Despite having 1.5 more seasons of The Mandalorian after season 2, Din Djarin's character hasn't quite felt the same since then - but that will all change in The Mandalorian and Grogu movie. Din Djarin has quickly become one of Star Wars' best characters, and while much of that is owed to his heartfelt relationship with Grogu, he also stands strong as a character on his own. As a Mandalorian warrior, he's proven himself to be a massive threat to any adversary.

This is evident throughout The Mandalorian seasons 1 and 2, as Din Djarin proves that he can face just about any threat and still manage to pull off a victory. From capturing an entire group of mercenaries on his own to escaping the belly of a krayt dragon on Tatooine, Din is essentially a superhero of his own making throughout the early seasons of The Mandalorian. This crucial aspect of his character, however, has unfortunately been absent in recent years.

Din Djarin Wasn't As Much Of A Threat In Battle After Season 2

He Often Needed Rescue, Too

After Din Djarin defeats Moff Gideon and earns the Darksaber in The Mandalorian season 2 finale, it's like a flip is switched. Aside from his brutal slaughter of Gor Karesh's crew on the Glavis Ringworld in The Book of Boba Fett, Din simply cannot match up to the threat he used to be in battle. Even then, Din struggles in this fight; he injures himself badly with the Darksaber and is caught off guard at the start of the fight by a Klatooinian biting his shooting hand.

While this specific distracted state worked for the story they were telling about Din Djarin at that specific point, it doesn't improve after we have crossed that threshold for his character. Din isn't the same in that fight because he misses Grogu, but once he's reunited with his small companion, his threat level doesn't return to what it once was. He gets thrown around like a ragdoll in The Book of Boba Fett finale and still cannot properly wield the Darksaber.

Things worsen quite a bit in The Mandalorian season 3. While initially, it seems like Din may be back to his usual caliber - taking down several pirates in mere seconds with his blaster and then doing the same in their dogfight later on - it gets worse quickly. He needs to be rescued by Bo-Katan Kryze twice on Mandalore, and when he faces Moff Gideon again in the season 3 finale, he struggles to get even a single upper hand the entire time.

The Mandalorian season 3 finale is when Din Djarin gets the closest to matching his old threat level, between his escape from captivity and his fight against the Imperials through the ray shields.

While the latter is fairly intentional, as it purposely drives home the theme of "Mandalorians are stronger together" with Bo-Katan, Din Djarin, and Grogu all fighting Gideon together, it unfortunately diminishes Din's threat level further in the process. He does have small victories throughout the season, but in comparison to other Mandalorians in the very same season, they're nowhere near as impressive as his battles used to be in seasons 1 and 2.

The Mandalorian And Grogu Movie Has Already Promised A Ruthless Mando

Footage From Star Wars Celebration Japan Proves This

Thankfully, however, this isn't going to last. The exclusive The Mandalorian and Grogu footage I saw at Star Wars Celebration Japan opens with Din Djarin essentially mowing down an entire group of Imperials in mere seconds aboard an AT-AT, causing the pilots and their commanding officer to panic and seal off the entrance to the cockpit. It was a breath of fresh air that felt like something straight out of The Mandalorian seasons 1 and 2.

This footage alone makes it glaringly obvious that Din Djarin is back to being the true warrior he once was.

This wasn't even the only instance of Din Djarin's threat level returning, either. Later on in the footage, there's a quick clip of Din fighting someone in a bar, and he clearly has the upper hand. It brought me right back to the opening scene of The Mandalorian TV show, when Din takes down a group of agitators in the cantina on Pagodon. This footage alone makes it glaringly obvious that Din Djarin is back to being the true warrior he once was.

Din Djarin's Full Warrior Capability Is Crucial For This Movie

The Story Necessitates It

It's a good thing Din Djarin's warrior capability is returning in The Mandalorian and Grogu, because it's an absolutely crucial element of not just his character, but also the overall story. Din is expected to be a viable threat to the Imperial Remnant all on his own, given that his work for the New Republic rangers is under-the-table. For that reason, he'll more than likely be on his own for most missions, and he has to be able to handle them on his own.

Of course, he does have Grogu, and Grogu has already proven himself to be a capable ally in the same footage from Star Wars Celebration Japan - and in The Mandalorian season 3 finale. Still, it's hard to have a hero in a Star Wars movie who isn't a capable threat all on their own. Thankfully, it already seems that The Mandalorian and Grogu understands this, which means it's time for the real Din Djarin to make his long-awaited return.

The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters May 22, 2026.