The Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau claimed Din Djarin was never meant to be Star Wars' version of the beloved The Lord of the Rings character, Aragorn.
Per IGN, Favreau defended his controversial decision to shift the narrative's focus from Din and Grogu to Bo-Katan Kryze in Season 3 of The Mandalorian. "I think people expected Mando...he had the sword, he's gonna take the throne," he said. "He's gonna change from a traveling bounty hunter to Aragorn or something. And you felt like, 'Oh, that seems like where you're gonna go with it.' But if you look at the clues, it actually hopefully, makes you reach the conclusion of where we went because if you notice from the first time [Din] uses the Darksaber, it's heavy for him."
Favreau additionally pointed out how Din previously struggled to wield the Darksaber and how Bo-Katan was able to use the legendary weapon with comparative ease. "She coveted that Darksaber so much but, without thinking, gives it back to him before he wakes up. After she rescues him," the showrunner explained. "And so, what many may have expected to be a showdown between the two ends up with them both going for something very different and working together. And ultimately, all of the different Mandalorian groups coming together."
Is Din Djarin Still the Mandalorian?
The decision to shift the series' focus from Din to Bo-Katan was one of the most divisive moments of The Mandalorian Season 3. Fans were especially disappointed by the ending scene of Season 3, Episode 8, "Guns For Hire," wherein Din willingly handed Bo-Katan the Darksaber. Audiences flocked to social media to express their discontent shortly after the premiere, with many viewers claiming Din's decision to give up the Darksaber negated much of his character development from previous seasons. Others were additionally concerned with how future seasons will handle Din's character arc now that Bo-Katan has seemingly taken center stage.
Executive producer Rick Famuyiwa also confirmed Din was no longer considered the titular Mandalorian after the conclusion of Season 3. Actor Pedro Pascal, who played Din in The Mandalorian, previously stated he welcomed the shift in the series' protagonist. Pascal believed Bo-Katan's journey in The Mandalorian was a realization of her character arc from director Dave Filoni's animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series, with the actor further expressing his support for Bo-Katan and her actor, Katee Sackhoff.
All three seasons of The Mandalorian are available to stream on Disney+.
Source: IGN