Episodes: 7
Cast: Temuera Morrison (Boba Fett), Ming-Na Wen (Fennec Shand), and Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian/Din Djarin).
Rating: 3.8/5
I liked The Book of Boba Fett. Like everyone else, I liked the second half of The Book of Boba Fett a lot more than the first half, mainly because it’s really The Mandalorian Season 2.5. And having become a fan of The Mandalorian, I’ve been eagerly collecting the toys and reading the lore and waiting for more of The Mandalorian – so The Book of Boba Fett was a welcome show as we wait for The Mandalorian Season 3. But it also means that we’re entering an era where the names of series and shows no longer really matter. Just like how Captain America: Civil War was really Avengers 2.5, so has The Book of Boba Fett fulfilled the same role in the Star Wars universe.
And I almost missed it.
The Book of Boba Fett is a science fiction space Western series that centres around the title character. It is part of the Star Wars franchise and a spin-off of The Mandalorian. While in production, it was dubbed as The Mandalorian Season 2.5. It features Boba Fett’s attempt to become the new Daimyo of Tatooine, filling the power vacuum created by Jabba the Hutt’s death. He is aided by Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) and later on, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal).
When The Book of Boba Fett was first announced, I wasn’t all that enthusiastic because I’ve, erm, never really been impressed with Boba Fett. I only knew him as the bounty hunter who got eaten by a Sarlacc (I didn’t get into Star Wars until much later in life). Then in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, we saw Boba Fett as a young boy – a petulant young boy who was mourning his father, but still petulant nonetheless. So while I knew who Boba Fett was, he didn’t feel as legendary to me as he did to many others. Then again, I am not a fan of any of the Original Trilogy characters (but I love the Prequel Trilogy characters).
So I was hesitant to start The Book of Boba Fett. But when episode 5 rolled around (spoilers: The Mandalorian returns in that episode) and everyone started to talk about it, I dove in. And me being me, I had to watch every episode – starting from the first one. So that’s how I got drawn into the show.
If I’m to be honest though, the real The Book of Boba Fett is only four episodes long. The other three episodes are, like I’ve mentioned, effectively The Mandalorian Season 2.5. Neither “season” could exist by itself, each being so very short. But it’s a rather different flavour and pacing for the two different parts. The show is a little slow when it’s on Boba Fett and his adventures (I like Fennec Shand though, but even she can’t hold the show for four episodes). Then it “rewards” you for spending all that time by shifting into The Mandalorian.
Is it a bait and switch though? The show literally has Boba Fett’s name in it. Yet in episodes 5 and 6, Boba Fett hardly appears. And then when Din Djarin appears, he steals the show. But then again, since it’s a spin-off of The Mandalorian, it’s not like you didn’t expect him to appear (most of the promotional materials hinted as much). So that point is moot – it’s not a bait and switch, it’s just a consequence of an interconnected universe.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the new direction that Star Wars is going in. I love that we’re getting an Ahsoka series and an Obi-Wan series (which will see Hayden Christensen’s Anakin returning too!). I love that it’s going in the same direction as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And it heralds an era of interconnected universes for more and more franchises (please, Transformers, do that, please!).
But in this era of interconnected franchise universes, does it then matter what a show is titled? Does it matter if a show is self-contained (meaning you don’t have to watch every other show in the franchise to understand this one)? Did it matter that The Book of Boba Fett had Boba Fett’s name in the title, or is it really just another step on this new Star Wars journey?
I think not. I would have watched it anyway, I would have lapped it up when Din Djarin appeared. I think individuals shows matter less and less now. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and The Book of Boba Fett is a prime example of that. It’s a format that isn’t actually a format, but a means to an end for storytelling. And it’s cool.
This is the way.
You can catch The Book of Boba Fett on Disney+.
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I’m an independent scriptwriter who’s written for popular shows like Lion Mums, Crimewatch, Police & Thief, and Incredible Tales. I’m also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find me on social media as Optimarcus and on my site.
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