Grogu, or the Practical Approach to Life

I already wroteon why I think that Mando aka Din Djarin was conceived as a more positive version of Darth Vader (the Dark Father), and why I think that Grogu made the right choice when he went back to him at the end of The Book of Boba Fett.

Thinking back now on their story so far, it strikes me how Grogu also seems to have been conceived as a “better Yoda”, despite the fact that he looks like him, is powerful like him and has a similar mischievous humor.

• Grogu is still a child - he’s a new start, not the last echo of a bygone era and a religious order long gone.
• Grogu does not avoid attachments - he has a strong bond with his “father” Mando and together they also find new friends.
• Yoda usually stayed at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant - not unexpectedly, since he was very old; but Grogu travels a lot through the galaxy and sees the things that go on there with his own eyes. He’s not afraid because he knows that Mando has his back.
• Yoda spoke often and had a lot of wise things to say. Grogu doesn’t talk at all, which may seem irritating but also doesn’t make him say foolish things (yes, sometimes Yoda said things that seemed wise but spoke of narrow-mindedness and lack of compassion).

But most of all, I find it surprising, in a very positive way, how utterly practical Grogu’s attitude is. Yoda e.g. sensed Anakin’s pain when his mother died, but he never knew what had happened and never enquired. He sometimes said he would “meditate” on this or that and we never learned what the result of his meditation was or whether he took action. Where Yoda was all about theory, Grogu sees in an instant was needs to be done and just does it.

Is that childish innocence and naivety? Perhaps, also. But in many instances, it’s the exact right thing to do. And Grogu doesn’t even seem to care much that using his powers exhausts him.

Grogu shows this right away when he notices that his protector is wounded, and reaches out to him.

When Mando is attacked by the Mudhorn, he makes it float to protect him.

When he sees that Greef Karga is wounded, Grogu does not know or ask whether he’s one of the good guys. He sees a man in pain, maybe dying, and heals him. And without knowing it, with that gesture he also heals Karga’s heart, who reveals himself as a loyal friend and a good magistrate to Navarro.

When the rancor terrorizes the citizens of Mos Eisley, everybody shoots at him, only making things worse. Grogu senses that the creature is terrified itself, and calms it down.

Which is also why I think Grogu chose to leave Luke Skywalker to stay with his adoptive father. He did it because he loves Mando, of course, but also because he instinctively feels that Luke is all right on his own. Luke doesn’t need him - Din Djarin does.

Grogu is not and may never be a Jedi. And that’s not a bad thing. He may grow to be something significantly better than a Jedi. He is technically a child but already more powerful than both Yoda and Luke. There’s no limits to what he might still do.

I’m here for the developments.