Warning: Spoilers for “The Book of Boba Fett” ahead!
42 years ago, one of the most beloved characters in all of cinema history came across the screen for the first time. His name is Boba Fett. Many thought they saw the last of the masked mercenary as he blasted off into the belly of the Sarlacc Pit in 1983’s “Return of the Jedi.” However, he finally returned after four decades of fan outrage and skepticism. The merciless bounty hunter has not skipped a beat, and his return reignited a love for the character and his story.
Played by Temuera Morrison, “The Book of Boba Fett” picks up where fans last saw the character in “The Mandalorian.” We previously saw him escaping from the imperial cruiser to help save Grogu in the Season 2 finale before traveling to Tatooine to assume the throne after Jabba the Hutt’s death. Now, with his own series, Boba Fett leads the way through the wretched scum and villainy of the familiar planet.
The seven-episode Disney+ series has long been rumored in some form or another. Since the moment Fett fell to his death, fans grew impatient for more of this character. Whether it be a solo movie or TV shows, there has always been speculation about resurrecting the character from the ashes so he could truly live up to his in-universe legend. With the first three episodes now on Disney+, it’s far enough along to give it some analysis and questions about the future.
First Episode
The first episode of “The Book of Boba Fett” was actually met with a bit of dismay and many polarizing opinions from fans. Perhaps, the expectations became a bit too high after 40 years of waiting. While the episode’s pace felt quite slow and overstuffed with flashbacks, it successfully avoided becoming overfilled with fan service. It would be far too easy to make Fett an ultimate powerhouse full of badass moments right out of the gate. The show establishes itself as something not meant to indulge fans, but to tell the story of Boba Fett in its entirety.
While the flashbacks certainly slowed down the flow of this episode, it still felt beautiful to watch the writers and directors take their time in telling the story. The settings and characters were a bit too bleak and recognizable, but it seemed to be more about adding depth to pre-existing things instead of introducing a new universe. Another complaint was that Fett seemed weak, but that all gets explained in Episode 2.
Second Episode
This episode rectified many of the first episode’s flaws. The flashbacks and overall tone and tempo of the storytelling did not weigh it down nearly as much. Instead, these elements actually built up to a heartfelt moment where it feels like Fett finds himself and the honorable, respectful leader that he is on the inside.
While this episode also certainly highlights his strengths in the way the first one didn’t, it also does not shy away from showing Fett’s struggles to do something so far out of his comfort zone. As he tries to lead the Tatooine underground as a man of honor, he juggles the challenges and stress that this new endeavor brings him. It’s refreshing to see macho mercenary killers also struggle in other avenues of their life.
Some new characters make special appearances, and the soul of the series reveals itself as it slowly works itself away from character development and into the story. The humanization of certain alien races is a great touch to the series; it is so “Star Wars”-esque to provide a level of depth and neutrality to characters as terrifying as Tusken Raiders. As the series enters its next chapter, Fett is under pressure to use the lessons learned from his recent tumultuous past to feel confident enough to push forward with his plan to bring Tatooine’s roughest gangs together.
What To Expect
Fans can certainly expect the pace to begin picking back up now. With the flashbacks all up to date, “The Book of Boba Fett” will probably focus more on present-Fett and where he’s going instead of where he’s been. Although the story will push forward, fans can also expect some old faces and names. Fett frequently battles and fights alongside fellow bounty hunters such as Bossk, Dengar, IG-88 and more. While there have yet to be any cameos from other bounty hunters, there will certainly be one in the future. Also, Fett still has a few scores to settle with the likes of Han Solo, for instance. Who knows how interested Fett will be in revenge against the man who sent him flying off into the Sarlacc Pit like chopped liver?
Most of all, fans can definitely bet that this will not be the last of Fett. I mean, why bring a character back to life just to kill him again? “The Book of Boba Fett” will most certainly lead this character to greater heights and places across the galaxy in this first season alone. That may come in the form of a Season 2 for the series, or perhaps the creators will integrate him into the onslaught of other “Star Wars” Disney+ series coming soon. Who knows — maybe he’ll even reunite for a mission with his Mandalorian brother, Din Djarin, for Season 3 of “The Mandalorian.” The series is just getting started, and the same can be said for Boba Fett’s story.
