Three Seasons Into The Mandalorian, And Yep: Grogu Is Still The Cutest Thing Ever
The following article contains spoilers for "The Book of Boba Fett," and "The Mandalorian" season 2.
He's got tiny three-digit hands, glistening eyes, peach fuzz hair, and the cutest, babbly voice you've ever heard. He's green, mischievous, and more powerful than he looks. He's a foundling, capable of warming any heart, no matter how much Beskar it hides behind. He's basically Din Djarin's son and together they are a clan of two. Title aside, he's the true star of "The Mandalorian." He's Grogu, the most adorable addition to the "Star Wars" canon ever — and he's soon to finally be back on our screens!
The second most important reunion in "The Mandalorian" season 3 will be Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu, but nothing tops the fact that the entire viewing audience will soon bask in the glory of our favorite frog-slurping toddler. Ever since Din first stared into that floating baby basket to find huge, trusting eyes staring back, nothing has been the same. Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) has effectively altered our brain chemistry and if you thought his impact might finally wear off by the time the third season rolled around, then you're dead wrong.
All hail Baby Yoda, who keeps getting cuter
Somehow, Grogu returned even cuter than before. How is that even possible?! It might have something to do with his force powers. Though he didn't stick around the Luke Skywalker Academy long enough to become a Jedi, Grogu is a lot more comfortable with his abilities. He can now wield the force to do very important things, like spin really fast in a desk chair and protect his vulnerable papa. Thankfully, that doesn't mean his days of hanging out in a satchel or floaty crib cocoon are over (which is great news, because those accessories infinitely add to his cuteness). But it might mean more toddling around and less keeping out of the way, which is even better news because as far as I'm concerned, the more Grogu we get, the better the show becomes!
I get it, Baby Yoda naysayers — it's pretty damn irritating when the Big Bad Corporations genetically engineer adorable creatures for the sake of selling some toys. But that's not quite the case with Grogu (who I admittedly own multiple plushies of) because his importance extends far beyond his cuddly nature. The fact that his huge eyes can melt hearts is no mere coincidence — it's kinda the whole point. As soon as he sets those eyes on Din and their fingers touch, their lives are irrevocably changed for the better.
Cuteness is subjective, except when Grogu is involved. The impulse to protect this 50-year-old toddler is a scientific inevitability. And instead of canceling out his narrative weight, that cuteness — aka his natural ability to turn out brains to goo — amplifies it. That's why our tender hearts ache when his muppet hand touches Din's face, the first being to do so affectionately since Mando was a child. It's why we cringe when "The Mandalorian" dares to show us the toddler in the crosshairs, or whenever he's captured by relentless force of evil, Moff Gideon.
Loving Grogu is the way
Foolish Grogu dissenters will argue that he's nothing more than a glorified merch opportunity, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Little Baby Yoda is one-half of the emotional core of the show. He's the reason for this entire chain of events, which have profoundly changed our beloved Mando. In more than one way, Grogu being supernaturally adorable is the secret sauce of "The Mandalorian." His curiosity never fails to lighten the mood (see: Grogu chomping down on space M&M's) and he has an uncanny ability to bring people together. But most important is his attachment to Mando, which pushes Din down an entirely new path, widening the world for the once solitary Mandalorian.
Their tale is a classic lone wolf and cub story, not unlike the other currently airing TV series where Pedro Pascal reluctantly dedicates his life to protecting a small child. And much like "The Last of Us," the cub in question is more than a Macguffin in need of protection. This pint-sized force user is trying to find his place in the world, just like Mando — and it just so happens that wherever they go, they also belong with each other.
Yes, Grogu's out there promoting corporate synergy by frolicking with the dust bunnies and getting his bug eyes plastered on shirts, mugs, blankets, and more. But nothing is more important than what he's doing over on "The Mandalorian": adorably reaching out for the shiny control knob of the Razor Crest, convincing strangers to trust an armored stranger, and giving Mando a very good reason to lift his helmet and open his heart.
"The Mandalorian" season 3 (and Grogu!) return to Disney+ on March 1, 2023.