[psmith2.0]

Originally Posted by kscherer I haven't had much time for jabbering on this subject, but did anyone else notice that Disney snuck The Mandalorian Season 3 into the lineup last night?

What do you mean? Or were you joking about how that's what this latest episode is?

I've looked all over the Disney+ site and don't see anything (I'm thinking I missed the joke).

Any idea when it premieres?

I wish they'd put out a schedule for the year, so I'd know when stuff is coming. That's the one thing in all this that I'd love to know more. I truly have no idea when anything is expected...Andor, Kenobi, Ahsoka, S3 of Mando, etc.

I know COVID threw a big hydrospanner into original plans and timelines, but surely they've got a bit of a handle on things now? I'd be satisfied with official word from Disney/Lucasfilm that just said "currently in production, with a fall 2022 release" or "coming spring 2022" or whatever (I don't even need an exact date...just the season and year, that's good enough. That's more than I know right now.

Surely to goodness this seven-episode wet fart isn't all we're in for, Star Wars-wise, in 2022, right?

Marvel will probably release about seven new shows before Christmas hits...Wandavision II, Thor: Hammer Time, Nick Fury Says Motherfucker for 42 Minutes, Galaga Guy's Gaming Adventures, etc.

Can Favreau & Co. snort some of whatever the Marvel folks are using? Every time I turn around there's a new live-action Marvel show starting up on Disney+.

[kscherer]

P.S. Paul, you might read back a bit. I added a lot to my post.

[kscherer]

Originally Posted by psmith2.0 What do you mean? Or were you joking about how that's what this latest episode is? I've looked all over the Disney+ site and don't see anything (I'm thinking I missed the joke). Any idea when it premieres?

Joking

[psmith2.0]

Originally Posted by kscherer I thought the Mandalorian lady was a bit harsh in her removal of Mando from the order. But, I guess it is what it is? Maybe the Mando actor is wanting his face on screen and this provides an opportunity, since he no longer has to keep the helmet on? IDK

That's crossed my mind. After two full seasons of only three helmet-removal scenes, I'm thinking Pedro Pascal might be like "I'm being overshadowed by an ever-present mask". If, like Boba, he's comfortable taking the helmet off and on as needed/makes sense, that puts the actor a little more front and center, and might help in the long run. That might be what they're going for.

Armorer made it sound like he has to go to some place, but does it even exist anymore (or was that the point)? Maybe that's part of what season three centers around as well? He's going to that place to atone/redeem himself. and then go see Grogu? Or, as theorized above, this may be his "out" and, going forward, we see as much of Pedro Pascal in the role, with the helmet going on during any action, bounty-collecting, fighting, public appearances, etc.? Kinda like Boba.

I think it would drive me a little bonkers, as an actor, to be two years on a very popular show but maybe I'm not as "famous" or recognized as I'd be if I were playing a doctor on Grey's Anatomy or whatever? Yeah, I'm halfway thinking "this is what makes Din Djarin" like the others...Boba, Bo-Katan, etc. He'll be okay with taking the helmet off during quieter, off-the-clock hours by himself or amongst friends? But, then again, they had that Armorer mention the place he has to go to (when he blatantly asked what he has to do to atone), so that can't be fully ignored either.

Hell, I don't know.

Originally Posted by kscherer This is supposed to get me all happy/excited for Boba Fett (and some of the material has done so) but what I now know that I really want is more of Mando. That is both good and bad. ...(and all the rest re: concerns about the show, etc)

I was that way until the past 24 hours, upon realizing, as Bryson and other comments I've read online have said, it's really The Mandalorian, S2.5. Once I kinda let go that none of this is truly Boba's thing, I was like "okay...we're getting a side detour, a sketch". It doesn't make those first episodes any more enjoyable or less draggy, but I'm also thinking Boba Fett was never going to be given the full reins. The character, despite 40+ years of popularity and mystique-building, simply hasn't earned it. It's just not enough. He's not that interesting, IMO.

His legend/reputation, in and out of universe, maybe have gotten a larger than is able to be reasonably sustained or justified? That's why part of me, upthread, almost thinks he doesn't make it out of this series alive. It would be a shame, but all he's really looking at now, IMO, is a side/supporting role on a far bigger, better show.

