The Mandalorian Season 3 Theories: The Darksaber and Mandalore’s Mask (December 2020)
This one's a bit different from the rest of my posts.
As I said in my first blog post before archiving my old Reddit posts, I'm also a huge lifelong Star Wars fan. Surprisingly this is my first and so far only Star Wars post. This isn't too connected to SW comics specifically but I've also read plenty of SW comics. Mostly Expanded Universe or Legends" stuff from Dark Horse.
Some of my favorites include John Jackson Millar KOTOR comics featuring Zayne Carrick, and the Clone Wars era comics published in Republic, SW Tales etc. written by many writers including Haden Blackman (creator of The Force Unleashed games) and John Ostrander. Yes, that John Ostrander. I'm also a huge fan of Spectre and Suicide Squad runs and his work with Quinlan Vos. I highly recommend reading all of those as a comic book reader.
I grew up with the new The Clone Wars series by Dave Filoni but IMO the original EU timeline for the war featuring the Clone Wars Multimedia Project is just as good if not better and the comics are a huge reason why. The 2003 Tartakovsky series, Republic Commando games and novels, Labyrinth of Evil and the ROTS novelization too.
Anyway, I don't want to get into too much of the differences in continuity, history and characterizations so on with the Mandalorian.
Link to the original from Reddit
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SPOILERS FOR THE MANDALORIAN SEASON 2, THE CLONE WARS AND REBELS
Mask and Sword
Like many others, I loved the Mandalorian S2 finale.
Luke’s surprise appearance and Din’s parting with Grogu especially. I don’t think I’ve ever shifted from being excited and happy to be so emotionally impacted in a short time. I honestly think this and the series in general reignited my hope for the future of Star Wars after it was snuffed out by TLJ and TROS. I truly think Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni and everyone involved have put more love and respect into this series more than the entirety of the ST.
But no, I mean no offense to sequel fans. That’s just how I feel, and I respect how you do and I don’t mean to take that from anyone. But either way this piece of Star Wars content is something (almost) all fans universally love. So much so that it’s made me want to make this theories post.
BUT I won’t be focusing on Luke or Grogu here. Before that moment, the episode also set up what the focus of the next season will be:
The liberation of Mandalore, Din’s rediscovery of what “The Way” is, and the Darksaber.
To explain my thoughts and theories I’ll have to recap a lot of things for casual fans and fans who are unfamiliar with Legends/Pre-Disney EU lore. Apologies in advance if you already know most of this but I’d like to keep everyone who could read this on the same page. My theories will also be on Mandalore’s new history and lore in canon as well, based on legends.
So to get onto it, first…
Legends
“There’s always a bit of truth in Legends.”
– Ahsoka Tano, Star Wars Rebels
From Sequels, to Rebels, to The Mandalorian, the new canon has taken a lot of inspiration from Legends and recanonized or hinted at the return of many EU characters and stories.
The Mandalorian alone has hinted at Grand Admiral Thrawn’s return (first debuting in canon with Rebels), confirmed Jango Fett’s past as a Concord Dawn native adopted by a Mandalorian in Mando'a and even showed Tython. Furthermore, the text Boba shows alludes to a “Jaste…” who mentored Jango. Boba himself confirms Jango fought in the Mandalorian Civil Wars.
In Legends, it was Jaster Mereel who adopted Jango and lead a faction called the “True Mandalorians” in a Mandalorian Civil War against Tor Vizsla’s Death Watch. The war ultimately ended with both wiping each other out with Jango surviving. This may relate to the Civil War in canon wherein the surviving Mandalorians chose to establish the pacifist New Mandalorians as seen in TCW.
Even the idea that the Mandalorian people are not a race but a culture or creed with an adoption system (“foundlings”) is something from the Old EU as well. Something the TCW era Mandalorians didn’t conform to.
"Here's why you can't exterminate us, aruetii*. We're not huddled in one place—we span the galaxy. We need no lords or leaders—so you can't destroy our command. We can live without technology—so we can fight with our bare hands. We have no species or bloodline—so we can rebuild our ranks with others who want to join us. We're more than just a people or an army,* aruetii*. We're a culture. We're an idea. And you can't kill ideas—but we certainly can kill you.*"
―Mandalore the Destroyer, Imperial Commando: The 501st
Chapter 1 even has Kulil reference the Mythosaurs from Legends, which the Mandalorians rode and used as their symbol.
"You are a Mandalorian! Your ancestors rode the great Mythosaur."
