The Book of Boba Fett Episodes 1 and 2 (Or Get Him Out of His Long Johns)
The general consensus for this show appears to be unanimous—it leaves a lot to be desired. I was looking forward to this show since its creation came on the coattails of The Mandalorian. Slipping Boba Fett into the show along with Fennec Shand was a smart move. When season two ended with Fett seated in the throne of his former employer, Jabba the Hutt, with Shand as his right hand, I was as excited as any other fan. This was a cool way to give us a sneak peak into them getting their own show, but from just analyzing the first two episodes we see so many issues.
Too much of the past with no connection to the present by persons or events.
-How Fett got out of the sarlacc pit and where he was all this time is important for story purposes but it didn’t require two episodes of flashbacks. He could’ve literally told Shand this in a conversation and one brief flashback. Instead, we get him spending quality time with Tusken Raiders in dirty long johns. Had they nothing better for him to wear?
-Nothing in the past is relevant to what’s going on in the present. No events or persons play a role in what Fett and Shand are trying to do now. As a writer, this is important. You need to connect what we’re seeing in the past to what’s happening now. Why am I seeing this? Fett trained with Tusken Raiders. Okay, did he fall in love someone during that time who appears now? Did he lose a friend because of someone who’s appearing now? Did he learn anything that shaped who he is now?
-The flashbacks are also boring and nonsensical. Everyone had the same question about the cocaine lizard: Was it up his nose the whole time? Yes it was. The second episode Fett becomes a member of the tribe (which includes the lizard up your nose ritual and wandering around in the desert with visions of the past), they make him a stick and he dances around a bonfire. What?…
The setting is weak and far too simplistic. Boba Fett is re-taking Hutt’s territory with the help of Shand and that’s it.
-We don’t really care too much about this plot. Not just because it’s simple, but we have no reason to care. The Mandalorian plot was simple—A Bounty Hunter and single Dad protects force baby. We care, though, because of the relationship between Mando and Baby Yoda and how Mando changes as a character because of it. We also want to know what happens. Will Baby Yoda stay with him or be taken away? Who is Baby Yoda? Where are the other Mandalorians and how is Mando different from them?
There are no relationships or character arcs going on.
-I love Ming Na Wen, but she has nothing: no connections, no arc, and no relationships other than being friends, I guess, with Fett. There’s nowhere for her to go and the same goes for Boba Fett. They’re just protecting their territory while Disney milks the Star Wars name. The show knew this because halfway through they need to bring Mando in so viewers will have a reason to keep watching.
I’ve only seen the first two episodes, so it’s possible the writers may find a way to redeem it, but the show’s not off to a good start.
-Hannah