In The Mandalorian season 2 finale, Dr. Pershing (Omid Abtahi) cooperated with Mando (Pedro Pascal) in his efforts to rescue Baby Yoda from his enemy, Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito). Ever since the beginning of season 1, Dr. Pershing has acted as a scientist who uses his knowledge in the service of the Empire remnant. In Season 1, he reported to the Client (Werner Herzog), but in season 2 it’s Moff Gideon he answers to.
In the opening scene of The Mandalorian season 2, episode 8, titled “Chapter 16: The Rescue”, Cara Dune (Gina Carano) and the Mandalorian successfully capture Dr. Pershing and use to him to get to Moff Gideon’s Imperial cruiser. With help from Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen), Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff), and Koska Reeves (Mecedes Varnado), they manage to dispose of Moff Gideon’s forces and safely acquire Grogu (who we formally knew as Baby Yoda). However, everything they went through would have been in vain had it not been for the timely intervention of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill via a CGI double), who cut through a whole army of dark troopers to reach Baby Yoda. The episode ended with Mando being forced to part ways with Grogu, who left with Luke to be trained.
Mando’s season 2 mission is finally complete, but there’s no telling how things would have worked out if he didn’t receive ready cooperation from Dr. Pershing. Though he was their prisoner, not everything he told them was coerced. What he said about the cruiser’s garrison of dark troopers was information he gave up willingly. He also provided them with the location of both the dark troopers and Grogu. As for why he’d supply them with intel that would hurt the Empire, it seems likely that Dr. Pershing empathizes with their cause and isn’t completely supportive of Moff Gideon’s goals.
After all, Dr. Pershing has never been shown to be an evil character, and the possibility of his goals being at odds with the Empire’s was set up in season 1. When the Client revealed that keeping Grogu alive wasn’t a priority, Dr. Pershing protested. After Mando changed his mind about leaving the child with the Empire, the scientist explained that it was only because of him that Baby Yoda hadn't been killed by their experiments. Any lingering doubt about his sincerity was cleared up in The Mandalorian season 2 finale. His actions may not have necessarily redeemed him for the people he experimented on for Moff Gideon, but he did at least do the right thing by helping Mando.
It remains to be seen if Dr. Pershing will return to the show. The conflict with Moff Gideon has reached a resolution, but more foes associated with the Empire could emerge when The Mandalorian returns for season 3. While there isn’t a need for Dr. Pershing to re-enter the story, it’s always possible that whatever troubles Mando faces in the future may lead him to consult the character’s scientific expertise and knowledge of the Empire’s secret activities.