Take a deep dive into the criminal underworld in the latest issue of Star Wars Insider! The magazine’s 209th issue shines a spotlight on crime and punishment in the Star Wars universe, taking a look at the lawmakers and lawbreakers of the galaxy. Featuring an interview with the puppeteers who brought Jabba to life in Return of the Jedi, an interview with the Armorer herself Emily Swallow, and an exclusive short story starring bounty hunters Zam Wesell and Jango Fett, Star Wars Insider 209 hits bookstands on Tuesday March 15th! Check out an exclusive preview here!
STAR WARS INSIDER #209 is on sale: Tuesday March 15.
Books, comics, audio scripts, activity books, and a hotel (!!) are all in store for Star Wars fans this month. Below includes a list and description of upcoming Star Wars projects in the month of March 2022. It is important to note that these release dates are subject to change.
March 1 – The High Republic: Mission to Disaster
From Lando’s Luck, Justina Ireland has shown time and time again that she is an expert in crafting beautifully written Star Wars characters and stories, a trend that continues with her latest middle grade novel set in the High Republic era. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “The Jedi think the dreaded Nihil marauders have been all but defeated. Their leader is on the run and their numbers have dwindled. Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh hopes this means she will finally have time to really train her Padawan, Imri Cantaros—but reports of a Nihil attack on Port Haileap soon dash those hopes. For not only have the Nihil attacked the peaceful outpost, they have abducted Vernestra and Imri’s friend, Avon Starros. The two Jedi set off for Port Haileap, determined to figure out where the Nihil have taken their friend. Meanwhile, Avon must put her smarts and skills to the ultimate test as she fights for survival among the Nihil—and uncovers a sinister plan. Can Vernestra and Imri find their friend before disaster strikes?”
March 1 – Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
Galactic Starcruiser is an upcoming hotel in Walt Disney World Resort that is set on a starship named Halcyon operated by Chandrila Star Line.
March 2 – Star Wars (2020) 21
Charles Soule’s excellent Star Wars comic set between Episodes V and VI continues this month. The publisher’s summary for the 21st issue is as follows: “STRANDED ON A STAR DESTROYER! After a mission gone wrong, ace Rebel pilot SHARA BEY (POE DAMERON’S mother) was left for dead aboard the TARKIN’S WILL, a huge Star Destroyer. Shara survived and has been hiding deep inside the massive ship ever since, evading COMMANDER ZAHRA’S notice. But her time is up. Can she live long enough to escape?”
March 2 – The High Republic 15
The fifteenth and final issue of Cavan Scott’s High Republic comic hits shelves this month. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “EVERYTHING CHANGES! Phase one of Star Wars The High Republic reaches its galaxy-shaking conclusion. Only one person can save the Jedi from the mysterious monsters that stalk Starlight Beacon. Who will live and who will die?”
March 2 – The High Republic: Eye of the Storm 2
Learn more about the villainous Marchion Ro in the second issue of Eye of the Storm. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “ACT TWO: Marchion. The Wreckage. The Hunt. The Storm. In which the Eye of the Nihil exults after a job well done. In which Marchion Ro reveals the source of the Jedi’s greatest fear. In which the future of the Nihil is revealed.”
March 8 – The Ultimate Star Wars: The Mandalorian Sticker Collection
What’s better than a combination of Star Wars and stickers? That’s what’s in store in this upcoming sticker book highlighting everything we love about The Mandalorian.
March 9 – Crimson Reign 3
The highly anticipated Lady Qi’ra comic continues with its third issue this month. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “ODYSSEY OF THE ARCHIVIST! LADY QI’RA’S ultimate plan to reshape the galaxy continues as we focus on one of her most key operatives – the mysterious SAVA MADELIN SUN, former expert in the DARK SIDE OF THE FORCE, now known only as THE ARCHIVIST. Qi’ra has given this woman a crucial task and put all the resources of CRIMSON DAWN at her disposal. The Archivist’s search will find answers to mysteries at the very heart of the EMPIRE’S formation……and the ultimate fall of THE JEDI ORDER.”
March 9 – Halcyon Legacy 2
Ethan Sacks delivers the second issue of the Galactic Starcruiser tie-in comic this month. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “YOUR TICKET TO THE HOTTEST RIDE IN THE GALAXY! The Halcyon comes under fire from pirates –with little chance of escape! Who is the mysterious Resistance spy on board that may lead to the fiery end of the ship’s 275-year run? And find out how, years earlier, bounty hunter AURRA SING and a mysterious partner gambled with their lives during the galactic starcruiser’s era as a flying casino!”
March 9 – Han Solo & Chewbacca 1
Han Solo and Chewbacca take center-stage in a new comic series set before A New Hope. The publisher’s summary for the first issue is as follows: “NEW SERIES – HAN SOLO IS BACK! But wait! Isn’t HAN still frozen in Carbonite? Yes. But you can’t keep a good smuggler down. Set a few years before Episode IV: A New Hope, Han, his partner, CHEWBACCA and GREEDO, embark on a heist for JABBA THE HUTT. It’s supposed to be an easy job. What could possibly go wrong? Well, for starters, how about a reunion with the very last person Han expected to see? The last page is a jaw-dropper…”
March 15 – Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: Legacy Vol. 4
Relive adventures from Star Wars Legends with this new collection that assembles Star Wars: Legacy 1-18, material from Star Wars Tales, and Star Wars Visionaries 1.
