The Book of Boba Fett‘s season one finale featured betrayal, a lengthy shootout, a renegade rancor, annihilator droids, and two infamous bounty hunter’s facing off. And none of those moments were even among the episode’s most important development. What was? These are the six biggest takeaways from Star Wars’ The Book of Boba Fett‘s “In the Name of Honor.” An installment that also served as prelude to the return of The Mandalorian.
This post contains spoilers for The Book of Boba Fett “Chapter 7.”
Reunited and It Feels Grogu
The Book of Boba Fett doubled as a mini-season of The Mandalorian. One that also answered our biggest question after the original show’s season two finale. Grogu wasn’t away from Din Djarin for long. The Force-sensitive tyke elected to be with his surrogate dad over continuing his Jedi training with Luke Skywalker. As we already explained, that decision has huge ramifications for both the future of the Jedi Order and Mandalore. Especially now that we know Grogu received instruction previously from yet-to-be-revealed masters.
He used all his powers to save his fellow foundling in this episode. And he’ll need those skills to stay safe on The Mandalorian. Countless dangers and threats await the pair. But that would be true even if they remained apart. They’re both better off together. As are fans of their show.
A New Hope for a Mandalorian Jedi
Din Djarin holds the Darksaber, which he won (and kept) in combat. He’s brave, noble, and fully committed to the strictest of Mandalorian creeds. He is a worthy warrior to fulfill the prophesy of that ancient sword, which says the Darksaber’s owner will one day restore Mandalore to glory and reunite its people. But “Mando” might not be the best candidate to do that. Tarre Vizsla created the Darksaber 1,000 years ago. He was the first and only Jedi Mandalorian. Grogu might be the second.
Grogu abandoned his training with Luke Skywalker, but its not clear he needed it anyway. Luke himself said he wasn’t teaching Grogu so much as he was helping Grogu remember his past lessons. Grogu, who stood before a rancor and subdued it with the Force, might already be a Jedi. He’s certainly a Mandalorian foundling. One who believes in family more than the Jedi ever did. His future as the hope of both the Jedi Order and Mandalore will be a big part of The Mandalorian going forward.
Boba Fett and His Show’s Questionable Future
Tatooine’s new Daimyo is its unquestioned leader. Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, and their allies defeated not only the Pyke Syndicate, but the planet’s three other crime lords and Mos Espa’s corrupt mayor. And as he hoped, Boba Fett earned his title with respect instead of fear. His triumphant (slightly painful) walk through the rebuilding city showed how much its citizens respect him for what he gave them – peace.
But how long will he rule? Not necessarily because he will be unseated, but because he’s not cut out for the job. It’s a possibility the old bounty hunter acknowledged himself. “We’re not suited to this,” he told Fennec Shand. She asked who would rule if not them, but the exchange gives Lucasfilm room to either continue the show or give Boba Fett a reason to leave the planet.
Boba might ultimately turn over Tatooine to someone more suited to the job. Like a not-dead Cobb Vanth for example. That would free him and Fennec up to begin roaming the galaxy far, far away again. That would mean possibly partnering with Din Djarin once more. Especially if Din and Grogu help reunite Mandalore, the home world of Boba’s father, Jango. Boba Fett is himself a Mandalorian after all.
If, on the other hand, Boba decides to stay on Tatooine, this season finale works as a definitive end to his “book.” He won. He rules the planet the way he wanted to. Sarlaccs beware! However, if Lucasfilm decides to do a second season of the show there’s already a new storyline to explore. What happens after you win a criminal underworld war? How is being in charge a different challenge than fighting for that right? And what new threats might try and unseat you as you try to become comfortable in your new role?
No matter what fate awaits The Book of Boba Fett, even if it’s a one-and-done series, Boba’s own uncertainty about his future left many door open. Including one that guarantee the show’s characters return even if it doesn’t.
Tatooine’s Promise for a Peaceful Future
Cobb Vanth told Cad Bane Tatooine has “seen enough violence.” That’s been true since the first days of the franchise. A New Hope introduced the planet as a dangerous place best exemplified by the “wretched hive of scum and villainy” that was the Mos Eisley spaceport. That brutal, harsh, twin-sunned desert land is a planet of monsters, both literal and proverbial. It had always been presented as a world of death and destruction. That is until The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett changed that perception forever.
We now know good people live there and love it. Even the Tusken Raiders, long presented as dangerous, primitive beasts, are a complex and empathetic people. And now Boba Fett and his syndicate have destroyed the elicit spice trade that heavily contributed to the planet’s brutality. For the first time in Star Wars’ history Tatooine has a chance to know peace. Will it last? That remains to be seen, but just knowing harmony is even possible there is enough to mean those dual suns will bring with it a new and hopeful dawn.
Cobb Vanth: Cyborg Marshall
Even if you make a single planet safe, you can’t make the entire Outer Rim an Eden. Other crime syndicates will still see Tatooine’s value as a haven for the spice trade and other illicit businesses. And despite its many noble citizens, not everyone who lives on that desert world will so eagerly acquiesce to the new daimyo’s rule. If Tatooine is to have a lasting and prosperous period of tranquility it will need good people to protect it from dangers both internal and external. Good thing for the planet it’s about to have something better than a good person. It’s about to have a good cyborg.
The Book of Boba Fett‘s post credits scene revealed Freetown Marshal Cobb Vanth survived his showdown with Cad Bane. And he’s getting more than a bacta bath to heal his wounds. He’s undergoing mechanical modifications from the same mod doctor who saved Fennec Shand. Cobb Vanth was already a formidable and capable marshal. He’s only going to be stronger when he emerges with some high-tech assistance. And Tatooine will be better off for it.
Of course, death-defying surgery cuts both ways.
The Continued Modification of Death in Star Wars
Star Wars characters have a long history of overcoming what appeared to be certain doom. Han Solo survived a carbonite shower. Anakin Skywalker lost both his legs and suffered full body burns from Mustafar’s lava but lived. Boba Fett got out of a sarlacc pit by himself. Even Darth Maul returned despite Obi-Wan slicing him in half. And of course Palpatine returned, somehow. But The Book of Boba Fett‘s mod doctor marked a whole new level of survival.
He’s not just outfitting people with mechanical appendages, a la Darth Vader. He’s making their actual bodies mechanical. And if Fennec Shand can exist with a full metal belly, and Cobb Vanth can live thanks to his own mechanical parts, why can’t someone like Cad Bane do the same? Someone with enough money to pay for his life-saving operation would be wise to spend credits on rescuing a ruthless, skilled bounty hunter.
Force Ghosts aren’t the only ones who can defeat death in Star Wars. It can be as simple as paying for the right modifications. And often times the worst people have the most fortune.
Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.