While Boba Fett has been around for 40+ years, he's had none of the character development or "getting to know" that Din Djarin has had over the course of two seasons/16 episodes of an ongoing show. What Boba has in longevity, Mando makes up for in "well, we know/like him better". For 40+ years, Boba's just been a cool helmet and few hissed lines of dialogue.

It was awesome when he showed up and beat the hell out of everyone on Tython, but it never occurred to me "give this dude a show". I figured that's what The Mandalorian was...a close-enough take on such a character (the outfit, occupation) to scratch that itch for everyone, but without the baggage and backstory (like I spoke in an earlier thread...this show doesn't care what happened 20+ years ago, both in-universe, and out. I think that's why they can do what they do and tell the stories they are. It's certainly Star Wars, but it's not Jedi/Sith/Skywalker/Vader/The Force beating you over the head, which we've had now for nine movies over 40+ years.

At the end of the seventh episode in two weeks, one of two things likely happens:

1) Boba dies, heroically, and none of the above is an issue anymore
2) Boba survies, and gets the life he's been wanting since exiting the Sarlacc pit

His story, either way, may end in a couple of weeks, as far as we, the viewer, are concerned.

I suppose a third option is that he continues with his struggles and all, but we just don't see it. And it allows for him to occasionally pop up in The Mandalorian if needed? But I don't want a second installment of this show...they really have nothing to say and they're taking forever to say it.

Again, as I spoke about earlier, I think that's the problem with going back and explaining and "filling in the blanks" with some of these classic characters. Sometimes it's good to leave the past alone...the mystery, the aura, the unknown. You start monkeying with that too much and it resets everything. I said, very early on, that it would be a shame if this show wound up tarnishing or undoing/making less the legend/status of Boba Fett in fandom. Did everyone like the character better six weeks ago, before this show premiered?

I think in some places, yeah.

Originally Posted by kscherer * I hate to inject this thought, but it feels like Boba Fett is a bit emasculated, and Fenec Shand is the acting-tough Feminine Hero. Neither works for me. The strong, traditional, example-setting masculine hero is "softened" to the point of being pathetic, and the strong, traditional, example-setting feminine hero is "strengthened" to the point of being overbearing. It feels like a Kathleen Kennedy-approved role reversal, and the characters lose their natural believability. This method is tugged from SW Episode VIII, where it failed more than miserably. There's a reason why these engineered gender roles don't work: Because IRL men and women don't relate to them without force or peer pressure. Thus, the series feels like it should be great, but it loses because Boba Fett is too much like Captain Phasma: Built up with a tough, unproven reputation, but then falling flat because they're too damned timid.

I don't know. I think they're mainly showing that a hard, wicked man who's spent a lifttime of making his living via violence and gunslinging had a near-death experience that rewired him. He was only in that Sarlacc's stomach because he was doing work for "idiots" who put him in those kinds of positions. He blatantly wants to give up that life, saying as much in episode 4 a week ago. Yeah, the show did kinda zig a bit and gave us a more thoughtful, "zen"(?) type of character than I ever expected. I figured he'd just be shooting and killing people left and right across seven episodes. Instead, we got Dances with Banthas, recovering from injuries, going to see the shithead mayor 2-3 times and nothing coming from it, etc. I think the fact that, in-universe, the character himself no longer sees himself as we all have for 40 years has to count for something. I kinda consider him and Fennec on equal footing. I think she's still a bit harder and more caustic in her views, and she looks out for him when she thinks he might not be seeing things right.

I've gotten no Kathleen Kennedy vibe from this show at all. And, believe me, I'd have no problem pointing that out if so. In the 38 million words I've written in this thread, her name (or all that I hated about the sequels) has never come up once. So I can honestly say "nah, that never really occurred to me". I don't think this show has been particularly heavy-handed in spreading its Woke™ wings at all (in fact, I kinda think, after the sequels, Lucasfilm even said "let's pull back from that stuff a little, it's not going as we'd hoped". I think it's just been a little underwhelming and bland, and I think that everything we've seen so far, in episodes 1-4, could've been condensed/streamlined and inserted into a single 55-minute episode of season three of The Mandalorian.

I've always wondered what happened to Boba Fett. I just don't think an entire series, even a side-journal/detour, was required to tell it. I think they overestimated and underdelivered.

