The Shoemaker Bugle

By: Orion

The Book of Boba Fett released its season finale on February 9th on Disney+, with 7 episodes to boast, each of which run from about 50 to 60 minutes. The series serves as a sequel/spinoff of The Mandalorian and by extension the Return of The Jedi with many of the pivotal cast members from the Mandalorian returning to reprise their roles. ​​Temuera Morrison returns as the titular character, Ming-Na Wen and Pedro Pascal also return respectively as Fennec Shand and Din Djarin. Others who reprise their roles are Timothy Olyphant (Cobb Vanth), Emily Swallow (The Armorer), Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka Tano), Corey Burton as the voice of Cad Bane (portrayed physically by Dorian Kingi), and most notably Mark Hamill voicing Luke Skywalker (Graham Hamilton as the onset performer).

The story begins right after the ending of the second season of The Mandalorian with Boba Fett becoming the new Daimyo of Tatooine after taking it from Bib Fortuna who succeeded Jabba the Hutt after his death. Flashbacks also occur early within the first half of the season, they tell of Boba’s escape from the sarlacc pit, his travels and tragedies of traveling with Tusken Raiders, even some scenes of his boyhood in Kamino.

The Tuskens capturing him and making him one of their own after he earns their respect has had a profound impact on his outlook on life, it explains his transition from ruthless bounty hunter to a more diplomatic anti-hero. He has trouble earning the respect and tribute of the local crime bosses and citizens of Mos Espa without outright using an iron fist like his predecessors. He instead uses more favors and his reputation along with job offers to those in need and alliance compromises to gain what he wants. In a departure from his original characterization, Boba is much more forgiving than his comic/movie past self which works towards his benefit as his forgiveness gains him many allies against the criminal Pike Syndicate.

The Pikes are the main antagonists of the show and are the reason why Boba didn’t stay with Tuskens as they were killed by the Pikes without his knowledge (ironically when he was going to town to strike a deal with them on behalf of the Tuskens). Distraught and saddened, Boba sets out to find his armor that he lost and his old ship from Bib with the help of a now partially cyberized Fennec Shand who he saved to enlist her help. He then takes his revenge on a speed biker gang he thought responsible and goes off with Fennec to the events of the Mandalorian to find his armor. Boba has to deal with a wookie bounty hunter sent by Jabba’s twin cousins and unemployed bandit cyborg youths, all of which he recruits as his employees as a way to reconcile their differences and keep as allies.

Meanwhile, the story checks on Din Djarin, his travels as a bounty hunter without Grogu, his defending of the title of holding the darksaber from other mandalorians, and his rejection from his mandalorian tribe by revealing his face to someone else willingly. After getting a new ship Din and promising to help Fennec, Din travels to visit Grogu training with Luke Skywalker on a forest planet. He wants to give him a beskar chain mail gift in person and he meets Ahsoka Tano and R2-D2 who promise to give it to Grogu, of which Luke does and offers Grogu a choice to be a jedi or be with Din again.

Boba has to strike a truce of neutrality with the lower criminal lords and Mos Espa mayor to not join the Pikes in their slave spice trade, and has Din to embark on the help of Cobb Vanth and his people of Freetown. The Pikes in turn bomb a local Mos Espa club called the Sancturay and hire Cad Bane to kill Cobb in hopes it would scare his people into not joining Boba and letting the spice trade run through. Boba (who at this point is very much opposed to the spice trade) is learned of the truth by Cad Bane that the Pikes are the ones who killed his Tusken tribe; to add insult to injury, the local crime lords have revolted against Boba in favor of the Pikes. The people of Freetown and Grogu (who chose to be with Din) with the help of R2, have come in Boba’s time of need to help him and his allies defeat the Pikes/Cad Bane and their coalition. Boba confronts and kills Cad Bane, effectively killing the last part of past bounty hunter life and has Fennec assassinate the rest of the local crime/Pike leaders who are hiding on Mos Eisley. The story wraps up with Boba and his allies earning the respect of Mos Espa, and Din leaving with Grogu.     Overall the show had high viewership but mixed reviews from both critics and audiences alike with the show having some highs and lows, particularly with the character departure of Boba from his more established characterization.