The Book of Boba Fett has ended and it’s time to recap the events, analyze what we saw and preview what’s next for the franchise!
Boba Fett’s evolution since The Holiday Special
Since its first appearance in the Holiday Special (1978), Boba Fett made quite the impression. A badass, fearless bounty hunter willing to do whatever it takes to catch his prey, dead or alive. After the Empire Strikes Back release, a myth was created around the identity and motivations of this new and mysterious character.
It wasn’t until Attack of the Clones that we got a few answers of his origins. His father Jango Fett was an elite bounty hunter, hired by Count Dooku. Unfortunately, Jedi Master Mace Windu beheaded him in the arena of Geneosis and Boba watched every moment of it. This was the push needed for him to pursue vengeance against the Jedi and a life of violence and death.
A couple of years later Clone Wars showed us his first steps in his path as a Bounty Hunter. Being mentored by big names like Aurra Sing and Bossk, he was destined to be among the best, just like his father.
After the events of Return of the Jedi, where he fell into the Sarlacc Pit. Boba Fett appeared once again in The Mandalorian season 2, where he claimed his armor back and helped Din Djarin rescue Grogu from Moff Gideon’s imperial cruiser.
In December of 2021, we finally got The Book of Boba Fett, a series that explores some of the events after that tragic incident, his current present and the plans he has for the future.
A few days have passed since the airing of the last episode and I felt the need to share my opinions in a review. This is just my personal opinion and it’s perfectly fine to disagree with it.
I must warn that it includes heavy spoilers so if you haven’t watched I’d recommend finishing it before continuing.
Plot recap and thoughts
The first half of the plot was good enough for me, even though it’s slow at times, it delivered a lot of context that helped us understand Boba’s motivations and the path he will follow. How he recruits different warriors show that he’s aware that different approaches are needed for the same task and adaptability can be a valuable skill when brute force isn’t enough, as shown in the last episode.
There were a few awkward moments like the Bantha joke and the pursuit of the majordomo that felt so out-of-touch with the moment. But none of those have any impact in the story and I don’t mind them that much.
The second half of the show was really cool and disappointing at the same time. Seven episodes didn’t feel like enough for a proper ending, especially after they spent so much time in flashbacks and Din Djarin taking two whole episodes.
Don’t get me wrong, those were some of my favorite moments since the finale of The Mandalorian season 2, and I understand that they need to tie it to the next season, but It felt rushed. And speaking of rushed, the final battle happened so quickly and with just one more episode it would have created a lot more tension before the final outcome.
I was super excited about this series. I couldn’t help myself and my expectations were pretty damn high, especially after season 2 of The Mandalorian. My mind was full of questions, guessing if we were going to see fan-favorite characters or maybe an unexpected plot twist at the end. It delivered on some points, on others not so much.
The title of the series doesn’t represent the product delivered. Calling it a book made me think that Boba was the main focus. And for the first half of the series, he was. I know a book has multiple characters and there are times when the main individual isn’t in the scene because other important events are happening, but still.
Naming it The Chapter of Boba Fett would fit better. In my eyes it was just a way to tie season 2 of The Mandalorian with the next one; a chapter of Boba Fett in the book of The Mandalorian.
The first scene is perfect to represent Fett’s rebirth. Losing almost everything he once was to become a new man who’s revaluating his life choices after nearly dying serving others. I know watching a badass mercenary that kills without breaking a sweat is entertaining but there are already lots of characters like that and I enjoyed the change of mentality in Boba Fett.
One of my favorite things was that it gave us more insight into the Tusken Raider culture. The social hierarchy, why some of the tribes are more hostile than others, their bonds and their way of life. I was pretty sad when they were slaughtered, they added a lot to the show.
The Pyke Syndicate was a fine antagonist but I was hoping to see someone more dangerous moving the strings from the shadows. Honestly, I was pretty sure that we were getting Qi’ra from Crimson Dawn in a post-credits scene. It would have been such a cool way to create more questions and hype before the next season of The Mandalorian releases. I hope she eventually returns.
Like many of you, I love easter eggs and references to other Star Wars projects. After all, everything is connected (whether we want to accept it or not) and this isn’t the exception.
I was rejoiced with the N1 modified starfighter becoming the new vehicle for Din and how he flew it through the Mos Espa circuit, the kneepad missiles that go all the way back to 1980, the “King Kong scene” with the Rancor and when Boba recalls his time spent around other bounty hunters were my favorite ones.
Best episode and moments from the show
This is a tough one, sometimes it felt like there were two different shows (you know what I mean) so I’ll pick two. Episode 2 when Boba helps the Tuskens make the train heist and officially becomes one of them was amazing and I’m so happy we were able to see them in a less dehumanizing way. The meaning behind crafting a gaffi stick is pretty deep and something I wasn’t expecting, it made me appreciate them even more.
Seeing Luke, Ashoka, Din Djarin and Grogu in the same episode was simply mind-blowing and my brain can’t stop thinking about all the possible scenarios where they and maybe even more characters will interact and even fight side by side.