[kscherer]

My problem with the show has to do with reputation. Boba Fett was always set up as this hard bounty hunter, and the previews set the show up to indicate he would take Jaba's place as this sort of ruthless gangster type. It smelled fun!. Turns out we got that with The Mandalorian, and Boba Fett … well … not so much. For me, that's been disappointing. I get the "softened up in the belly of the Sarlac" angle. Makes sense. But, "softened up in the belly of the Sarlac" and "gangster wanna-be" do not go hand in hand. The "gangster" world doesn't work with "soft men". EVER! Only the hardest and cruelest of men (and women, for that matter) survive in that setting. Anyone soft is go bye-bye very soon in their careers. A soft gangster is a dead gangster. I think this is why his character does not work for me. Were he running for mayor, I could get on board with the "softened up in the belly of the Sarlac". He would take sympathy on people and want to lead them to peace. But that's not the life he's seeking. He's seeking the gangster's place at the top of the criminal empire, and that does not work with soft men. Never-ever, and never! It's the wrong role for the character one way or the other. Too soft to be a gangster kingpin, while not seeking the office to which his attitude is better suited.

[turtle]

This was by far my favorite episode of the season. So really, I love Mandalorian and tolerate Book of Boba it seems.

Was I the only one who saw the wrapping for Grogu's armor shipped the same as his head?

I'll read through the other posts and try to join the conversation where it is... I know I'm behind but work has sucked this week.

[psmith2.0]

Originally Posted by turtle This was by far my favorite episode of the season. So really, I love Mandalorian and tolerate Book of Boba it seems.

Hey, join the club!

Originally Posted by turtle Was I the only one who saw the wrapping for Grogu's armor shipped the same as his head?

It absolutely did, and was super-apparent when he looked at it on that commuter shuttle ride down to Tatooine; they made it crystal clear that was the case. Not sure how the armorer knew to tie it like that (did she ever meet Grogu back in season 1...I can't remember).

Originally Posted by turtle read through the other posts and try to join the conversation where it is...

Don't worry...it's 97% me just talking to myself, saying stupid, obvious stuff and baselessly speculating on it all.

[Brad]

I just now watched Chapter 5, having avoided recent posts here until now, and I wanted to come to this thread to say basically what Ken said already here:

Originally Posted by kscherer This was a fun episode. And that bothers me. This is supposed to get me all happy/excited for Boba Fett (and some of the material has done so) but what I now know that I really want is more of Mando. That is both good and bad. It's good because it reminds me just how good The Mandalorian was as a series, and bad because The Book of Boba Fett just isn't drawing me in the way I was hoping. My gut tells me they're trying their hardest, but they just don't seem to have a complete grasp of Boba's place, and it's beginning to feel a bit forced. The pretty-colored biker gang doesn't fit at all, the chase scene was poorly done, and Boba just seems a bit too soft*.

The one thing that episode did was remind me that I'm only watching Boba as an appetizer to tide me over until the main course Mandalorian returns. I thought I'd be a lot more invested in Boba, but I'm just not. The production quality has continued to be stellar, but while its writing has not been bad, it just doesn't grab my interest anywhere like I expected it would.

Originally Posted by psmith2.0 I've always wondered what happened to Boba Fett. I just don't think an entire series, even a side-journal/detour, was required to tell it. I think they overestimated and underdelivered.

100% agreed.

[psmith2.0]

The Book of Boba Fett is a tight, watchable 55-minute side-episode during season 3 of The Mandalorian. That they've sought to stretch this ponderous, tail-chasing backstory into six episodes was a bit of a misstep on their part, IMO.

Whatever money, time and effort they put into a show that just kinda lays there, I wish they'd sunk into adding maybe another 2-4 episodes to season three of the other show; because, to me, the worst thing about The Mandalorian is that it's just too damn short and those eight episodes fly by so fast!

[Brad]

Originally Posted by psmith2.0 The Book of Boba Fett is a tight, watchable 55-minute side-episode during season 3 of The Mandalorian.

You know… now that you mention it, I'm really looking forward to someone pulling a "Star Wars: Phantom Edit" on the entire BoBF series and uploading a 1-2 hour streamlined version to Vimeo or friggin' Daily Motion of course since the YouTube content police would block it in a matter of seconds.

