Warning: this article contains full spoilers for the first six episodes of The Book of Boba Fett! If you haven't already, be sure to check out IGN's review for Episode 6.
The finale of The Book of Boba Fett is nearly upon us, and we have a lot of questions leading into this final episode. Why is Luke Skywalker such a lousy teacher? Is Max Rebo still alive? Will Lucasfilm actually give us more than five minutes of Boba Fett footage in the finale?
As we wait for this dramatic conclusion, let's take a closer look at all the burning questions surrounding the series and the answers we hope to see before the credits roll.
For a series titled "The Book of Boba Fett," there sure is a distinct lack of Boba Fett in recent episodes. The new daimyo of Mos Eisley is completely MIA in Episode 5 and barely appears in Episode 6, despite the series gearing up for the big showdown with the Pyke Syndicate. It basically seems as though the series has lost all interest in its main character now that his flashback storyline is completed. This show has morphed into The Mandalorian: Season 2.5 now. Which isn't entirely a bad thing.
Granted, plenty of fans have pointed out that Boba Fett only showing up in a handful of scenes and barely speaking is completely faithful to his portrayal in the original trilogy. Still, it's hard to understand why the series is taking this approach and treating Fett like a guest star in his own series. Will the finale turn things around and remind us all why Boba Fett is the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy? Or will Fett continue to allow Fennec Shand and Din Djarin to hog the spotlight?
Episode 6 delivered a welcome callback to The Mandalorian's Season 2 premiere by returning to Freetown and showcasing its new armor-less sheriff, Cobb Vanth. Unfortunately, Vanth really could have used that armor in his shootout with Cad Bane.
As we head into the finale, it's unclear what role the citizens of Freetown will play in the looming battle with the Pykes. Will they answer Din Djarin's call and send every able-bodied gunfighter to Boba Fett's palace? or will they follow the example of Fett's colleagues and lay low until the dust clears?
There's also the question of whether Cobb himself survived the duel with Bane. We see him take a blaster bolt to the shoulder, which certainly leaves room for him to survive. But will he be in any shape to help out in the finale? Will the series find some way of putting him back in Boba Fett's armor in time to settle the score with Bane? Here's hoping.
This series has had no shortage of plot twists so far, but perhaps the biggest of them is that Jabba's former band leader Max Rebo is alive, well, and still doing his thing in Mos Eisley. The galaxy is a better place knowing that the Max Rebo Band is still around.
Or is it? Max was inside Garsa Fwip's cantina when the Pykes blew the place sky high. Max was lucky enough to survive one massive explosion in the desert. Can he do it a second time? And if the legendary musician truly is dead this time, we hope to see Sy Snootles and Droopy McCool avenging their comrade in the finale.
Episode 5 features a lot more Luke Skywalker than we ever expected to see in a Boba Fett show. This episode shows Luke establishing his new Jedi Academy - the same one that will ultimately be destroyed when Ben Solo turns to the dark Side.
Strangely, neither the sequel trilogy nor The Book of Boba Fett have revealed a name for this remote, idyllic world. Some fans might mistakenly assume this world is Ajan Kloss, the Resistance's base of operations in Episode IX and the world where Luke briefly trained Leia. But it's not. For whatever reason, this planet still has no official name.
Will we ever find out on what planet Luke has made his new home? Is there a reason that name is still a mystery? We can't help but wonder if the planet is one of special significance in the Star Wars mythos, enough so that revealing its name would spoil big developments to come for Luke and his students.
Luke gives Grogu a real Sophie's Choice decision in Episode 6, forcing the little guy to choose between wielding Yoda's green lightsaber or accepting Din's chainmail shirt gift. Why can't Grogu have both? But perhaps there's a more immediate question - where did Luke find Yoda's lightsaber in the first place?
We last see Yoda wielding his saber in the climax of Revenge of the Sith as he battles Darth Sidious. That battle ends with Yoda falling and narrowly making his escape from the Senate building. There's no indication he took the time to recover his lightsaber along the way. In fact, Marvel's Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith comic specifically shows Yoda's saber being destroyed along with numerous others in post-Clone Wars victory celebration.
Does The Book of Boba Fett render that story non-canon? Or did Yoda have a backup saber he brought with him to Dagobah? That's anyone's guess at this point.
As much as new Luke Skywalker material of any sort is cause for celebration, Luke's characterization in Episode 6 is leaving some fans feeling a bit upset. Luke counsels Grogu against reuniting with Din and allowing personal attachments to get in the way of his Jedi training. That's kind of a 180 from the Luke Skywalker who refused to doom his friends to Imperial torture and who saved the galaxy precisely because he appealed to Darth Vader's inner Skywalker.
This isn't necessarily a plot hole or a case of inconsistent characterization. We know Luke takes the same approach with his nephew, resulting in the downfall of the academy and Luke's complete disillusionment with the Jedi path. The series seems to be creating a link between the heroic Jedi Master of The Mandalorian: Season 2 and the depressed hermit of The Last Jedi.
