TV REVIEW
'The Book of Boba Fett' Lacks Its Predecessor That Came Before It
By Sal LoCicero | February 13, 2022
After last year’s season of ‘The Mandalorian’, fans were pleased to see some of the most beloved characters appear in a few episodes; one of them being Boba Fett. It was quite a surprise to see the bounty hunter from the original trilogy - given that he dies in ‘Return Of The Jedi’. The latest series on Disney Plus, ‘The Book Of Boba Fett’, focuses - thoroughly - on the character from his supposed death to present day. It was exciting to know that Disney was making a series about Boba Fett, after the success of ‘The Mandalorian’ and its season finale.
However, it pains me to say that this spin off is a disappointment. Not only does this show fail to reach its own potential, but within most of the episodes, the creators show how unprepared they were at developing the idea. Creator Jon Favreau must have felt such a tremendous amount of pressure on his hands to bring back Boba Fett and to craft an original origin story, that half of his imagination malfunctioned.
The worst part about ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ is how obvious it is that Favreau was lost in the writers' room, that towards the last few episodes it is all depended on the return of The Mandalorian, with his adorable sidekick Grogu to make up for the series’ lackluster-ness. While The Mandalorian and Grogu give fans something to look forward to, it’s unfortunate that Boba Fett needs other characters to be a part of his story to make it interesting. Jon Favreau and Disney could have just treated the fans with a two-part Mandalorian special.
All four episodes are exhausting to sit through, and it barely offers anything that is really worthy of your time. ‘Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine’ includes an exciting action sequence involving a train that is targeting Boba Fett and his tribe. This scene gives off every sense of what a Star Wars project is, but that is until you realize the subplot has no significance to the show once the sequence is finished. ‘Chapter 3: The Streets of Mos Espa’ is even more out of touch with the main story. Some of the characters it introduces have no meaning to the viewer and it takes time away from other plots that it could focus on. The worst thing that a Star Wars show can do is waste time, and that is exactly what is done here.
No doubt the performance from Temuera Morrison is what’s holding a part of the show together. He is a fantastic lead actor, who gives his all in each episode. Supporting character Fennec Shand, played by Ming-Na Wen, is a great addition. Although she may not have received her own screen time, without Boba Fett in the picture, she was still an amazing supporting actress - who kicked ass! Pedro Pascal reprises his role as The Mandalorian and has grown his own SW fanbase with his character along the way. Grogu’s appearance is all a SW fan needs to have a blast. He is still as cute and adorable as ever, and he steals the hearts of many around the world.
The cinematography, by David Klein, in ‘Chapter 5: The Return of The Mandalorian’ looks unique, as well as cinematic, and it gives off a lot of vibes as 2017’s ‘The Last Jedi. Both stand out in terms of their look.
If there is anything that we can agree on, it is that Jon Faverau should stick to his own show; ‘The Mandalorian’. Since his mind is more focused there than it was here. With that said, ‘The Book Of Boba Fett’ will have some fan favorite characters along the way, but that shouldn’t be the only thing that keeps this show in motion.
Grade: C
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