Is Bo-Katan Shaping Up To Be The Mandalorian's New Protagonist?

The Mandalorian Season 3 feels different than its first two seasons. Previously, we were aware of what the end goal was for protagonist Din Djarin, but this time around the running narrative seems to be shrouded in mystery as it continues to focus on multiple points of view. There's been criticism that there's "no plot" this season with no clear end in sight, but if we look at the big picture, one thing is certain: Season 3 has made a point of making Bo-Katan Kryze a more key figure than ever before.

From aiding Mando in redeeming himself in the Living Waters in the mines of Mandalore, to inadvertently joining the Children of the Watch, to heading a rescue for a kidnapped foundling, to even leading a strike on Nevarro, and most recently becoming the bearer of the Darksaber, it's clear that Bo-Katan's path is potentially leading to something bigger than we've previously realized.

Din completed his quest in bringing Grogu to the Jedi during the Season 2 finale, during which he won the Darksaber from Moff Gideon--technically declaring himself the rightful ruler of Mandalore. When this was brought to Bo's attention, her reaction made it clear that she felt that she'd failed once again in her mission to unite her people. When we meet Bo again in Chapter 17, she has chosen to live in solitude in Kryze Castle. She's alone, with no goals and no idea what her next move should be.

Ultimately, she ends up aiding Din in his redemption and coming face-to-face with the Mythosaur--an event that seems to shake Bo and her understanding of the tales she was told growing up. She joins the Tribe and becomes a leader, whereas Din seems to just be along for the ride. Her being the center of the narrative is made even more clear by the fact that in Chapter 21, Bo was presented with the responsibility of bringing the Mandalorians together and reclaiming Mandalore, allowing her to remove her helmet as she "walks both worlds," rather than titular Mandalorian, Din--who held the Darksaber at the time.

The show also made a point to follow up on Bo-Katan's sighting of the Mythosaur by having her confide in the Armorer--a respected figure within the covert. The Mythosaur is a symbol of the Mandalorian people and it's said in ancient tales that Mandalore the Great tamed the mythical beast. Perhaps Bo was looking for guidance from someone knowledgeable in the ancient ways of her people, but it was clear that the event offered some clarity about her position and presented a turning point in her journey.

"The songs of eons past foretold of the Mythosaur rising up to herald a new age of Mandalore," the Armorer tells Din in the Book of Boba Fett. It's perhaps not a coincidence that Bo-Katan is the first Mandalorian in centuries to lay eyes on the legendary species. The significance of this sighting holds power both in their history and in the eyes of the Mandalorians, which is only made more obvious by how the Amorer reacted and the quest she personally gave to Bo-Katan. It's also an event one would expect a main character to experience, lending to the idea that Bo-Katan is about to become a more central figure in the story than ever before.

In Chapter 22, after tracking down her former Mandalorian followers-turned-mercenaries, Bo-Katan challenged Axe Woves to gain back her fleet. Bo wins and Din Djarin relinquishes the Darksaber to her, claiming that the creature that defeated and imprisoned him back in Chapter 18 technically won the saber from him, thus making it Bo-Katan's when she defeated it later on.

This move was quite surprising since the Darksaber as a plot device has created a lot of questions about Din's role and brought an interesting edge to Bo and Din's relationship. He's never expressed a desire to be a ruler--though he has shown leadership qualities around his people--and has tried more than once to get rid of the blade. Now that Bo-Katan holds it, making her rightful ruler of Mandalore, it's strange that our main character no longer has a potential purpose that he would later come to realize. It's hard not to look for answers to the glaring question of what exactly Din's next move will be and whether or not we'll see any further character development, as the series seems to have shifted its focus to Bo-Katan as a main character.

Since the moment of her first appearance in The Clone Wars animated series, Bo-Katan is presented as a resilient and determined individual whose main desire is to see her people united. This has remained her one goal. Even after the collapse of her house, the death of her sister Satine, and the destruction of her world, she remained true to her dream. So it's surprising that such an important piece of that puzzle was achieved in Chapter 22 without a power struggle between her and Mando.

Bo and Din have fallen into a sort of camaraderie as they continue to rely on one another and have grown closer. They respect and understand each other and it's unlikely the show will be rid of Din completely. There are signs of an eventual partnership, a duo who will lead the Mandalorians together, or perhaps even a romantic relationship the series has yet to fully explore. The Children of the Watch uphold the traditional values of the Mandalorian religion, while those who have "strayed from the Way" believe them to be archaic. With Bo's new mission to unite all Mandalorians on both sides, there's potentially room for both she and Din to lead their people respectively, allowing the creators to explore a new character arc for Mando. Still, right now the attention is primarily on Bo-Katan. It's possible we haven't yet seen the full potential of Din this season, but with only two episodes left, he's been sidelined while the creators explore Bo-Katan and her own journey of redemption.

Alongside Bo-Katan, we've been given more insight into how the New Republic is managing the galaxy following the fall of the Galactic Empire, with perspectives ranging from ex-Imperials to members of the Starfighter Corps, such as Carson Teva. The cliffhanger of Chapter 21 reveals that Moff Gideon has been freed with the help of some apparent Mandalorians. Whether or not this is the work of new characters we haven't met yet, rogue Mandalorians, or even--as some Star Wars fans have theorized--Sabine Wren remains to be seen. However, it's a possibility that the Mandalorians are being framed for this to instigate mistrust with the New Republic. Carson Teva seems to trust Din and his covert but after his discovery and the release of Gideon, doubt may get in the way of the relationship they were beginning to build, leading to friction between the Mandalorians and the New Republic. This would eventually force Din, Bo-Katan, and the Mandalorians to confront this, or perhaps even work together with the New Republic to identify the true threat.

Although some viewers have expressed issues with the "slow" storytelling this season, namely pointing out how the direction is focusing on the early struggles of the New Republic and the examination of Bo-Katan instead of our main character, maybe there's an obvious reason for this. What we've seen of Season 3 so far could all be methodical and is actually the calm before the storm, potentially setting up a massive fallout that will be played out in Season 4, with perhaps both Bo-Katan Kryze and Din Djarin at the forefront.