Review: ‘The Book Of Boba Fett’ S01 Ep.6 – ‘From The Desert Comes A Stranger’

There are two possible ways to look at the latest episode of The Book of Boba Fett. One way to take this episode as a warm, friendly hug of an instalment that Star Wars fans young and old will enjoy, basking in the fuzzy familiarity of the various callback cameos featured. The other way, and the far more cynical and critical, is that this newest episode is nothing more than a fan-serving orgy that does very little to add the ever weakening focus on Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison). You know, the character this show takes its name from, but one that has very little to say, other than his desert redemption. Something so many Star Wars characters have gone through that one could argue it’s as much a trope of this franchise as the lightsabers. 

Of course, the big talking point will be the return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill once more reprising the role), as he sets about establishing his school for Jedis on an undisclosed planet. But, he’s not the only returning face that will get fans in a lather. Where Luke goes, so too does Grogu and as the episode progresses, this feels more like Grogu’s story than Boba Fett’s in what is, essentially, another edition of The Mandalorian.

I won’t bore with you the various other returning characters, but there are plenty that will most definitely bring a smile to fans’ faces. But from a narrative point of view, it seems that including these fan pleasing moments are prioritised over any coherent narrative. It’s as though the story takes second place to the inclusion of fan favourites. And so, we get – amongst other scenes – an elongated training sequence that is yet another filler to distract viewers from the total lack of story, before Boba Fett is finally remembered and we return to Tatooine and the Pyke Syndicate. A story that has been severely sidelined but one that has huge repercussions for Boba Fett’s continued status as well as wider consequences for Tatooine in a post-Empire galaxy. Now that’s a story I want to see more of, but once more I am robbed.

Again, as a long-serving fan, I was dutifully excited by Luke, Ashoka (Rosario Dawson) et. al. but over the past two weeks, the series has really lost its way. Have the last two episodes worked against Boba Fett in reminding us just how good those two season were, thereby opening inviting viewers and fans to contrast this sluggish show with the far superior series? Here’s hoping that they can still pull it back, but not for the first time do I say, I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

The Book of Boba Fett is streaming now on Disney + with the final episode out next Wednesday 9th February