Should Star Wars Really Bring Back Grogu?

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Book of Boba Fett episode 5.

The Book of Boba Fett episode 5, “Return of the Mandalorian” strongly hints at Grogu’s return, but is this really the right thing for Star Wars to do? Grogu, or “Baby Yoda” as he’s sometimes affectionately called by viewers, went with Luke Skywalker to train with the Jedi Order in The Mandalorian’s season 2 finale. Audiences then wondered what would happen in The Mandalorian season 3 now that the central story arc has effectively ended. Anticipation for The Mandalorian season 3 was somewhat curbed with Boba Fett‘s episode 5 focusing entirely on the Mandalorian Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal). The episode also strongly hints at Djarin finding a way back to Grogu when he asks for The Mandalorian’s Armorer to forge Grogu something out of his Beskar spear.

The end of The Book of Boba Fett does reunite Djarin with Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen), with Djarin vowing to join Boba Fett’s fight, thus leading to the Boba Fett-Pyke Syndicate storyline. However, Djarin does remark that he must first “pay a visit toa little friend.” The episode clearly connects the two shows together, with some viewers even remarking that it was more of a Mandalorian episode than a Boba Fett one. However, Din Djarin’s introduction to the show should help move things forward in The Book of Boba Fett after a largely reflective season heavy with Boba Fett’s flashbacks. If done well, Djarin’s involvement with Boba Fett’s storyline should also help both shows move on from Grogu, hopefully making his inevitable return further out.

Grogu, while highly popular with fans, should return to Star Wars delicately especially considering the circumstances of his Jedi training. Grogu’s return in Boba Fett’s episode 6 may feel a bit rushed, but the show still hints at it. Regardless of when he returns, Star Wars has things to consider if there’s to be any significance to Grogu coming back. There is undoubtedly strong chemistry between Grogu and Djarin that greatly affected audience reception for The Mandalorian. Nonetheless, how Star Wars handles Grogu’s return will impact the character, The Mandalorian, and The Book of Boba Fett.

Grogu’s Mandalorian Story Is Over

Boba Fett’s episode 5 confirms this necessary element explaining why Grogu shouldn’t unite with Djarin when Emily Swallow’s Armorer says that “Jedi must forgo all attachment” in order to master the Force. Therefore, Djarin coming back to Grogu would jeopardize his development. Counteracting this is Djarin’s argument that “loyalty and solidarity are the way” of the Mandalorian, thereby leading the Armorer to forge something for Grogu unquestioningly. A popular fan theory hypothesizes that Luke Skywalker will have Ahsoka form a new Jedi Order with Grogu. If this were to come to pass, it would explain why Grogu may not go through traditional Jedi training, which provides a potential loophole allowing for Grogu’s return. Notwithstanding, the story arc between Grogu and the Mandalorian had a sufficient conclusion that, if Grogu returns, would negate the ending’s effectiveness. The Mandalorian was always intending to return Grogu to his people, and season 2’s finale saw to that.

The Risks of Bringing Back Grogu

Grogu’s return is clearly in effect, but sufficient risks remain for this to happen. Much of Djarin’s development as a character came with his connection to Grogu. Even the first instance of meeting Grogu begins Mando’s character development when the stoic bounty hunter saves him from Taika Waititi’s IG-11 droid. However, The Mandalorian runs the potential risk of Djarin’s character development relying too much on Grogu. It’s partly why season 2’s finale was such an impactful conclusion to their story arc. Luke Skywalker taking Grogu also gives the fledgling Jedi a future with more potential and agency with the Force that the Mandalorian can’t provide. Grogu and the Mandalorian’s reunification has a tragic shadow to it, for it inherently means that Grogu’s Jedi training would be negatively affected. After all, not being able to forego all attachment is what led Anakin Skywalker down the path of becoming Darth Vader, and Ahsoka already refused to train Grogu because she sensed too much potential darkness and attachment to Din Djarin inside him.

Bringing Grogu back might also come off as fan service instead of genuine plot development. Episode 5 of Boba Fett implies that the Mandalorian might only pop by Grogu for a visit – at least if Grogu returns in The Book of Boba Fett. Grogu’s involvement in The Mandalorian’s season 3 is yet to be seen, but would likely be more significant. Nonetheless, Grogu is a massive merchandise revenue source for Star Wars, and his appearance in an episode will guarantee popular viewership discussion. Even Adam Pally’s stormtrooper punching Baby Yoda in The Mandalorian season 1 garnered a widespread reaction. It doesn’t matter to Star Wars if Grogu’s appearance in an episode actually contributes to the plot or characters because of the increased audience involvement it would generate. Still, it would be a cheap move that could weaken the Star Wars Disney+ shows.

