The Book of Boba Fett takes Disney’s Star Wars resurgence to new heights, yet the series is plagued by faults that are symptomatic of how the studio uses George Lucas’ universe. The Book of Boba Fett follows the eponymous bounty hunter-turned-crime-lord after the events of Season 2 of The Mandalorian, but it also delves into his past after his presumed death in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The series embodies the worst of modern Star Wars because of its emphasis on allusions to past films and TV shows, as well as a weird re-contextualization of Fett’s persona. The series embodies the worst of modern Star Wars, as well as the finest, thanks to its emphasis on references to earlier films and TV shows, as well as a weird re-contextualization of Fett’s persona.
Following in the footsteps of the previous criminal leader, Jabba the Hutt, the story goes after Boba Fett as he seeks to build a name for himself in Moss Espa. Boba recruits a group of adolescent motorcyclists who ride colorful Quadrpphenia-inspired speeders in Episode 3. The Twins, Jabba the Hutt’s relatives, seize Fett’s territory and send the Wookie bounty hunter Black Krrsantan to murder him before eventually presenting him a pet Rancor, according to the series. However, following his fall into the sarlacc pit, Fett recalls his time with a clan of Tusken Raiders who enslaved him but eventually came to accept him as one of their own.
In many respects, The Book of Boba Fett is the pinnacle of contemporary Star Wars. It uses a grittier tone and incorporates elements from the Hollywood western and mafia genres, similar to The Mandalorian, to produce a distinct Star Wars tale that is both captivating and refreshing. Its action is typically firm, and its Tusken Raiders storyline is extraordinarily dark and feels like it was plucked straight from the prequel trilogy. The series, on the other hand, chooses to recast Boba Fett as a heroic figure, which is a long cry from the now-canon Legends portrayal of the character. Fett of old was a brutal bounty hunter with a strong sense of self. While it’s thrilling to see him take center stage, it’s disheartening that Disney is weakening him and portraying him as a good-hearted freedom warrior rather than a morally ambiguous cynic.
The series’ dependence on current imagery and characters is just too obvious. Its transformation of the Tusken Raiders is a brand-new change of pace. Adding additional Hutts, a Rancor, and a Wookie bounty hunter, on the other hand, feels overdone and sloppy. The Book of Boba Fett continues to milk every recognized piece of Tatooine’s iconography rather than presenting new people and locales, similar to how the Star Wars sequel trilogy re-hashed popular themes from the original three films.
When the series does include a new element, its usefulness is still vague. The biker gang and their rainbow speeder scooters, which are both amusing and menacing, are the most startling new addition. This issue arises from the overuse of imagery that is too grounded in reality, as seen in Episode VIII: The Last Jedi’s controversial Canto Bight sequence. Generally, The Book of Boba Fett is interesting and exciting, and it generally upholds The Mandalorian’s standard of excellence. Its degradation of Boba Fett, dependence on existing iconography, and dubious new creative judgments, on the other hand, cannot be underestimated. It’s unclear if the series will be able to overcome these problems, and whether it will come to embody the worst or greatest of modern Star Wars.
