Arguably, the most iconic line in cinematic history, Darth Vader reveals his identity to his son Luke Skywalker in the Episode V: The Empire Strikes back when he says, “I am your father.” The Dark Lord’s fatherly love was the eventual impetus leading him to betray the Emperor and turn to the light side moments before his death. While the father-son relationship in the original series conjures up feelings of nostalgia and hope, the theme of fatherhood isn’t a strong theme as compared to other Star Wars storylines. One of my favorite examples of fatherhood is found in the Disney+ series— The Mandalorian.
Love Transforms: From Bounty Hunter to Father
Now it seems almost inconceivable to think about Din Djarin without Grogu (“Baby Yoda”) nearby or in tote. But the series began with Mando as a professional, cold-hearted bounty hunter donned in the almost impenetrable Beskar steel armor. His first words of the series are to an alien wanted for embezzlement. He says, “I can bring you in warm or I can bring you in cold.”
Weaponry and armor are part of the Mandalorian religion. Although he followed the Way of the Mandalore, Mando started to show cracks in his armor. This first began at the end of the Pilot Episode when he shot the assassin droid and decided to bring the Child (Grogu) in alive.
Despite there being a bounty on the force sensitive alien, Djarin started to form an attachment to him. This led to the Mandalorian violating the bounty contract and taking baby Yoda under his guardianship. Over the course of the series, Mando transforms from an aloof protector to a caring father. This occurs through various moments, often in silence, on long-interstellar trips between planets and Grogu’s antics (messing with the shiny orb or eating something he shouldn’t). These moments lead to softening the heart of the bounty hunter. One of the defining moments in the first season is when Din’s helmet is taken off by IG-11. Here’s the exchange between the former assassin droid, reprogrammed a medic/nurse and Mando:
IG-11: “I need to remove your helmet if I am to save you.”
Din: “Try it and I’ll kill you. It is forbidden. No living thing as seen me without my helmet since I swore the creed.”
IG-11: “I am not a living thing.” (proceeds to the Mandalorian’s remove helmet)
This first removal of Djarin’s helmet gave a glimpse to the audience of his humanity. Sometimes in life you have to remove a piece of the armor, or protective walls, we put up in ordered to be saved.
Fatherhood is more than biology…and more than a force
According to my favorite reference book– the thesaurus, synonyms for adoption include the following: acceptance, confirmation, ratification, and support. While each of these words convey a strong sense of adoption, the synonym that stood out most to me was embracing.
The Catholic Church teaches in the Catechism in paragraph 1265, “Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte “a new creature,” an adopted son of God, who has become a “partaker of the divine nature,” member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit.”
As the series of The Mandalorian progresses we see how Din changes from a mere guardian of the Child to embracing his role as an adoptive father. Over the course of the series, Grogu becomes a Mandalorian foundling and member of Din’s clan. At the end of season 2, Din leaves the Child in the care of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker to complete his Jedi training. Din and Grogu leave on a heart-warming yet bittersweet note:
Din: “Are you a Jedi?”
Luke: ” I am. Come little one.” (extends his left, human hand out to Grogu)
Din: “He doesn’t want to go with you.”
Luke: “He wants your permission. He is strong with the Force. But talent without training is nothing. I will give my life to protect the Child. But he will not be safe until he masters his abilities.
Din: (to Grogu) “You go on. That’s who you belong with he’s one of your kind. I’ll see you again. I promise.
Any key transition point is difficult for both the parent and the child. But mutual trust in each other makes the decision to allow Luke to train Grogu easier to bear. An important detail in this scene is Grogu extending his hand towards Din’s helmet. The Mandalorian proceeds to remove his helmet. Father and son gaze into each other’s eyes. Mando’s last words to Grogu are “Don’t be afraid.” One can only take this statement seriously when you trust in someone.
Which identity is most important?
Season two ended on a cliffhanger: when will Din see Grogu again? Will the Child become a Jedi or remain a Mandalorian? Luke presented Grogu with a choice between the two ways in an episode of the Book of Boba Fett. Examining the shirt of armor and the lightsaber, Grogu picked the former and returned to Din. His decision contains a deeper reality. He isn’t simply choosing the Way of the Mandalore over the Way of the Force. Grogu ended up picking the armor because of his love for his father.
As a Christian, this scene resonated with me. Though I have multiple identities (husband, father, writer, and Star Wars Geek), my ultimate identity is founded in being an adopted child of God. It does not matter how many “titles” I accumulate over the course of my years. The only thing that matters is God’s love.
In a similar vein, the most powerful “force” in The Mandalorian isn’t the cool Mandalorian weaponry and gadgetry or even The Force— it’s the love between a father and son.
Matt Chicoine
Matthew Chicoine is a free-lance writer, a life-long Catholic, and an avid truth seeker. He earned an M.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2014 and enjoys binge reading Tolkien, Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, Fulton Sheen and comic books. Visit his blog at https://thesimplecatholic.