March 15 – The High Republic: Tempest Runner script
The fullscript of Cavan Scott’s audio original Tempest Runner starring Lourna Dee releases this month!
March 15 – Star Wars: The Mandalorian: May the Force Be with You
A new children’s activity book from Dreamtivity is out this month.
March 16 – Bounty Hunters 21
Delve deep into an underworld of bounty hunters with the continuation of Ethan Sacks’ Bounty Hunters series. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “T’ONGA’S BOUNTY HUNTERS FACE THEIR DEADLIEST MISSION YET! T’ONGA, BOSSK, TASU LEECH, ZUCKUSS, 4-LOM and LOSHA are plotting to kidnap the leader of a major crime syndicate. But is the crew walking into a trap? And what is the diabolical DENGAR planning that could jeopardize everything?”
March 16 – Doctor Aphra (2020) 19
Check out the 19th issue of Alyssa Wong’s Doctor Aphra series this month. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “ETERNALLY YOURS! The trap has been set! DOCTOR APHRA and SANA STARROS are ready to steal the ASCENDANT’S GREATEST TREASURE! But their search for the SPARK ETERNAL will lead them somewhere they never expected…back to the place where Aphra’s archaeological adventures began!”
March 22 – Star Wars: The Mandalorian Colortivity: Good Luck with the Child
More fun with Grogu in this new activity book!
March 23 – Darth Vader (2020) 21
Sabe returns in the 21st issue of Greg Pak’s Darth Vader series. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “THE RETURN OF THE HANDMAIDEN! A figure terrifyingly close to VADER’S dark heart returns – but with a shocking new allegiance that threatens total chaos! The band of heroes who have bound themselves to Vader’s cause finally learn the true nature of their new lord. And how long can OCHI OF BESTOON keep his desperate secret?”
March 29 – Star Wars: The Mandalorian: A Search-and-Find Book
Enjoy a new search-and-find book in the world of The Mandalorian!
March 29 – Doctor Aphra script
The script version of Sarah Kuhn’s Doctor Aphra audio original debuts this month.
March 30 – Star Wars (2020) 22
The publisher’s summary for the 22nd issue of Charles Soule’s Star Wars series is as follows: “THE DAWN ALLIANCE – PART 1 OF 3 “The Last Division” The time has come for THE REBEL ALLIANCE fleet to bring its final lost division home… …but to do it, LEIA ORGANA, MON MOTHMA and the other Alliance leaders will need to rely on intelligence provided by the notoriously untrustworthy criminal organization CRIMSON DAWN. Meanwhile, Starlight Squadron and a group of rogue PATHFINDERS led by KES DAMERON head out on an unauthorized rescue mission to save one of their own…!”
For reference, a condensed list of upcoming projects in March 2022 without descriptions is included below:
March 1 – The High Republic: Mission to Disaster
March 1 – Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
March 2 – Star Wars (2020) 21
March 2 – The High Republic 15
March 2 – The High Republic: Eye of the Storm 2
March 8 – The Ultimate Star Wars: The Mandalorian Sticker Collection
March 9 – Crimson Reign 3
March 9 – Halcyon Legacy 2
March 9 – Han Solo & Chewbacca 1
March 15 – Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: Legacy Vol. 4
March 15 – The High Republic: Tempest Runner script
March 15 – Star Wars: The Mandalorian: May the Force Be with You
March 16 – Bounty Hunters 21
March 16 – Doctor Aphra (2020) 19
March 22 – Star Wars: The Mandalorian Colortivity: Good Luck with the Child
March 23 – Darth Vader (2020) 21
March 29 – Star Wars: The Mandalorian: A Search-and-Find Book
March 29 – Doctor Aphra script
March 30 – Star Wars (2020) 22
Images courtesy of Disney-Lucasfilm Press, Marvel Comics, Del Rey
After the conclusion of its seventh and final season last year, celebrate Star Wars: The Clone Wars with a new release from Titan Magazines! Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Official Collectors Edition is a new hardback magazine featuring tons of behind the scenes information and insightful interviews about the acclaimed series. The magazine features in-depth guides to every single episode of The Clone Wars, packed with concept art, story details, unused ideas, thoughts from Dave Filoni, and more.
Check out an exclusive look at Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Official Collectors Edition here!
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Official Collectors Edition is out March 29th and can be purchased here.
In addition to an enthralling plot line and great character work, The Book of Boba Fett also triumphs as a tribute to Star Wars and its long-standing fans. Seemingly every frame of the series is filled to the brim with easter eggs and references, making rewatches of the seven chapters all the more necessary. Here is an episode-by-episode breakdown of easter eggs, references, and trivia facts from season 1 of The Book of Boba Fett:
Chapter 1: Stranger in a Strange Land
Boba looks upon the helmet of his recently deceased father Jango in a flashback in the opening moments of the series.
