Grogu’s Order 66 Flashbacks Explain Why He Didn’t Choose The Jedi

The Book of Boba Fett season 1, episode 7 “Chapter 7: In the Name of Honor” sees Grogu joining Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) as one of the last Mandalorians in the galaxy – however, considering Grogu’s memories of Order 66, his choice wasn’t exactly a twist. The young, force-sensitive Grogu represents Luke Skywalker’s best chances at reviving the Jedi Order. That being said, Grogu is also no doubt on the way to becoming a formidable Mandalorian, which, similar to the Jedi Order, is also facing near-extinction. While Grogu has mostly good memories of being a Mandalorian foundling, his memories of being a Jedi-in-training include nightmarish events.

In The Book of Boba Fett season 1, episode 6 “Chapter 6: From the Desert Comes a Stranger,” Luke uses the Force to help Grogu recall his past. As Luke explains to Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), he’s not training Grogu from scratch, as Grogu only needs to confront his repressed memories in order to remember what he needs to become a Jedi. Unfortunately, when Luke helps Grogu remember his past, the first thing Grogu remembers is the execution of Order 66. Grogu watched helplessly as he lost his friends, teachers, and fellow Jedi overnight.

The Book of Boba Fett‘s ending for Grogu is hinged on this harrowing experience. While Grogu’s real age is uncertain, it’s clear that he’s just a child, and no child would want to survive and then possibly experience Order 66 ever again. More than just a symbol of being a true Mandalorian, the armor that Din Djarin gave to Grogu also represents protection from the worst elements of the Star Wars universe. Even though it would’ve been more of an interesting twist for Grogu to choose the lightsaber, Grogu’s choice to take the armor and return to Din Djarin is much more faithful to the character’s development.

Moreover, there’s a chance that this is all part of Luke’s long-term plan for his student. Grogu’s choice to be a Mandalorian instead of a Jedi couldn’t have been a surprise to Luke, especially since Grogu’s first recollection of his past was focused on the traumatic events of Order 66. This made it clear to Luke that, like himself, Grogu wasn’t ready to take the traditional path towards becoming a Jedi. In short, it didn’t matter whether Grogu chose the lightsaber or the armor. What truly mattered was that Grogu made his own choice. After having a better understanding of his student, Luke could’ve simply allowed Grogu to walk his own path, as Luke knows that Grogu’s own Force-sensitivity will lead him to a better understanding of himself, his inner turmoils, and the path of the Jedi.

The Book of Boba Fett’s Grogu will no doubt return in both The Mandalorian season 3 as well as The Book of Boba Fett season 2. As Grogu temporarily chooses to reject the Jedi in favor of being a Mandalorian, fans are reminded of the true impact of Order 66 on the Star Wars universe. It will be interesting to see how Grogu processes his trauma from Order 66, as well as whether or not he eventually becomes a Jedi. Grogu certainly won’t be the first Mandalorian Jedi in the history of the franchise – although there’s no question that he would be the most adorable.