If I could find the time, I'd be tempted to do it myself.

[psmith2.0]

I hope to see something like that once the final episode airs. I'm sure someone will do just that. I truly think it could come in under 90 minutes, there's just so much stuff to cut down/eliminate entirely.

I hear people say that using the flashback thing helps include current-day sequences as well, and not make people wait 1-2 entire episodes to reach current-day (Moe Espa, the Pykes, etc.) stuff.

But I think if I were to take a stab at a condensed edit, I would do it chronologically and ditch the "flash-bacta" thing completely. I'd show him in the tank periodically, to establish that he's healing from his wounds (but not as a flashback/dreaming device, because, flowing chronologically, there would be none). That would all be modern stuff.

The water/Vespa thing gets ditched entirely, as well as the multiple, mostly-pointless trips to the Mayor's office, that casino/club and the throne room tributes which mostly seem to exist for comic relief. And if the Hutts don't somehow pay off/factor in some real way in these final two episodes, they get cut out completely as well because that's been a big nothing (aside from introducing that big mean monkey).

I'll tell you exactly what this show feels like: Favreau or someone said "hey, we should clear up what happened to Boba Fett from the time he went into the Sarlacc pit until he showed up in The Mandalorian...people talk about it, they're asking me all the time. We've got an opportunity to do something with that. I'm thinking a ~90-minute one-off 'movie' type of thing we can release in late December, a nice holiday treat for the fans? Our first long-form feature for Disney+, to sit nicely between seasons 2 and 3 of the other show...what do you think? It would be a Star Wars Story type of thing, like Rogue One and that Han Solo movie...a self-contained, standalone one-off project to help fill in some blanks and show what became of a popular character. I've already got an outline...check your email!"

Someone at Disney/Lucasfilm said "yeah, we could do that, or we could make another multi-episode series with it...because that's what everyone does/watches now. Movies are so 2018, Jon."

Favreau: "I don't know if there's really enough to fill such a thing. I don't think that's the ideal format/vehicle for what I have in mind. It's not that much of a story, really...he escapes the pit, it changes him, he attempts to take over Jabba's racket...what I'm picturing is more of a three-act TV movie. One and done, in and out."

Suit: "Well, pad it out...fill it up with some shit. You're a writer, write some stuff! Crime bosses, syndicates, politicians, low-lifes, a biker gang, some teenagers, a few cameos - get that chick from Flashdance - maybe some monsters? Remember that big monster that almost ate Luke? Maybe he has a brother? It's on Tatooine, right? Okay, throw in some sandpeople and Jawas...they live there, don't they? Boom! Maybe have a Hutt show up? Hell, throw in a Wookiee, I don't care. Make it have something to do with spice, like a drug syndicate or something. Remember Miami Vice?"



And that's exactly how it's come across so far (to me). A good 90-minute idea somehow got greenlit into a 4-5 hour series by some bonehead.

[psmith2.0]

Episode 6 tonight. After last week, I'm genuinely looking forward to it.

I may have said it upthread, but I truly do love how this show manages to stay unspoiled. I suppose if I went poking and digging around various sites and YouTube channels, I'd find someone who's seen it and is already talking about it. But I just don't do that. In fact, I tend to ignore/avoid all things BoBF/Mandalorian after the weekend. That seems to be when talk about last week's episode dies down and speculation/leaks about the upcoming one begin.

But I truly have no idea what's in store. Got my alarm set for 3am so I can grab my MacBook and earbuds and watch. Hope it's a ~50-minute one.

Two episodes remaining and the stage is kinda set for some sort of showdown/confrontation (unless this episode is spent finding/gathering more muscle).

Hopefully we see Boba and Mando in the same scenes, with Mando returning the favor from The Tragedy, The Believer and The Rescue. I have a feeling before tonight's episode is over we get another nice cameo/surprise of some sort.

[psmith2.0]

Originally Posted by psmith2.0 I have a feeling before tonight's episode is over we get another nice cameo/surprise of some sort.

Yeah, we got about five. Holy crap, this was like The Mandalorian's Greatest Hits.

NOTICE...LONGEST WRITE-UP YET (IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT). SET ASIDE SOME TIME, MAKE A SANDWICH, GET COMFORTABLE, ETC. IF YOU INTEND TO PROCEED...there's a TON to talk about/point out!!!

