With the Disney + series Star Wars franchise, even though they don't often see the light of day in various media.
Ever since Boba Fett appeared in The Empire Strikes Back (though he first debuted before that on television), fans have been fascinated with the Mandalorians. Despite Boba and his father Jango Fett not being Mandalorians, a huge of Star Wars' mythology about Mandalorians were derived from them - Boba Fett in the original trilogy and Jango Fett in the prequel trilogy. But there's a lot more to the Mandalorians that haven't been revealed on the big screen yet.
Over the years, Lucasfilm used video games, comics, and animated shows to heavily expand on the Mandalorian culture. Sometimes this led to canon issues and plot holes, but in general, this has led to intriguing storylines that enhance what's already been revealed in Disney+'s The Mandalorian series. So in order to fully understand everything that's said or shown in The Mandalorian, watching the following episodes of Clone Wars and Rebels is recommended.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes place between Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. So while Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Asohka Tano spend their time traveling the galaxy, fighting against the Separatists and their droid army, quite a few arcs have been dedicated to expanding the Mandalorian culture in canon.
Season 2, episodes 12-14 - These episodes introduce Duchess Satine, the pacifist leader of Mandalore as well as the Mandalorian Pre Vizsla and his cell warriors called Death Watch. The story revolves around Death Watch’s plot to overthrow Duchess Satine’s government and retake control of Mandalore in order to restore its warrior past. The Darksaber weapon is also introduced.
Season 3, episodes 5 & 6 - These episodes introduce the character Almec (the prime minister of Mandalore). Almec’s character plays a relevant role in later episodes.
Season 3, episode 10 - The character Lux Bonteri is introduced. He is the son of Mina Bonteri, a senator of the confederacy. Lux’s character is involved with Death Watch in later episodes.
Season 3, episodes 12-14 - Savage Opress, the Brother of Darth Maul is introduced. Savage plays a vital role alongside Maul on Mandalore in later episodes.
Season 4, episode 14 - After being branded a traitor by the confederacy, Lux Bonteri seeks the help of Death Watch in order to kill Count Dooku.
Season 4, episodes 21 & 22 - Darth Maul is reintroduced into the Star Wars universe. Maul and his brother Savage Opress play future rolls in the plot to overthrow Duchess Satine on Mandalore.
Season 5, episode 1 - This is Maul’s entrance into the life of a crime lord, which relates to later episodes during the plot to overthrow Duchess Satine.
Season 5, episodes 14-16 - These are some of the most vital episodes involving Mandalore and the Mandalorians within the series. Darth Maul, Savage Opress, Almec, Duchess Satine, and Pre Vizsla all play major roles in these episodes. Taking place on Mandalore the characters fight to determine who controls the planet. In these episodes, it's discovered that one of Pre Vizsla’s Death Watch is Bo-Katan, Duchess Satine’s sister. The episodes also include the use of the Darksaber and Mandalorian lore.
Season 7 - Releasing in February 2020, season 7 will at some point involve the Siege of Mandalore, one of the last battles during the Clone Wars. It will most likely have further Mandalorian influences.
Star Wars: Rebels
Continuing what The Clone Wars started, Star Wars: Rebels also expands on the storylines introduced in the previous animated series while also exploring new avenues of its own. This was made possible due to the fact that one of the show's main characters, Sabine Wren, is a Mandalorian.
Season 1, episode 7 - Sabine briefly talks about her time at the imperial academy on Mandalore. This background information is necessary to understand later plots involving Sabine, Mandalore, and the Mandalorians.
Season 2, episode 13 - This episode introduces the Mandalorian character Fenn Rau. Rau eventually is a regular character in the series. In this episode it is also revealed that Sabine is part of clan Wren of house Vizsla, and her mother was part of Death Watch.
Season 3, episode 7 - This episode introduces a new Mandalorian character, Gar Saxon. Saxon is the Imperial Viceroy of Mandalore. This is also an important episode regarding Rau’s character.
Season 3, episode 11 - While on Dathomir, in Mauls lair, Ezra sees a depiction of Duchess Satine on the wall and below it is the DarkSaber. Maul tells Ezra, “If your Mandalorian friend was here, she could explain it to you.” Sabine takes the DarkSaber with her at the end of the episode.
Season 3, episodes 15 & 16 - At the beginning of “Trials of the Darksaber”, Rau tells Kanan Jarrus about the history of the Darksaber. Rau also convinces Sabine to train with the sword. After training for days, Sabine bests Kanan in combat while spilling her emotions about her troubled past and Mandalorian roots. In the following episode,“Through Imperial Eyes”, Sabine travels back to her home planet of Krownest to meet her mother. Her Mother is Countess Ursa Wren, the leader of house Wren. Additionally, Gar Saxon plays an important role in this episode. We also learn that Sabine’s father is held captive by the Empire on Mandalore.
Season 3, episode 22 - Ezra goes to Krownest to ask clan Wren and Sabine for their help in fighting off an imperial attack on the rebel base.
Season 4, episodes 1 & 2 - In “Heroes of Mandalore: Part 1”, Sabine leads Ezra, Kanan, Rau, and clan Wren on Mandalore in an attempt to free her father from imperial imprisonment. The Mandalorian clan Kryze is introduced, and Duchess Satine’s sister Bo-Katan is reintroduced into the series. Sabine, with some help, is able to rescue her father. Also introduced in this episode is Tiber Saxon, the brother of Gar Saxon. The following episode, “Heroes of Mandalore: Part 2”, is vital to the character of Bo-Katan and the Mandalorian race. The Darksaber makes appearances throughout these episodes as well.