The Discussing Mandalorian Helmet Rule

[Winter]

In the most resent episode of The Mandalorian Mando (can we please get him a better name) says that a part of his culture is that he cannot remove his helmet in front of others or let it be removed by others or he would be exiled from his people. This runs into the issue of we've seen Mandalorians remove their helmets in front of others and had it removed by others with no real issue and this is based on what we've seen in the Disney Era. It should also be noted that Dave Filoni is one of the people working on The Mandalorian and he had worked on both Clone Wars and Rebels which are, again, in continuity with the rest of the series.

This decision to include this "don't remove your helmet" belief, does not bother me in the slightest and here's why. It all comes down to two possibilities: One, something changed in the religion of the Mandalorians between the events of the Prequel Era and the Post Endor Era where it was now seen as shameful for a Mandalorian to show their face to anyone outside their people I could see happening with both the Rebels and the Empire being against them. This, however, is highly unlikely as we see Sabine at the end of Rebels which has a Distant Finally that takes place after the Battle of Endor with her helmet off and The Mandalorian takes place only five years after the Battle of Endor.

The other reason for this Helmet on rule, and the more likely explanation, is that this is something that is unique to this clan. It's likely that in future seasons we'll encounter other clans who have no real issue taking off their helmets and will be aware of Mando's clan and their tradition in keeping their masks on at all times even in front of other Mandalorians.

This isn't like the rather stupid line of "They Fly Now" that we've gotten from Rise of Skywalker. Putting aside the fact that our heroes have already ran into Jet-Pack Troopers in the comics, Finn is a former Storm Troopers who should know about Troopers who use Jet-Packs, and even if he didn't Jet-Packs are rather mundane in the world of Star Wars. They were regularly used in several Legend stories and were also common place in both the Clone Wars & Rebels, recently, The Mandalorian.

And yet this scene treats Jet-Packs like their this new thing that no one has ever seen and everyone is so shocked by them being used. C-3P0 being surprised by Storm Troopers using Jet-Packs I can buy as he's surprised by EVERYTHING. But Finn and Poe shouldn't be surprised by this and if you've been reading the tie-in comics this actually gets dumber because Finn, Poe and Rey have already encountered Jet Troopers so them being surprised by this makes them look REALLY Stupid.

The Mandalorians having this whole Don't not remove your helmet is fine and has a nice bit of world building and can be easily hand-waved away. Finn and Poe being amazed/terrified that Jet-Packs are a thing is stupid and not an encouraging sign.

[Admiral X]

Could this be something from EU?

It could also be just this one guy bullshitting something, too.

[Winter]

Could this be something from EU?

It could also be just this one guy bullshitting something, too.

No, in episode 3 they state this rule when the Head Mandalorian asks if Mando's Helmet has ever been removed in front of others. And as far as I remember there was no rule about the Helmet staying on with the Mandalorians and we saw them without their helmets several times.

[hammerofglass]

It was a thing for Boba Fett in Legends, but that was explicitly a personal affectation.

[Mecha82]

That is weird indeed considering that in Rebels we saw Sabine Wren and several other Mandalorians without they helmets around non-Mandalorians.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Also Episode 2. We see Jango Fett take it off in front of OB1.

[TGLS]

Maybe Mando the Mandolorian has really bad helmet hair.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

I picture him with an afro.

[Riedquat]

The idea of it being a specific clan thing sounds reasonable enough, make them slightly less a Planet of Hats (sorry for the pun!)

[Deledrius]

Seems like it's a super-orthodox group, possibly as a result of the as-yet-unexplained "The Purge".

It's a religious purity thing.