Four familiar faces, plus another character from the animated world brought to life on these shows. Seeing as how Dave Filoni directed this episode - as he did The Jedi, which gave us the live-action debut of Ahsoka Tano, this is more of that.

This episode had a very Western feel, in the scenes set on Tatooine.

For the second week in a row, Boba Fett isn't the star/focus of his own show. The man got about 45 seconds of screen-time, and he didn't even say anything. He just stood there with his helmet off, glanced/nodded at Mando and that was it!

This was a very satisfying episode. I thought for sure it would've been set entirely on Tatooine, bracing for the brewing battle with the Pykes. The first 25 minutes(!) took place elsewhere, paying off with Mando's last sentence on the previous episode. It didn't play out just as you'd expect, but it was still sweet and kinda satisfying.

I'm happy to report that the CGI/deep fake stuff has improved dramatically. They had the sheer balls to put a very popular, familiar character front and center for a good 20 minutes, in daylight, talking and physically active...and, for the most part, I would've figured it was footage shot 30-35 years ago. What this episode did was tell me that, if needed/warranted, we could very well see some old friends pop up from time to time...and it would be quite believable/convincing. That's powerful stuff.

We now know what gift Mando had forged for Grogu, and it's part of a choice he has to make. I'm not sure what he'll do.

Holy smokes, the callbacks - verbal, visual and musical - were so heavy and satisfying this episode. As a fan of the OT, it was very nice to see/hear.

There was nothing Boba Fett about this show, other than a non-speaking scene and his name mentioned 3-4 times by others.

The Pykes are bad news. I knew what was coming in that visit to the casino, especially when they refused a drink, helmet-cleaning and left within two minutes of their arrival.

2-3 scenes played out like those Eastwood spaghetti westerns...the setting, the camera shots, the standoffs/gunplay. In fact, the new character introduced...very Clint-y in appearance/demeanor.

This episode was 45% Mandalorian, 30% OT, 20% animated/The Clone Wars and 5% The Book of Boba Fett

Specifics and spoilers below...



Turn back now if you've not watched the episode yet!!!



Your last warning...







Okay...

- Cobb Vanth showing up right off the bat to face down some spicers doing business in Mos Pelgo. His character here is as quick on the draw/good with a gun as he was as Raylan Givens on Justified. Very cool scene. But I had a feeling...

- Grogu is in training with Luke. Luke is all over the place, talking, walking, jumping, teaching, lightsabering, etc. and he looks pretty damn good, the CG/deep fake work. Far better than how he looked in the closing minutes of The Rescue. This actually looked like Mark Hamill. A younger, post-ROTJ Mark Hamill. We heard about how that guy on YouTube who did the far better take on Luke's appearance on The Mandalorian was hired by Lucasfilm; I'm assuming this is the episode they put him to work on. Any "uncanny valley" was, if anything, more like an uncanny ditch. Very small, and next-to-nothing. Huge improvement in just one year's time. Nothing looked blurry/smudgy, the mouth and eyes didn't look weird or fake, etc. This is how you go about such thing...whatever they did on this episode vs. last year's Mandalorian finale made all the difference.

- Sweet little Grogu; I think he's going to make a choice that puts him back into the mix for season 3. But maybe not. He will be the first student of Luke's academy. It was neat to see all those "worker ant" droids building the temple with all the stones. Nice visual

- Ahsoka showing up to give Mando something to think about. Ultimately there was no face-to-face reunion between Mando and Grogu, but they both saw each other from a distance, Mando seemed to take Ahsoka's words/advice to heart and not be a distraction (sad), but his gift was left to Ahsoka, who gave it to Luke who, in turn, presented it to Grogu in the final scene, as part of a choice...he can take the little little chain mail suit and rejoin Mando, or he can commit to his Jedi training and have Yoda's lightsaber (Yoda's theme popped up at least once, and he was mentioned by name 3-4 times; so satisfying/stirring to hear

- Have I mentioned that this episode had nothing to do with Boba Fett? It's basically episode 2 of the third season of The Mandalorian

- Cad Bane(!), showing up walking through the desert to Mos Pelgo, looking exactly like a scene from any number of Eastwood Westerns. Even when he talks, he had that look/sneer. Very cool. I get the feeling we're in for a serious Boba Fett/Cad Bane showdown in the final episode; Bane is no fan of Fett! The episode is titled "From the Desert Comes a Stranger", and that's exactly how Bane was introduced...shown, from a distance, walking into Mos Pelgo and attracting Vanth's attention. It was very much like the opening to High Plains Drifter, where Clint comes riding into down from the dry desert and you see him way off in the distance at first. Again, very "cowboy movie" this episode is, at times (why am I talking like Yoda?)

