The Mandalorian Helmets: Why?

One of the things we've been complaining about is that the writers have never given us a reason for CotW always wearing their helmets. Since it doesn't look like we'll get an official answer anytime soon, I thought we might do some speculating and try to explain it in a reasonable way. So let's hear some ideas, no matter how outlandish they are, and try to come up with something sort of believable, at least SW believable, anyway.

Here are some concepts that have occurred to me, in no particular order.

1. At one time, Mandalorians lived in a hostile environment like space or a toxic atmosphere where getting caught without a helmet would likely lead to an unpleasant and dishonorable death. Perhaps some of them died when their habitat was unexpectedly broached by a random meteorite, or an attack, and it became customary to keep their helmets on whenever possible. Custom became tradition became law.

2. In the play Fidder on the Roof, one of the persecuted Russian Jews laments that they must always be prepared to leave their homes and move on at a moment's notice, and he says, "Perhaps that is why we always wear our hats." In Mandalorian terms, perhaps they feel that they should always be prepared for battle at a moment's notice, and thus should never be caught with their pants down helmets off.

3. We've seen multiple instances of Mandalorians fighting duels, sometimes reluctantly, because they are compelled by their creed or code or sense of honor. Perhaps at one time such duels were so common and so deadly that they felt the need to give themselves an out which did not require a battle to the death at the first glimpse of an adversary. Perhaps it became accepted that if they had helmets on and couldn't see their face, it would be excusable to pass by them in the street without demanding that they duel to the death for some obscure slight committed by an ancestor 4 generations ago. Wearing helmets reduced unnecessary deaths and became customary, then tradition, then law.


That's what I've come up with off the top of my head. (Ha!) Anybody have anything better or different?

 

Those are interesting reasons, but cultural practices don't need to be rational. Why do people wear American flag clothes? To protect themselves physically? Because their ancestors did?

The main reason such practices become regular or dogmatic is usually because they represent, even socially construct, identity.

Cultural identities don't exist independently in nature, so they must be performed regularly. To be Mandalorian means to wear that helmet often.

Wearing it more often, or constantly, suggests an unstable identity that must be rigidly performed to provide a stable sense of it. This makes sense with the Covert since their culture has been destroyed and they were exiled from their planet.

 

Agreed. But the writers haven't even given us any irrational reasons. Which I find frustrating enough that I'm willing to look to the JCC for answers. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

 

I have been assuming that it's something close to Sarge's number 2 - their status as warriors is so intrinsic to their cultural identity that they must always be wearing their armour and prepared for battle.

Additionally, the most obvious visual identifying feature of a person is their face - by covering their face with a symbol of their warrior culture they give over their individuality in favour of being part of the collective.

I do really like godisawesome's thoughtful take as well though.

 

I know it's probably not canon, but I like the idea of the original Mandos having come from a variety of different plants and species, so the helmet brought them all together under one nationalizing symbol.

Crushing diversity for patriotism -- that's how you build an identity from a multicultural society.

 

Everyone is equal in front of the Creed.
It doesn't matter the color of your skin, your eyes, your hair or your race.

By wearing the helmet you hide all your contingent traits and you are only recognized as a member of the Creed.

The helmet is equality.

 

Because helmets are cooler and generally better actors than extras.

 

no one posted it yet? Fine, i'll do it.

 

That's more or less what I've assumed. The CotW consider themselves to be the hardest of the hardcore, the most badass of all Mandalorians. Taking one's helmet off is to open yourself up to vulnerability and weakness. My guess is that long ago the people that formed the CotW were brutalized and therefore they made the decision to always be protected at all times. I'm not sure why we didn't have a character like the Armorer give a quick throwaway line like that to clear it up. Just have the Armorer say, "long ago our people were attacked and nearly wiped out of existence. Since then we have made a vow to never allow ourselves to be so vulnerable again. This is the way."

 

iirc, part of the old Legends lore was that Mandalorians were a multi-species nomadic warrior culture that accumulated new members by assimilating survivors from defeated worlds. The act of making one’s (unique) armor and helmet was a process of cultural assimilation, the old self was gone and now they are a Mandalorian, entirely subsumed into their new identity.

This dynamic is kind of still in play as we see in the show, but it gets watered down by everything feeling small. CotW aren’t a warrior culture, they’re just a cult.

 

denying one's individuality can't be a reason since they all customise their helmets. it does prevent the obvious facial expressions tho.

 

Tech inside the helmet might also be a reason - could be their version of a smartphone.

 

Talk about face time!

 

It doesn’t have to be complete denial of individuality. The point could simply be that the collective is much more important than the individual. But they’re not droids, and so they give some leeway when it comes to colors and such.

And for the record, episode 3 of season 3 does give a little bit of insight on the helmet thing. Bo asks Din if the covert still lives by “the old ways.” And Din says yes and so it’s better that she keep her helmet on. That confirms that it’s at least a return to an old cultural practice vs. a recent cultish expression of identity. So…yeah. In some olden days, Mandos always wore their helmets in front of each other. We still don’t know exactly why, but that’s something.

 

One thing does not exclude the other.
Once you take part in the Creed as Mandalorian, and you have given up your previous identity as a commoner, you can put something of your own into the new community by forging your own Mandalorian identity, as if you were reborn as a son of Mandalore.

 

To quote Boba Fett, while wearing his iconic armour in an old comic.

"This is my face".

There's all sorts of symbols associated with mask wearing (e.g., animals, colours, shape) that give identity as well as take identity away. Look at Bo-Katan's in comparison to Paz's. There's also functionality of helmets (protection, tech) which the Mando armour undoubtedly adds. Combined, they portray a warrior on constant readiness (even appearing awake at all times - remember that Mando episode with the other bounty hunter?).

I think the non-canon harsh environment and nomadism/crusaders of the Mandalorians could potentially still be retained in the CotW in their insistence on wearing the helmet. More significantly, thought, the mask is meant to be both their individual and cultural identity.

To change the mask by revealing your face represents a "lesser" form of cultural and identity capital in the CotW's eyes. Whereas - I guess - changing the mask/helmet through ceremony and forging is perceived as more honourable.

 

I guess I'm looking at it from the stoicism angle, the helmet increases that. maybe there's something in their culture about not showing emotion.

 

It's the thing I have the most dislike for in the series, for married couples to never see their partners face is just bizarre or if they're in the confined space they can't eat or drink... It's not an unusual thing for religion to put a demand on people as we know with our own world, I just don't think I'll ever agree with it.

 

OK, but why do we want Star Wars characters and cultures to be…normal? Like, suburban normal?

 

I wonder if there's an exception for married couples. It could be like nudity, acceptable in private, but not in public.

 

I was willing to buy into the idea that a cult of Mandos would keep their helmets on to protect their identities during the reign of the Empire. But factoring in a post-Imperial galaxy and the introduction of Bo-Katan in season 2 seemed to indicate things would sway in the other direction. And most crucially, Din's decisions to remove it for Grogu's sake (both in The Believer and The Rescue) underscored the two most personal and dramatic moments of the entire series.

And now Din's continued investment in keeping his helmet on and the need for "redemption" just rings completely hollow (beyond the practical concerns for Pedro Pascal's availability in The Book of Boba Fett and season 3). I now suspect only after the Mandos have gazed upon the mythosaur in season 4 (or Filoni's film), will they all remove their helmets due to this MacGuffin, rather than a true moment of collective emotional and societal growth.

 

Nope. No exceptions.

But…what happens in helmets stays in helmets.