Fans have waited a long time to see Boba Fett escape the infamous sarlacc pit.
The Tusken Raider warrior in The Book of Boba Fett is played by Joanna Bennett, who has performed as a stunt double in many films and shows, including Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, and Captain America: Civil War.
The legendary Max Rebo appears in various episodes of The Book of Boba Fett, starting in Chapter 1.
The Trandoshan who pays tribute to Boba Fett in The Book of Boba Fett delivers a Wookiee pelt. This is a reference to the history of Trandoshans hunting Wookiees for fun. The character is also played by executive producer and director Robert Rodriguez.
Sam Witwer voices the Rodian prisoner in The Book of Boba Fett.
Darth Vader says to Boba Fett, “No disintegrations” in The Empire Strikes Back. In Chapter 1, Boba Fett disintegrates one of his attackers.
Chapter 1 of The Book of Boba Fett is titled Stranger in a Strange Land, a reference to Robert A. Heinlein’s novel. The book’s lead was born on Mars, where sharing water was a sign of brotherhood. This mirrors Chapter 1 when the Tusken shares water with Boba Fett.
Crimson Dawn’s theme from Solo: A Star Wars Story can be heard in parts of The Book of Boba Fett’s end credits each episode. Despite rumors, the crime syndicate didn’t end up making an appearance in the series.
Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine
The cinematographer of Chapter 2 is Dean Cundey, famous for his work on Halloween (1978), Jurassic Park, Apollo 13, and Back to the Future.
We see a brief flashback featuring young Boba following the death of his father Jango.
Boba takes the speeders from Tosche Station, which was referenced in A New Hope as a place Luke frequented. Two of Luke’s friends, Fixer and Camie, from a deleted scene of A New Hope reappear as the people saved by Boba Fett.
Boba tells Garsa Fwip, “You’re sweating like a gumpta on Mustafar.” Mustafar is the lava planet Obi-Wan and Anakin fought on in Revenge of the Sith, and has also been seen in Darth Vader comics and The Rise of Skywalker.
The twins delayed their trip to Tatooine to stay on the Hutt homeworld Nal Hutta. This planet has appeared in various stories, including The Clone Wars and The High Republic in which it’s explained its swampy climate is due to Drengir invasion.
Black Krrsantan, the villainous Wookiee bounty hunter, makes his live-action debut in Chapter 2 of The Book of Boba Fett. Krrsantan first appeared in Darth Vader 1 alongside Boba Fett.
Director Steph Green recreates a piece of Ralph McQuarrie concept art in this chapter of the series.
Chapter 3: The Streets of Mos Espa
Boba can be seen burning the stick of the young Tusken child in Chapter 3’s flashback.
Peli Motto and her company of pit droids can be seen in the background of a flashback in Chapter 3.
A roasted nuna is one of the delicacies on Boba and Fennec’s dinner table in Chapter 3. Nunas are frog-like creatures that appeared in The Phantom Menace and other Star Wars projects.
The new Rancor keeper is played by Danny Trejo, who is a frequent collaborator of director and executive producer Robert Rodriguez.
Danny Trejo’s Rancor keeper says, “It is said that the Witches of Dathomir even rode them through the forests and fens.” Witches of Dathomir like Asajj Ventress and Mother Talzin were shown in The Clone Wars.
Boba’s statement “I’ve ridden beasts ten times its size” as he looks upon his new Rancor is a callback to The Star Wars Holiday Special.
During the speeder chase in Chapter 3, a speeder flies through a Ralph McQuarrie concept art painting of Jabba the Hutt for Return of the Jedi.
The fruit stand the mayor’s assistant crashes into in Chapter 3 is full of meilooruns, which were previously seen in Star Wars Rebels.
Chapter 4: The Gathering Storm
The Modifier who patches up Fennec in Chapter 4 is played by bass guitarist, singer, and songwriter Thundercat, who won a Grammy in 2016 for Best Rap/Sung Performance and in 2021 for Best Progressive R&B Album.
The cook droid in Chapter 4 is a COO-series cook droid. This type of droid first appeared in Attack of the Clones. The droid in The Book of Boba Fett also adopts a battle stance similar to General Grievous.
The seismic charge that ultimately kills the sarlacc has become an iconic feature of Star Wars cinema and television. It first appeared in Attack of the Clones when it was used by Boba’s father Jango.
Chapter 5: Return of the Mandalorian
The creature who crows like a rooster on Tatooine is known as a Sand Bat. They previously appeared in the Star Wars: The Old Republic video game before showing up in The Book of Boba Fett.
The BD droids first seen in Jedi: Fallen Order reappear in Return of the Mandalorian. The BD is short for “buddy droid.”
