Sexiest Single Dad in the Galaxy
There may be some The Mandalorian SPOILERS in this post. Stop here if you are not caught up on S2:E6!
While Din Djarin never removes his Mandalorian helmet, as a matter of code (with the one brief exception in front of the IG unit), viewers are all still aware that the man under the mask is Chilean actor Pedro Pascal. The handsome actor’s smooth voice, though, is enough to have fans going weak in the knees, and his body language and head tilts are extremely expressive. On top of all that, though new to raising a Foundling, “Mando” has proven to be a protective and doting father figure over Baby Grogu (also affectionately known as “Baby Yoda”).
Mando’s mission is to return the kid/baby/Child to other Jedi of his kind, but along the way, and over the course of several insane and harrowing adventures, Mando and Grogu grow closer and it is clear that he will do anything to protect the Child.
“Wherever I go, he goes”
Din Djarin
But in the quieter moments, it’s clear that Mando has become a first-time dad in the purest form. I’ve listed some of those sweet moments below:
(S1:E4) New Friends: Mando and Baby Yoda travel to Sorgan, “a real backwater skughole”, where Mando believes they can lie low for a while. He is approached by members of a small community that is frequently attacked and robbed and they ask for his help. The children are immediately enamored with Baby Yoda and ask to feed and play with him. Mando panics over the well-being of the tiny baby going off to play with bigger kids who Mando doesn’t know. Omera, a widowed mother, puts him at ease that the baby will be fine.
(S2:E2) Lunchables: Mando agrees to take Frog Lady and her unfertilized eggs to Trask to reunite with her husband and save their family line in return for information on other Mandalorians. After crash landing on the planet and trying to figure out how to fix the ship and still get to the destination, Baby Yoda can be seen with a tin provided by Mando that looks very much like a well-balanced space lunchable.
(S2:E3) Upbringing: On Trask, after a nightmarish attack on Baby Yoda, Mando links up with 3 fellow Mandalorian on a mission. Due to the dangerous nature of the mission, he leaves the baby with Frog Lady and her husband. Before leaving, however, he tells the baby to, “mind your manners”.
(S2:E4) This episode had the most adorable dad moments by far:
I’m sure many people can remember a time in their childhood when they “helped” their dad on the car or in the kitchen. After the spider creature attack on Trask leaves the Razor Crest in rough shape, Mando recruits the tiny baby to shimmy into a small panel to do some re-wiring. What ensues is an adorable display of confusion and curiosity while father and son attempt to repair the ship together.
The first day of school is one of the most anxious days in a new parent’s life. Mando had it sprung on him on Nevarro when Greef placed the baby at a desk in the newly created school because the mission would prove too dangerous for his presence. The apprehension Mando displayed at leaving the Child was all too real and common among first-time parents. After Mando picks the baby up from school, a day the Child spent eating light blue macarons, he sends the Razor Crest on a series of loop de loops, and the baby promptly spits up on his cloak. Without a second thought, Mando uses the corner of his cloak to clean the Child up while simultaneously holding a conversation with Greef.
(S2:E5) Proud papa moment: The shiny ball from the Razor Crest has made several appearances throughout seasons 1 and 2 of the show. Baby Grogu is fascinated by it and it also proves to be his only real toy. Grogu telepathically converses with Jedi Ahsoka Tano and she then asks Mando to connect with Grogu to see if the Child will use the Force to telekinetically take the ball. When Grogu successfully completes the task, Mando is elated and praises the baby for what he always knew he could do.
(S2:E6) The audience first hears Mando’s authentic laugh during a heartwarming moment where he calls the baby’s name, “Grogu”, and the Child responds. I like to think that Mando has been tickled pink, doing this for hours. Later on Mando then refers to Ahsoka Tano as “the nice lady” when talking to Grogu about his training and how special he is. Absolutely darling.
I don’t know what’s in store for these two at the end of season 2, but I do know that if they’re together, they can get through anything.