20 burning questions we need answered in The Mandalorian season 2

Is the mercenary Fennec Shand really dead?

You create a cool, fascinating character. You set her up as an elite warrior assassin, perilous to engage, even more dangerous to pursue. You hire a fantastic actor to play the role. And then what? In one of the few blunders of a super first season, you have her easily outmaneuvered, handcuffed and then offed by a doofus at point blank range.

Ugh. The Mandalorian usually gets things right, but it’s hard not to bemoan the way Fennec Shand was handled in “The Gunslinger,” the weakest episode of the first season. Using her little bit of screen time to the fullest, actress Ming-Na Wa was splendid; she sure looked and sounded like the perfect opponent for Mando. And then … pew, pew.

But there is still hope. Fans are still buzzing about the final shot in the episode when a mysterious figure walks up to Shand’s fallen, but presumably still warm (resurrectable?) body. Speculation abounds, but the intruder could be Moff Gideon or, even more in the conspiratorial weeds, Boba Fett himself (some swear the sound of jingling spurs as the person approaches Shand belong to none other than the infamous Boba).

No matter who the mystery man or woman is, it’s obvious The Mandalorian‘s showrunners wouldn’t throw this cryptic tag scene in for no reason; somebody is interested in Shand, even after death. Maybe she’s in possession of an item the stranger wants or, as we fervently hope, she will be resuscitated and return with a strong bent towards revenge. #BringBackFennecShand!