Recommended Sci Fi TV: Science fiction and fantasy shows from the past decade or so that you may have missed and that we believe are worth checking out.
What Is It?
This series starts out with an exploration (through flashbacks) of how Boba Fett survived the Sarlacc and why he has been out of sight since the events of Return of the Jedi. It then follows his attempts in the present to establish himself as the next crime boss on Tatooine, with his loyal companion Fennec Shand helping him build an army of foot soldiers.
Aired: Disney+, 2021-22, 1 Season Totaling 7 Episodes
Starring: Temuera Morrison, Ming-Na Wen, Pedro Pascal, Jennifer Beals, Stephen Root
Created By: Jon Favreau
Bottom Line:
While this show did not get very good marks from most viewers, and it definitely has its warts, it is better than it is given credit for, and it does a good job of reintroducing the character to the Star Wars universe while also setting him up as someone who could become an important figure in the post-Empire era.
Why Is It Worth Watching?
This show is a spin-off of sorts from The Mandalorian, as Boba Fett was reintroduced in the second season of that series when we learn that he escaped a rather grim death after his plummet into the belly of the Sarlacc in Return of the Jedi. Boba Fett proved to be an ally to Mando in that series, and after parting ways with the bounty hunter, he laid claim to the Tatooine criminal empire of the now-deceased Jabba the Hutt. That is where the series kicks off. (Minor spoilers ahead.)
Boba Fett was a tragically underused character from the original movies, having been hyped as the “next major villain” after Darth Vader but ultimately receiving only a few minutes of screen time across two films and a total of four lines (not including his scream as he falls into the Sarlacc pit). He did appear in the animated short that was the only redeeming part of 1978’s horrid Star Wars Holiday Special (more on that one at Cult-SciFi.com). Plus, a younger Boba Fett would later show up in the prequels, and the character would get plenty of attention in the Expanded Universe through novels and comics. But The Book of Boba Fett finally gives him significant screen time and character development beyond just being a bounty hunter in cool armor.
The first four episodes offer an intriguing exploration of Tatooine, especially its underworld, while also delving into the character of Fett and showing how he has changed since his days as a bounty hunter. Some people thought the introduction of the cyborg “Mods” who come to work for Boba Fett was a misstep, but I rather liked them. And I thought their retro speeder bikes were cool, while the warrior Wookiee Krrsantan was a good addition to Team Boba as well.
Where the show derailed was by suddenly turning into two episodes of The Mandalorian, really throwing off the narrative it had been building. Episodes five and six catch up with Mando as he tries to decide what direction he will follow now that Luke Skywalker has taken custody of Grogu (as we saw at the end of Season 2 of that show). I’m not certain why Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni decided to follow that direction, and perhaps scheduling challenges forced them to cram two episodes of The Mandalorian into the Boba Fett series. But it certainly killed the story’s momentum and made the season finale (with Fett and his army facing off against the drug-running Pykes) feel rushed. None of that killed the show for me, though, and I really would still like a second season from this one (which is very uncertain at this point).
I do have a few nitpicks, though, starting with Boba Fett seeming far too honorable and overly concerned with the townspeople for a former bounty hunter and would-be crime boss. But perhaps some additional character development could give us a better view of his true motivations and where he really stands (is he more Han Solo or Tony Soprano?). I didn’t like that Cobb Vanth and Cad Bane were dispensed with far too quickly, though the former appears to have survived his deadly encounter, and the latter could return as well (that bacta pod seems like a convenient device for bringing almost anybody back). And let’s please have less of Mando and Grogu in future episodes (though keep Peli Motto around) so that the show can stay focused on its main characters. Temuera Morrison did a great job in the lead role, and fan-favorite Ming-Na Wen (Agents of SHIELD) is always enjoyable when she is in a butt-kicking role. They had a pretty good supporting cast beyond that as well.
The Book of Boba Fett showed promise and could still do a lot with the main character, and there have been some rumblings that this one could be revisited, with Disney+ possibly considering that instead of a fourth season of The Mandalorian after the movie came up short this Summer. I would be onboard for it, and with a few tweaks, it could turn into a heck of a Star Wars series, especially considering that Boba Fett is such a well-loved character.
Where Can You Watch It?
All seven episodes are still streaming on Disney+, though feel free to fast forward through parts of episodes five and six if you aren’t interested in Mando’s story.
Did you watch The Book of Boba Fett and did you enjoy it, or did you think it failed to make good use of the main character? Chime in below with your thoughts in the comments.
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