This may seem like a lofty ask since Din Djarin just got redeemed for removing his helmet in Season 2, but it’s really been over two years since The Mandalorian Chapter 16, when Din removed his helmet for Grogu. Since then, it’s been hard to tell if the story is going backwards or forwards. For now, Din still seems fixed on following “The Way”, leaving little to no hope that he’ll ever remove his helmet again.
Regardless, that moment between father and son it etched in our memories forever. The impact wouldn’t have been the same if Din had said goodbye to Grogu with his helmet on. Instead, Pedro Pascal’s acting made that scene one of the most memorable ones on the show. Pascal is a fantastic performer, and getting to see his face in emotional moments is something special. He has very expressive eyes, and got termed “Brown Eyes” by Mayfeld in Chapter 15, but those Brown Eyes have been hidden from fans since the end of Season 2.
Not to take anything away from anyone else who wears the armor, but Pedro was a lot more present for filming during Season 2, and his absence from the filming of Season 3 has looked obvious at times. The show now seems to be stuck somewhere narratively between taking Din back to the helmeted hero we all fell in love with, but still trying to progress the relationship between Din and Grogu.
In Chapter 16, it was Grogu who reached out with his hand towards Din’s helmet, convincing Din to remove it immediately. It isn’t the only time Grogu tried to have a look at his dad’s face. During an earlier Season 2 episode, Grogu tried to peak under Din’s helmet while he was drinking soup. It shows that Grogu wants to see Din’s face. Even the audience deserves to see some more of Pascal’s acting skills and a few wholesome interactions between Din and Grogu without the helmet getting in the way. It would be heartwarming to see father and son sharing a cup of soup without the helmet to creating a barrier between them, a sweet scene of Grogu getting to see his father smiling, or just Din reassuring Grogu with his eyes.
It’s not a bad idea to remind the audiences from time to time that underneath the armor, Din is a human being with emotions that he can’t hide very well once he’s exposed. Hopefully, there will be more opportunities for that to happen in Season 3.