Season 2 of The Mandalorian opened with Din Djarin encountering a figure clad in a familiar set of green Mandalorian armor, but it wasn’t Boba Fett, it was Tatooine marshal Cobb Vanth. For years, Vanth used Boba’s armor to protect Mos Pelgo from anyone who threatened its populace (notably the Mining Collective). Djarin peacefully acquired the armor from Vanth but was pursued by Boba Fett himself, who convinced Djarin that he’s the rightful owner of the beskar armor since his father Jango was a Mandalorian foundling. Since being reunited with his signature suit of armor, Boba has been making full use of its built-in weaponry and even cleaned it up significantly. When comparing Cobb Vanth’s use and maintenance of the armor to Boba’s, was Vanth truly worthy of the iconic beskar gear?

As explained by Sabine Wren in Star Wars Rebels, Mandalorians have a deep cultural reverence for their beskar armor. Specific suits are passed down through generations, and once a suit is passed down to a Mandalorian, they make tweaks and modifications to personalize it to their specific needs and personality. A Mandalorian warrior treats their armor as a part of themselves, in a cultural and at times almost literal sense. Even if Boba Fett didn’t formally pledge himself to Mandalorian culture, he still treats his armor as a true Mandalorian does.

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Cobb Vanth may have used Boba Fett's armor for a noble purpose, but he wasn't worthy of the gear — because he fundamentally didn't share the respect for the armor that a Mandalorian would. Culturally, Mandalorian armor may not be possessed by any non-Mandalorians (nevertheless, the armor made for superlative combat gear, and thus was incredibly popular among bounty hunters, Mandalorian or otherwise). Cobb Vanth is not a Mandalorian (nor even a bounty hunter), but an ordinary, good-natured man who wants to protect his town. Boba’s armor, which he purchased from Jawas, allowed him to effectively protect the innocents of Mos Pelgo. Yet, Vanth didn’t hold the armor to the same reverence as Boba (or any other true Mandalorian) would, however: To him, it was just gear. This is best demonstrated by the fact that he never refurbished the armor, leaving it with Sarlacc digestive acid stains for years.

The Mandalorian Season 2's Boba Fett in a cockpit

Vanth also only used a fraction of the armor’s veritable arsenal of weaponry, only seen using its protective plating, jetpack, and rangefinder-targeted missile. The moment that Boba reacquired his armor, he made full use of its many built-in weapons to lay waste to a group of Stormtroopers and their troop transports. Even after having been separated from it for years, Boba wears the armor like a second skin, as a true Mandalorian should. The next time Boba is seen in the armor, he’s repainted the suit and gotten rid of the acid stains. Boba’s armor in The Mandalorian Chapter 15 is visually in better condition than it was in any previous canon story, including the original trilogy. By Mandalorian culture, Boba is the rightful owner of the armor, and even if his allegiance is only to himself, Boba treats the armor with the ease, skill, and reverence that it deserves. In Boba’s case, this reverence has less to do with adhering to Mandalorian culture than it does with honoring his father’s memory.

Boba’s recent appearances in The Mandalorian not only show him being reunited with his signature armor once again but also growing as an individual, further demonstrating him being the rightful heir to the armor. The Boba Fett of season 2 is a far more honorable man than he was in previous canon stories. Boba promised to help Din Djarin rescue Grogu in exchange for the armor and has been keeping his word so far. Boba, in this way, is on track to become more in touch with his Mandalorian heritage, echoing a similar narrative arc that his character took in the Star Wars Legends material.

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