The following contains spoilers for Chapter 15 of The Mandalorian**.**
The Mandalorian has been a unique show in many ways. It is, of course, the first live-action series set in the Star Wars universe, though we recently learned it won't be alone for very long in that respect. But what makes it truly unique is the fact that its title character, the person we're all supposed to empathize with, almost never shows his face. The newest episode of the series, titled "The Believer," let us actually see Pedro Pascal more than any previous episode, but I have a feeling that we'll actually be seeing him a lot more often as the series continues, as this Mandalorian could be on his way to renouncing his creed.
One of the biggest questions that fans had about Din Djarin from the beginning, before we even knew his name, was exactly how he fit into the history of the Mandalorian people. We knew that other Mandalorians had no issues with removing their helmets. And yet, it was a big deal for this character that absolutely nobody see him. We eventually learned that Mando is essentially part of a Mandalorian cult, and it seems that not even he really understood this until recently. Let's take a look at how this knowledge could combine with circumstance to possibly lead him down a new path.
The Children of the Watch
In the episode titled "The Heiress" we learned a lot about why Din Djarin was the way he was. He was raised as part of a group called the Children of the Watch, which is essentially a Mandalorian cult. They believe in the "old ways" that include, among other things, not letting their faces be seen by others. As a foundling, Din isn't a Mandalorian by blood the way others like Bo-Katan are. While all Mandalorians are scattered to the winds, the Children of the Watch apparently keep to themselves so much that even Mando didn't know there were "other" Mandalorians out there who didn't keep to those old ways.
But now Mando has had his eyes opened. He knows that there are other ways out there. While Mando admonished Bo-Katan and her friends for being willing to show their faces at first, he came to terms with it and fought beside them. It's difficult to imagine that he didn't at least consider things from their point of view. Maybe he considers them true Mandalorians or something else, but now that he knows what they are, he can't very well unlearn the truth.
Boba Fett
Following his introduction to Bo-Katan, Din Djarin met Boba Fett, the first Mandalorian we ever knew in Star Wars. And in doing so we learned even more about Mandalorians, and that Boba Fett doesn't fit neatly into a box either. His father, Jango Fett, was a foundling like Din Djarin. Whether or not he was actually born on Mandalore, or was a member of The Children of the Watch, is unclear. But based on what we saw of Jango in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, and what we see from Boba here, they certainly don't keep to "the way."
And yet, Boba Fett and our hero do still have a lot in common. Boba Fett agreed to help Mando get The Child back because he gave his word. That's exactly the sort of thing Din would do if the situation were reversed. So Boba Fett does hold to "the way" in some respects. At the same time, we've confirmed in the new episode that, even with his armor back, Boba Fett has no issues being seen without his helmet.
The Believer
And that brings us to "The Believer." In the newest episode of The Mandalorian we see our hero go to extreme lengths in order to get Grogu back. First, he lets his Mandalorian armor go and dons the armor of an Imperial transport pilot, which he's able to do without showing his face. However, when forced to reveal himself in order to get the information that he needs, he does it. While I wouldn't call it an "easy" decision for him, he doesn't exactly struggle with it either. The Child is important to him, and he'll do what he must to get him back.
At this point, we don't even know what Din Djarin's view of himself really is. Has he already strayed from his path? Is he no longer one of the Children of the Watch by virtue of his decision to willingly remove his helmet? Or maybe, since he was forced, that gives him an out. Either way, the conversation he had with Mayfield in the transport is a telling one. He is willing to bend the rules when he needs to do so. And now that he's removed his helmet once, it would seem likely that doing it again would be that much easier.
I'm not saying that Disney+ needs to change the name of the series. Din Djarin is still The Mandalorian, and that's sort of the point. He can still fit that distinction, even if he doesn't hold to "the way." There are other qualities of being a Mandalorian, and it feels like that's the new path that our hero is on. The only question in my mind is how quickly he will move down it. We could be seeing Pedro Pascal's face a lot more often in the future, possibly the very near future.
I'm certainly ok with that. While Pedro Pascal has done a remarkable job of keeping me invested in a character I never actually see, removing the helmet more often would allow the actor a more impactful performance. It would also make sense as part of Mando's overall character arc. The fact that he cares for Grogu has clearly changed him through the course of the series already. The armor has been a barrier between them that, it would seem, will need to come down before the two can really share an emotional bond. It's clear Mando will do whatever is necessary to keep The Child safe. That was the task he was given, and it's the task that might force him to change his entire life. This is the way.
The Mandalorian will release its Season 2 finale on Disney+ on Friday, December 18 at 3:01 a.m. To see what's coming to the small screen after that point, head to our Fall 2020 TV premiere schedule and our Winter and Spring 2021 release guide.