Watching a small glimpse of Grogu’s training is something both simple and deep, he’s still a child and for a small moment Luke’s hope was placed in Grogu, sadly it comes to an end when Luke asks Grogu to choose between becoming a Jedi or returning to The Mandalorian. And the cherry on top, the return of Cad Bane, loved every second of it.
From the dessert comes a stranger. A terrifying enemy that even managed to get inside the Jedi Temple, steal a Holocron and run away without being captured. The legendary Cad Bane was back and his entrance was perfect. Clone Wars fans know how menacing he is and the damage he can inflict. I was amazed and at the same time, horrified that he was the enemy our protagonist had to face.
Boba Fett riding the rancor was such a statement of both authority and power, his old and future enemies will never forget that moment and his image will be shaped around it. I’m pretty sure that entrance will be referenced a lot of times in the future.
And last but not least, the reunion Din and Grogu had in the middle of a battle. Excitement and confusion filled the scene for a second until a heartwarming hug calmed everything down. My levels of joy skyrocketed at that moment.
Character development and evolution
Boba Fett went from being a cold-blooded killer to a leader for the people under his command, with a new mindset and intending to rule with honor and respect. An unconscious return to the Mandalorian roots of his father.
Getting to know the Tusken Tribe was phenomenal, I loved every moment of it. Boba Fett’s change of perspective was fine for me and it really makes me wonder how his presence will change the faith of Tatooine and the people of Mos Espa.
But not everything is perfect, Krrsantan’s role was only to be muscle and I believe he’s a lot more capable than that. Fennec Shand deserved a lot more of screentime and it is a shame we didn’t get to see more of her, I think she’s super interesting and compliments Boba Fett perfectly.
The Mods felt a little out of place, they could have been replaced by regular grunts and it would make zero impact in the story. I get that they’re young and may add something new to an old-fashioned place like Mos Espa, but that’s it. Maybe they have an important role in the future or perhaps there’s something I’m not seeing.
Some others were gone as fast as they were introduced; the twins, Cad Bane and the Night Wind Order to name a few.
If you have missed it, check out the Guide to The Book Of Boba Fett Characters and Factions. Some of the higher expectations for characters development did not come to be, sadly. Maybe in The Mandalorian Season 3.
The Book of Boba Fett: Final Verdict
A roller-coaster, full of nostalgia, confusing and exciting moments. Some episodes feel too slow and others end in the blink of an eye. The story isn’t anything unseen in Star Wars but it was presented entertainingly (for the most part).
The characters were decent enough but most of them were pretty bland. Getting to see Din Djarin, Grogu, Luke and Ahsoka felt like fresh air at the start but it eventually makes you think when is Boba Fett coming back to the screen. A few more episodes would balance it perfectly.
The Book of Boba Fett is not perfect by any means but it is a good Star Wars story and I enjoyed it. I believe in Favreau’s and Filoni’s vision for the franchise and I’m sure this series fulfilled a purpose that may not make that much sense at this time. Seeing how they have managed to re-introduce Clone Wars characters in live action shows and have them interact with all-time favorites makes me feel hopeful for the future of this kind of Star Wars projects.
Did you love it or were you disappointed? Are you happy with how they changed Boba Fett? There are a lot of great things of this series and a lot others that felt underwhelming. Despite being a multi-million-dollar production it’s still a learning process for everyone involved.
The MCU started with movies that were pretty bad and here we are almost 20 years later, with movies and shows that were once just wishful thinking. I’m sure Star Wars can surpass Marvel’s success and that eventually a ton of content will be released every year, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. So let’s be patient, praise the good content and demand something better when something doesn’t match the required quality, we’ll get there. If you are still reading, I thank you and hope that you enjoyed this humble review. May the Force be with you!
What’s next?
Din Djarin and Grogu are together once again. What will happen with the Darksaber and the ruling of Mandalore is something that may or may not unfold in the next season. I’m crossing my fingers to see more of Bo Katan and maybe Sabine Wren.
There are still a lot of enemies and allies that are yet to be revealed, and I really believe there’s a greater reason behind characters like Bo Katan, Boba Fett, Luke, Ahsoka, and others being brought to coexist in the same show; Grand Admiral Thrawn is still out there. If one of the top military minds in the former Empire is the one after our little green friend then things will just keep getting harder for our favorite duo.
Grogu might be the key behind Palpatine’s cloning experiments, I can’t think of a better reason why his blood was so valuable. Maybe my imagination is just going off but you can’t blame me, Star Wars fans tend to do this quite often and it’s pretty fun on a moderate level.
My prediction is that we’ll get to see a lot of our favorite heroes facing a single and overwhelming threat in the next season of The Mandalorian. It may not be Crimson Dawn or Grand Admiral Thrawn but someone or something that will require a lot of courage and sacrifice to take down. I have no evidence to back this up, it’s just a mix of what I think might happen and what I’d like to happen. Only time will tell if I’m mistaken or not.
Article Text: Adrián Oteiza
Editor: Vulkk / Alex
Images: Star Wars / Disney
