Since the beginning of Star Wars, the Hero's Journey has always been the foundation of every great Jedi's adventure, but by the end of The Mandalorian's third season, Grogu could be the first Jedi to establish a new rule. With Luke Skywalker's offer to train him in the way of the Force, fans have speculated what would become of Grogu's future being stuck between the divided paths of Jedi and Mandalorian. Now, Grogu's rejection of Luke's Jedi training to return to Din Djarin marks what could be a new relationship between the way of the Jedi and the Hero's Journey.

Popularized by author Joseph Campbell, the Hero's Journey is a narrative plot structure used commonly in modern fiction that depicts a protagonist that ventures into the unknown and returns wiser and more powerful than they were. A crucial aspect of this pattern that allows for personal stakes to be presented to the hero is their initial refusal of the call to action, preferring to ignore whatever inciting incident that will spark their eventual journey in favor of the comfort of their status quo until they're given greater reason to venture out. With Luke, the deaths of his aunt and uncle overturned his refusal, and with Anakin, his refusal was forced upon him by Watto until he could win his freedom.

Grogu's Relationship With The Jedi Changes His Hero's Journey

For both Luke and Anakin, becoming a Jedi was them leaving their status quo to go on their journey, but Grogu's choices have broken the mold of his predecessors and established a unique place for the role of Jedi within his own Hero's Journey. Being the innate Force user he is, Grogu was always expected to become a Jedi and by going with Luke to begin his training, he was submitting to the status quo. Training to become what was expected of him became the safe option, so when the true call to action came in the form of Din's chain shirt, Grogu heeded the call and separated himself from every other would-be Jedi by embracing his attachment to the Mandalorian.

If Grogu and Din Djarin being reunited represents the crossing of the threshold, this shows that his most harrowing trials have yet to come. Considering Campbell's structure, a great loss is looming near in Grogu's future that simply could be a loss of ideals or as horrible as the loss of his beloved Mando. However tragic this ordeal may be, it could result in a greater transformation in Grogu than in any Jedi before him.

Grogu Will Return To The Jedi

With the path of the Jedi representing Grogu's status quo, it's clear that it's where he's destined to return once his journey is complete. Despite his initial rejection of the Jedi way, Grogu has been given the potential to leave an impact on the current relationship between the Jedi and Mandalorians rivaling that of Mandalore the Great. Whether he returns to the ways of his ancestors as a Jedi or as a Mandalorian, the choice to break this old rule for Grogu's development has made this season of The Mandalorian the most exciting yet.