So yes, The Mandalorian takes a lot from Legends, so I believe it may be adapting Mandalore’s EU past next.
And in the long run, this may lead to the return of
Revan and the KOTOR and TOR eras.
To get there, we need to look back into…
Mandalore vs Revan
“History lesson! The Jedi won the war with Mandalore!”
-Kanan Jarrus/Caleb Dume, Star Wars Rebels
If there’s one thing we know from Legends that’s true in canon is that the Jedi and Mandalorians have a long history of conflict. So much so that much of their armor, technology and weapons today were made to specifically combat them and their supernatural abilities that they did not understand.
All we know in specifics of one war, is that the Jedi won.
What about Legends?
In the EU, the Mandalorians had plenty of wars involving the Jedi.
There was the original Mandalorian Crusades after Mandalore the planet was first conquered, with the Mandalorian Crusaders conquering the systems in Mandalorian space. The Mandalorian Excision which was a retcon made after TCW explaining how the planet was scarred and why Sundari needed a dome.
Both likely are going to be part of canon in some ways, but the most important one I believe is the Mandalorian Wars of the Neo-Crusaders lead by Mandalore the Ultimate, with the aid of Cassus Fett (ancestor of Jango). They waged war on the galaxy, once again raiding and conquering many systems.
However, the Jedi Order did not interfere officially. Instead it was a Jedi Knight who lead a group of rogue Jedi, dubbed Revanchists, to intervene. This Jedi would be known as Revan.
Yes, Revan of KOTOR who has been hinted at in canon multiple times already.
Revan would lead a final battle on Malachor V, being challenged by Mandalore the Ultimate to a duel in single combat. Revan won and proceeded to prevent the rise of a new Mand’alor (more on how later), scattering the Mandalorians (more on that later).
Long story short, the planet was heavily damaged. In canon, there is in fact a Malachor, though its history with the or a Mandalorian-Jedi War has yet to be confirmed.
But how did Revan prevent the rise of a new Mand’alor? What even is “Mand’alor” and why are the leaders of Mandalore also called Mandalore?
Mand'alor
"The songs of eons past tell of battles between Mandalore The Great, and an order of sorcerers called Jedi that fought with such powers."
-The Armorer, The Mandalorian Chapter 8
The title of Mandalore or “Mand’alor” belongs to the leader of the Mandalorian people.
This is true in both canon and legends.
In canon, Pre-Vizsla claimed the title of Mand’alor along with the Darksaber and lead the Death Watch in an attempt to overthrow the New Mandalorian government and restore their warrior ways. The Armorer also mentions a “Mandalore the Great” (perhaps Mandalor the Ultimate’s canon counterpart?) as well.
In Legends, both the Mandalorian people and the planet Mandalore were in fact named after the Taung warrior later known as Mandalore the First. The existence of the title of Mandalore and name of the planet also being Mandalore for me leans towards that still being canon for the most part.
However, there is one important artifact associated with the title of Mand’alor.
Something given to each successor. A symbol of strength and Leadership.
Universally acknowledged by all Mandalorian clans.
That’s right. I’m talking about…
..........
.......
....
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Yes, I know it’s in the title so not really a reveal. But anyway..
The Darksaber is not the first artifact associated with the leader of Mandalore.
Mandalore’s mask came first.
When Revan defeated Mandalore the Ultimate in single combat, he took the mask and hid it away, preventing the rise of a new Mandalore. This of course led to the scattering of the Mandalorian people. Much like the Mandalorians now in canon. It was later found by Canderous Ordo, becoming Mandalore the Preserver. Though it later disappears once again from history and every Mand’alor after that does not have the mask. These include the True Mandalorians’ Jaster Mereel, his adopted son Jango Fett, and his clone and adopted son Boba Fett.
Now in canon, it’s entirely possible they just replaced it with the Darksaber. But I believe they might use it and relate the two. In fact, a great theory by Lore Star from YouTube is that this is the origin of the Helmet Rule of the Children of the Watch.
In short, when the new Mandalore wears the mask and takes the title, he/she forsakes his old identity for the name Mandalore, the same as his or her predecessors. In that sense, there is only truly one “Mandalore” or at least in spirit or idea.
The CotW for some reason applied this way to all of them. Hence “This is the Way”.
“There is only one way. The way of the Mandalore*.”*
-Din Djarin, The Mandalorian Chapter 11
My own theory, is that the reason why this cult decided to create this new rule based on that for all Mandalorians is because the Mask of Mandalore was lost. They might not even recognize the Darksaber, revering the Mask instead. Until it’s recovered a new true Mand’alor takes it, then all Mandalorians must follow The Way.