But the problem right now is that we have yet to see why Luke's views on personal attachments have changed so radically since the events of Return of the Jedi. What happened during those missing five years to alter Luke's outlook? What did he find during his travels? Hopefully Lucasfilm has a TV or comic book series in the works to address these questions. On that note...
Despite those persistent online rumors about MCU star Sebastian Stan being cast as a post-Return of the Jedi Luke Skywalker, Lucasfilm continues to make use of Mark Hamill's likeness. Though Luke is technically played by actor Graham Hamilton in The Book of Boba Fett, the show uses advanced VFX and machine learning tech to synthesize Hamill's face and voice. The end result is already significantly improved over what we saw in The Mandalorian, if not quite enough to cross that Uncanny Valley threshold.
At this point, we have to wonder if this will continue to be the strategy for future Luke Skywalker appearances. Is Luke simply too iconic a character to ever recast? Is Lucasfilm reluctant to take that risk again after the mixed reception to Alden Ehrenreich's Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story?
Digitally recreating an '80s-era Mark Hamill is one thing when Luke only shows up for one episode every year or two, but what about a hypothetical Luke Skywalker series? Will fans still embrace CGI Luke at that point? Will the tech continue to improve over time? At what point is it more distracting to keep digitally recreating Hamill's likeness and voice than simply find a new actor to take over the role? We're starting to suspect that, as far as Lucasfilm is concerned, the answer to that last question is "Never."
Rosario Dawson reprises her role as Ahsoka Tano in Episode 6, giving fans a long dreamed-of scene where Anakin Skywalker's former Padawan bonds with his son. Sadly, Ahsoka shows no intention of sticking around to help Luke build his academy, even though he could clearly use her guidance and expertise.
We assume The Book of Boba Fett is paving the way for Dawson's return in the spinoff series Star Wars: Ahsoka. The question is where exactly Ahsoka is headed and why she's so reluctant to hang out with Skyguy Jr. Presumably, she's continuing her hunt for Grand Admiral Thrawn, though the trail seems to have gone cold since Ahsoka's appearance in The Mandalorian. So where is her next lead? Will we se her again before the Ahsoka series kicks off? And for that matter, will we ever see Ahsoka's original meeting with Luke and how she reacted to learning about Anakin's redemption?
We can hope Ahsoka will put in another appearance in The Book of Boba Fett's finale, if only via a post-credits scene. We'd like to have a better idea of what exactly is fueling her spinoff series.
For more on The Book of Boba Fett, see how the series adds to existing Jedi lore and learn more about the history of the deadly Cad Bane.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
Continue reading...
The finale of The Book of Boba Fett is nearly upon us, and we have a lot of questions leading into this final episode. Why is Luke Skywalker such a lousy teacher? Is Max Rebo still alive? Will Lucasfilm actually give us more than five minutes of Boba Fett footage in the finale?
As we wait for this dramatic conclusion, let's take a closer look at all the burning questions surrounding the series and the answers we hope to see before the credits roll.
Where Did Boba Fett Go?
For a series titled "The Book of Boba Fett," there sure is a distinct lack of Boba Fett in recent episodes. The new daimyo of Mos Eisley is completely MIA in Episode 5 and barely appears in Episode 6, despite the series gearing up for the big showdown with the Pyke Syndicate. It basically seems as though the series has lost all interest in its main character now that his flashback storyline is completed. This show has morphed into The Mandalorian: Season 2.5 now. Which isn't entirely a bad thing.
Granted, plenty of fans have pointed out that Boba Fett only showing up in a handful of scenes and barely speaking is completely faithful to his portrayal in the original trilogy. Still, it's hard to understand why the series is taking this approach and treating Fett like a guest star in his own series. Will the finale turn things around and remind us all why Boba Fett is the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy? Or will Fett continue to allow Fennec Shand and Din Djarin to hog the spotlight?
Will Freetown Step Up in the Finale?
Episode 6 delivered a welcome callback to The Mandalorian's Season 2 premiere by returning to Freetown and showcasing its new armor-less sheriff, Cobb Vanth. Unfortunately, Vanth really could have used that armor in his shootout with Cad Bane.
As we head into the finale, it's unclear what role the citizens of Freetown will play in the looming battle with the Pykes. Will they answer Din Djarin's call and send every able-bodied gunfighter to Boba Fett's palace? or will they follow the example of Fett's colleagues and lay low until the dust clears?
There's also the question of whether Cobb himself survived the duel with Bane. We see him take a blaster bolt to the shoulder, which certainly leaves room for him to survive. But will he be in any shape to help out in the finale? Will the series find some way of putting him back in Boba Fett's armor in time to settle the score with Bane? Here's hoping.
Is Max Rebo Still Alive?
This series has had no shortage of plot twists so far, but perhaps the biggest of them is that Jabba's former band leader Max Rebo is alive, well, and still doing his thing in Mos Eisley. The galaxy is a better place knowing that the Max Rebo Band is still around.
Or is it? Max was inside Garsa Fwip's cantina when the Pykes blew the place sky high. Max was lucky enough to survive one massive explosion in the desert. Can he do it a second time? And if the legendary musician truly is dead this time, we hope to see Sy Snootles and Droopy McCool avenging their comrade in the finale.