Mando’s new ship is an N-1 starfighter. Peli Motto notes that the ship was “handmade for the royal guard and commissioned personally by the Queen of Naboo.” These ships were previously seen in The Phantom Menace.
Peli Motto also says the N-1 starfighter is as fast as a fathier, a reference to the horse-like creatures seen in The Last Jedi.
The X-wing pilot Lt. Reed in Chapter 5 is played by Max Lloyd-Jones, who was Luke Skywalker’s body double in the season 2 finale of The Mandalorian.
Din uses the term ‘wizard’ to describe what it was like to fly his new ship. This term has been used by Kitster Banai when speaking of Anakin, Zeb when speaking of Ezra, Owen Lars used it as a derogatory term towards Ben Kenobi & Ram Jomaram coined it in the High Republic era.
Chapter 6: From the Desert Comes a Stranger
Like master, like apprentice. Mirroring Yoda’s demonstration of the Force by raising the X-Wing in The Empire Strikes Back, Luke demonstrates the Force to Grogu by lifting frogs from the pond.
The symbol of Barriss Offee can be seen in the background of the Jedi Temple during Grogu’s Order 66 flashback.
We see the beginning stages of Luke’s Jedi Academy in Chapter 7 of The Book of Boba Fett. This was previously seen in The Rise of Kylo Ren as Luke trained young Ben Solo and others and in The Last Jedi when we tragically see it burn to the ground.
The dilemma Luke poses to Grogu – to choose between the path of a Mandalorian or the path of a Jedi – is a duel of the fates-esque scenario, harkening back to various pivotal points in the Star Wars saga in which central characters were tasked with making monumental decisions with widespread implications.
Cad Bane made his long-awaited live action debut in Chapter 6 of The Book of Boba Fett. And Corey Burton returned to voice the character following his work on The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch.
Chapter 7: In the Name of Honor
Cad Bane’s arrival to the Pyke headquarters is framed the same way as Boba Fett’s first appearance in The Mandalorian when he approaches Fennec Shand.
The majordomo references the planet Oba Diah when negotiating with the Pykes. Oba Diah is the home world of the Pyke Syndicate that first made its appearance in The Clone Wars season 6 when Anakin and Obi-Wan visit to learn more about Sifo-Dyas.
Boba Fett and Cad Bane come face to face in the finale. This marks a rematch between the two deadly bounty hunters following an unaired clash in The Clone Wars.
“Well, If That Isn’t The Quacta Calling The Stifling Slimy.” Cad Bane uses the same line to Boba Fett as Boba used to insult Koska Reeves in The Mandalorian.
During the final battle, Peli Motto arrives in a RIC droid, the same type of droid that carries Anakin and Padmé in Attack of the Clones.
Grogu can (possibly) be heard saying “dada” as he leaps into Mando’s arms.
Grogu reaches out to lift Mando’s helmet, which is a throwback to the last time the two met when Djarin finally unmasked.
In Legends, the Scorpenek Annihilator droids were supposed to replace Droidekas, but their expensive price tag prevented this from happening.
The Rancor’s destruction of Mos Espa is a reference to the original King Kong film.
Before Boba rode on top of his Rancor, Rancor riding has been seen several times in Star Wars, including Avar Kriss in Cavan Scott’s The High Republic series.
Skad’s much spoken of spin move during battle mirrors a similar move used in Desperado, another project directed by Robert Rodriguez. And, in the words of young Ani, spinning is a good trick.
And, as many expected, the astromech space in Mando’s new ship is where Grogu will be as the two fly into the next season of The Mandalorian.
The Book of Boba Fett’s end credits tag marks the second time we’ve seen a post-credits scene in the Star Wars universe. Is this something we should expect in Star Wars moving forward?
Uncharted has had a rocky and interesting road to the big screen to say the least. Fifteen years in development, a myriad of directors circling the project, and pandemic-related difficulties and delays have seen fans eagerly wait for this long-awaited video game adaptation. Uncharted follows Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) as he teams up with veteran explorer and scavenger Sully (Mark Wahlberg) in an effort to find Drake’s long lost brother and recover a lost Spanish treasure.
Uncharted is a tricky movie to adapt. The video game is heavily inspired by the Indiana Jones franchise (so much so that Harrison Ford did a nod of the cap to the franchise in a commercial for the game. In translating a franchise to another medium (film to video game), Naughty Dog were able to overcome potential pitfalls with unoriginal storytelling and, eventually, craft one of the best video game franchises of all time. However, with an Uncharted film, we’re dealing, in some ways, with a film to video game to film adaptation. That’s not to minimize the characters, style, humor, puzzles, and everything that the Uncharted games do so brilliantly. It’s just that, unfortunately, this journey to the big screen makes the film feel quite unoriginal. Indeed, viewers who have never played the Uncharted video games are likely to be confused as to what all the fuss was about the source material.
