Pedro Pascal talks emotional The Mandalorian season 2 finale: "I knew what it would mean for everyone"

The Mandalorian Luke Skywalker
(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

The Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal has spoken about the series’ emotional season finale. In the episode (The Mandalorian season 2 episode 8), the eponymous gunslinger and his small charge Baby Yoda, real name Grogu, say their goodbyes when the Child goes off with Luke Skywalker for Jedi training.

Before Grogu leaves, though, Mando removes his helmet and lets Baby Yoda touch his face – apparently the first time a living creature has done so since the gunslinger was a child. Speaking to Indie Wire, Pascal commented: “At that point, I knew what it would mean for everyone to experience that kind of threshold between the character and the Child.”

He reflected: “We follow this story for two seasons; there’s this bond that grows between the two of them. He tries to not let himself soften, but he cannot help himself. This practical story logic brought something else about that moment, what it would mean to touch his face.” 

Part of the Mandalorian creed – or so Pascal’s Din Djarin thinks – is keeping the helmet on at all times. Mando taking his off in front of all those people in the finale was definitely a big deal, then.

“As much as he says this is the way, that doesn’t mean this is the only way,” Pascal explained. “I find it fascinating playing with that. We don’t know what he ends up being. He took his helmet off in a room full of people.”

The Mandalorian is taking a bit of a break, with The Book of Boba Fett arriving late this year, and the third Mando instalment sometime afterwards. There’s also plenty of new Star Wars Disney Plus shows headed our way, including an Ahsoka Tano live-action series starring Rosario Dawson. Pascal teased a bit about what we can expect: “They are in the expansion of this world, where there are so many unexpected surprises and timelines that are going to be dealt with.”

As for whether we’ll see Din Djarin in any of the other series, Pascal wouldn’t confirm, but said if he did appear, it would “be in a way that isn’t meant to be expected.”

The Book of Boba Fett launches on Disney Plus this December 2021. Until then, check out everything we know about The Mandalorian season 3.

Molly Edwards
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm a Senior Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English. 

Latest in Star Wars TV Shows
Diego Luna in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner Tony Gilroy calls Cassian “Star Wars Jesus” ahead of the show’s return on Disney Plus
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner Tony Gilroy breaks silence on the weird release schedule: "It's a Disney decision"
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner talks the much-anticipated Star Wars moment that we haven't seen on screen before: "It's a very significant part of our show"
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor
The first three episodes of the best Star Wars show are now available to watch for free ahead of the Andor season 2 premiere
Diego Luna in Andor
It looks like a key Star Wars event mentioned in Rebels will be shown in Andor season 2
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2
Star Wars fans are convinced a Rebels planet shows up in the Andor season 2 trailer
Latest in News
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds dev says the game's success is thanks to an "emphasis on the story," but I think that's only a tiny aspect of it
Agricola: Dead Harvest zombie farming board game artwork
Legendary farming board game Agricola just announced a zombie-fueled horror standalone, but fans seem to think it's an early April Fools joke
Jack Quaid in Novocaine
The Boys star Jack Quaid's commitment to the bit is unmatched as his latest marketing stunt for upcoming action movie Novocaine goes viral
George R. R. Martin in Dark Winds season 3
Game of Thrones creator makes sudden cameo in TV show for apparent joke about The Winds of Winter
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again had Disney Plus' biggest premiere of 2025, but its viewership is lower than Agatha All Along and The Acolyte
Beyond the Ice Palace 2
After 37 years, this Commodore 64 classic returns with a new Metroidvania sequel that gives serious old-school Castlevania vibes