– Spoiler Review –
The Mandalorian…I mean The Book of Boba Fett’s penultimate episode, “Chapter 6 – From the Desert Comes a Stranger” finally finds its way back to the main narrative, though while it has some stellar moments carrying on Din Djarin’s story as well, they come at the expense of this show.
The more I thought about “Chapter 5 – Return of the Mandalorian” and saw discussion online, I found it less jarring within the context of The Book of Boba Fett, as Din’s search for a tribe mirrors much of Boba’s own journey in the show so far, a strong thematic through-line which made me more eager to return to Boba and Fennec Shand’s story. Unfortunately, much of “Chapter 6 – From the Desert Comes a Stranger” decides to stick with Din Djarin and his adventures, and while they are some truly exhilarating moments I’ve been dying to see since the end of The Mandalorian’s second season, it felt out of place for The Book of Boba Fett, with it deviating to the point I don’t feel like there’s really any thematic ties between this show and the other show’s developments within it, and it leaves me wondering why it happened here at the expense of TBoBF. All the time spent with Luke Skywalker training Grogu, while entertaining and as fulfilling as I imagined, means we have less time with the main stars of the show, Boba Fett and Fennec Shand, any of the mods who have joined with Boba, Krrsantan, and even Garsa Fwip, so underutilized to the point her death here stings painfully. I get a “book” can have interludes, but when it cuts at the main narrative to the point this “big war” coming will only happen in a single episode, not even a book would let interludes take that much away from the main story. Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have done some stellar, unforgettable things for Star Wars as a whole, from live action to animation, but they should learn from a line within this episode, “Sometimes the student guides the master,” by bringing in more students to help broaden perspectives and ideas on these shows going forward, maybe to avoid unfortunate moments or structure a show better, which is why I’m so excited for all the other shows coming that will bring new writers to the table.
With those thoughts out of the way for now, where to begin? “Chapter 6 – From the Desert Comes a Stranger” picks up with Din Djarin’s desire to see his little friend Grogu again, under the guise of seeing if his foundling now Jedi Padawan is safe. As Din said last Chapter, the creed he grew up in hinges on attachment, but the Jedi way doesn’t, and while I’m sure losing his family as a child makes him even more attached to Grogu, what will a visit to Grogu bring either of them? When Din arrives on an unnamed planet, Artoo guides him to a spectacular scene, Luke’s Jedi Temple being built by droids, only to shut down and have them build him a bench to wait. It’s both a funny scene, Artoo giving Din a place to sleep and wait, and really cool to see the beginnings of Luke’s Temple, which looks very similar to the huts on Ahch-To, so I wonder if he’s already been there, hence the inspiration for his Temple. Regardless, Din awakes not to find Luke Skywalker or Grogu, but rather…Ahsoka!* She confronts him about his decision to come see Grogu, asking the important questions and pointing out how it could affect his training, as the little one misses Din as much as Din misses him. Her advice helps him make the right choice, leaving the little package the Armorer made for the child, and he takes off to get embroiled back with Boba’s fight with the Pykes. Between a cute little scene of Luke and Grogu meditating and then this moment with Ashoka Tano, Din leaving felt like the natural part of the episode where we’d cut back to the main story left behind last Chapter, but instead the show decides to stick with Grogu and Luke. Like I said, I enjoyed this next part so much, but in the context of this show it felt out of place.
Luke Skywalker** training Grogu is one of my biggest wish-fulfillments since Luke came and took Grogu away and it’s a series of really cool moments showing how much Luke has learned in these 5 years, dispensing advice to Grogu like a Jedi Master already, with some lessons similar to Yoda’s but much also his own, the inklings of the Master we see in The Last Jedi. It’s both cute and thrilling to see Grogu begin to unlock his previous training, hopping around while being chased by the droid remote and balancing while Luke shows off lightsaber forms, while Luke using the Force to have Grogu keep up with him had me dying in laughter and cuteness, so this is already everything I hoped we could see with these two together. Luke is concerned regarding Grogu’s attachment to Din Djarin, much like Ahsoka was hence her not training him, and confronts the little one about it through much of his teaching. First, he offers Grogu a chance to remember his past, which is when we see a short yet tantalizing flashback to three Jedi defending him from advancing clone troopers, then he offers advice about the Force helping Grogu find balance and a place to let go, and then he confronts the little one with a big choice. At the end of the day, no matter how hard Luke works with Grogu, if his little heart isn’t in it, maybe it’s as the Force wills it and they aren’t meant to work together, being a Jedi’s not Grogu’s path ahead. The choice he gives Grogu is either leave to be with Din or stay and be a Jedi, offering the realities of both and symbolizing them with two enticing objects: the chainmail Din had the Armorer forge for him (it’s so cute and small!) or Yoda’s lightsaber (where did you get that Luke?!). We don’t see Grogu’s choice, but I’m going to assume he chooses Din Djarin simply because it’s going to be cute to have them back together for The Mandalorian S3, but I hope he chooses Luke and attempts training for now. Either way, the lingering cliffhanger of Grogu with Luke was enough between seasons and while this a fun new wrinkle, it certainly could’ve waited to happen in that show.
