The Book Of Boba Fett review: A story of ups and downs redeemed by its exhilarating finale

3.5/5

Story:
One of star wars’ greatest cult heroes Boba Fett finally gets his own live-action adaptation after years of fan campaigns. Despite the character being known for his stoic and bland demeanour, the anti-hero has amassed fanfare over the decades. Nearly 40 years after the events of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, The Book of Boba Fett finally gives closure to what happened to the titular character after his presumed death inside the Sarlacc Pit. The limited series acts as a direct spinoff to The Mandalorian and the story is set in two different time periods — during the aftermath of his escape from the Sarlacc Pit and his time with the Tusken warriors, and as the new Daimyo of Mos Espa.

Review:
Showrunner Jon Farvlo has achieved something JJ abrams has struggled to do in the new Star Wars trilogy of films — which is creating a compelling star wars story that explores the vast lore created by George Lucas. The Book of Boba Fett, despite being touted as an action-adventure is in fact, a slow burner that gives a new dimension to Boba Fett not seen in any of the Star Wars adaptions, both live-action and animation. However, the latter half of the season dedicates a chunk of its screentime to setting up the third season for The Mandalorian as well as expanding the largest Star Wars universe.

Temuera Morrison’s performance as the famed bounty hunter Boba Fett is measured whilst adding more depth to his character. Whereas the portrayal of Fennec Shand by Ming Na-Wen perfectly balances wit, humour and cold-blooded ruthlessness. She is Boba's lieutenant and most trusted advisor. Her calculating persona is a perfect balance to Boba’s headstrong attitude towards dealing with situations. The several other characters introduced later in the series, despite the limited screen time, have their moment to shine in the action-packed and fast-paced finale.

Despite the several highs and great moments scattered across the season, the series had issues with its pacing, especially halfway into the season. It struggled when shifting between timelines and lacked consistency with its plot devices. The audiences are left in the dark with what to expect in terms of the narrative structure after each episode. However, for the fans of Star Wars, the exploration of the lore and the cameo by various characters from the franchise, especially from the animated series and the graphic novels, is an enticing prospect. Several of these characters such as Ashoka and Cad Bane are from the animated series titled Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Over the course of its run, the series was subject to several fan theories, which included ideas that Emilia Clarke’s Qi'ra would make an appearance at some point in the plot. Even though this did not materialise, Jon Favreau and Robert Rodriguez have managed to bring in just the right characters to add value to the overall story. In fact, there is a whole episode dedicated to Pedro Pascal’s Mandalorian, while a CGI edited younger version of Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker also makes an appearance.

While these cameos often relegated Boba’s significance in certain episodes, the finale successfully manages to justify the various deviations and liberties taken from the main storyline. The Book of Boba Fett is, without a doubt, a series that takes its time and requires a bit of patience from the viewers to fully immerse into the story’s potential. The excellent finale with its fast-paced action sequences and several nods to the Star Wars lore makes up for any deficiencies the series may have had.

Verdict:
Jon Favreau’s slow-burner The Book of Boba Fett is a great addition to the Star Wars franchise. Despite the series deviating away from Boba Fett’s story and into the larger Star Wars storylines at various junctures, the TV show manages to wrap up the story with a riveting finale that makes sitting through seven episodes worthwhile.