BWN Nerds’ Review: The Book Of Boba Fett Episode 1: Stranger In A Strange Land (2022)

The Nerds tackle Disney Plus series The Book of Boba Fett in the latest edition of the Nerd Review!

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Nerd Review!  Every week the Nerds give you their take on entertainment from the Nerd-o-sphere.  This week, Patrick and Dave begin their review of the Star Wars Disney+ miniseries The Book of Boba Fett!

The Show:
The Book of Boba Fett Episode 1: Stranger In A Strange Land

What’s it About:  Following the events in season two of The Mandalorian, Boba Fett had laid claim to Jabba the Hutt’s former criminal empire.  His rise to prominence is not met with open arms and Fett must navigate the Galaxy’s criminal underground in Tatooine.

IMDB Score: 7.6/10

The Nerds’ Take on The Book of Boba Fett Ch. 1: Stranger In A Strange Land

Dave: It had been just over a year since we last saw any Star Wars related content on Disney+. Of course, the epic conclusion to The Mandalorian Season 2 is forever seared into the collective consciousness of all Star Wars fans. Well, this past week, we saw the premiere Episode of the latest installment of Star Wars lore with Episode 1 of The Book of Boba Fett. A spin-off from the aforementioned Mandalorian series, The Book of Boba Fett is the first of several titles that will branch off from the main Mandalorian storyline. If Episode 1 is any indicator, we could be in for a very good next seven weeks.

Episode 1 is equal parts a flash-back and present-day story. From the standpoint of looking back, Episode 1 answers a very important question: How exactly did Boba Fett escape from the Sarlac Pit he fell into in Return of the Jedi? It had been a question many of us had pondered ever since Boba Fett returned early on in Season 2 of The Mandalorian. His escape seemed very much in line with how the character is perceived by his adoring fans. We also see that after he escapes, he teeters on the brink of death anyway and is brought back from the brink by a group of Tusken Raiders (Sandpeople) and something that, for lack of any better term, came from the butt of a worm-like creature. If you can get around that bit of grossness, the rest of the backwards looking aspect of this Episode focuses on Boba actually helping a Tusken child defeat a centipede/minotaur like sand creature. The child takes credit for the kill, but Boba earns the respect of the leader of the Tusken community.

Meanwhile, back in the present, Boba is trying to heal himself in a Bacta tank, but has also taken the reigns of the former dominion of Jabba the Hut and Bib Fortuna. With Fennec Shand at his side, Boba accepts tribute from a variety of locals. But he runs into some issues when an emissary from “The Mayor” does not bring a tribute, but instead demands one from Boba. This sets the stage for a power struggle and the inevitable battle between Fennec, Boba and The Mayors minions. Not a whole lot is resolved in this first of what we can assume will be many fights between two opposing leaders vying for control.

For a first Episode, this did the job very well. It provided some very important elements of backstory to a character whose origins need to be fleshed out quite a bit. Boba Fett is one of the most popular characters in the Star Wars universe and, yet, not much is known about him. We know he was Jango’s son and he sees his father be-headed near the end of Attack of The Clones. The next time we see him (if you are going in chronological order of the movies) he is negotiating a deal for the capture of Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back (unless you count the brief cameo he made in the Special Edition of Episode IV). Then he is defeated by Luke and Han, tossed in the Sarlac Pit in Jedi, is presumed dead, but then shows up in The Mandalorian. That leaves a mountain of gaps to fill in and it looks like this series will explore some of those areas. In Episode 1, we find out how he lost his Mandalorian armor to the Jawas and that it appears he is going to spend some extended time with the Tusken Raiders. How this shaped him into the man he becomes around the time he meets up with Mando is going to be an interesting journey.

We also have the present conflict between Boba and The Mayor for control over Mos Espa. If we learned anything from The Mandalorian, it is that nothing is as straight-forward as it seems. There is absolutely no reason to expect that The Book of Boba Fett will be any different. Episode 1 felt as though it was only scratching the surface of what might be going on. It is also important to remember that The Book of Boba Fett, presumably, takes place before the events of the sequel trilogy. This means that a lot of possibilities are on the table. Most of us Star Wars nerds firmly believe this series will directly tie in to Mandalorian Season 3, and perhaps Ahsoka as well. This raises the natural questions as to whether Mando, Grogu, Ahsoka, or even Luke Skywalker will make an appearance before Episode 7 drops. Any of it seems possible.