- Luke helped Grogu remember his past a bit, and we got a little flashback that explains where Grogu's fear comes from...Order 66 at the Coruscant temple(?) and three Jedi Knights could not protect him from advancing clone troopers (but someone must've picked him up and carried him to safety); I think he has a fear/negative association with lightsabers (he kinda had the same look on his face when Luke was practicing with his; our cute little force frog has PTSD, I think). This is what makes me think he may forsake the way of the Jedi, don his little Beskar chain mail suit and rejoin Mando. I'm wondering how much of that may have been fan-driven, if that's how season 3 plays out? "No Grogu, no dice!", I've heard many say. Kinda silly, but what are you gonna do? But if that happens - if Grogu choose Mando over Luke - at least we'll know Grogu didn't die at the hands of Kylo Ren and his shithead friends, years later. So there's that.

- I assume Marshal Vanth is a goner, but it was done in a way - he took one shot (the shoulder it looked like?), vs, that idiot deputy's 3-4 - that you assume he was. Nobody outright stated it, but I have to assume it is as it looks; a shame, that would've been a neat character to see more of. But with just a single shoulder shot and leaving it a bit vague, Vanth could've been playing dead in the street to save himself? Maybe he just got winged and he'll show up with the town citizens next week

- Artoo being all Artoo...little radar/scanner dish, getting in his "shutting down" practice for the sequels, etc.

- I never realized how big frogs were in the Star Wars world. Went nine movies without seeing any (well, maybe a glimpse or two...outside Jabba's palace and maybe Dagobah?), but they keep showing up in these Disney+/Mando shows (food/entertainment for Grogu).

- The only appearance of Boba Fett and Fennec Shand was a two-minute scene of them standing around with a 3D map of Mos Espa, discussing their plan of attack with the big angry monkey, the Vespa kids, etc. Mando shows up, saying he can get more help/foot soldiers (and flies off to see Cobb Vanth, since he knew the citizens of that town rallied to fight the big dragon, that maybe they'd do so against the Pykes)

- Cool scene with the Jawas and a sandcrawler, carrying a huge Krayt dragon(?) skull tied down to the top of the sandcrawler as Mando flew by. Just a nice transition/throwaway scene of no real import, but an awesome visual for sure

- Ahsoka looked great; look forward to seeing her on her own show (I think) and she and Mando have good chemistry, so I hope she pops up on the third season of his show a bit.

- The scene with Ahsoka and Luke, and she mentions his father...damn, such a neat little moment tying all those eras/worlds together into a TV show...you've got Ahsoka Tano, one of the best parts of all that animated stuff, standing next to a young-looking Luke Skywalker, and Anakin is referenced in a nice way that made them both smile ("so much of your father in you", or something like that). If you're a Star Wars dork and that doesn't stir you, check your vitals So now that she and Luke have met/know each other, I assume that he told her that Vader changed back at the end, so maybe that's a burden off her that she no longer has to deal with. She probably loved knowing that Vader redeemed himself, and that's why she and Luke can bring him up in a pleasant, positive way?

- Poor Flashdance vixen; she and her club got firebombed. That means the band is all gone too. When two Pykes walked in with a case, sat down, declined service and stood up to leave about 60 seconds later (and left the case behind for a protocol droid to pick up and try to return to them), I knew what was coming...KA-BOOOOM! I've seen enough gangster/mafia movies in my life to know what it looks like when thugs leave bomb behind somewhere. Reminded me of that opening, early scene in Brian DePalma's The Untouchables where the hoods leave the briefcase bomb at the bar/cafe and the little girl tries to return it to them, not knowing what it was...very much like that.