Perhaps Mandalore the Great’s history has a lot to do with this in canon. We’ll see.
Tarre Vizsla wielding the Darksaber
Back to canon and the Darksaber, the significant weapon that set up the third season in the first place. To recap, I’ll let the Mandalorian Protector Fenn Rau speak on it:
Legend tells that it was created over a thousand years ago by Tarre Vizsla*, the first Mandalorian ever inducted into the* Jedi Order*. After his passing, the Jedi kept the saber in their temple. That was until members of* House Vizsla snuck in and liberated it. They used the saber to unify the people and strike down those who would oppose them. At one time*, they ruled* all of Mandalore wielding this blade. This saber is an important symbol to that house and respected by the other clans*.*"
―Fenn Rau, Star Wars Rebels
As Fenn Rau stated, the saber was created over a thousand years ago by the first Jedi-Mandalorian Tarre Vizsla. It was only later after his death that members of his house stole it and used it to unify the Mandalorian people. It’s a symbol to the House of Vizsla first that’s respected by other clans.
Note this implies that the people were not unified beforehand and that it was only after the succeeding wielder of the blade united all of Mandalore that it became associated with the “Mandalorian Throne”.
This is before the Mandalorian Civil Wars and the war with the Jedi that scarred Mandalore, but likely long after Mandalore the Great’s war with them from “eons past”. Lining up with the Legends timeline.
Yes, it’s possible again that the Darksaber replaced the Mask in canon but looking at the timeline I can see a possible narrative here.
Because the Mask of Mandalore was never recovered after Revan hid it away, at least long enough to reunify all the clans (sorry Canderous), or perhaps was destroyed by Revan instead, that would explain why the Mandalorian people needed the Darksaber to unite the people again. All that time they were fractured without the Mask.
So, in this case yes, the Darksaber at some point in canon was used to take the mask’s place as a symbol for Mand’alor.
Which brings me back to my old theory that the Children of the Watch was a splinter group of Death Watch that refused to acknowledge Pre-Vizsla and his claim with the Darksaber as they stayed true to the even older ways. Their new rule and tradition being something they do until the mask is one day recovered.
If Bo-Katan and/or Din wants to get them to join in their efforts and finally unite all Mandalore stronger than ever, the Darksaber will not be enough. Especially now that Din broke that helmet rule. Perhaps Din will find the Mask too or reveal its final fate. Or he will have to battle a certain member of the Watch.
The Mandalorian: Din Djarin
Yes before this point Din was only a bounty hunter, and then devoted himself completely to Grogu who shaped him to become a more moral character instead of ending up like Boba Fett. But now Grogu is with Luke and Din won the Darksaber. Even before this he told Bo-Katan that he would reconsider aiding her in retaking Mandalore.
While he is reluctant, it does seem like he is destined for this after all.
And I don’t just mean because of the show’s title, him receiving a full set of pure Beskar Mandalorian armor, following the way of the Mandalore or his constant upgrades.
Throughout the series, much like an anime character, he’d made plenty of friends and connections along the way. Including Mandalorians not of his sect. But most of all in Chapter 9, he made peace between the villagers of Mos Pelgo and the Sand People, unifying them together to face the Krayt Dragon, a common threat.
Din Djarin is destined to unify the conflicting Mandalorian clans.
But what about Bo-Katan?
Why can’t just accept the saber like with Sabine?
Plenty of people have said this already but remember, she lost Mandalore twice under her rule. This time potentially for good. It’s possible some clans (and sects like the CotW) didn’t even recognize her and won’t now. She needed to legitimately win the Darksaber if she was to once again rule and prevent something like this from ever happening again.
She needed to prove it not just to her people, but to herself.
But she didn’t win it, Din did. And I think it’s likely she’ll eventually realize and accept that it’s not her destiny, but his.
She wanted to “seat a new Mandalore on the throne”. Sure she meant her, but now she can still do that with someone else. She could be a mentor to him.
But that doesn’t mean he won’t have rivals….
Paz Vizsla
If the Children of the Watch do acknowledge the Darksaber after all, or at least if there’s one person who does, it’ll likely be Paz Vizsla.
The Darksaber is an important symbol for House Vizsla. If he’s part of it, he’ll want to wield it. He’s had conflict with Din before. Though they did briefly set aside their differences. Also he’s voiced by Jon Favreau, like Pre-Vizsla before him.
