The Book of Boba Fett Episode 1 review: The glorious return of Boba and Fennec!

Rating: 3.5/5

Story:

Famed bounty hunter of the galactic empire from the Star Wars franchise, Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison), has replaced Bib Fortuna as the new crime lord of Tatooine - a position once held by the notorious Jabba the Hutt. He is aided by his trusted friend and ally Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen), as they try to restore order in the criminal underworld through respect rather than fear.

Review:

The first episode of the limited series opens with a sequence of Boba escaping the Sarlacc. A scene that is 38 years in the making, it finally gives closure to the ardent fans of the Star Wars franchise after the events of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, released in 1983. Even though Boba Fett did make his triumphant return in the second season of The Mandalorian, there was very little information provided with regards to how Boba escaped the Sarlacc. In The Book of Boba Fett, these scenes are explored via flashbacks while he is recovering from his injuries in a special cryopod. In fact, a cryopod of similar design and functions was seen in the original trilogy when Luke Skywalker was recovering from his injuries.

The first episode showcases Boba in his new role as the new face of the underworld, however, he soon realises that maintaining order in the chaos of the underworld is easier said than done. To assert his new authority, he decides to stamp his own modus operandi in order to earn the respect of the locals. Unfortunately, the attempt on his life indicates the daunting task that lies ahead of him and Fennec Shand. It is a clear indication that his would-be assassins aren’t too pleased about the new leadership.

The plot and the setting have a distinctive style that is not often seen in Star Wars films but is closer toThe Mandalorian series. This shouldn’t be surprising considering that this is a direct spin-off of the aforementioned show. The cinematography is grounded and the direction by Robert Rodriguez offers an aesthetic similar to a western drama, especially for the flashback scenes. These scenes contain several nods to various books from the Star Wars franchise. Moreover, there are certain references to characters and scenes from films of yesteryear.

The flashback scenes which narrate Boba Fett’s survival from the Sarlacc pit and his capture by the Tuscan sand people give closure to several storylines from the Star Wars saga. The biggest takeaway from this episode is that Boba Fett is not a stoic character as depicted in his previous iterations, but instead, is portrayed as someone who has the potential for significant character development over the course of the series. It would be interesting to see which famous characters from the Star Wars lore would make appearances before the finale as creator Jon Favreau and the producers have kept more details regarding the series tightly under wraps.

Verdict:

The pilot episode of the highly anticipated series is a resounding success. While it may not shock and awe the fans like the pilot episode of The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett has shown plenty of promise that it could mimic the success of The Mandalorian.