Ventress died in the Dark Disciple book which is canon. So unless they retcon that story, she won't show up.

I like the call backs to the animated stuff but they're confusing some people that never saw them. After asking me who she was, my moms said Bocca Tan was what her parents got when they moved to FL in their twilight years. Imagine the confusion if they introduce Ezra and Sabine as well.

OT

@RorMachine

R.I.P.

I wouldn't mind if Asajj Ventress could show up.

I definitely think the person that rescued Grogu from Order 66 will become relevant at some point.

Thrawn does feel like he could be set up for whatever lies ahead for Ahsoka. But maybe he and live-action Ezra could be re-introduced here before they spin-off that.

Where does Boba Fett features in all of these though?

Aside from Grogu saying ''the way'', I don't think any of these will happen. For one I think it will be a new Jedi who saved and will train Grogu (although I kinda hope it's Mara Jade).

Aside for villains, I think Gideon will be the villain up until season 4, and afterwards Thrawn for a few seasons. Wouldn't be surprised if Snoke is going to be an escaped subject from Gideon's experimenting, but don't think it will be a heavy plot element.

As for more short term, I think we'll see Fennec Shand this week taking on Mando and Cobb when Mando comes to Tatooine looking for Cobb's helpt in trade of the armor. Boba will probably be teased again, but saved for later.

As for the Chapter 15, I think Mando and Cobb will get to the temple and place Grogu at the shrine. The only one who will turn up though is Gideon, destroying the temple. Chapter 16 is Bo-Katan coming for Gideon, and the it will be all out war against Gideon and his army of Dark Troopers.

I feel like they're setting up Grogu staying with Din, and honestly I really hope that's the direction it takes. In fact, based on Din's insistence that Ahsoka train Grogu, and Ahsoka's refusal after getting Din to convince Grogu to demonstrate his powers, could even lead to Din taking on that informal mentor role himself; trying to use his own experiences as a founding training to be a Mandalorian to teach Grogu in his own unique way.

And I can't really see Din ruling Mandalore, especially after calling the planet "cursed" and finding out he's part of a cult. I can see him maybe reconciling with the other Mandalorians and helping to bridge the gap between the rival factions, but I think Bo-Katan is still going to get the Darksaber and end up ruling.

Also, it'd be interesting to see Thrawn and Moff Gideon interact, but I'd actually prefer it if, rather than one working for the other, they were very powerful rivals trying to fill the power vacuum left by the Emperor's demise (or racing each other to resurrect him and gain his favour in the process, or even one of each) and we actually see them in conflict with one another. Even better if it turns out in some big twist that all of it has been set in motion by the Emperor himself as one of his big, manipulative schemes, basically playing them against each other to bring about his resurrection and the restoration of his Empire.