7 Things The Book of Boba Fett Got Right

Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett debuted on Disney+ in late 2021, following up the beloved season two of The Mandalorian and marking the first live action show set in a galaxy far, far away to not have Din Djarin as the lead character. Despite high anticipation, the show didn’t hit the heights that many fans were expecting.

Many aspects of the series were criticized. One big area was the character of Boba Fett himself, who is absent entirely from chapter 5 and appears in only one scene in chapter 6, where he doesn’t even speak. It’s a creative decision that baffled some fans and critics, generating unwanted controversy around the topic.

Some also criticized the visuals of the series. Many commented that the usage of the Volume, a common occurence in recent Star Wars projects, was hindering the look of the show overall, making it seem too much of a small-scale set as opposed to the big scale that Star Wars typically has. The critique of the visuals also extended into the action sequences, which were labeled as too slow and predictable overall.

All that being said, The Book of Boba Fett still has many good qualities. The attention garnered from its most glaring of errors made many generally overlook its positives, as the series still has plenty to offer.

Boba Fett’s Relationship With The Tusken Raiders

Criticism regarding Boba Fett’s minimized role in the later episode of the series are valid. It’s not often, if ever, that a show abandons its main character (and storyline) in exchange for something else entirely. The idea of connecting The Mandalorian to The Book of Boba Fett was, while interesting on paper, ultimately poorly executed.

However, not everything surrouding Boba was negative in the season. His arc, where he befriends the Tusken Raiders and becomes a better person as a result, is one that takes an anti-hero and turns him into a full-blown protagonist. Not enough of this series resonates emotionally, in part because characters (and stories) come and go seemingly at random.

Boba Fett’s relationship with the Tuskens breaks that trend. Seeing one of the most iconic villains in Star Wars history combining with this group of aliens, who were previously always labeled as mindless evil, works on many levels. In a way, it’s a lesson that people can change, and that initial impressions aren’t always accurate.

Din Djarin’s Return

The return of Din Djarin in chapter 5 disrupts the flow of the overarching story, making things come to a halt in exchange for a check-in with another character. However, when putting that to the side, and instead just looking at Djarin’s return in isolation, this episode is actually executed extremely well.

In other words, Return of the Mandalorian is an great episode of TV, but one that is placed in the wrong series. It would have worked much better as a first episode in The Mandalorian season 3 rather than in a Boba Fett show, but nevertheless remains one of the best episodes of Star Wars TV.

Cobb Vanth’s Inclusion

Cobb Vanth was first introduced in The Mandalorian season 2 premiere. Played by Timothy Olyphant, the character is the Marshal of Mos Pelgo, a region on Tatooine. He reappears here in The Book of Boba Fett chapter 6, and in exciting fashion. Vanth is someone who fits the grittier tone and atmosphere that Jon Favreau and co. were going for in this series, making him an excellent addition overall.

Vanth has one of the season’s standout scenes, too. He faces off against Cad Bane in chapter 6 in what is a trademark old-fashioned western duel. He ends up on the losing side, left for dead in the sands of Tatooine (only to be revealed as alive and in the bacta tank healing in the post credits scene of the finale).

Special Effects

The Book of Boba Fett may have some difficulties with visuals, but certainly not in the special effects area. The CGI is solid throughout, with plenty of shining examples of this, such as Boba’s rancor and the Hutt twins. It’s a reminder that even though this is television, Star Wars can and should still be visually appealing, especially when it comes to special effects.

The Atmosphere

The aforementioned gritty atmosphere is another area that this show thrives in. It’s tonally darker and more mature than The Mandalorian, making it stand out from its predecessor. The tone also matches the character well, as Boba Fett has always been a villain or, at the very least, an anti-hero. The creative team still make sure to include some lighthearted moments throughout in order to not make the atmosphere too heavy, which helps greatly as well.

Fennec Shand’s Role

Fennec Shand first appeared in chapter 5 of The Mandalorian, titled The Gunslinger. She’s a rival to Mando in that episode, but later becomes an ally in season 2, where she’s paired with Boba Fett.

This continues in The Book of Boba Fett, where the two are ruling Mos Espa side by side. Their chemistry is great and the duo pair well with each other, making Fennec Shand’s larger role a much-appreciated addition. As of now, this is unfortunately the last time that fans saw Fennec as well.

Cad Bane

Cad Bane’s inclusion as the villain wasn’t announced prior to the show’s release, making his appearance a truly shocking one, especially for fans of The Clone Wars, the animated series that Bane was in for years before making his live action debut in 2022.

In The Book of Boba Fett, Cad Bane has that incredible duel with Cobb Vanth, which is one of the most memorable scenes of the show, and Bane’s return is justified by this alone.

Beyond that, the character is brought into live action well. He looks and sounds like The Clone Wars version of the character, albeit a bit older and more experienced, and poses a significant threat to the heroes.

Additionally, Cad Bane is someone who Boba went up against when he was a kid, making this a full circle moment for the title character, thus improving his character arc overall in The Book of Boba Fett.

Release Date

2021 – 2022-00-00

Network

Disney+

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