From the very start of The Mandalorian, we've known about the interest the Imperial remnants have in cloning. That was, after all, why they wanted Grogu, and the prevailing theory online has long pegged Moff Gideon as the one who created future First Order leader, Supreme Leader Snoke.
There have been hints that might be the case (including snippets of the villain's theme from the sequel trilogy snaking its way through certain scenes), but the truth was finally revealed in today's season 3 finale, "The Return."
It turns out Gideon was creating clones of himself, using the genetic material he acquired from Grogu to give those replicas the force, something he's never had. This was all part of his plan to make an "unstoppable army," but Din Djarin killed them before they could draw their first breath before clashing with the real deal.
While some might feel this reveal has come out of nowhere, Doctor Pershing said Gideon was creating clones for selfish reasons and last week's cold opening made it clear Commandant Hux (one of the eventual founders of the First Order) has been tasked with exploring the potential of cloning for "Project Necromancer."
That codename is quite obviously a reference to the Empire's desire to resurrect Emperor Palpatine, something we know lead to the birth of failed clone Snoke.
However, while bringing back the Emperor might not have been Gideon's endgame, his actions have almost certainly led to it eventually happening. There's a strong chance this cloning research will find its way into the rest of the Shadow Council's hands, and as he's perfected a means of creating clones that can wield the Force, Snoke's impressive abilities may have finally been explained.
Another way of looking at it, of course, is that Din's actions in this finale have actually set the Empire back far enough for it to explain why, decades later, Palpatine is a shadow of his former self in hiding on Exegol, controlling a reject like Snoke.
Whatever the case may be, Gideon has been stopped. For now, at least.