The following contains spoilers for The Mandalorian Season 3, Episode 8, "Chapter 24: The Return," now streaming on Disney+.
Season 3 of The Mandalorian definitely changes the status quo for Din Djarin and Grogu. After finding a home on Nevarro, they partnered with Bo-Katan Kryze and her followers to explore Mandalore. It leads to a brutal battle upon discovering the evil Moff Gideon was using the planet as a base for his army and experiments.
Thankfully, the resolute heroes trudge on, with Bo-Katan and the Darksaber helping out. It paves the way for a shockingly happy ending for Din and Grogu. But while The Mandalorian inverts the tale of Boba Fett in this endearing conclusion, it teases potential trouble down the line for Mando.
The Mandalorian Makes Din & Grogu Heroic Hunters
The battle at Moff Gideon's lab ends in a fiery mess when Axe Woves crashes the light cruiser into the cave. Gideon seems to get incinerated, while Grogu uses the Force to save Bo-Katan and Din. The season finishes with Mandalore rebuilding under Bo-Katan's stewardship, while Din arranges with Carson Teva to become a bounty hunter for the New Republic.
It'd earn money for his new life on Nevarro, and give Grogu experience as Din's apprentice. This flips Boba's early story when, after Mace Windu killed his dad (Jango) on Genosha, Boba became a sinister hunter. He worked mostly for the Empire, but he'd change his ways after Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and redeem himself on Tatooine.
In Din's case, though, he's a secret contractor for the heroic side, taking jobs privately to help the New Republic suss out Imperial Remnants and ensure the tyrants never come to power again. It's something the Rebels would love, knowing Din's protecting the vision they fought for. On top of that, the paradigm shift adds a sentimental edge to Mando and Grogu's story, giving Din peace and an altruistic edge.
The Mandalorian's Finale Can Be a Double-Edged Sword
In addition, Din gets an even bigger sense of purpose and direction as he officially adopts Grogu. It adds stability to their lives, but this could be distracting. Din, after all, prides himself as a lone wolf, and while he saw Grogu as a job in the past, having a son would sow more emotions and depth to their bond. Sure, this nuance is warm and fuzzy, but one has to wonder if the concept of having and losing family might throw Din off in battle.
So far, it hasn't, but this arc of attachment has been addressed with the Jedi, who did feel such bonds made warriors weaker. It's why Jedi younglings had to cut ties with their families. Thus, there's a chance Din could become vulnerable on a mental level as he now officially has someone to lose. Grogu, after all, has no more ties to Luke Skywalker's Jedi Order, so Din holds that extra responsibility, not as a custodian, but as a father. It may well trigger memories down the line of how he lost his own family and struggled to cope, instead resorting to violence and hunting -- which the show touched on when Mando didn't want to take the child in his early days. Ultimately, it's going to be a thought-provoking future for the duo as they assume new roles in each other's lives.
All three seasons of The Mandalorian are available on Disney+.