Uncharted plays like a cross between Indiana Jones and National Treasure (which is not necessarily a bad thing). The film has an old fashioned adventure feel to it, with the characters uncovering clue after clue to reach the treasure. It’s not anything we haven’t seen before, but it’s entertaining nonetheless. Fans of the video game will enjoy the puzzles Drake and the others solve along the way, although these fall short of being immersive experiences for the audience. The action is intense, but ultimately serviceable. However, a set piece involving the characters falling from an airplane was very impressive.
Carrying us along this adventure are Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg. The two actors really anchor the film and they have great chemistry from start to finish, often mimicking the relationship of Drake and Sully from the games. That being said, Holland and Wahlberg are ultimately just Holland and Wahlberg in this film. This is nothing we haven’t seen from Mark Wahlberg in a handful of other movies in the past. The same can be said for Tom Holland, who was initially a questionable choice for the role of Drake when announced. Holland does what he can with the writing at hand, but it’s difficult not to imagine what this film would have looked like had it been led by an actor more akin to Drake in the games. As far as villains go, Antonio Banderas is certainly a presence on screen, but unfortunately doesn’t amount to much as the big bad. Sophia Ali and Tati Gabrielle though are terrific as other treasure hunters.
Verdict: 6.5/10
Uncharted is a serviceable action movie, but, unfortunately, not much more. It’s certainly an entertaining watch, with charismatic leads, an easy-going treasure hunting story line, decent action set pieces, and some twists and turns. The film, however, is sorely lacking in originality and, as a video game adaptation, fans may be slightly underwhelmed.
Agatha Christie remains one of the best selling authors of all time, only outsold by Shakespeare and The Bible itself. It makes sense then that we’ve seen iteration after iteration of her most famous stories and characters on the big and small screen. The latest is Death on the Nile, once again starring, written, and directed by Kenneth Branagh in a follow-up to 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express. The latest Hercule Poirot mystery follows the legendary detective, who finds himself in Egypt with the life of a wealthy heiress under threat.
Death on the Nile is a refreshing, intelligent, and, ultimately, thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery. The film adopts a slower paced structure than what viewers may be used to in this genre, which is a good thing, because the pacing contributes significantly to the tension and intensity of Death on the Nile. Like the incredible source material the film is based on, the ‘murder’ part of this murder mystery doesn’t occur until roughly halfway through, leaving plenty of time for the audience to understand each of the characters and their motives. And, when the murder eventually occurs, we see Branagh’s Poirot fully in action as he unravels the case.
Branagh is the real star of the show here. He’s more settled in the role of Poirot compared to Murder on the Orient Express. With his second film as the character, Branagh is growing more and more confident in the role and has put enough unique spins on the character to make it his own. Unlike Christie’s original novel, Branagh dedicates more time to developing Poirot as a character, which is a little hit-or-miss. A beautifully crafted black and white opening sequence sets the stage for the powerful themes of love in the film, but the attempts to connect this theme more closely to Poirot himself feel a little forced – in particular, a love interest for Poirot that never really works. Outside of Branagh, the effectiveness of the cast is mixed. Performances from Gal Gadot and Letitia Wright fall flat or, unfortunately at times, but across as unintentionally funny. Meanwhile, supporting players Emma Mackey, Tom Bateman, Dawn French, and Jennifer Saunders excel in their roles.
Beyond the characterization of Poirot, Branagh remains faithful to Christie’s novel to a film that he makes feel like a grand, cinematic endeavor. The film is beautifully shot, and the on-location shoots add to a sense of genuineness and grandiosity that the film has in abundance. The ship on which the bulk of the film is set is also terrific in feeling like a character unto itself. Branagh intelligently introduces the audience to the geography / layout of the ship, which viewers feel closer to the mystery and characters at hand.
Verdict: 8/10
Death on the Nile is a faithful adaptation of Agatha Christie’s iconic novel, marking another grand theatrical effort from writer, director, and star Kenneth Branagh in bringing the iconic Hercule Poirot to the big screen. Some weak performances and misguided characterization of Poirot take away little from what is an enthralling and visually stunning murder mystery. Fingers crossed there are more Agatha Christie adaptations like this in the future.
WARNING: This review contains spoilers for The Book of Boba Fett
The Book of Boba Fett rounded out its first season with an action packed finale and, like its predecessor The Mandalorian, ended with a post-credits scene teasing what’s to come. While post-credits scenes are a staple of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they were entirely absent from the Star Wars universe, but now we have to ask: are post-credits scenes a thing in Star Wars now?
Post-credits scenes are a long-standing fixture in cinema and television. The first one was tagged at the end of The Silencers, a 1966 spy parody film. Since then, we’ve seen playful post-credits scenes in films like Airplane and intriguing post-credits scenes teasing what’s to come in films like Masters of the Universe. With the surge of superhero films over the last 20 years, post-credits scenes have become an expected feature of some of the biggest franchises. Star Wars, however, remained an exception to this trend – that is, until The Mandalorian Season 2.
