The Book of Boba Fett – Chapter One – Stranger In A Strange Land Review
**SPOILER WARNING**
Since before I was born “May The Force Be With You” was uttered throughout the corners of my family’s home so it seemed fitting I would start my reviews on this format in a galaxy far, far away. And given this show premiered almost two weeks ago I’ve certainly got some catching up to do.
The Book of Boba Fett is the latest Star Wars offering on Disney+ from producers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni and stars Temuera Morrison (Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Aquaman) reprising his role as Boba Fett from season two of The Mandalorian alongside his counterpart, Fennec Shand played by Ming-Na Wen (Agents of Shield). Many will forget that not too long ago in our galaxy there was a Josh Trank directed Boba Fett standalone film on Lucasfilm’s release slate. After the box office failures of Trank’s Fant4stic and Lucasfilm’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, the film was removed from the release schedule. It would be years before Fett would make his appearance on the Mandalorian but once he did the announcement that his story was being repurposed for the Disney+ streaming platform came as no surprise.
For those unfamiliar with the post credits stinger to the Mandalorian season two, fans were given a brief tease of things to come when Boba Fett and Fennec Shand arrived at Jabba’s Palace on Tatooine to liberate its current owner, Bib Fortuna, of his position and life. The scene was followed by The Book of Boba Fett announcement and date. A little over a year later and the promised title has arrived.
The series picks up where the post credits tag of the aforementioned show left off with the episode finding Fett and Shand settling into their newly acquired positions from the late Fortuna in Jabba’s Palace on Tatooine. Boba Fett no longer a bounty hunter but a crime lord.
“Speak freely.”
Boba Fett – The Book of Boba Fett – Episode One
(Periodically Boba will submerge himself into a healing bacta tank for rejuvenation during this time as he rests we are treated to a series of flashbacks that fill in the gaps between Boba’s currently unknown past and the currently unfolding timeline of the series.)
Directed by Robert Rodriguez the show wastes no time answering THE question… After almost 40 years of speculation, fan fiction, and wonder we are finally privy to what actually happened to Boba Fett after succumbing to the Sarlacc Pit in Return of the Jedi. (A comic book from the early 80’s touched on Fett’s escape, however, those have since been deemed “Legends” and not canon.) As Fett sleeps in his bacta tank so begin the first of several flashbacks. Fett awakens in the stomach of the Sarlacc covered in digestive acids and wrapped in the tentacles of the creature. After glancing around the steaming digestive pit using the light on his helmet, Fett spots a stormtrooper who also fell victim to the Sarlacc. Struggling, Fett makes his way over to the dead trooper retrieving an oxygen tube from the the deceased’s helmet and inserts it into his allowing him to breathe inside the Sarlacc. Using the flamethrower on his wrist the weakened bounty hunter begins to burn the creature from the inside out. Cut to the sands of Tatooine and Fett emerges from the ground surrounded by the aftermath of Jabba’s demise and fans are given the live action shot they have waited decades for. Boba Fett alive escaping the Sarlacc Pit.
Completely exhausted from his near digestion escape, Fett immediately falls unconscious and is later awaken by the rustling of Jawas robbing him of his armor before knocking him unconscious again. Having been left for dead by the bandits, Fett is discovered and picked up by a group of Tusken Raiders who tie him to the back of a Bantha and take him as their captive. When the raiders make camp at nightfall Fett attempts to escape but is quickly chased down by a group and their pet. Fett attempts to challenge one of the Tuskens and is quickly dismantled by the warrior. The flashback scene is ended by Shand interrupting Fett’s rejuvenation session by awakening and notifying him that his subjects are lined up to pay respects to their new “Daimyo”.
With the aid of their droid 8D8, voiced wonderfully by Matt Berry (What We Do In The Shadows), Fett and Shand hold court and accept tribute from varying clans of Mos Espa. They are visited by the Mayor’s Majordomo played by David Pasquesi (Veep) who welcomes them to Mos Espa on behalf of the mayor but contrary to the proceedings expects a tribute for the mayor as opposed to presenting one to Fett as those before him. Fett and Shand are not amused, however, they grant the Majordomo his life without injury as his tribute and send him on his way. On his way out The Majordomo warns that this would not likely be the last time they speak on the Mayor’s behalf.
Two Gamorrean guards who served Bib Fortuna and Jabba the Hutt before him are brought before Fett as tributes for torture, however, Fett spares their life in exchange for their loyal service as his protectors. The guards being the same that served Jabba was a great call back to the original trilogy. Fett and his party decide to take a stroll through town to make themselves known and assess their new surroundings.
Of course it just wouldn’t be Star Wars without a fun cantina scene and this particular scene also features a few Easter Eggs. Fans of the Star Tours Ride at Disney theme parks should recognize R-3X or REX who can be seen wheelin’ and dealin’ behind the casino tables. Also, shout out to Max Reebo for surviving and landing another lounge gig.
Fett and Shand arrive at the local cantina referred to as The Sanctuary run by Garsa Fwip, played by Jennifer Beals (Flashdance), a Twi’lek who welcomes Fett and company to the her establishment with a brief conversation and a helmet full of coins. Now maybe my mind is just in the gutter but this cantina appeared to have “other services” offered and it was amusing to see this side of things winked at in a galaxy far, far away. Upon exiting the cantina Fett and Shand are ambushed and overwhelmed by assassins and were it not for the two former Gamorrean guards of Jabba coming to the aid of their new master, they may have suffered a terrible fate. Three of the assassins attempt to flee but not before Fett blows one to pieces with a rocket from his wrist. The other two assassins are pursued by Shand, with a no-kill order from Fett, in a rooftop parkour chase. After catching up with the assailants Shand kicks one off the roof and takes the other alive for questioning. This was a fun chase scene with the assassins giving off cool Star Wars ninja vibes.
Fett is helped back into his healing bacta tank by his Gamorrean guards as we drift into the final flashback of the episode. We resume with Fett being held captive in the Tusken camp. He and a Rodian captive are lead into the desert by a Tusken child tasked with duties before they encounter a vicious large 6-limbed creature in the sand. During the encounter the Rodian prisoner is killed by the creature (he was kind of a prick anyway). After nearly losing their lives to the creature Fett, using the chains from his bonds, is able to strangle it saving the Tusken child in the process. Fett and the child return to the Tusken camp with the child presenting the head of the creature and receiving praise from the adults. Seeing the child alive and happy a Tusken elder offers Fett a drink in kind gesture. Credits.
While this pilot was a slow burn, I did enjoy the episode overall. Part of me wonders if the show may have fared better initially with fans if they had released episodes one and two together. Both, Morrison, and Wen deliver solid performances although I couldn’t help but feel Wen’s character, Shand, feels similar to her run as Agent May from Agents of Shield but there is still plenty of time for her character to develop. The creature flashback could’ve been a bit shorter, but I understand the relationship building it brings and it’s just ole sci-fi fun. Fett helping one of the Tusken children gains him a bit of respect from the elders. The Mandalorian began the progress of fleshing out the Tusken Raiders with an actual culture and not just mindless villains and it was a welcome to see the continuation here. Also, on a side note, as a fan of What We Do In The Shadows hearing Matt Berry was a delight. The score and music of the show was also a highlight as was the case with The Mandalorian. Producers Favreau and Filoni have a great handle on Star Wars and if the rumored upcoming bounty hunter appearances are true, we’ve got a lot of fun in store for us in the weeks to come. My fanboy fingers are crossed for a certain Duros bounty hunter to make his life action debut. Time will tell. Also, Gamorrean guards FTW!
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