- Re: the "greatest hits", in case the above doesn't make it clear. In this episode we got: Cobb Vanth, Mando (again), Artoo, Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Ahsoka Tano and Cad Bane. Holy crap

- Final episode is next week...I assume Boba Fett will show up to his own series? And there will be some fighting/action. Vanth and Flashdance girl have to be avenged, and the lines are pretty clearly drawn. Those Pykes, and anyone they've hired, got it coming.

- If Boba Fett and Cad Bane have a direct showdown, I'm not 100% sure Boba will come out ahead, but I've already talked about this above a few times; this series could also be "Lucasfilm giveth, and Lucasfilm taketh away". It wouldn't surprise me a bit; Fennec Shand may live on and take over his ship and stuff, we'll see.

- I think the rule now is: anytime there's an episode randomly directed by Dave Filoni, assume a character from the animated Clone Wars stuff is going to be brought to real-life/live action! Ahsoka Tano a year ago, Cad Bane now. Those animated shows were his baby, so if he's directing and co-writing an episode (as he did with this and The Jedi), it's probably a safe bet he's overseeing the transition to live-action of one of the characters he created (or played a big part in creating) on those animated shows. That's twice now, and the transition has been perfect. Ahsoka looks exactly like she should, and Cad Bane looks like Clint Eastwood possessed by a demon...doesn't get much scarier/more threatening than that!

- That planet Luke is training Grogu on is beautiful; even the CG work on Grogu is better; he's hopping around and doing vaguely Jedi stuff throughout, so he's not just sitting in one place or slowly walking around now.

- Two green lightsabers: Luke's and, in the closing seconds, Yoda's.

- Mando's new ship looks cool, and we saw it several times...both in space and daylight in-atmosphere/ground level. Still not sure how practical it is for his line of work, but he looks cool flying it. It's a total hot-rod/muscle car that suits the character. Cobb Vanth was impressed by it, asking "is that a Naboo starfighter?". Going back to earlier above, if Grogu does choose Mando over Luke, then that former little astromech compartment (now with a glass dome) is absolutely the perfect place for Grogu to sit and ride around with "daddy". Now that we've established that Mando seeing Grogu will make things tougher for both, we either a) never see Grogu again (if he chooses to be a Jedi), or he's back for season 3 and all that build-up and "returning him to his own kind" across two seasons of The Mandalorian was just a big yank/McGuffin. I honestly don't know which way they'll go...my gut says Grogu choose Mando, but I think it makes for a better story if he stays with Luke; maybe when he gets a bit older/experienced he and Mando can see each other and it won't be so hard on either? This show (and the sequels) is making me see the Jedi in a different way, though...they were arrogant and lost the picture. I don't think detachment and all that is something to strive for; Luke blatantly gave Grogu a choice: choose the armor and rejoin Mando, or choose the lightsaber and train to be a Jedi. It's sad that he can't do both. But I guess that's where the drama and conflict come in. Grogu, having witnessed the horrors of Order 66 firsthand, simply may not want that life, after seeing what happened to the Jedi. Maybe he's thinking "I'm putting a big bullseye on my back becoming one of these people; maybe I'm better off flying around with that guy with the silver armor? We had a lot of fun...I got to eat frogs and cookies!"

- This was the second really good, satisfying episode in a row...and the title character was barely seen. This show has been so uneven, and only picked up once it became The Mandalorian, season 2.5, these past two episodes

- The visuals in this episode - the lush green, watery planet where Luke and Grogu are, contrasted with the dry, dusty spaghetti Western scenes on Tatooine - were amazing; this show looks great!

I guess that's about it. Another cracking, action/info-filled episode, every bit as enjoyable as last week's! I couldn't be any more pumped for season 3 of The Mandalorian...we're getting an awesome taste of what's to come, these past two episodes!

[psmith2.0]

Good grief, that might've been the most Star Wars-iest thing I've seen in a long, long time.

Makes me wonder what they've got in store for the finale next week!

There was no real showdown with the Pykes, but, aside from that, this episode actually felt more like a season finale, the way they left a couple of things hanging/unresolved (the way shows tend to do in their season finale).

Maybe they're clearing all this other stuff out of the way so next week can just be a one-hour "fight the Pykes" episode/adventure? Because they're been teasing that for three straight episodes now, while taking two weeks' worth of detours. Satisfying, fun detours, mind you. But I'm starting to feel a little sorry for Boba Fett/Temuera Morrison.

