Becoming a film critic is all fun and games until it is time for movies to come out that you would otherwise have no desire to see but must because not seeing them is like malpractice. I know that I am wading in deep waters when I must watch television series to understand a movie, and I am not talking about the MCU because I would have watched it anyway. No, I’m talking about the “Star Wars” franchise. I was content to stick to the main movies. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016) is the best of the lot, no regrets. When “The Mandalorian” came out and talk of Baby Yoda filled the world, it had nothing to do with me. Well, imagine my horror as I left an AMC theater and saw an enormous display for “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” (2026). Crap. It had everything to do with me.
So, I look up “The Mandalorian.” It is only twenty-four episodes, eight episodes per season. OK. I can do that. Wrapping up the second season, I had a little more energy in my tank and started the third season only to discover the horror of not recognizing the “previously on” clips, especially the Armorer (Emily Swallow) upbraiding The Mandalorian, aka Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal’s voice and allegedly his body) for taking his helmet off. So, I metaphorically run to the Google and discover to my horror that I need to watch “The Book of Boba Fett” to complete “The Mandalorian.” If this set up can happen with one movie, does that mean I have to consume all “Star Wars” content, which includes the animation? Stomps foot. I don’t wanna, but there are people desperate to get into these screenings and cannot. A million girls would kill for this job, and I like the exclusive invite. In for a penny. In for a pound. Why couldn’t I be in this situation for “Star Trek.” I’d be thrilled.
“The Book of Boba Fett” primarily focuses on Boba Fett, who appeared in the last two movies of the original trilogy as a bounty hunter who worked for Jabba the Hut. Do I remember this clearly? No, but I remember people thinking that he was one of the coolest characters and just accepting it because I do not care. In the dreadful George Lucas prequels, he was his father’s clone, and Temuera Morrison played his father so it makes sense that he would play Fett. The television series features two timelines. If you are unlike me and want to see this series, not “The Mandalorian,” you need to watch the first season episode 5 and the second season episodes six through eight of “The Mandalorian” to find out more about Boba Fett. There is a lot more material about Boba Fett in media, but if you want to watch it all, you can Google for that information because I do not have any first-hand experience or interest.
In the present day, after Boba Fett helps The Mandalorian and Grogu (wink), he decides to take over Jabba the Hutt’s position by force because he is tired of working for idiots or the bad guys, thus out of the blue, making him into a good guy willing to ally with similarly disaffected guns for hire and outcasts to create a hoped for utopia. In the other timeline, it flashes back and shows how he survived his fate in “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” (1983) and became who he is. For the record, it is a good idea to explore redemption of flawed, cold characters, the only ones sturdy enough to challenge a dystopian government like the Imperial Empire or the lack thereof with crime lords and tribalism while wanting, but lacking the expertise required to administer government, create alliances and basically jump to the next class. The series asks what does it take to make a better world on a practical level? Essentially Boba Fett experienced community and wants to create it.
Unfortunately, the execution does not quite work because it is a kids series, and the adult themes are more than Disney+ can tackle beyond action shots showing the bad guy getting their ass whooped, which hurrah, obviously, but it does not address all the commerce, lack of resources and violence issues. Oops. “The Book of Boba Fett,” which is one season and seven episodes, is not made for people like me. It is an adventure story with higher aspirations that it cannot reach. Morrison is maybe too innately noble to believe that he would collaborate willingly and perv out with his former boss. Fennec Shand (THE Ming-Na Wen), a feared assassin, is his right-hand person who enjoys the spoils of the position but still enjoys getting her hands dirty and roughing people up.
The world building on “The Book of Boba Fett” is rushed, and if you are not innately interested in the mythology of the “Star Wars” universe, it will likely resonate less and could fly over your head. If the series is frustrating, for all the fighting, the fatal consequences are few and far in between, but predictable. Real life marriages, especially once a person becomes pregnant, features more murder and consequences. In the series, the less human in appearance or speech that a character is, the more likely that they will die. The story often feels like a white savior trope except a Māori actor is playing the white savior to try and subvert the story beats, particularly with respect to the Tuskens. There are cyborg teens called The Mods, and a whole host of other colorful groups to keep the party jumping: the Pykes, pig men, Wookies, Nikto biker gangs, more Hutts, and Twi’leks. The most diversity is letting people who wear helmets and do not often or ever show their faces be good guys. Rocky from “Project Hail Mary” (2026) is disappointed at the specist mentality. It feels like it is more of a story about drug trafficking, gang violence and a former gang leader turned straight trying to help the community except slightly loftier. I am not into those kinds of storylines, especially when they are not done in a nuanced way, so it felt poorly assembled.
“The Book of Boba Fett” is at its strongest when it resumes Din Djarin’s story line in the last three episodes, and the former related faiths of the Jedi and the Mandalorians take center stage. There is a hilarious interlude as Din Djarin flies the galaxy using commercial transportation. Same, girl, same. The indignity! At this point, all the threads come together. Is it credible to believe that Boba Fett was able to unite so many disparate forces behind his rule? No, but whatever. Disney+ series seem to be expert at having really good ideas but running out of steam and preferring to stick with familiar short cuts to elicit positive reaction. For example, Chekhov’s rancor, which feels like a shameless storyline rip off from “Game of Thrones.” The writers really feel like they write a thimble full of story and race the clock with action sequences to make up the difference since its target audience would not notice. When Wen, aka Mulan and the Cavalry, is the one in the action sequence, they are right.
