I Was Moved, Confused, and Slightly Distressed By The 'Boba Fett' Finale

This story contains spoilers for the season finale of The Book of Boba Fett.

Before getting, well, brutally murdered by Boba Fett, Cad Bane says something that makes a whole lot of sense. "I've known you a long time, Boba," he grumbles. "One thing I can't figure. What's your angle?"

Great point, my friend. What is Boba Fett's angle? Is it simply that he just really, wholeheartedly cares about his town and the people in it? Did Mando really inspire him when they met, showing him the virtues of the Mandalorian creed? This guy worked for the Empire. Is getting thrown in a Sarlacc pit and befriending the Tuskens enough to change him? The intentions of Sir Robert Fett were never quite clear. That the series morphed into a vehicle for The Mandalorian and the return of Luke Skywalker didn't help.

That said, Boba does get what might be his final chapter in Episode Seven. Let's get to it.

Whose Show is This Anyway?

If the first half of The Book of Boba Fett is The Book of Boba Fett, and the second half of The Book of Boba Fett is The Mandalorian, then the finale is the two shows crushed together. One minute, Mando looks like an extra, quietly watching Boba think. And strategize. And think again. The next, you get the Grogu-Mando hug that your withering heart has long wanted. It's not great and, at times, even a little whiplash-inducing.

Putting The Mandalorian story beats aside, The Book of Boba Fett's finale somewhat satisfyingly wraps up the turf war that's been brewing in Mos Espa. Mostly via a gunfight (and later, a monster fight) that lasts for what feels like the entire episode. Boba Fett has his hero moment, sort of, killing Cad Bane almost as quickly as he showed up in the first place. Fennec Shand straight-up assassinates the contingent of leaders who've been giving Fett trouble. When it all ends, Fett and Shand patrol the streets, having seemingly earned the respect they've long wanted. Not much about Boba's journey was pretty, but the man finally got his redemption.

Grogu Wields the Power of Sleepy Time

I guess you can teach an old baby new tricks, after all. Grogu picked up a couple things at Skywalker Preschool and after choosing the Mandalorian chain mail over the Jedi lightsaber, the little alien cruises into battle with the help of Peli Motto. We see various Force antics throughout the episode, but the most impressive act has to be putting the rancor to sleep as if it was his daily afternoon nap. You'd have to think, or at least hope, that Grogu will encounter another Jedi in his future travels, so that he can continue mastering the ways of the Force. Or maybe he's just a Mandalorian now! You do what makes you happy, Grogu,

Also, how do you think that interaction between Skywalker and Grogu played out? Did Grogu squeak something along the lines of, "You're not even human, man!" and Skywalker shoved his little ass in an X-wing and sent him back to Tatooine? Good for Grogu. He avoided a fiery death in the Jedi Temple, as well as what was likely decades of Luke questioning whether or not he had a heart. Watch the Force Hug again! This little guy doesn't have heart?

I Have a Terminal Case of Cameo Brain

And I might never recover. It's been getting worse—and worse, and worse, and worse—ever since Nick Fury showed up at the end of Iron Man. I'm not saying that I want a holy shit-level cameo at the end of every TV series I watch, per se. It's more that, as a viewer of anything introduced by the Disney+ title screen, I expect that the last 10 minutes of a season finale will include the sudden and inexplicable appearance of someone I either do or do not know. (Luke Skywalker: I know that guy! Cad Bane: Space Clint Eastwood seems like a bad dude.) Which is how I convinced myself, while falling asleep last night, that Mace Windu would show up in The Book of Boba Fett's finale. Reader, Mace Windu did not show up. In fact, no one from the Star Wars netherworlds did. It's fine. I'm just saying that when you start populating your shows with digital avatars of characters from the '80s, you can't really come back from that.

The Post-Credits Scene You All Saw Coming

After reading our recap of Episode Six, many of you rightfully pointed out that Cobb Vanth was likely not dead. Forgive me! I thought that a death could actually mean something in the Star Wars universe, giving Freetown an extra boost of vengeance for the boss battle. Nope. In the post-credits scene, we see Vanth recovering in Fett's bacta tank. Don't worry. It's a good thing. Vanth is an essential character in the Mandoverse. It just felt like we'd see slightly more of a reveal after the credits. See above.

Tatooine Nights: The Ballad of Din Djarin

Grogu likes to go fast. Really, really fast. In the final moments of the finale, we get a classic Mando-Grogu moment, a la the trolling we used to see in the Razor Crest. The foster father and son are jetting through the galaxy in Mando's new ship. Our tiny friend, chillin' in the droid port, smacks his ball against the glass until Mando slams the gas—speeding them far, far away, and out of sight.

After essentially seeing The Mandalorian Season 2.5 in The Book of Boba Fett, it's a surprisingly open ending for the duo. Where are they heading? Well, if you remember Episode Five, Mando is on somewhat of a quest to master the Darksaber. Not only that, but he was kinda kicked out from the remaining crew of Mandalorians to begin with. The only way to redeem himself, according to the Armorer, is to head to the mines of Mandalore. So that could be the first stop when Season Three opens. Hey, we could even see Grogu start on the long path to becoming the leader of the Mandalorians, which fans have long speculated. Or Mando and Grogu could just cruise around the stars, in search of the galaxy's best bone broth. I'd take either.

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