6 Things I'm Excited For In "The Book Of Boba Fett," And 6 Things I Dread
The wonderful universe of Star Wars returns December 29th with The Book of Boba Fett landing on Disney Plus!
Here are six things that can make The Book of Boba Fett compelling and six things that will make it just another spinoff:
1.MAKE: A complicated relationship between Fennec Shand and Boba Fett.
Boba Fett saved Fennec Shand’s life, but now she is indebted to him. A skilled assassin like her most likely won't be OK sitting on the sidelines forever. I wouldn't mind seeing cracks in their relationship.
There's no reason why this show can't be like "The Godfather" for the Star Wars franchise: build and break layered relationships in this underworld hierarchy they are most likely building up in the Outer Rim.
2.BREAK: Fennec Shand is simply "along for the ride."
...and don't give me that "Oh, but she does some cool action stuff." She is the second biggest name in this cast, so there is no excuse not to dive deeper into her character.
The Mando/Grogu formula won't work here. She's not a baby alien. She's a character with a fascinating history, so she better get plenty of room on this blank canvas of a show to paint a more layered story. In a way, these two are trying to build their own empire...a criminal empire.
Heck, I wouldn't mind a full episode focusing on her having flashbacks about working for hire by other criminals and (maybe, but trying to avoid "the old") Imperial officers.
3.MAKE: Temuera Morrison is allowed to shine as a main character.
This man has been Jango Fett, Commander Cody, and countless clones on the big screen. Now, he has the challenging task of playing Boba Fett, one of the most beloved characters that we never really got to see in live-action. He did an excellent reintroduction in Mando, but the training wheels are off, and it’s time to give this man the spotlight he has earned since his first appearance in Attack of the Clones.
You CANNOT bring in Luke Skywalker, Leia, or any character that would cast a shadow over Boba. He's the star, so let him shine.
Also, as far as his character, how about sharing his father's same motives after all these years? "I'm just a simple man trying to make my way through the universe."
4.BREAK: Morrison's (predictable) surprise role as another "clone" character!
I think it is time to leave the Clone Wars behind us. I know it is tempting to add a character that is a clone so Temuera can double-dip in this show, but it is so unnecessary. (Example: having an older Rex in this show.)
I don't mind the references of him having one of the most despised faces and voices to fellow baddies and characters, but leave it at that. We need to step into new storylines rather than dwell on familiar ones. I’m hoping the “BOOK” of Boba Fett isn't flash fiction if you catch my drift? No reason to cram too much in this first season.
5.MAKE: The legendary bounty hunter's full skillset is showcased like never before.
One of the things that made Boba Fett's return so special was seeing him in action. For the first time onscreen, he wasn't just a background character, and it proved he was worthy of carrying his own show.
Hopefully, the Book of Boba Fett shows off his abilities as a pilot, tracking skills, and, of course, combat. He has all of these talents that make him a great bounty hunter, so how will they translate to him trying to rule the underworld?
I'm not asking for "John Wick-like" action from an older Boba...just him showing he still has that it factor without going overboard. His first Mando episode walked the line, but did a Willy Wonka somersault and stuck the landing.
6.BREAK: Relying too much on the familiar.
Times change, and so does Tatooine/the Outer Rim. We don't need 50 Jabba references to make a good Star Wars show. Why have in your face Easter eggs when you can introduce new lore into the universe?
Again, I think The Mandalorian was successful in a lot of things, but this shouldn't be a Marvel Cinematic Universe formula where you try to reuse the same formula when it works the first time. Season 2 of The Mandalorian focused too much on "remember them" characters from other shows and movies. Once again, this is a chance to create new lore and build new characters without relying on the promise of another spinoff show.
Instead of "one-off characters" week to week, let's see Boba and Fennec build their own mob family made of reoccurring characters, not just once a season. Hire new bounty hunters as part of their own guild (a side hustle, if you will). Something. Anything to make the formula seem new.
7.MAKE: A new antagonist unlike anything we've seen before.
This is the perfect place to subvert expectations. Who would Boba's rival be in a race to control the underworld? Instead of just another typical alien gangster, how about someone with opposite motives compared to Boba that would make them a true enemy to Boba's "want" in the galaxy?
There's so much potential to connect Boba's internal conflict with an enemy that is all-around better than him. Maybe a new character with a cleaner past than Boba, but has lost their way and is trying to use their legitimate undirtied success to get their claw around the underbelly of the galaxy? Possibilities are endless over just having a “bad group of bad boys being bad.”
8.BREAK: Jabba's unspoken son or relative.
Lucasfilm
Enter "Baby Jabba."
This ties in with the "relying on the familiar" complaint. I'm all for having people connected in the galaxy, but to just add another Hutt Clan member (like Rotta the Hutt from Clone Wars) for the sake of having a connection to what we already thought was behind us would be a weird choice. Because Rotta's absence would then beg the question: Where the heck was he all this time, and isn't it convenient he only crawl out of his hole once Boba took the throne but not when Jabba died?
I imagine puppetry has made strides over the years, so it would be cool to see the big ol' space slug, but just not in this series. Maybe in Andor or a Solo sequel/show.
9.MAKE: Sticking to a show about the underworld as promoted for the original The Mandalorian teasers.
Not to hate on Grogu, but I really didn't think The Mandalorian would turn into the "Baby Yoda" show. I felt like Din Djarin really took a back seat in his own show, and it became a "guess what old character will show up this week" kind of series.
When done right, having bad guys as the main characters can be very compelling, so having interactions with other underworld characters without it ending in a "Boba fights them off" and "Boba is actually a good guy" can make for an original Star Wars series. Give me a man and woman's struggle to grapple with their own greed and power (and their inevitable fall) over a redemption arc.
10.BREAK: Lightsabers! The Force! Nostalgia!
20th Century Fox
Again, I love all things Star Wars and the Force, which is very present in the franchise. Give me a series with zero mention of the Force and zero lightsabers... now that would be risk-taking. Not even Rogue One or The Mandalorian could resist the temptation to give fan service moments.
For a show about Boba Fett: How about cool shootouts? A loose monster aboard the Slave I? A little ground-and-pound? There are numerous ways to deliver fight scenes without using "dem laser swords."
11.MAKE: Some "Star Wars-ing" in my Star Wars.
Space. Remember that place? I pretty much love everything in this new era of Star Wars, but man, people forget the original movie was in space for the majority of the film.
I love the cool planets, but how about more life aboard ships and space battles? The Slave I is an awesome ship, so let's see it in action, please...amongst the stars. Not even battles, but just interactions aboard space ships. I know it sounds like a silly request, but it has been lacking in the new-age Star Wars. We have the technology to make aerial fights on planets look great, so space battles are getting lost in the shuffle.
12.BREAK: Feeling like nothing more than a Mando spinoff.
It's hard to go back-to-back with Mandalorian-clad characters. Just because Boba is the OG, this series still might feel like the same thing that Mando offered us. Also, Mando visited Tatooine more than once during the series, so the planet itself already feels played out.
Plus, I hate to say it: Tatooine is my least favorite-looking planet shot inside "The Volume" (the innovative motion-capture stage). It just doesn't have the same magic as the real thing, but other planets look great with that tech.
I don't know. Maybe it will benefit from it, but this setting was one of my least favorite aspects of Mando...and this might be the setting to the entire series. So, it's safe to say I am very worried about the quality "look" of this series.
