Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the second episode of "The Mandalorian" season 3.
Lightsabers have been a staple of the "Star Wars" franchise since Luke Skywalker saw one for the first time in the Tatooine cave of Obi-Wan Kenobi in "A New Hope." Over the decades, we've learned about the different styles of lightsabers, the Kyber crystals needed to create them, what the different colors might mean, and how to wield them. The Darksaber is a bit different than the rest, however. It was created by Tarre Vizsla a thousand years before "The Mandalorian" takes place. Tarre was the first to be both a Mandalorian and a Jedi, despite the fact that those two groups have a less-than-friendly history. The Jedi held it in their Temple until the Mandalorians freed it. Now their lore says the wielder of the Darksaber has the right to rule Mandalore, but only if they win it through combat.
Sabine Wren (Tiya Sircar) held it for a bit in "Star Wars Rebels," then gifted it to Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff). Of course, having it gifted means there is no claim to Mandalore, despite the fact that Bo-Katan's sister once ruled. In "The Mandalorian," Din (Pedro Pascal) wins the saber from Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) and attempts to give it to Bo-Katan. Again, not helpful. Now Din is having a whole lot of issues using it. He ... well, he sucks at it.
The big issue with this "elegant weapon for a more civilized age" is that it's not just a blade of light. Like many other weapons of legend, fiction, and folklore, you must be worthy to wield it. It's not quite the same as something like Thor's Mjölnir in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Your worthiness is tied to your self-worth, not your inherent goodness.
'Your Body Is Strong But Your Mind Is Distracted'
With "The Mandalorian" season 3 underway, we're getting another chance to see Mando attempt to use the Darksaber, which he hasn't been doing well so far. In "The Book of Boba Fett," Din returned to see The Armorer (Emily Swallow) with the Darksaber, which got heavier with every move as he sparred with her. It even scraped the ground as he tried to lift it. The Armorer tells him that he's fighting it. "You cannot control it with your strength," she says. "Persistence without insight will lead to the same outcome. Your body is strong, but your mind is distracted." He must conquer himself before he can conquer the blade.
Worthiness is often baked into the lore of legendary weapons. Think about the famous sword Excalibur which could only be pulled from the stone by the rightful King. Or there's Odysseus's bow in "The Odyssey," which no suitors for his wife Penelope could use until he returned. Or even the staff of Hermes Trismegistus in the video game "Assassin's Creed: Odyssey," which will only allow you access to Atlantis if you don't seek to use it for power.
Din is definitely struggling with his self-worth, both through the last two and a half seasons and into this one. He was a foundling who was not born into the Mandalorian sect he was adopted into and has tried to live by the Creed. However, against their laws, he's shown his face to others and, by virtue of that, is "a Mandalorian no more." That is until he's bathed in the Living Waters under the Mines of Mandalore.
Finding Self-Worth
We, as viewers, know that Din is worthy of that blade. He lives by a code, cares for his tiny little son Grogu, and is a good man. Unfortunately for Din, being a good man isn't what lets you wield the saber. Moff Gideon was able to use it, and he's not exactly getting medals from space Princesses for his virtuousness. However, he believes he has the right to it. Paz Vizsla (Tait Fletcher, voiced by Jon Favreau) would likely be able to use it ... if he'd been able to win it from Din.
So, what is Din's issue? Sabine eventually believed she could use it, so finally, she could. Din doesn't feel he has the right to it because of his belief in what the Armorer says, that he is no longer a true Mandalorian now that he's shown his face. Whether or not that will change is a secret for future episodes to reveal. What's important is that he doesn't believe it. Plus, he doesn't want to rule (meaning he'd probably be good at it).
So why could Bo-Katan use it in season 3, episode 2? She believes she has the inherent right to rule. She is certain about herself, whether she's happy with her present situation or not. Din is crap with that Darksaber because he believes he doesn't deserve it. That simple fact is the draw of the entire series. We see that he's worthy. He cannot. We watch him struggle and root for him because we know that if he did rule Mandalore, he would be great at it. (Oh my god, think of little prince Grogu in a tiny, fancy coat!) Now he just has to learn this for himself.
"The Mandalorian" season 3 is streaming on Disney+.
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