After the credits rolled and the stunning concept art faded away, The Mandalorian Season 2 teased fans with a look ahead. Boba Fett takes Jabba’s throne from Bib Fortuna and we got an official announcement of The Book of Boba Fett. The Book of Boba Fett’s finale proves this tag at the end of The Mandalorian was not an isolated incident. At the end of Chapter 7, we see Timothy Olyphant’s Cobb Vanth healing in Boba’s bacta tank following his duel with Cad Bane. With the help of the Modifier who helped Fennec Shand, the Marshal seems to be on his way to appear in future Star Wars adventures.
Post-credits scenes are a regular occurrence now, and it makes sense for Star Wars to jump on this trend as well. Fans are always anticipating what’s coming up next, and teases give you that little bit of information to theorize about and hold you over for the time being. This isn’t an MCU-ification of the Star Wars universe. Rather, it shows how Star Wars can continue to evolve over time. Rogue One was notable for the absence of an opening crawl. Solo was notable for a continuation of the “long time ago” text. The Mandalorian was notable for showcasing concept art over the credits. Even The Clone Wars film in 2008 was notable for being an animated theatrically released Star Wars film. Star Wars is defined by its themes, its characters, the emotions it evokes. And post-credits scenes are just another spin and evolution of the brilliant Star Wars franchise.
WARNING: This review contains spoilers for The Book of Boba Fett – Chapter 7
After a few episodes stepping away from the spotlight, Boba Fett returns centerstage (mostly) for an action-packed finale of The Book of Boba Fett. Chapter 7 follows Boba and his assembled syndicate as they have a final showdown with the Pykes in Mos Espa.
The bold decision to relegate Boba Fett to a side character, at best, in the last two episodes in favor of a continuation of The Mandalorian’s central plot meant that, heading into Chapter 7, it felt like a while since we’d caught up with Boba. Indeed, amidst the myriad of flashbacks that dominated the first half of the show and the focus on Din and Grogu in Chapters 5 and 6, Boba’s return to the spotlight was refreshing and also slightly jarring. Just when the series was gaining momentum in its narrative following Boba’s fight with the Pykes, the series pivoted away toward two absolutely brilliant, but ultimately rather unrelated installments. Thankfully, Chapter 7 shifts the focus back to Boba in order to provide closure to the series’ core plot.
Chapter 7 plays out like a sprawling action set-piece one would come to expect from a classic Western film. The underdogs are fewer in numbers and resources, but most hold their ground against the powerful and villainous invaders. Director Robert Rodriguez harkens back to his work on The Mandalorian by crafting a series of captivating action sequences in this episode. Rodriguez knows how to make his characters look and feel badass, and we definitely see this realized with Boba, Cad Bane, Din, Fennec, and various others in Chapter 7. The episode maintains a level of tension throughout, which is a compliment considering the finale plays out in a largely predictable manner. We know Din will escape and live another day. The same can be said for Boba and probably Fennec. But, Rodriguez manages to capture some incredible suspense and intensity in the narrow streets of Mos Espa. This isn’t a sprawling final battle like one would see in The Rise of Skywalker with the Battle of Exegol. The battlefield here is much tighter and intimate, and further lends itself to the Western film comparisons.
Amidst the action, the finale delivers plenty of truly satisfying moments. The interactions between Boba and Cad Bane were long-awaited, especially after their deadly duel was cut from The Clone Wars following its cancellation. It’s clear that these two characters have a rich history, and those who know this history will enjoy Boba and Bane’s scenes even more. Cad Bane is a menacing figure in live-action, as he is in animation, which is why it was a shame to see him die after only two brief appearances. That being said, seeing Boba use his Tusken weapon to deal the fatal blow brought the plot of the show full circle.
Speaking of satisfying moments, Grogu plays an unexpectedly major role in Chapter 7. Grogu’s reunion with Din was sweet and touching, and his use of the Force to subdue the Rancor was so cute. It seems somewhat unusual that season 2 of The Mandalorian ends with the dramatic departure of these two characters, only to see them be reunited fairly shortly after before we even get to The Mandalorian season 3. Does it undermine some of the emotional weight of The Mandalorian’s second season finale? Possibly. But, we all want to see Grogu and his dad together again and knew it would happen eventually.
Before Cad Bane’s death, the bounty hunter and Boba briefly discuss Boba’s reputation as a cold-blooded killer and his motivation for cleaning up his act to rule and protect Mos Espa. Ultimately, The Book of Boba Fett didn’t do a great job conveying the audience why Boba was so motivated to change his ways like this. The Boba we know is ruthless, seen in various comics and the original trilogy, as a formidable threat. The flashbacks offer some insight into Boba’s emotional side and the trauma he experienced in losing his Tusken family. But it’s quite a leap to go from losing his Tusken family to wanting to take Jabba’s position as daimyo of Mos Espa. Chapter 7 could have explored Boba’s motivations a little more explicitly, but, ultimately, it was probably too late in the run of the series to do so.