Should Star Wars Bring Back Grogu So Soon?

Again, while Star Wars will likely bring Grogu back soon, it doesn’t mean that they should. To avoid the aforementioned risks of negated character development and fan service, Grogu’s return must have significance that benefits both himself and Din Djarin. Grogu’s return altogether to Star Wars isn’t inappropriate on its own, but established elements of his character arc imply that reuniting with Djarin poses possible consequences. For one, meeting Grogu in The Book of Boba Fett removes the focus from Boba Fett, who is already struggling in characterization. Already, lead actor Temuera Morrison was missing in Boba Fett episode 5, and the series is only five episodes in. Including Grogu in the storyline, who is unavoidably a Mandalorian-heavy element, would only give more reason for The Book of Boba Fett to steer away from its titular character. Secondly, Djarin reuniting with Grogu removes the fruitful potential for Grogu’s character development with the Jedi Order.

Better ways to bring Grogu back to Star Wars may be through a storyline or even series that is removed from Din Djarin, if only temporarily. Grogu served Djarin’s character development more than Djarin developed Grogu. However, Djarin did unite Grogu with Luke Skywalker, which would make for massive character growth if Grogu’s Jedi storyline led anywhere. Luke taking Grogu in Mandalorian’s season 2 finale also sets up a lot of potential for the Star Wars franchise that could go away if Grogu returned to Djarin. Grogu parting from Djarin was emotional, maybe even heart-wrenching, but simply returning things to form so soon would reveal Lucasfilm doesn’t have faith in other stories standing on their own.

What Needs To Happen If Grogu Returns

Grogu’s return must elicit some kind of payoff if Star Wars is to elevate his character in any way. Showing progress in Grogu’s Jedi training and developing his powers with the Force would be a big step in the right direction that would strengthen the significance of Luke Skywalker taking him. It would even be in line for Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano to return to Grogu’s story, even though, again, The Mandalorian showed Ahsoka refusing to train him. She’s still connected to Grogu and could potentially also influence whether he continues with his Jedi training. Meanwhile, as risky as Din Djarin’s return would be to Grogu’s character development, such a move isn’t entirely off-limits if Star Wars finds a new way to evolve both characters through their connection.

Both Djarin’s and Grogu’s storylines thematically relate to creed and family. Grogu was without a creed at the beginning of The Mandalorian until he was brought to the Jedi Order. However, going with the Jedi means inherently renouncing the strong familial connection he developed with Din Djarin. Given why Ahsoka refused to train Grogu, his future with the Jedi Order may not entirely be in Grogu’s best interests. Regarding Djarin’s identity, the Armorer renounces him from the Mandalorian Order after he admits to removing his helmet following The Book of Boba Fett’s episode 5 Darksaber battle. Whether or not Djarin fights to return to the Mandalorian Order, and what that could further mean for his character, would be interesting to explore.

Whatever happens with either Djarin or Grogu, reuniting them poses thought-provoking questions. Maybe Grogu is actually better off with Djarin than the Jedi Order, which would require a lot of justification considering how heavily set up Grogu’s Jedi training storyline became. Furthermore, maybe Din Djarin can develop Grogu to his full potential, even though Djarin isn’t proficient in the Force. Even if Djarin and Grogu reunite for the betterment of Star Wars, however, Grogu’s time with the Jedi Order absolutely needs to be developed. Grogu’s return should also not overshadow any storylines unique to The Book of Boba Fett.

The Book of Boba Fett releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.

About The Author

Allison Wonchoba
(82 Articles Published)

Allison Wonchoba is a Features writer on Screen Rant. She holds a degree in Cinema and English, and she knows (probably) all things film and TV. Working at Hot Topic for a couple years also helped her know all things pop culture-y. Once upon a time, she also interned at a radio station in Dublin, Ireland where she got more media training – and built up her Sudoku skills on the side. She likes Pina Coladas and gettin’ caught in the rain – and she knows that’s NOT a Jimmy Buffet song.

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