The Book of Boba Fett, Episode 5, Review

CONTAINS SPOILERS

One of Star Wars' greatest strengths is the breadth and depth of its universe.  There are key characters on far-flung planets that are easily recognisable as part of the Star Wars saga, and the films and series play on this extensively (for example, the unexpected arrival of Lando Calrissian in the Rise of Skywalker; or the appearance of Jabba's torture droid in the kitchens in the previous episode of Boba Fett).  These characters have their own lives, and we see the small part that intersects with the main plot.  That's how Boba Fett's series came to be - he had barely a handful of lines in the films, but here he is with his own series.

Except it seems like the series is starting to run out of new material.  He escaped the Sarlaac pit, and... he met with the Tusken raiders... hijacked a train... reclaimed his ship and killed the Sarlaac...  thank you very much and good night, roll credits.

Charging into Episode 5, with only a few brief hints (which were enough) in previous episodes, is a far more intriguing character, with a far more interesting back-story:  The Mandalorian.  It is unfortunate for Boba Fett that he's been completely upstaged by a much better character - on his own show.  Boba doesn't make a single appearance in this episode, and he isn't missed.  His deadpan, emotionless expression is just not enough, and without his armour and gadgets he's just not interesting.  He was at his best in the films talking sass to Darth Vader and flying around with his jetpack; the writers here just haven't done anything more with him (and he's spent half the series without his gadgets).

The Mandalorian, meanwhile, has plenty of sass, weapons and gadgets.  Within his first few minutes on the screen, he's pulled out a bounty hunter's tracker device; then a puck; then the darksaber - and then, when surrounded by thugs and told to consider his options carefully, replies, "I can bring you in warm, or I can bring you in cold."  Ah yes, Mandalorian sass.  Boba Fett, pay attention.

The episode is 99% Mandalorian - even the opening music has been remixed to include the recognisable Mandalorian riff.  We see how he's returned to operating as a bounty hunter, but still misses Grogu (Baby Yoda).  He meets up with The Armourer, and the last of the Mandalorians (apparently they're down to just six in total), Paz Viszla -- the extremely heavily armoured one.  Mando asks for the beskar spear to be melted down and turned into something useful for Grogu.  We don't see what it is, but I expect we'll find out soon.  Paz Viszla believes that Mando isn't worthy to carry the darksabre, which Mando claims is getting heavier to handle every time he wields it.  The Armourer gives him a training session in how to fight with a darksabre; Paz Viszla has other ideas and fights Mando in order to take it from him.  The fight doesn't have the typical flow of a lightsaber battle - these are two heavily armoured combatants, not a pair of Jedi in light robes - and loses nothing for it.  It concludes with The Armourer forcing Mando to admit that he has removed his helmet; as such, he is no longer a true Mandalorian, and must be expelled from the order.

I don't see that making much difference to him.  

He receives a distress call from Tatooine (where else?) and sets off on a transport ship, in one of the funniest scenes in the episode.  He's asked to check all his weapons before boarding, and despite weapons being part of his religion, he complies, and unloads most of what he's wearing into a security case.  blaster; knife; wrist rockets; grappling hook... the list goes on.  And, in contrast to Boba, who really is nothing without his gadgets, we see how Mando is still a strong character without all his weapons.  Sitting on the passenger transport, he shares a moment with a young Rodian, before looking at the knotted kerchief, which has a shape similar to Grogu.  He misses him.

The landing on Tatooine is uneventful (if comical... Mando retrieves all his weapons without incident, the valet droid lives to serve another day), and Mando makes his way to his old friend Peli Motto.  Peli featured in the Mandalorian's own series, when she carried out repairs on his Razor Crest, and looked after Grogu while Mando dealt with a bounty hunter who was looking for them.  Well, Mando's back, and Peli remembers him and his old ship... he's looking for a replacement, and she has just the thing.

Watching this with my son, we were both convinced it was going to be a podracer.  Those twin engines at the front and the cockpit at the back (covered by a huge tarpaulin) worried us both; thankfully, we were wrong - it's an old Naboo single-seat fighter, of the type which young, chirpy Anakin Skywalker flew.  Fortunately, this is an upgraded model - with significant improvements.  And - note - the droid port on top has been removed, and has been covered with a clear glass dome, leaving room behind the pilot which is suitable for carrying a small passenger, probably.

Yes, Mando flies it through Beggar's Canyon (the podracing track); yes, he tries spinning ("That's a neat trick..."  sigh) but this is definitely Mando's ship, not Anakin's.  He carries out a flypast of the transport ship that dropped him off - the young Rodian is still on board, and Mando gives him a nod before executing a range of high-speed maneouvres close to the transport.

This draws the attention of the local traffic police (in X-Wings, naturally).  We did a double-take at one of the pilots in the X-Wing (has anybody here seen the Canadian sitcom Kim's Convenience?).  This is a hilarious scene - written purely for the laughs - "Didn't you used to fly a Razor Crest?"  "No, officer, you must have me confused with someone else."  This lasts until Mando gives up and presses his turbo-boost button (one of Pelo's many modifications) and goes charging off into the distance.  "Okay, see you."

Mando returns to Pelo on the ground; she mentions that someone's looking for him.  Who?  Who else?  Fennec, who wants to enlist him into Boba's mercenaries.  Mando agrees to fight without payment... but first:  "I got to pay a visit to a little friend."  I wonder who?  And I wonder if he'll be seen next week?

The main character in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar was Brutus, who was better developed and the hero of the story; this episode of The Book Of Boba Fett didn't feature the title character, was actually the next episode of The Mandalorian, and was much, much better for it.

*I don't read other people's reviews before I write my own; I just borrow the images from fans' sites.