Unlike The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett doesn’t conclude on a big twist or reveal. There’s no moment like Gideon wielding the dark saber or Luke showing up to save the day that brings the series to an epic conclusion. Usually, this would be a harsh criticism to throw at the show, but The Book of Boba Fett definitely felt like it was missing some incredible twist or spin on its main plot. The Pykes are very disposable as the bad guys, which made us think that a reveal of someone pulling the strings would come in Chapter 7. Without a reveal like that, The Book of Boba Fett’s finale ultimately felt a tad underwhelming.
Verdict: 7/10
The Book of Boba Fett caps off its season with a finale full of exciting action and satisfying moments. Boba’s return to the spotlight is welcomed, and director Robert Rodriguez excels in crafting a finale high in intensity and suspense. The finale falls somewhat flat with the resolution of the Pyke narrative and the absence of some twist or unexpected reveal. Nonetheless, Chapter 7 remains thoroughly enjoyable and has us eagerly awaiting the next appearances of these characters.
WARNING: This review contains spoilers for The Book of Boba Fett – Chapter 6
Chapter 6 of The Book of Boba Fett was breathtaking to say the least. The return of Grogu. The live-action debut of Cad Bane. Ahsoka and Luke together. But, although there was plenty for fans to feast on in this episode, the latest episode of the Disney+ series subtly plays an interesting and ominous role in the larger Skywalker saga.
The episode concludes with a “duel of the fates” of sorts. Grogu must decide between following the path of the Jedi with Luke or following his emotional attachment to The Mandalorian and return to his adoptive father. The theme of attachment resonates throughout the Skywalker saga, but is particularly evident in the prequel trilogy as it plays an integral role in the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the rise of Darth Vader. Anakin’s journey in the prequels largely encompasses a struggle between two ends of the same spectrum: total, almost obsessive attachment to another and the complete negation of emotional attachment. The former represents the stance of Palpatine and the appeal the dark lord of the Sith held in the eyes of Anakin. Meanwhile, the latter represents the almost impersonal stance of the Jedi Order. George Lucas has spoken extensively about the warring pulls of attachment and detachment that ultimately led to Anakin’s fall:
“The thing with Anakin is that he started out a great kid, he was very compassionate. So the issue was, how did he turn bad. How did he go to the Dark Side? He went to the Dark Side, Jedi aren’t supposed to have attachments. They can love people, they can do that. But they can’t attach. That’s the problem in the world of fear, once you are attached to something, then you become afraid of losing it. And when you become afraid of losing it, then you turn to the Dark Side, and you want to hold onto it, and that was Anakin’s issue ultimately, that he wanted to hold onto his wife who he knew, he had a premonition that she was going to die. He didn’t know how to stop it, so he went to the Dark Side to find… in mythology you go to Hades, and you talk to the Devil, and the Devil says ‘this is what you do’ and basically you sell your soul to the devil. When you do that, and you’re afraid and you’re on the Dark Side and you fall off the golden path of compassion because you are greedy, you want to hold on to something that you love and he didn’t do the right thing and as a result he turned bad.”
Ultimately, one of the lessons of Anakin’s fall is that both the Jedi and the Sith were wrong. The devil-like qualities of the Sith that Lucas speaks of glaringly show the wrong-doing of the Sith, as Palpatine seduces Anakin on the premise that he can save his beloved wife from certain death. But the Jedi are also misguided in their views on attachment as well. In so bluntly discouraging attachment, the Jedi exhibited compassion, but not the deep rooted emotional connections we associate with love. In a way, the Jedi feared what would happen if a person became too emotionally attached (as seen with Anakin). The Jedi, though, are also off-base. In maintaining such a strong stance on attachments and adopting an attitude so devoid of emotion and compassion, the Jedi inadvertently pushed Anakin toward the dark side. Anakin was struggling with his feelings and fears and, when given a choice between unrelenting attachment and total detachment, it was inevitable he would lapse to the dark side. The lesson this all serves is that the Sith were wrong in overly prioritizing attachment and the Jedi were wrong in neglecting the importance of attachment. A balance, of sorts, is necessary.
So, how does this relate to the latest chapter of The Book of Boba Fett? Luke and Ahsoka both speak of Grogu’s attachment to Din Djarin in a somewhat negative light. In The Mandalorian Season 2, Ahsoka outright refuses to train Grogu on the basis of his attachment to The Mandalorian, which is seen as in direct opposition to the dogma of the Jedi Order. Luke holds similar sentiments in The Book of Boba Fett. Luke and Ahsoka have seemingly failed to learn the lesson of Anakin’s downfall: that attachment is inherently wrong. Instead, Luke and Ahsoka seem somewhat blind to the balance in attachment that would’ve saved Anakin and likely the Jedi Order altogether. Now, Grogu is being placed in a similarly impossible position between two mutually exclusive choices that do not need to be mutually exclusive. Grogu can train in the ways of the Force and be a Mandalorian foundling. But, Luke and Ahsoka don’t see it this way.
