Star Wars Fan Explains Why The Mandalorian Is Not The Hero Fans Want Him To Be

11.02.2024 - 14:21 / gamerant.com / Pedro Pascal / Disney Plus / Dan Conlin

Star Wars fans have gotten used to every new story focusing on some hero making bold strides for the good of the galaxy, from Luke to Rey, and even more subtle takes like the antifascist radicalization story of Andor. But some have realized that perhapsThe Mandalorian may be less of a heroic tale than it seems.

The Mandalorian made massive ripples when it premiered in 2019. As the first in a huge new wave of Star Wars media that's going strong, it had much to prove. Luckily for Lucasfilm, it did just that and then some, introducing the world to Pedro Pascal's intriguing new protagonist, Din Djarin. Granted, one could argue that the tiny viral Facebook meme sensation Grogu, previously (and often still) known as Baby Yoda, was the real source of the show's power. But fans enjoyed having a hero like Djarin to watch on his various adventures.

However, some fans have realized that Din Djarin might not be the hero people want him to be. As noted by user QuantumDonuts257 on the Star Wars Cantina subreddit, this was driven home by one critical decision. When Djarin acquired the Darksaber, an ancient weapon and symbol that would allow him to lead the Mandalorian people, he offered it to his friend Bo Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) instead without hesitation. Setting aside the fact that Bo had a history with the weapon and a rightful claim as leader of her fellow Mandalorians, the Reddit poster says this move by Djarin proved a crucial element to his character: he's just a simple man trying to make his way in the universe.

This, of course, references an identical line from Jango Fett in Attack of the Clones, though in a more earnest way. The poster pointed out how, almost from the beginning, Djarin was drawn to the idea of a quiet life despite his vocal insistence that he belongs among his Mandalorian warrior brethren. That idea can be seen as far back as episode 4 of the first season, where Djarin seriously considered a villager's offer in a small town he helped save to stick around and live in peace. He may have ultimately set off to continue his journey, but that hesitation was the first of many indications that he wanted less out of life.

The most recent piece of evidence along this line is also what could have arguably served as a satisfying series finale, as The Mandalorian season 3 ended with Djarin and Grogu retiring to a tranquil piece of land gifted to him by the late Carl Weathers' Greef Karga. Of course, there's still some more story to tell, as evidenced by an upcoming movie and a possible 4th season of the show. That could mean anything for the characters of Djarin and Grogu, but some have argued that a 4th season could even shift its focus to Bo Katan as the new titular Mandalorian, which would frankly