All in all, this was a very solid start to this new series. It definitely does not feel like “filler” or a place holder until we can get to Mandalorian Season 3. This genuinely felt like the beginning of a story that will provide essential and important details to this iconic character. Now, if you are not a fan of Boba Fett (like Patrick), then this show will likely not do much for you. But if you are interested in a series that will likely provide some important details as to the past and present of a beloved character while, perhaps, setting the stage for bigger things to come, then this first Episode was a very good launching pad that I think you will enjoy.

Dave’s Rating:  4.25/5.0

Patrick:  Ok fellow Nerds, let’s get some things out of the way before I get rolling with this Review.  First, I am not now, nor have ever been a big fan of Boba Fett.  I have never seen the appeal of such a one-dimensional character.  I understand that he is a fan favorite though, so I suppose I get why there is now a miniseries dedicated to the character.  With my dislike of the character well in mind, I am going to do my best to give a fair review for the next seven reviews.  One episode in though, and I fear I am going to be accused of some bias.  Because, chapter one of the Book of Boba Fett is, well it’s fine. But to call it more than fine is a bit of a stretch, and I am reeeaaalllly concerned about the story being told.

First, it’s important the audience is presented with two separate stories.  The first, picks up from the after-credits scene of The Mandalorian. Boba Fett has taken over Jaba The Hutt’s palace in Mos Espa. Accompanied by Fennec Shand, Fett immediately sets to establishing himself as the dominant force in Mos Espa. Unfortunately for Boba, other powers in Mos Espa are not impressed and see an opportunity to take power for themselves. The audience is also shown Boba Fett’s tale of survival after being thrown in the Sarlaac pit during Return of the Jedi. In this bit of fan service the audience is finally treated to Boba emerging from the sands of Tatooine, scarred but alive. Eventually, Boba is looted by Jawas and then captured by Sandpeople.

So what’s the problem? These two stories sound intriguing! The problem? These stories so far are pretty paint by numbers cliché. In the “present”, Boba is attempting to consolidate his power, but of course no power broker in Mos Espa, including the city’s mayor, seems to take Boba very seriously. It’s a mob tale as old as The Godfather. We even have a failed assassination attempt where the action is good, but nothing special. In the flashbacks, while the escape from the Sarlaac’s gullet is pretty cool and the Jawa looting Boba’s armor was funny, once he’s captured by Sandpeople, the show slides into another trope.  Fett of course tries to escape and fails. Later while being used for labor, he rescues a sandperson child from a desert creature.  Once he saves the child, Boba is suddenly welcomed into the tribe. I get the feeling, he will learn the ways of the sandpeople and it will change him somehow. This is straight up Dances with Wolves or Avatar and that is not a compliment. We don’t need a civilized savior story in space.

Ok, I have one more concern I need to get off my chest. For a well supported, well funded Disney+ production, the CGI effects are pretty bad. Like, videogame superimposed over live action bad. Or The Lawnmower Man bad. The blending of the effects with the live actors is so bad, it actually pulled me way out of the viewing experience. While Boba is choking out the creature during the climax of the episode all I could think was, man someone should be fired for this. Fett looks like he’s on a cartoon mechanical bull.

So what did I like? Well, Ming-Na Wen reprises her role a Fennec Shand is outstanding as one should expect. Wen has been awesome since she voiced Mulan back in the 90s.  She brings a combination of wit and toughness as Fett’s top assassin that shines on the screen. Temuera Morrison does well as Boba Fett, a role he’s had since Attack of the Clones, so again that is to be expected.  It’s just unfortunate that Morrison and Wen are not being given particularly great material to work with.

I am worried about this series. I worry that we are going to get six more episodes of a tired Godfather plot…IN SPACE WITH BOBA FETT! I worry we are getting Dances with Wolves/Avatar…IN SPACE WITH BOBA FETT. If these stories come to pass the way I fear they will, I will not be here for it. I wasn’t really here for chapter 1.

Patrick’s Rating:  2.36/5.0

 Nerds’ Rating: 3.30/5.0