Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The Mandalorian Season 3, episode 3
Following a major reveal in The Mandalorian season 3, the legendary Darksaber may have become much less important to the future of the series. The Darksaber is one of the most important artifacts in Mandalorian lore, because according to legend whoever wields it becomes the rightful ruler of Mandalore. It is currently in the hands of Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), who won it after defeating the Imperial Remnant's Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) - although he had no idea of its greater significance when he took it up. Ironically, though, the Darksaber may have just become a lot less important after a discovery by Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff).
In The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2, Bo-Katan discovers a living Mythosaur in the Living Waters of Mandalore, a massive creature long thought extinct which is revered by the Mandalorians. To viewers' surprise, in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 3, Bo-Katan chose not to share her discovery with her fellow Mandalorians. The Mythosaur may actually be even more important than the Darksaber given the established Mandalorian lore.
The Mythosaur Legend Explained (And Bo-Katan's Secret)
Played by Emily Swallow, the Armorer is the leader of the Children of the Watch, the Mandalorian clan who brought up Din Djarin. According to the Armorer, an ancient prophecy predicts the return of the Mythosaur - a creature that roamed Mandalore centuries before the events of The Mandalorian, but that was believed to have been hunted to extinction. The Mythosaur became the symbol of the Mandalorians, with the shape of its skull emblazoned even in the Armorer's Forge. Even the Armorer believes the Mandalorian legends of the Mythosaur are just that - legends. Bo-Katan has discovered this is not the case, indicating she is living in the time of the prophecy.
This new prophecy claims a living Mythosaur will rise up to herald a new age for Mandalore. Bo-Katan will no doubt understand the implications better than Din Djarin - she knows full well that these creatures were believed extinct - and she's chosen to keep its return a secret as she considers the implications. The timing of this discovery makes it even more significant, given Din Djarin and Bo-Katan have confirmed Mandalore is not poisoned and uninhabitable as they had been led to believe.
Is The Mythosuar More Important Than The Darksaber Legend?
Bo-Katan's Mythosaur secret will shake the Mandalorian community to the core. It's particularly interesting to consider what this means for Din Djarin and the legend of the Darksaber, though. Djarin has shown little interest in trying to unify and rule Mandalore with the Darksaber; Bo-Katan would have done this had she reclaimed the blade from Gideon (who stole it from her during the Mandalorian Purge known as the Night of a Thousand Tears). The confirmation Mandalore is indeed habitable, and could therefore be restored, could stir something within Djarin now he has been redeemed in the eyes of his clan after removing his helmet.
In theory, whoever controls the Darksaber is leader of the Mandalorians. The Mythosaur is even more important, though, holding a religious status among Mandalorians, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see most of the warriors choose to follow whoever claims the Mythosaur. It's easy to imagine a new rivalry developing.
Who Will Lead Mandalore? Bo-Katan or Din Djarin?
While Din Djarin and Bo-Katan could certainly come together the use the Darksaber and Mythosaur legends in tandem to unify all clans as one to reclaim Mandalore, there could be problems with the Children of the Watch. The members of Djarin's clan are viewed as zealots due to their adherence to the ancient Way of the Mandalore, strictly following its oldest tenets such as the inability to remove their helmets. Likewise, they don't see others as true Mandalorians if they don't follow the Way. Din Djarin has just returned to the Watch, and it's doubtful he would want to jeopardize his standing with his clan.
This could lead to a rift between Djarin and Bo-Katan over the fate of Mandalore and the Mandalorian people themselves. While some may choose to follow Bo-Katan and the Mythosaur prophecy promising a new age, others may stand with Djarin and the Watch due to his status as the wielder of the Darksaber and his right to rule. The Mandalorian season 3 is certainly heading in an unexpected direction.