Here's why Din Djarin let Baby Yoda touch his face in The Mandalorian season 2 finale. Prior to the release of season 1, The Mandalorian was sold to audiences as a bounty hunter show, revolving around the exploits of a lone gunman. What was hidden in marketing was the fact the series was about so much more. At the end of the premiere episode, Din found Baby Yoda, and the show became about the duo's relationship that grew over time. Even as The Mandalorian expanded to include more characters and elements from the larger Star Wars universe, Din and Baby Yoda's dynamic was the beating heart of the series.
In The Mandalorian season 2, Din embarks on a mission to reunite Baby Yoda with the Jedi, so the child can receive proper training and master his Force abilities. This quest culminated with Grogu leaving with Luke Skywalker, who had sensed the child's presence when the youngster called out to the Force on Tython. But before Baby Yoda started his new journey as a Jedi in training (again), he said goodbye to Din in a very emotional scene. The farewell between The Mandalorian's two stars was a major development, illustrating how much Din has grown since the first episode.
As Din is about to send Grogu off with Luke, the child places his hand on Din's trademark helmet. Din then removes the helmet so Baby Yoda can see his face for the first time. The infant's hand rests on Din's face before he walks over to Luke and starts the next chapter of his life. For Din, this was a very significant moment, as it presumably is the first time someone has touched his face since he was a child himself.
This is the latest example of Din softening his stance on his helmet rule, which he followed strictly in season 1. Throughout season 2, this aspect of Din's character was highlighted multiple times, most notably in his initial encounter with Bo-Katan and then later his mission on Morak alongside Mayfeld. Both instances appeared to be challenging Din's character to realize that his creed wasn't the only way to follow, and he doesn't have to be as fervent about subscribing to certain aspects of Mandalorian culture. That was laying the groundwork for the season 2 finale, in which Din willingly took off his helmet in plain view of several other people. It's a stark difference from the season 1 finale, when he was hesitant to show his face to IG-11. It will be interesting to see if Din doesn't wear his helmet as often in future Mandalorian seasons. It's an iconic part of his costume, but the show also benefits from allowing Pedro Pascal's performance to truly shine.
Beyond Din's helmet rule, the touching sequence served as an illustration of the strong bond he has with Baby Yoda. After all the pair has been through together, they are family. Over the course of the first two seasons, they've developed a father/son dynamic that was The Mandalorian's emotional core. That Baby Yoda was able to touch Din's face makes their goodbye that much more impactful than it would have been if he just saw the face. The physical contact adds another layer to their connection, showing that even though they're separated (for now, anyway), they'll always be together in spirit. It's apparent the two have a deep love for one another, making Grogu's farewell one of the most poignant scenes in Star Wars.