The fact that the most entertaining episode of The Book of Boba Fett didn’t have Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones) would be more than a little problematic if creator Jon Favreau intended the series to stand completely on its own right now. With Chapter 5, “Return of the Mandalorian,” we have almost an entire episode with no connection to its current storyline, with it serving instead as a continuation of The Mandalorian, and Mando (Pedro Pascal, The Mandalorian) looking to reconnect with what remains of the Children of the Watch. This should signal that Favreau smartly wants to keep the world connected and bring those that have not bought into Boba Fett’s story to this point fully onboard for the final few episodes.
It was inevitable that Mando would make an appearance in The Book of Boba Fett, especially with the musical foreshadowing that concluded the prior episode, but it was a bit of a surprise, albeit a welcome one, that he was the entire focus. Hearing him assertively deliver the “I can bring you in warm, or I can bring you in cold” line again, before dispatching a room of opponents to collect on a bounty in the opening, was so satisfying. So was the dimly lit meatpacking plant setting and watching him violently cut down opponents with the Dark Saber, even if he did hurt himself with it in the process. It’s easily the best fight in a butcher shop since The Night Comes For Us. It’s the kind of general “badassery” we have come to expect from him on his show and the sort we had expected more of from the revered Boba Fett by this point. There is the hope, that now that he’s been fully healed by the bacta tank, he can start to show off a little more.
This episode was as visually stunning as anything we have seen in Star Wars before. We watch Mando maneuver his way through elaborate cities in space, wield his fancy new weapon, hop aboard a commercial flight, and test-fly a newly constructed ship through the famous Beggar’s Canyon in Tatooine, with a bonus womp rat sighting. That served as just one of several great easter eggs for fans of the films and the expanded universe. The best thing was that we didn’t spend the whole episode on Tatooine. The sheer scale and vastness of the different settings, captured by Director Bryce Dallas Howard, Cinematographer David Klein, and their entire crew was something to behold, and it was a reminder that the events playing out in the series are just a small microcosm of the conflicts that exist throughout the galaxy.
Speaking of conflict: after Mando finds the Armorer (Emily Swallow, The Mandalorian), and we get a lot of great information on the history of the Darksaber and Mandalore being destroyed (awesome T2 inspired visuals), tensions boil over between him and Paz Vizsla (Jon Favreau, Spider-Man: No Way Home/Tait Fletcher, Breaking Bad) when Vizsla challenges for possession of the weapon. Using the Darksaber proves more of a hindrance than an aid, as whoever gains control of it loses the upper hand in the fight, finding the weapon heavy and hard to control. The Armorer explains that you must fight “with” the Darksaber, rather than fighting it – pretty vague, but it sounds like it takes a lot of focus. Mando ultimately wins the fight and retains the weapon, but when it’s learned that he’s removed his helmet, he’s told he’s no longer Mandalorian (he might really have to start going by Din Djarin). The good news is this is a title that can be regained. The bad news is it can only be redeemed in the living waters beneath the mines of Mandalore, which are apparently destroyed. All of this seems like a well-crafted setup for the focus of the next season of The Mandalorian.
In the meantime, the episode isn’t entirely without the humor that’s become a mainstay of both series, as there is a funny sequence of Mando having to check all his weapons with security before boarding his flight to Tatooine. As you would imagine, there are a lot of them. Apparently, they were much more efficient with not losing luggage a long time ago in a galaxy far far away…because while there was a high level of anxiety associated with watching him drop the Darksaber in with the rest, he got it back safely when he landed.
The laughs continue when we are treated to another appearance from Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris, The Mandalorian), who has a ship to sell him, or more accurately a bunch of parts that they’ll turn into one. Honestly, we have seen Mando go through the whole “build a ship” montage deal before, and the “car salesman” shtick is old, but because these are characters we already love, and because Sedaris has perfect comedic timing, the whole sequence with them and the Jawas putting the incredible N-1 Starfighter together is a joy. Couple that together with the aforementioned test flight, and then the cross-over appearance of Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen, Mulan) asking for Mando’s assistance in Boba Fett’s upcoming fight against the Pykes, and you cap off what is surely regarded as one of the most enjoyable episodes of either series to date – even without Grogu, although he’s coming.
Bryce Dallas Howard proves again that she knows how to deliver an episode full of great action, visuals, and an appropriate amount of fan service, while still advancing the story forward – even if it wasn’t the story of the title character. Chapter 5 is also a reminder that The Book of Boba Fett is still setting its tone, introducing characters, and needs more than 4 episodes to firmly ingratiate itself to fans, as The Mandalorian has over 2 prior seasons. Boba Fett will certainly be back in the mix for the next chapter, and with a lot of the groundwork laid for the direction of the show, he should be equipped to carry it forward.