On What Planet Is Luke's Jedi Temple?
Episode 5 features a lot more Luke Skywalker than we ever expected to see in a Boba Fett show. This episode shows Luke establishing his new Jedi Academy - the same one that will ultimately be destroyed when Ben Solo turns to the dark Side.
Strangely, neither the sequel trilogy nor The Book of Boba Fett have revealed a name for this remote, idyllic world. Some fans might mistakenly assume this world is Ajan Kloss, the Resistance's base of operations in Episode IX and the world where Luke briefly trained Leia. But it's not. For whatever reason, this planet still has no official name.
Will we ever find out on what planet Luke has made his new home? Is there a reason that name is still a mystery? We can't help but wonder if the planet is one of special significance in the Star Wars mythos, enough so that revealing its name would spoil big developments to come for Luke and his students.
How Did Luke Recover Yoda's Lightsaber?
Luke gives Grogu a real Sophie's Choice decision in Episode 6, forcing the little guy to choose between wielding Yoda's green lightsaber or accepting Din's chainmail shirt gift. Why can't Grogu have both? But perhaps there's a more immediate question - where did Luke find Yoda's lightsaber in the first place?
We last see Yoda wielding his saber in the climax of Revenge of the Sith as he battles Darth Sidious. That battle ends with Yoda falling and narrowly making his escape from the Senate building. There's no indication he took the time to recover his lightsaber along the way. In fact, Marvel's Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith comic specifically shows Yoda's saber being destroyed along with numerous others in post-Clone Wars victory celebration.
Does The Book of Boba Fett render that story non-canon? Or did Yoda have a backup saber he brought with him to Dagobah? That's anyone's guess at this point.
Why Is Luke Giving Grogu Bad Advice?
As much as new Luke Skywalker material of any sort is cause for celebration, Luke's characterization in Episode 6 is leaving some fans feeling a bit upset. Luke counsels Grogu against reuniting with Din and allowing personal attachments to get in the way of his Jedi training. That's kind of a 180 from the Luke Skywalker who refused to doom his friends to Imperial torture and who saved the galaxy precisely because he appealed to Darth Vader's inner Skywalker.
This isn't necessarily a plot hole or a case of inconsistent characterization. We know Luke takes the same approach with his nephew, resulting in the downfall of the academy and Luke's complete disillusionment with the Jedi path. The series seems to be creating a link between the heroic Jedi Master of The Mandalorian: Season 2 and the depressed hermit of The Last Jedi.
But the problem right now is that we have yet to see why Luke's views on personal attachments have changed so radically since the events of Return of the Jedi. What happened during those missing five years to alter Luke's outlook? What did he find during his travels? Hopefully Lucasfilm has a TV or comic book series in the works to address these questions. On that note...
Will Lucasfilm Ever Recast Luke?
Despite those persistent online rumors about MCU star Sebastian Stan being cast as a post-Return of the Jedi Luke Skywalker, Lucasfilm continues to make use of Mark Hamill's likeness. Though Luke is technically played by actor Graham Hamilton in The Book of Boba Fett, the show uses advanced VFX and machine learning tech to synthesize Hamill's face and voice. The end result is already significantly improved over what we saw in The Mandalorian, if not quite enough to cross that Uncanny Valley threshold.
At this point, we have to wonder if this will continue to be the strategy for future Luke Skywalker appearances. Is Luke simply too iconic a character to ever recast? Is Lucasfilm reluctant to take that risk again after the mixed reception to Alden Ehrenreich's Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story?
Digitally recreating an '80s-era Mark Hamill is one thing when Luke only shows up for one episode every year or two, but what about a hypothetical Luke Skywalker series? Will fans still embrace CGI Luke at that point? Will the tech continue to improve over time? At what point is it more distracting to keep digitally recreating Hamill's likeness and voice than simply find a new actor to take over the role? We're starting to suspect that, as far as Lucasfilm is concerned, the answer to that last question is "Never."
What's Next for Ahsoka?
Rosario Dawson reprises her role as Ahsoka Tano in Episode 6, giving fans a long dreamed-of scene where Anakin Skywalker's former Padawan bonds with his son. Sadly, Ahsoka shows no intention of sticking around to help Luke build his academy, even though he could clearly use her guidance and expertise.
We assume The Book of Boba Fett is paving the way for Dawson's return in the spinoff series Star Wars: Ahsoka. The question is where exactly Ahsoka is headed and why she's so reluctant to hang out with Skyguy Jr. Presumably, she's continuing her hunt for Grand Admiral Thrawn, though the trail seems to have gone cold since Ahsoka's appearance in The Mandalorian. So where is her next lead? Will we se her again before the Ahsoka series kicks off? And for that matter, will we ever see Ahsoka's original meeting with Luke and how she reacted to learning about Anakin's redemption?
We can hope Ahsoka will put in another appearance in The Book of Boba Fett's finale, if only via a post-credits scene. We'd like to have a better idea of what exactly is fueling her spinoff series.
For more on The Book of Boba Fett, see how the series adds to existing Jedi lore and learn more about the history of the deadly Cad Bane.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
Continue reading...