We Would Like To See The Baby, But It's Way Too Soon To Bring Back Grogu
This article contains spoilers for the new episode of "The Book of Boba Fett."
Impressive visual effects and thrilling action scenes are great, but "Star Wars" has always been at its best when there's a beating heart beneath its shiny surface. It's why so many people quickly took to "The Mandalorian." It's easy to forget now, but from what I recall, there wasn't a ton of excitement for the show heading into its premiere (not among casual "Star Wars" fans, anyway). This could largely be blamed on the show's overly secretive marketing, which didn't make it clear what "The Mandalorian" would even be about besides a guy in Mandalorian armor shooting people and collecting bounties. It wasn't until the first two episodes introduced Grogu and his "Lone Wolf and Cub" dynamic with Din Djarin that people realized this wasn't some series about an ever-cool bounty hunter, it was something much better: A story about a bumbling dad trying to provide for his adopted son.
Din and Grogu's relationship would go on to become the glue holding "The Mandalorian" together for its first two seasons, allowing the show to follow the pair on their episodic adventures while also telling an overarching story about Din getting caught up in Bo-Katan Kryze's crusade to restore Mandalore to its former glory after the Galactic Empire launched a campaign of genocide against its people during the Galactic Civil War. But as compelling as Bo-Katan's quest is, it's just easier to relate to Din's bond with Grogu for now, courtesy of all the time we've already spent with them. The minds behind "The Mandalorian" are clearly aware of that too, which is why they're already rushing to bring Din and Grogu back together, even before season 3 begins.
We Miss Your Little Friend Too, Din, But...
This week's "The Book of Boba Fett" episode, "Return of the Mandalorian," finally revealed what Din has been up to since bidding a tearful farewell to Grogu in the "Mandalorian" season 2 finale. With his son off to train in the ways of the Jedi with Luke Skywalker, Din caught up with the remaining members of The Tribe before making his way back to Tatooine. (Why? Because, when you don't know what to do with yourself in the "Star Wars" universe, you go chill on Tatooine.) It didn't take long for Fennec Shand to come calling after that, in the hopes of convincing Din to join Boba's growing army of allies for his war against the Pyke Syndicate. Din was all too willing to help when she did (and free of charge, no less), but with a minor caveat: "I gotta pay a visit to a little friend," he says as the episode draws to a close.
Look, we all want to see Grogu again, but "The Book of Boba Fett" and "The Mandalorian" creator Jon Favreau needs to give us a little more time to miss him first. It's not that anyone really thought we wouldn't see Grogu again after the "Mandalorian" season 2 finale. As mentioned earlier, the show only works as well as it does thanks to his interactions with Din. And, of course, it only makes sense that Din would want to check in on his adopted son from time to time. All the same, it feels like the stage is already being set for Din and Grogu to reunite onscreen near the start of "The Mandalorian" season 3, if not earlier. An off-screen reunion would be fine, but having Grogu show up in-person so soon threatens to undercut Din's selfless decision to let him go in the first place. So maybe resist that temptation for now, yes?
New episodes of "The Book of Boba Fett" premiere Wednesdays on Disney+.