But either way the Endgame seems to be the unification of all Mandalorian people.
To end this long post, I’ll list down some more clans/sects/factions that Din might have to encounter in this quest.
*-confirmed canon
**-hinted to be incorporated into canon
***-Legends but can be incorporated into canon
The pacifist Mandalorian faction that rose after the Mandalorian Civil War. Once ruled by Duchess Satine Kryze, sister of Bo-Katan and love interest of Obi-Wan Kenobi, in the Clone Wars. Nothing much is known of them at this time and if they’re even alive considering what happened to the planet.
A terrorist group of Mandalorians who stayed true to their warrior past and aimed to retake the planet. They were lead by Pre-Vzsla. They were splintered during the Clone Wars (the Mandalorian Resistance lead by Bo-Katan and the new Super Commandos lead by Maul) but they may yet exist.
The third splintered faction created after the Civil Wars. A group of Mandalorians who stayed true to their warrior ways and exiled out of the planet but unlike Death Watch they did not seek to overthrow the NMs. Confirmed in canon (https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Old_Mandalorians).
According to Bo-Katan: "Children of the Watch are a cult of religious zealots that broke away from Mandalorian society. Their goal was to reestablish the ancient way." They could be a splinter group of or related to (a version of) Death Watch. But unlike them they do not desire to retake the title of Mand’alor with most of them being bounty hunters, have a strong code of honor and a rule that they can never remove their helmets in the presence of other living beings.
In Legends, the True Mandalorians fought against the DW in the Civil Wars lead by their Mand’alor Jaster Mereel and later his adopted son Jango Fett. While Tor Vizsla’s Death Watch aimed to restore the Mandalorians to their crusader-conqueror ways, the True Mandalorians had a strong sense of honor and morality and were noble mercenaries instead. Both factions wiped each other out before the rise of the New Mandalorians. As the clone and adopted son of Jango, Boba is the legacy of Jaster and he did become Mand’alor in the future.
In canon, all we know is that Jango was part of a group of Mandalorians as a foundling of “Jaste…”. We don’t know if he became Mand’alor or if this faction survived but it is possible they would want Boba to lead them. But as of right now he’s already the leader of a new Crime Syndicate and does not consider himself Mandalorian. They could also be merged with the Old Mandalorians.
In Legends*,* Jango recruited the Cuy’val Dar ("those who no longer exist" in Mando’a) to train the Republic Commandos while he trained the 100 Alpha-Class ARCs. 75 of them were Mandalorian, with 1, Kal Skrirata, also training and raising the 6 Null-Class ARCs as his own. They, along with Omega Squad and others (including Jedi Bardan Jusik) were adopted into Clan Skrirata as Mandalorians. They speak Mando’a, sing and perform songs like Vode An and Dha Werda Verda, and pride in their Mandalorian heritage.
In canon*,* we have little to nothing on Clone Commandos and ARCs are normal clones rewarded with more training and weapons. BUT we are getting a Bad Batch series. Perhaps Delta Squad will make an appearance hunting them down. In Legends, they were trained by the Mandalorian Walon Vau, who did not adopt them and was not as fatherly as Skrirata was. With Jango being a foundling, it is possible he recruited Mandalorians to train the commandos and perhaps one of them adopted some after the war. Imagine Temuera Morrison playing older clones adopted into Mando culture or Daniel Logan playing their sons and them performing the Mando songs like a Maori Haka (which inspired them). So far we haven't heard any of it in the show but Samuel Kim Music from YouTube has made many great mixes of Ludwig Gorranson's them with those songs.
P.S.
Whew that was long. Again, I’m more excited for the future of Star Wars now more than ever. We have the Kenobi series, the Ahsoka series, Andor, RotnR, a Rogue Squadron movie, the Book of Boba Fett, Mando S3 and of course, the hint that all this would converge onto Thrawn.
Imagine if they also set up the Old Republic era by alluding to the past involving Revan. Ensuring the future of Star Wars in the long-term.
There’s also the possibility that they’ll recast Luke, Han and Leia and commit to adapting Heir to the Empire as well. Imagine a new trilogy with the iconic trio. That being said I’m glad Mark Hamill got to play the character he knew again one more time after his disappointment in playing Jake Skywalker in TLJ. He more than deserves it and I don’t care that the CGI wasn’t too good.
I am hopeful and excited for what’s coming. I believe Star Wars is in good hands again thanks to Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni and everyone else involved.
Thanks for reading! Tell me what you think.
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