Flash forward to The Last Jedi and we have a hardened Luke scarred by his urge to kill his nephew Ben Solo. Totally cut off from the Force, Luke laments the failures of Jedi dogma. He criticizes the hubris of the Jedi Order in believing they always knew what was best. He criticizes the Jedi Order in claiming that their attempts to help led to unfathomable harm. And he points out the hypocrisies in the Jedi that Palpatine also identified. Many of the failings in the Jedi that The Last Jedi-era Luke points out are exhibited by the Luke we see in The Book of Boba Fett. On the surface, Luke is more powerful than ever, confident in his abilities in the Force as he trains Grogu and attempts to restart the Jedi Order. But, in putting Grogu in such a difficult position, Luke is evidencing his narrow mindedness that the Luke of 30 years later is hyper-critical of. We can feel the hubris and confidence in Luke. He has no doubts in regards to his stance on attachment, despite how similar situations led to the fall of his father to the dark side.
Moving forward in the Disney+ run of Star Wars series, it will be interesting to see if this theme is explored more deeply. As a viewer, we have this excitement and love for the return of Luke that, in some ways, may blind us to the possibility that he is overly confident and misguided in his perspectives. Nonetheless, the incredible writing in Chapter 6 contains brilliant references to the broader Star Wars saga, but also touches on more intimate and subtle themes that nicely tie the prequel and sequel trilogies together.
Warning: This review contains spoilers for Chapter 6 of The Book of Boba Fett
After a slow burn start to the series, The Book of Boba Fett is certainly racing to the finish line. The first four episodes were largely flashback focused, with writer Jon Favreau teasing the Pykes as the present day threat for Boba Fett and Fennec Shand. Chapter 5 flipped the script, with Fett not appearing at all, with the Mandalorian the center focus of the episode. Chapter 6 spends a bit more on the villainous Pykes and the actual plot of the series, but also continues to focus on expanding the world of The Mandalorian.
As teased at the end of the last episode, Din Djarin and Grogu are set for a reunion…or so we thought. Djarin traveled to see his adopted son, and was greeted by R2-D2 and even Ahsoka Tano before finally giving and leaving, allowing Grogu to train with Luke without attachment, as is the Jedi way. There’s some amazing scenes here with Luke and Grogu in particular, and Dave Filoni does a great job as director to show us this amazing new planet that they’re on. Fans never got to see Luke with a Padawan like this in live action, with the Jedi a recluse and beyond his prime in the Sequel Trilogy. It definitely seems as if they’re going down this route to show us what fans have always wanted to see, Luke as a Jedi master.
All of this culminates in an incredibly emotional way, as the episode certainly hits these beats. Djarin being so close yet so far from Grogu, the little green alien training with Luke and even an Order 66 flashback, and Ahsoka telling Luke that he’s similar to his father are all some of the strongest emotional moments in Star Wars in recent years. Emotionally, this episode succeeds wholeheartedly.
The rest of the episode takes place on Tatooine, where Cobb Vanth has been reintroduced and is not fond of the Pykes and the spice they’re bringing into his town. Boba Fett needs warriors, and Mando arrives to help, and goes to Vanth to recruit him. Vanth is hesitant, particularly as he doesn’t want to risk the lives of the people he’s supposed to protect, so Djarin leaves uncertain if he’ll get the help Fett needs. Vanth then has a shootout with none other than Cad Bane, and looks hurt as he gets shot by the bounty hunter first seen in The Clone Wars.
Overall, this episode is full of cameos, from R2-D2 to Ahsoka to Cobb Vanth and many others. With so many, it would be relatively easy to struggle to fit all these characters in to the same episode, but Filoni and Favreau do a good job with it here. All of it seems logical and not simply an appearance for the sake of having a famous character return. Luke and Grogu are training together, so if they latter was going to show up then it would be strange to not have Skywalker with him. Cobb Vanth is a formidable and honorable warrior on Tatooine, so Fett trying to recruit him makes sense. Some have criticized fan service in recent years for being a disservice to the overall story, citing their belief that it’s designed purely for an initial thrill of seeing something that the audience recognizes from the past, but it’s hard to see how one could be against the events of Chapter 6 of The Book of Boba Fett. Again, it’s all logical and feels right.
Once again, Boba Fett takes a backseat in this episode. As purely an episode of Star Wars TV, it doesn’t make much of a difference, as the story of Fett’s show is progressed as well as expanding the world of The Mandalorian more broadly, and it doesn’t take away from the fact that this is an amazing episode. Still, with only one episode left of the season, it’s unclear how much character development Boba Fett will have in this initial solo outing, or how much more audiences have learned about the character. It seems a bit of a missed opportunity to not explore Fett further in his own show, but future seasons are now the most likely place for that.
Verdict: 9/10
Chapter 6 of The Book of Boba Fett feels more aligned to the Skywalker Saga or the Star Wars franchise more broadly than just Boba Fett. It’s an incredibly emotional episode that hits all the major beats it attempts, and is well directed by Dave Filoni. The Pykes are more interesting now that we’ve learned more about them, but Boba Fett once again is almost non-existent. It’s a shame that more hasn’t been done with Fett in his own show, but it doesn’t take away from how great this episode is.
