While it's KIND-OF funny that Din sidelined Boba Fett in his own show, and now Bo-Katan seems to be sidelining Din on his own show in a similar way, it's also just... frustrating. I'm here for the story, I need them to stop moving AWAY from it to tell stories they're more interested in with different characters who aren't the main character.
I am here for Din's journey to rediscovering what it means to him to be Mandalorian, I am here for an identity crisis, I am here for a continuation of the emotional struggle we saw him going through in The Book of Boba Fett. But all of that seems to have disappeared now that his own show has started up. He's pretty secure in his own beliefs. He knows who and what he is, the problem he's facing is mostly just logistics in terms of figuring out how to get to the Living Waters and then bring back proof that he's bathed in them to the Armorer so he can be officially redeemed. He's not growing or developing towards that because, so far, he doesn't NEED to in order to accomplish his goal.
We don't really get any super emotional reactions to Din seeing Mandalore for the first time, or the Living Waters for the first time. All of the emotion in the episode comes from Bo-Katan. Bo-Katan is the one who's been given a VERY clear emotional arc set-up so she can develop across the season. Bo-Katan has lost faith along with the Darksaber and her followers and has to learn how to reconnect to Mandalore, its people, and figure out what it means to HER to be a Mandalorian. She has to come to terms with her own guilt for her part in making Mandalore weak enough to be destroyed by the Empire. We got more emotion from seeing BO-KATAN return to Mandalore and seeing BO-KATAN react to going back to the Living Waters than we ever got from Din.
I hope I'm wrong. I hope they start bringing up a more emotional arc for Din in this season and it doesn't just turn into a story that's more about Bo-Katan's redemption and identity crisis with Din just kind-of along for the ride.
I honestly disagree with a lot of stuff here.
I don’t think Bo sidelined Din at all. She was in the episode a lot and had her own great moments that were badass or included some much needed character development and backstory, and while Bo kept saving his ass and as a result had better action scenes, Din also had some really important character moments.
Din’s struggles with identity definitely have not disappeared; it’s the entire reason he’s STILL unable to handle the weight of the darksaber. Din’s security in his own beliefs in the creed and overall being Mandalorian has never wavered, to be clear, it was always more about Din struggling with the fact that not all actual Mandalorians wear their helmets all the time like he was told (so what else was he lied to about by the people who raised him?) trying to understand his place in Mandalorian society now that he knows this. He is questioning aspects of his faith, but not his entire faith - he has never wavered in being a devoted Mandalorian despite everything. Din said it in the episode - “Without the creed, what are we? What do we stand for? Our people are scattered like stars in the galaxy. The creed is how we survived” — This is why he is working so hard to bathe in the living waters below the mines to redeem himself. He struggles with certain rules, like not being able to show his face to his son or those he deeply loves, but in the end, he would not be Din Djarin without the creed, and wishes to honor and pass on his culture and traditions so the Mandalorians can continue to live on. Remember, this was only the second episode of season three - we’ve barely seen Din’s journey this season. I think as the season unfolds we will see Din find a way to balance his personal needs, the creed, and also to either find a way to honor those who raised him or completely move on from them.
I feel like people only feel this way because Bo was in the episode a lot and used the darksaber effortlessly, so they feel like she’s going to become Mand’alor again instead of Din. I don’t think that’s going to happen, to be honest. I think this episode exists because they needed to show the audience Din and Bo’s respect and trust for each other grow and develop; they are almost certainly going to be working together this season to unite the Mandalorians again. It makes sense tbh - Bo was always going to be a major player in any plot involving Mandalore and the darksaber. I think it’s possible Bo could become Mand’alor again, like never say never, but I do think the past 2 seasons and 3 episodes of BOBF showcase more foreshadowing about Din becoming Mand’alor than this one episode where Bo wield the darksaber.



















