Star Wars universe. In the original Star Wars movie trilogy, Stormtroopers are billed as the Empire's elite soldiers, feared throughout the galaxy for their ruthlessness and, according to Obi-Wan Kenobi, their precision. This storied reputation is somewhat undermined by the fact that Stormtroopers largely fail to hit anything in the original trilogy, even missing targets that are directly in front of them. This lack of aiming ability has developed into somewhat of a running joke among Star Wars fans over the years, with many reveling in the fact that Stormtroopers can't seem to hit a barn door with a banjo.
In episode 6, "The Prisoner," Mando comes across Bill Burr's Mayfeld when he accepts a prison break job from an old friend. Unable to accept work from the Guild but in need of money for fuel and supplies, Mando is forced to accept work he might otherwise turn down. Ranzar Malk is an associate of the Mandalorian from the character's past, although a palpable tension exists between the two. Malk wants Pedro Pascal's character (sometimes, anyway) to add some firepower and a ship for a tricky jailbreak, and Mayfeld is the point-man for the job.
Mayfeld reveals to Mando that he is actually a remnant of the fallen Empire, previously holding the title of Imperial Sharpshooter. Upon hearing this, the Mandalorian brilliantly quips "that's not saying much," revealing that even among the bounty hunters of the galaxy, Stormtroopers are widely known for their terrible aim. Responding to the jibe, Burr's character retorts that he wasn't actually a Stormtrooper, defending himself from any accusations of incompetence.
The first part of this hilarious exchange enshrines the Stormtroopers' bad aiming trope as canon within the Star Wars world. Whether the trait is just known to bounty hunters and those with knowledge of the Galactic Civil War or whether the Stormtroopers' weakness is known throughout the galaxy isn't made clear but, certainly, the gag is no longer just among fans, but in-universe characters too. However, it's the second part of the scene that is arguably even more interesting in of world-building. The fact that Mayfeld knows what Mando's insult is referring to, and then tries to defend himself by asserting he didn't serve as a Stormtrooper, proves that even figures within the Empire knew how bad their soldiers are at aiming.
This isn't the first time that The Mandalorian has referenced the Stormtroopers' marksmanship either, as episode 3 included a more subtle reference to the famous trope. When Mando storms The Client's hideout to rescue Baby Yoda, he comes up against a unit of Stormtroopers, and the very first blaster bolt fired on the show hits the titular bounty hunter square in the torso. If it weren't for his Beskar steel, the shot might've actually done some damage. At the time, this felt like an intentional reminder that, despite years of evidence to the contrary, Stormtroopers were actually deadly opponents.
This latest reference, however, takes a more humorous slant, and is another example of The Mandalorian bringing real life into canon following last week's allusion to the Obi-Wan "high ground" meme. Fan-pleasing moments such as these are currently serving to endear The Mandalorian to the Star Wars faithful. The Disney+ series has attracted a hugely positive reception thus far, and this is partly because it's plain it see that the show has been created by fans who have the same connections and in-jokes with the franchise as viewers do. As an additional benefit, revealing details like the Empire knowing how bad their Stormtroopers are at aiming helps add new layers of intrigue and realism to the Star Wars universe.
The Mandalorian continues December 18th on Disney+.