In the season two finale of The Mandalorian, the stakes are high on this rollercoaster of emotion.
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So many feelings. It took me a while to write this article. Usually, I give you a recap of the episode (shoutout to Peyton Reed for an amazing job directing this week) with my thoughts attached to it, but this time I want to do things differently. Make sure to check out our podcast above for a detailed discussion!
This show is one of my favorites, and it’s no secret I’m super obsessed. Din (Pedro Pascal) is great character to follow on the “Lone Wolf” journey, and Grogu is a gift to the world. On Friday, we got a conclusion to a two season journey.
I swear I thought I had it figured out. I thought the Child would stay with Mando, but I was wrong. Dead wrong. I still haven’t recovered from it.
It’s easy to want something and expect to get it. It’s harder to want something and get what you needed instead. I was selfish watching this show, and this is where Mando was a better man than I was. I’ve made it clear how much I love Pedro Pascal in this show, and he keeps proving me right.
The whole episode was a wild ride to go save the kid. Fighting a whole cruiser, with a badass group of ragtag fighters. The women assault team kicked so much ass as they mixed a great combo of trooper ground strategy with Mandalorian-based support. It was amazing to watch. Then, we get the most tense moment of the show: Mando finding Grogu held hostage by Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito). An intense battle ensues, but we know that Mando will give it all for the Child and eventually succeeds.
Sure, we get the whole storyline about the Darksaber, and that will have its own conclusion. But it doesn’t matter. Just when we think the group of heroes are defeated with the Dark Troopers banging down their door, we get the answer to who heard Grogu’s call on Tython: Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamil) This proceeds to gives us a kickass scene of the Jedi clearing the threat and getting to the heroes. A lot of people were complaining about the de-aging technology implemented, but, honestly, I think it’s an overreaction and nitpicking. Remember: hate leads to anger, and anger leads to toxic Star Wars fans.
The moment then comes: will Grogu go with Luke?
I was sitting there, confidently expecting, hoping, wishing, Grogu would deny Luke and stay with Papa Mando. But then, he didn’t.
Mando felt it, he didn’t want to let him go. Luke tells him that Grogu wants Din’s permission to go with the Jedi, and my heart fucking breaks.
Din was a better man than me. He knew for two seasons that he would have to part ways with Grogu. But, it wasn’t just delivering the Child, it was giving away his heart. Grogu has made Din a better man and helped him grow. This isn’t the same Mando we met in “Chapter 1;” this is a man that is more than the helmet and armor he wears.
The moment comes, and he readies Grogu to go. The Child looks at Daddo one more time and goes to touch his helmet. Din decides to take off his helmet and let the little man touch his face.
Ugh, my heart man. I was crying so much. This is why I love entertainment. When a story is masterly crafted and beautifully told, it makes me feel emotions and get lost in the world. Seeing Grogu walk to Luke and be carried away, I was yelling at the screen for him to come back. The emotion on Din’s face said it all. This little kid he cared for and loved was moving on, and this is the lesson we learn.
Love is not a conditional thing; truly loving someone is letting them grow and doing what’s best for them. Sometimes, that means they leave your lives. Grogu needed to learn how to hone his skills or else he would lose them. The Force is a big part of him, and, with Luke, he can meet his true potential. Having him stay with Din would have been great. I would have loved it, but it’s not what Grogu wanted. It hurt him just as much as it hurt Din and us.
But this story has come to its end, and I have to be okay with it. Though I’m not fully okay, I’m becoming okay. Din finished his mission, and Grogu got what he wanted. We are left to pick up the pieces but so is life.
If you love a flower, you do not pick it. You water it and let it be. If you love a Grogu, you left him live his best life.
I love this show, and, even though there will be other shows to watch, these two seasons have found a permanent home in my heart.
Thank you to Jon Favreau, Lucasfilm, Disney+, the wonderful cast, the talented crew, and the dedicated writers that made this a beautiful experience.
This is the Way.
