While delivering a whirlwind of a season in The Mandalorian season 3, Star Wars managed to secretly make one change that will no doubt have mᴀssive implications for the story of this franchise going forward. Heading into season 3, the biggest thing at stake was Din Djarin’s status as a Mandalorian, as he had broken this sacred helmet rule in season 2 twice over for Grogu’s sake. In The Book of Boba Fett, the truth came forward, and he learned that in order to earn his atonement, he had to bathe in the Living Waters on Mandalore.

This was the journey Din Djarin took at the beginning of The Mandalorian season 3 in what has since become a rather controversial story arc for the character. Rather than continuing on the potential path of skepticism towards his Mandalorian way and instead favoring that of Bo-Katan Kryze and her allies, Din doubled down on his helmet rule and failed to remove it even once during the course of the entire season. As it turns out, however, Star Wars secretly made this helmet rule somewhat pointless after season 3, due to one key aspect of the story itself.

The Living Waters Are Easily Accessible Now

It’s No Longer A Grueling Quest To Get There

When Din Djarin is first told about the Living Waters, with the Armorer insisting that there’s no other way for him to earn his atonement, he reminds her that the mines within which these waters are were all destroyed during the Great Purge of Mandalore. Prior to that, Mandalore was essentially inaccessible to Din’s people as well, considering their group, the Children of the Watch, are an offshoot of the terrorist group the Death Watch, who were exiled to the Mandalorian moon of Concordia. Considering Din had never been to Mandalore prior to season 3, this exile must have continued.

This means that, prior to The Mandalorian season 3’s ending, atonement was hard to earn for these Mandalorians – but now, that’s completely changed. By the end of the season, Bo-Katan’s Mandalorians and the Children of the Watch are now close allies, standing together in their efforts to rebuild their homeworld to its former glory. The final scene on Mandalore even takes place at the Living Waters themselves. This means these ancient waters are now easily accessible, which completely recontextualizes the helmet rule itself.

The Weight Of Atonement For Removing The Helmet Is Gone

Redemption Is So Much Easier To Earn

Now that the Living Waters aren’t hard to get to, the weight of atonement for breaking the helmet rule is essentially nonexistent. If Din Djarin, or any other member of the Children of the Watch, were to remove their helmets either willingly or by force, it would be extremely easy to earn their atonement – because the Living Waters are open to them once again. Most would likely still avoid doing so due to how tedious this process would no doubt be, particularly for someone like Din who doesn’t live on-world, but it’s still much easier than before.

When the exile was in place for the Children of the Watch and the planet was thought to have been destroyed, this task seemed outright impossible, which made the Mandalorians adhere to this rule even more strictly. There is, of course, their own honor to credit for that as well, but it cannot be denied that the difficulty of getting to the Living Waters for forgiveness also played a part. With that obstacle now removed, it stands to reason that some of these Mandalorians may not stress as much about the what-ifs of their helmets being removed – Din Djarin included.

Din Djarin Could Easily Go Back Down His Season 2 Path Again

He Could Consider A Life Without His Helmet

What this means for Din Djarin specifically is that there isn’t really anything holding him back from continuing down the same path many expected him to take after The Mandalorian season 2. In fact, it could be that Star Wars wanted to wait until the topic of atonement was addressed amongst his people, and amiable connections were made between the various groups of Mandalorians. Now, if Din were to remove his helmet again, he would not only have easy access to atonement, but also a chance at a different kind of forgiveness and understanding.

The Armorer and the Children of the Watch as a whole have now accepted those who don’t cover their faces all the time as true Mandalorians. It seems reasonable that they would still think the same of Din now, even if he were to remove his helmet and opt to show his face. It’s hard to think Din would do that often, given how uncomfortable he is with showing his face as a result of spending so many years beneath his mask, but he has more of a choice now. The weight of atonement doesn’t bear as heavily upon his shoulders.

This makes it all the more likely that Din Djarin will indeed show his face again in the upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu movie. In fact, with the Living Waters being so easily accessible now, he can show his face as many times as he wants to – though it seems dubious that he would. This is a mᴀssive leap from where it all started in season 1, with Din insisting the helmet could never go back on again if removed. Now, The Mandalorian has given Din a new type of freedom, should he choose it.