The Book of Boba Fett (Barely)

Griffin Moeller
Co-Editor
  Just six minutes of screen time and four lines of dialogue were devoted to the bounty hunter Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy before he met his supposed end near the start of Return of the Jedi. Despite his negligible part in the films, the silent gunslinger gained a cult following in the years following his debut. Although a younger version of the character has appeared in Attack of the Clones and the computer-animated series The Clone Wars, Fett was confirmed to have survived in the second season of The Mandalorian, thus opening the door for more stories. One year has passed and his own spin-off series has just concluded. Did The Book of Boba Fett stick the landing? 
  Even though he has been a member of the Star Wars family since 2002, actor Temuera Morrison is relatively new to the role of Fett, having played the character’s father Jango in the past. He is joined by actress Ming-Na Wen’s character Fennec Shand as they struggle to maintain a grip on the desert world of Tatooine. From the beginning, the audience must grapple their attention on a present-day storyline in which Fett is in charge and a series of flashbacks set five years ago, after Fett escaped his demise in Return of the Jedi. While not much progress is made in the present-day plot throughout the first half of the season, fans have praised the memory sequences for their rich storytelling and offering a different perspective on certain aspects of the saga. 
  However, these flashbacks are short-lived, as the fifth and sixth episodes divert attention away from the titular character and focus on Luke Skywalker, Grogu, and Din Djarin, better known as the Mandalorian. While their involvement is exciting to watch, the shift in attention feels jarring for a series whose main character is so beloved. Despite his minimal role in the penultimate episodes, the finale was able to satisfyingly wrap up Fett’s story.
   Though the series had its ups and downs, there are many fans who enjoyed The Book of Boba Fett despite its flaws, such as Tietjen Kidd. Bonneville High School junior and Star Wars fan, Kidd expressed his enjoyment of the series in an interview. He was asked whether he preferred Boba Fett or Din Djarin, to which he replied, “Oh, Boba Fett! Boba could kick Din’s butt.” Kidd has a positive outlook on the future potential of the series and hopes to see more bounty hunters appear in future seasons.
  While it is unknown if a second season is in development, The Book of Boba Fett marks a unique moment in the Star Wars franchise: a moment that seems less keen on attending to its main character and would rather celebrate all the stories that preceded it.

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