The Mandalorian S3: The New Republic's Amnesty Program Is Giving Fans The Creeps

Contains spoilers for "The Mandalorian" Season 3, Episode 3 — "The Convert" 

One of the most interesting elements of "The Mandalorian" is its placement in the greater "Star Wars" timeline. Taking place in the era directly following the Empire's defeat in "Star Wars: Episode 6 — Return of the Jedi," the series offers an in-depth look into how the galaxy-at-large is faring under the rule of the freshly established New Republic. Suffice to say, things aren't going as swimmingly as the Rebels may have hoped.

"The Mandalorian" Season 3 takes a closer look at the New Republic's amnesty program for former allies and workers under Palpatine's Empire. On the surface, it appears to be a valiant effort to reintegrate disenfranchised individuals back into society and give them a second chance. However, it has quickly become apparent that the program is quite a bit more sinister than it may initially seem, and fans are taking notice. As u/Red_Sea_Pedestrian put it rather succinctly: "Well, the amnesty program is creepy as hell to be honest."

Fans got a closer look at the New Republic's amnesty program as part of "The Mandalorian" Season 3, Episode 3, and they were disturbed by what they found. As u/ZdCole noted, elements like rehabilitated officers still having to wear different uniforms from regular officers for identification suggest that the ostensibly virtuous program isn't all it's cracked up to be. "It's all really dark, but it's got this veneer of sunshine that feels like it would come off with a damp paper towel," they wrote.

If any viewers had lingering doubts about the program's ethical issues, the ending of Episode 3 stamps them out. A rehabilitated Dr. Pershing, having been manipulated by a New Republic officer into admitting his pro-Empire sentiments, gets forcibly subject to a mind flayer device meant to suppress his Imperial tendencies. Suffice to say, this sequence brings up myriad ethical issues.

Some viewers feel like the series may be using the amnesty program as foreshadowing for how Palpatine returns to power in the "Star Wars" sequel trilogy. "Empire 'defectors' embed themselves into the New Republic under the guise of amnesty, slowly manipulating the system into becoming a reborn Empire," u/Bashkar_ theorized. Other fans shared similar ideas. "Less and less do we wonder why the New Republic falls to the [First] Order," u/089111109 commented. "The people don't seem to care all that much, the institutions seem interchangeable. Slap on a new coat of paint and voila, different government."