. These are memorable, unique characters who became household names synonymous with Star Wars. Perhaps down the road, The Mandalorian will introduce some other names to join their ranks.
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