The following contains spoilers for The Mandalorian Season 3, Episode 4, "The Foundling," streaming now on Disney+.
In The Mandalorian Season 3, Grogu seems to be safe from the sinister designs of Moff Gideon, but that doesn't mean everyone around him is an ally. Episode 4, "The Foundling," may have seen the beginnings of a rivalry between Grogu and another member of the Mandalorian Tribe to which he now belongs. The episode begins with Din Djarin deciding Grogu needs to begin his combat training, and then setting up a sparring match between Grogu and Ragnar -- the son of Paz Vizsla. Ragnar does not take kindly to Grogu's lack of a helmet and considers him too young to fight, but Grogu quickly defeats him.
While their sparring match is the only interaction between Grogu and Ragnar seen in The Mandalorian Season 3 so far, it looks like it could be laying the foundations for an adversarial relationship between the two foundlings. There is certainly a solid basis for the two to find themselves at each other's throats. The rivalry that exists between their fathers, as well as deeper divisions stemming from their opposing ancestries, could strike up an enmity within the ranks of the Children of the Watch. While Grogu's previous enemies have come from the ranks of the Empire, his next foe may emerge from his new home.
Grogu and Ragnar Continue the Rivalry Between Din Djarin and Paz Vizsla
Grogu has been introduced to the Tribe as a foundling in the care of Din Djarin, while "The Foundling" reveals Ragnar was born into Mandalorian culture as the son of Paz Vizsla. Since Season 1 of The Mandalorian, there has existed a rivalry between Din and Paz. When Din Djarin accepted a job from a former Imperial client -- the same job that led him to Grogu -- Paz Vizsla took exception to a member of the Tribe accepting work from the Empire, leading to a brief battle between the two.
Although this rivalry has endured, it has not clouded Din's and Paz's allegiance to one another as fellow members of the Tribe. In Season 1, when other members of the Bounty Hunters' Guild attempted to prevent Din from leaving Nevarro with Grogu, Paz came to his aid alongside other members of the Tribe. In "The Foundling," Din helped Paz recover Ragnar after he was abducted by a giant, winged creature. However, Paz was also one of the few Mandalorians not to welcome Din back into the Tribe following his redemption in the Mines of Mandalore. He also challenged Din in combat a second time on The Book of Boba Fett, hoping to take the Darksaber from him.
Grogu and Ragnar Both Have Ties to the Darksaber
The Darksaber is an ancient weapon created by the first Mandalorian to join the Jedi Order, Tarre Vizsla. After Vizsla became Mand'alor, the weapon gained symbolic significance in Mandalorian society, with its wielder gaining the right to rule Mandalore as long as they won the saber in combat. After defeating Moff Gideon, Din Djarin became the wielder of the Darksaber. Paz Vizsla felt he should wield the weapon as it was his ancestor who created it. This same sentiment could be shared by his son, Ragnar, putting him at odds with Grogu's adoptive father, Din Djarin.
Ragnar's supposed claim to the Darksaber could lead to a greater rivalry with Grogu as well, as Grogu may also have a claim to the Darksaber. Grogu is the first Mandalorian Jedi to be seen in Star Wars canon since Tarre Vizsla himself. This could position Grogu as a natural successor to Tarre Vizsla, potentially set to inherit the blade from his Mandalorian father. This would put a question mark over which foundling has the greater claim to the Darksaber and the power it embodies -- the descendant of the blade's original owner, or the foundling who continues Tarre Vizsla's legacy as both Mandalorian and Jedi.
New episodes of The Mandalorian are available to stream every Wednesday on Disney+.