Remember how I said the show picks up with the main story again, with Boba and Fennec? I might have overstated a little bit. Only Fennec speaks this episode, with Boba nodding at Din or what she says (which technically still make sense but suck since this is the first time he’s been in the show since Chapter 4), but at least it’s clear they are about to take the fight to the Pykes, believing they have enough muscle now to act as enforcers. But Din knows where to get more, and in steps where Chapter 6 started: Cobb Vanth patrolling his little Mos Pelgo, still going toe-to-toe with Pykes and others who threaten their little peaceful city despite the lack of armor. Din visits, asking Vanth for a favor, to bring his people to help the fight, and while the bartender isn’t convinced it’s their problem, it looks like Vanth will bring it to the town to consider. After dispatching some Pykes and threatening them about ever coming back in his territory in the beginning of the Chapter, it seems the Pykes have sent a response…CAD BANE! Recently back in the picture thanks to The Bad Batch, it looks like he survives even longer than expected, still working for whatever nefarious group offers enough credits years after the Empire collapsed, and I’m curious what he’s been up to all this time, sitting out certain events or moments like War of the Bounty Hunters. Much like his TBB appearance, he ends up in a standoff and there’s still no one faster than him, though he does get the upper hand thanks to Vanth’s Deputy getting a little jumpy/not listening to him, resulting in the Deputy’s death and what seems like Vanth’s as well. I’d imagine Vanth might make, but the other character attacked by the Pykes probably won’t and it makes my blood boil. Either way, it was fun to see Vanth again and his little town as it makes sense to include him in this show, unlike the extended Luke/Grogu content. Will Vanth’s death/brush with death be enough to get the rest of the town to come to Boba’s aid in the fight ahead, considering it’s the Pykes that ordered the hit?
Speaking of hits, the Pykes even come for Garsa Fwip, waltzing in to order some drinks at her place and leaving the explosive behind, and while there’s some ambiguity for Cobb Vanth, the chances Garsa survived are slim to none and I am damn pissed about this part. Filoni’s first directing duty on The Mandalorian ends with the death of a female character, a POC no less, with no intention of bringing her back, her death meant to forward some random male character’s story that we’ve never seen again (the woman in question was Fennec Shand of course, but thankfully they changed their mind but it was still a poor decision) and now his first The Book of Boba Fett episode also ends with the death of a female character to push forward a male character’s story, and just like the last case, it’s pointless. Boba Fett was already going to war with the Pykes, already had reasons for it, so what does this serve for the story? Couldn’t you still strike at Garsa’s Sanctuary without killing her to make the exact same point? It’s another lazy writing decision by two male writers, much like what happened with the Tuskens, only made worse by the fact this show has underutilized and barely acknowledge Garsa’s existence by deviating from these characters with Mandalorian interludes, only to bring her back for a second before killing her off. If she makes it through the blast, I’ll rescind my anger over this, but for now just typing about it really got my blood boiling about it and left me wondering why all over again.
*With any appearance of Ahsoka as played by Rosario Dawson, especially in the upcoming solo show, it’s important to once again discuss how the actress’ continued part in the role shows Lucasfilm struggles to listen to trans fans, as Dawson and her family had allegations against them regarding abuse of a trans man, though the case has since been dismissed but Finley says he’ll appeal (though hasn’t in a few years). So please take some time to listen to trans fans regarding the whole situation thanks to this important interview with them over at All Thing Ahsoka, where they discuss how her casting made them feel and how they feel about the upcoming solo show, while also consider donating to the Transgender Law Center via the This Is the Way Fundraiser started by fans in response to Gina Carano’s comment’s.
**I understood the desire and made peace with the choice to CGI Mark Hamill’s younger Luke over an actor for his appearance in The Mandalorian’s S2 finale, but I had hoped ever since they’d finally give the role to someone else. Unfortunately they choose to continue with the CGI/Deepfake process, and while it looks leagues better this time around (thanks YouTube guy!), much more nuanced and true to the younger Hamill of Return of the Jedi, his voice seemed off somehow and in the end, it feels like it robs some soul from the character. It feels like the actor beneath the technology isn’t allowed to inhabit the role, leading to some disconnect that not even better CGI can fix, and without that fully human element here, this strange mixing doesn’t quite capture Luke or make it feel like an extension of the character, instead a reverent adherence to the past (let the past die, anyone?), afraid to move forward. I didn’t feel this way with Tarkin in Rogue One because Guy Henry got to perform the role, so maybe if they went full CGI/mo-cap Mark Hamill like video games do to bring stellar, human performances to players, maybe this would work, but it’s time: recast the character. Let someone else be Luke, bringing their own to the role and I guarantee everyone will still know it’s Luke Skywalker (and probably only the loudest majority will scream it’s not my Luke again, but no one should be listening to them anyways).
Here are a few other things:
- We’ve been wondering when/if Ahsoka and Luke would meet ever since her return at the end of Star Wars Rebels in the post-RotJ timeline, and I guess it’s already happened!! I’m dying to see that story told, preferably in comics or novels, instead of potential flashbacks in the Ahsoka TV show. What did she all tell Luke about Anakin, the Jedi of the prequels, of Ezra/Kanan, of well…everything?! There’s so much they could discuss; it’ll be a blast when finally explored at some later date.
- Cad Bane looked good in live action, even if his face seemed even more pinched in at the cheeks than his animation design while his sharp teeth were menacing enough, and it was awesome they had Corey Burton voice him again!!
The Book of Boba Fett’s “Chapter 6 – From the Desert Comes a Stranger” had some of the most Star Wars of Star Wars moments ever on-screen and it was delightful, but it’s hampered by an adherence to past revery, distracting from the actual narrative of this show, and another totally unnecessary female character’s death.
+ Some sense of returning to Boba and Fennec
+ Luke training Grogu
+ Cad Bane’s entrance
– Total disregard for the main narrative now
– Garsa’s needless death
– Not letting the past die
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.
THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT REVIEWS
Chapter 1: Stranger in a Strange Land | Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine | Chapter 3: The Streets of Mos Espa | Chapter 4: The Gathering Storm | Chapter 5: Return of the Mandalorian