The Book of Boba Fett – Chapter Six – From The Desert Comes A Stranger Review
**SPOILER WARNING**
The penultimate episode of the Book of Boba Fett titled “From The Desert Comes A Stranger” is directed by Dave Filoni and no surprise he brought the goods. Featuring characters from the original trilogy, animated series, and the “stranger” I’ve been waiting for this was an amazing episode with so much to unpack. The episode does sideline the main character in place of The Mandalorian again. I started writing this at 4 am having just finished the episode (and rewatching a character entrance) and I couldn’t get my thoughts out fast or clear enough. As a Star Wars fan and a fan of the Clone Wars I was squealing during this episode. I might have worried my neighbors around 3:45 am when one of my favorite Star Wars characters made a live action debut but we will get to that later.
Chapter Six is basically another episode of The Mandalorian and I’m here for it. Before the title cards we revisit Cobb Vanth played by Timothy Olyphant (Justified) having a disagreement with some Pyke spice runners in Mos Pelgo. Nice to see Olyphant back as Vanth. I enjoyed his performance from the season two opener of The Mandalorian so we were immediately off to a good start.
“I’m an old friend of the family.”
Ahsoka Tano – The Book of Boba Fett – Chapter Six
We pick up with Din Djarin played by Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones) traveling to another planet as he attempts to visit Grogu and deliver him the Mandalorian armor crafted in the previous episode. As Din makes his approach in his revamped Naboo starfighter on a landing site we are greeted by our old friend R2-D2. This immediately sets off the nerd alerts as where there’s R2, there is his master Luke Skywalker. After requesting to see Luke and Grogu, R2 leads Din to a waiting area of sorts where droids are constructing Luke’s ill-fated Jedi Academy. This is the school that will eventually be destroyed by Luke’s nephew Ben Solo aka Kylo Ren.
We are then treated to Luke Skywalker played by Mark Hamill (What We Do In The Shadows) and Grogu sitting training in the Force. I’m blown away by the advancements they’ve made in deepfake technology as it really looked as though as young Mark Hamill from the early 1980s was on location for the shoot. This is Disney, Lucasfilm, and ILM laying their giant technology dick on the table. “You want young Luke? We don’t need Sebastian Stan.”
During their training Luke offers to help Grogu recover some of his lost memories. We are given a brief glimpse of Order 66 at the Jedi Temple from Grogu’s perspective. Jedi are shot and killed by clone troopers following Palpatine’s order as lightsabers and blaster fire reflect in Grogu’s eyes. I love see this event from different perspectives or at ground level. Again, another great moment and imagery that will no doubt be all over the internet. In fact it’s probably somewhere on this page…
Returning to Mando, who has dozed off waiting for Luke, waking up to find Ahsoka Tano played by Rosario Dawson (The Mandalorian) standing in front of him. I literally threw my hands in the air with excitement at her arrival. Of course she’s here it’s Filoni’s writing and knowing how protective he is of the character I began to wonder if he had directed the episode (I wasn’t aware it was him until the credits rolled.) Ahsoka’s purpose is to make Din aware of how his presence could actually hinder Grogu’s progress and Jedi training. Jedi are meant to have no attachments. The arrival of his father figure would no doubt make Grogu emotional cause him to miss Din. The Mandalorian ultimately decides to stay back and let Grogu continue in the Jedi ways but leaves his gift of armor with Ahsoka to give to him.
Luke and Grogu’s training montage (montage!) having direct callbacks to Luke’s from Empire Strikes Back made the interactions fun to watch. Filoni knows how to hit fans in their sweet spots and Grogu riding Luke’s back akin to Yoda laced with familiar quotes is getting us where it counts. Grogu learning to jump with the Force felt like unlocking a new ability in a video game for your character. “Sweet, Force Jump!”
I figured we were going big this week with Filoni writing but I didn’t know we were going young Luke Skywalker wielding a lightsaber training big. Or young Luke Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano have a live action conversation in the same frame together big. Yes, not to miss an opportunity (and gif potential) Luke and Ahsoka have a conversation about Din and Grogu’s attachments to each other and Ahsoka also mentions Luke’s father. Luke asks Ahsoka for advice before she departs leaving him with Grogu’s gift from Mando. This was a nice moment between the two characters and an intriguing look at Luke’s headspace post Return of the Jedi.
