What I’m Watching: The Book of Boba Fett (Season Finale)

The Book of Boba Fett: Season 1, Episode 7 “Chapter 7: In the Name of Honor” (B)

This was a fine finale, but it wasn’t quite as triumphant or exciting as I had hoped it might be. Having Mando and then Grogu there to help fight off the Syndicate led to predictable moments, namely Grogu being able to help in his typical ways and Mando piercing the shield of the firing droid with the Darksaber so that he could take it down. Boba riding the rancor so that it could eventually rip the droid in half was cool to watch, and it was good to see the people of Freetown show up to fight after Cad tried to get them to stay out of the fight by taking out the Marshal. Cad convincing Boba that in defeating him he would prove that he was still a killer felt a lot like a Sith tactic, manipulating a mastery of the Force into something that was somehow indicative of evil when used to take out true bad guys. We saw Mando fly away and give Grogu one last good ride, presumably back to his own show which may or may not be returning. I’m not usually one for the outright comedy on these shows, but I did enjoy the brief meeting between two comic relief characters, Peli and the Majordomo (Amy Sedaris and David Pasquesi have apparently worked together before). I didn’t get much of the post-credits scene, but it seems that Cobb Vanth lives, which is good, and I guess we’ll see him on whichever Star Wars show comes out next after the just-announced “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” which obviously will be set long before the events of this show. I’d be up for watching more, even if I don’t think this show or the one before it are as fantastic as everyone else seems to be saying.

Season grade: B
Season MVP: Temeuera Morrison as Boba Fett and Ming-Na Wen as Fennec

What I’m Watching: The Book of Boba Fett

The Book of Boba Fett: Season 1, Episode 6 “Chapter 6: From the Desert Comes a Stranger” (B)

So this show has basically just become “The Mandalorian” now, with just one scene featuring Boba and Fennec that Mando happened to appear in also. I’m not sure that’s a terrible thing, it’s just strange given that there’s nothing about this show that has to do with Grogu or Luke Skywalker or the next character to get her own show, Ahsoka. It’s also disorienting to see Luke featured for such a long time, since the feat of having him show up in his previous appearance was brief and mostly for shock effect, but now he’s there for an extended period which is obviously reliant heavily on visual effects and sound editing given that Mark Hamill is now seventy years old and doesn’t sound like a twenty-six-year-old anymore. I had expected a more significant tease for Ahsoka’s upcoming show since her appearance there was random, especially if she wasn’t usually around but happened to be only when Mando came to visit. The return of Timothy Olyphant’s Cobb Vanth was very welcome, but he didn’t last long despite his sincere efforts at peacekeeping. It’s a shame since Olyphant, who earned an Emmy nomination for his guest spot on “The Mandalorian,” is a terrific actor and would be great to see anytime, but at least he’ll be back for another acclaimed role since “Justified” appears to be returning. Back to this show’s universe, where the Syndicate is making a clear power play, and exploding a bomb in the most crowded place in the city is sure to escalate tensions, not to mention leave a number of characters dead or seriously injured.

What I’m Watching: The Book of Boba Fett

The Book of Boba Fett: Season 1, Episode 5 “Chapter 5: Return of The Mandalorian” (B+)

This was a fine episode, but what show am I watching again? The title was a dead giveaway, so Mando’s return wasn’t meant to be a surprise, but it is a bit puzzling to have him show up at such an early stage in this new series. I’m still baffled at the way that Boba Fett was brought into “The Mandalorian” somewhat into that show’s run rather than the other way around given that he was the original character from the Star Wars universe. But, in any case, we’re back to familiar territory which wasn’t a problem to follow, with Mando getting the dark saber but having to contend with those who believe in “the way” and didn’t think that he was worthy of possessing it because he had taken his helmet off (wait until they see Boba Fett, who always never wears his). Watching him check all of his weapons before the flight was an ordeal, but at least we know that he, unlike most of his peers, is using them for good and only kills the people he has to rather than any innocent bystanders, like the employees who got to cash in on their late boss’ credits. Peli was typically overexcited about the ship she was ready to offer him, and he was the one who actually got caught up in the thrill of it all and nearly ended up having to turn over command of the ship during his test flight. It took all that exposition to get us back to what this show is, with Fennec there waiting for him, ready to enlist him in the fight they’re bringing. Seeing more than one Mandalorian together on the same side again should be worthwhile.

What I’m Watching: The Book of Boba Fett

The Book of Boba Fett: Season 1, Episode 4 “Chapter 4: The Gathering Storm” (B-)

I didn’t find this episode to be all that necessary since it was pretty much all flashback exposition and was missing the signature chase scene that has made previous installments very worthwhile. Each episode opens with Boba in the Bacta Tank remembering things, and him meeting Fennec and bringing her in for “modification” was a decently worthwhile event. Joining him for his revenge mission wasn’t all that enthralling, and while their “fire in the hole” moment as they got the Bespar armor out of the pit was moderately exciting, it didn’t compare to the action in other episodes. Pledging his life to protect Fennec’s and acknowledging the fact that she would rather work as an independent contractor makes him a very ideal employer, and she seems to have gotten very comfortable in her role as a loyal right hand. Krrsantan once again showed his violent tendencies when he didn’t even want to accept an offer from Garsa Fwip to have his debt wiped in exchange for peace, but maybe that aggression is exactly what Boba needs right now. Getting those who were previously imprisoned in the pit is an interesting idea, and the carefully-timed rancor appearance hopefully diminished their desire to kill him and take what was his. Going up against the Pike Syndicate is not going to be an easy task, but ensuring that he at least doesn’t have enemies in his midst is the next best thing to actually having them agree to stand with him on his side.

Take Three: The Book of Boba Fett

The Book of Boba Fett: Season 1, Episode 3 “Chapter 3: The Streets of Mos Espa” (B+)

Life on Tattooine doesn’t seem all that pleasant, both in the past with the Tusken Raiders being killed when Boba went to collect the protection money and in the present when he was nearly killed by a Wookiee while he was in the Bacta Tank. He’s gotten better about knowing who to trust in the present, and he came up with a great solution to multiple problems that ultimately ended up saving his life. This episode presented two great new guest stars, beginning with the Emmy-nominated Stephen Root, who I’ve watched in shows like “True Blood,” “Perry Mason,” and “Barry,” as Lortha Peel the watermonger. The other was Danny Trejo as a Rancor trainer who may not be all about Boba’s timeline but is probably open to helping him achieve the goal he has. The Hutt twins are leaving but with an ominous warning for Boba, one that suggests he has many enemies just waiting for his demise. Enlisting the help of the half-droid kids who owed Lortha money was a smart plan, and they kicked into gear in a spectacular way for this episode’s standout chase scene, which found the Majordomo trying to get away through thin streets before getting cornered and revealing the information he was so desperately trying to protect. The Mayor is powerful and doesn’t seem interested in ensuring Boba’s success, and fortunately he has a loyal group of supporters, namely the half-droids and Fennec, who are set on serving him and helping him to accomplish what he wishes.

What I'm Watching: The Book of Boba Fett

I had the chance to review the first two episodes of “The Book of Boba Fett” for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my take on the complete fourth season.

Pilot Review: The Book of Boba Fett

Check out my one-minute take on every new pilot, which is embedded below and you can also watch by subscribing to movieswithabe on YouTube.