Luke Skywalker's appearance in Grogu's ultimate fate after his adventures with Din Djarin and the likelihood of Luke Skywalker showing up in person. The season 2 finale answered both doubts simultaneously by showing the beloved Baby Yoda meeting his new master.
This level of anticipation was similar before the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The first installment in the sequel trilogy was the first opportunity in several years to know what Luke, Leia, and Han Solo had been up to since Return of the Jedi in live-action. Although the sequel trilogy had its remarkable moments, neither new characters such as Finn or Rey nor classic characters like Luke received the conclusion fans were expecting, leaving many in utter disappointment.
Fortunately for Star Wars fans, Luke's arrival in The Mandalorian season 2 finale Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The epic sequence only improved when the mysterious figure removed his hood to reveal... Luke Skywalker's CGI face.
Luke's face in The Mandalorian looked less realistic than Leia's or Grand Moff Tarkin's in Rogue One, but unlike their minor roles in the movie, Luke's reveal was preceded by two whole seasons of buildup. All of Mando's efforts to protect Grogu and the invaluable of characters like Ahsoka, Bo-Katan, Cara Dune, Mayfeld, and even Boba Fett were aimed to ensure Grogu was delivered to the Jedi. Whereas Leia's appearance in Rogue One was a nice connection to A New Hope, Luke's role in The Mandalorian is the cathartic moment the whole series was leading up to.
The use of Mark Hamill's young face via CGI was also a symbolic gesture to fans. The decision not to recast in this moment indicates Lucasfilm understands the importance of the character and the actor after his portrayal in Star Wars: The Last Jedi has been under fire since its release. Ideally, Lucasfulm will find another actor to portray Luke for future appearances, but this gesture to fans indicates the reverence they have not just for the idea of Luke Skywalker as a character, but for his portrayal by Mark Hamill as well.
Disney+ has opened a new universe of possibilities for Star Wars. Logistical advantages like the budget and time needed for a pitch-perfect CGI may not be equal with a big-screen release, but the ease to tell a more intricate and poignant story trumps any technical limitation. Just like primitive special effects weren't an obstacle for A New Hope back in 1977, a minimal inaccuracy in Luke's CGI is definitely not an obstacle for The Mandalorian 43 years and an entire universe later.