Mando travels to back to Boba Fett’s (Remember him? The main character of the show!) where Fett and his allies, including Black Krrsantan, are working strategies to deal with the incoming Pyke Syndicate. Realizing they’re still outnumbered Din travels to Free Town formerly Mos Pelgo to ask Cobb Vanth and his people for help. Vanth and the quite opinionated Weequay barkeep are reluctant to assist Din and Boba in their fight. Before departing Din eventually convinces Vanth to see what he can do. Vanth asks the barkeep to call everyone able to fight to town.
For a moment here the show got very calm as if it was taking a breath and I knew something was coming. No music, wind starts to blow, and windchimes begin ringing. Cobb Vanth turns to look in the distance as if something dreadful was approaching. And then it finally happened. The moment I have been waiting for. The real reason I have, honestly, been watching this show. A shot that I literally lept up off my couch when I saw. What shot?
Cad Bane a bounty hunter first introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series makes his live action debut in a brilliant fashion. As I’ve mentioned several times I am a huge nerd and Star Wars fan. Cad Bane is one of my favorite characters and my friends will tell you I’ve been screaming for years to see him in live action. His arrival had me flailing with joy at 3:45 in the morning. Corey Burton continues to voice the character who they made a little more scary than his animated counterpart but I loved it. For those unfamiliar Cad Bane is one of the few bounty hunters that could hold their own against a Jedi. Whenever Bane showed up in an episode something of note was happening. Bane offers Vanth double what Mando offered on Boba’s behalf to sit this one out and allow the Pyke Syndicate to do their thing. The conversation doesn’t go well with Bane shooting Vanth and really shooting up his deputy. (The guy was annoying anyway) Vanth’s fate remains to be seen as he took a hit towards his shoulder. Before leaving, Bane tells the town’s people to stay out of the Pyke’s way.
We hop over to The Sanctuary run by Garsa Fwip played by Jennifer Beals (Flashdance) where two members of the Pyke Syndicate arrive with a package and leave it in their booth. If you’ve ever seen any crime show or movie you know exactly what is happening. The Sanctuary and all inhabitants are blown up. I was a little bummed to see this as I kind of like Beals’ Twi’lek character, however, I’m trying to understand what purpose The Sanctuary and her character served on the series. Were we always revisiting them so we would feel bad when the Pykes blew the place up? While I enjoyed Fwip’s short time on screen she hardly had any character to development to care about her death. They did take a moment to show that Max Reebo was not on the drums that evening. Rock on, Reebo. Rock on.
Lastly we return to Luke and Grogu where Master Skywalker presents a choice before his would-be apprentice. Accept the gift from The Mandalorian and in doing so gaining attachment and forsaking the Jedi or accept the lightsaber of Master Yoda, continue in his Jedi training and potentially never see Mando again. My thoughts during this moment? “Who retrieved Yoda’s lightsaber? I have questions!” Grogu has a difficult choice before him but let’s be real here. He’s going to go with Mando. Luke’s school and students will be destroyed by Kylo Ren several years down the line. They’re not going to condemn everyone’s favorite wide-eared green friend to death. Plus, the episode took time to show the horrors of Order 66, Luke & Ahsoka mention Grogu’s attachment and how his heart might not be in it, Mando brings a loving gift he had specially made that we all want to see Grogu wear, plus Mando has a new ship with a Grogu sized seat behind him… So is he going to go with Luke “Thanks for the flashbacks of murder” Skywalker or the father figure who has loved and protected him for two entire seasons? I think the answer is obvious but I still look forward to seeing it play out.
This episode gave us Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, R2-D2, Cad Bane, Din Djarin, Grogu, and Cobb Vanth on top of Order 66 flashbacks, Jedi training with Luke, and questions about Yoda’s lightsaber. There is an unused animatic originally intended for The Clone Wars series with a duel between Cad Bane and Boba Fett showing how Boba got the dent in his helmet. The footage was never used so I wonder if we will see that playout in a flashback in the finale. Cad Bane’s live action debut is something I have been waiting years for so call my opinion fanboyed or bias but this was some of the best Star Wars content we’ve had in a while. Dave Filoni remains the Savior of Star Wars and I worship at his alter.
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