"Hey, I didn't sign up to be in a show I'm not even on! Hellloooo...whose name is in the title?!"

[turtle]

The fact that I'm working my way slowly through the Clone Wars now I REALLY enjoyed this show again. It really was more Star Wars than I've seen in a long time.

I'm not sure what I think about Luke being in it other than timelines and this was probably the best representation of his younger self they've done. Seeing Ahsoka in it again was cool. It really is shaping up for a good "showdown" but clearly they are setting up future series as well. ~50 minutes isn't long to take out a syndicate taking over a planet.

[Bryson]

Although I very much enjoyed the Grogu training with Luke sequence, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was in the wrong show...

I was, at least partially, joking about BOBF being Mandalorian 2.5, but to be honest it seems like even the show itself has lost interest in Boba Fett. These are some truly great sequences but the way they have emerged is...curious.

[psmith2.0]

I thought it was a hoot how all Boba did in this latest episode is glance over at Mando and give the most "how much can I nod in acknowledgement without actually moving my head" greeting ever caught on film.

"Does he know the camera is on him?"

That is all he did in this episode. Fennec Shand was doing all the talking/stage-setting. Boba was just standing there, probably depressed that his plan is hinging on a huge monkey and a Nick at Nite sitcom band of teens on 1950's scooters. No wonder he could barely manage a nod/smile to Mando.

Yeah, my initial fears of this show - shared way back in late 2021 in the build-up to the December 29 premiere - seem to have played out. Someone thought this story required a multi-episode series to tell. And, to fill all that space, it's been padded with a lot of meandering, pointless stuff.

Flashdance lady? What did she do/bring to any of this? Those two Hutt twins? Same question. Boba and Fennec have walked down the street and into the mayor's office at least three times and nothing actually came of it. This entire show, until last week, has been about 74% padding. And it wasn't until the reappearance of a character everyone seems to like that things noticeably picked up and became 6x more watchable.

I know these things have an arc (I hope so) and were all filmed months and months ago, but the way it's playing out/coming across is that someone at Disney/Lucasfilm, after the fourth episode aired, said "holy smokes, this is grim...we need an episode with Mando, and, if at all possible Grogu and all our best cameos/guest appearance; nobody's buying this Boba Fett shit...".

And that's sad because, in the space of four episodes they've done exactly what I was fearing and managed to undo four decades of coolness/mystery/allure/fandom. Boba Fett should've never been more than a 2-3 episode guest in another person's show. And, come season three of The Mandalorian, I wouldn't mind seeing him pop up in 1-2 episodes. But this has been a complete bust-out. This show hasn't hit the way they thought it would, I guarantee you. Most are asking "WTF is even going on?", while others are like "I know his time in the pit changed him, but does he have to be such a do-nothing pussy now?".

I certainly didn't expect any of this. You pull that cover back too much and you risk wrecking everything that marked/sustained the character in fandom for 40+ years. They bit off too big a chunk, when they should've just had a Mandalorian nibble.

I'll be honest...all this kinda makes me fear/dread the upcoming other shows. Granted, Ahsoka has far more on-screen backstory and familiarity built up from all those Clone Wars episodes. She may fare better if they do it right. But, more than ever, I'd rather just see Disney/Lucasfilm put their resources and talent into making The Mandalorian the absolute best show it can be...everyone - Favreau, Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Rodriguez, etc. - focused 100% on one show. With all the guest stars and cameos that make sense, of course. I love seeing that. But they're going to spread themselves thin - nobody genuinely gives two shits about Cassian Andor. And, after this Boba Fett show, they may no longer give a full shit about Obi-Wan or Ahsoka if they're not careful.

They've got a gold mine in front of them. It already works. I think The Mandalorian, bumped to 12 episodes/three months a year, should be their primary focus. It's what they do best. It's where all the fun and "magic" are happening, IMO. And now that they seem to have better nailed that de-aging stuff, my gosh...that opens up some nice possibilities.

Those forgettable sequels - in their desire to use current old-ass Harrison Ford, Fisher and Hamill - probably set the saga TOO far ahead in the timeline. I think what The Mandalorian is doing, five or so years after the events of ROTJ, is where the interesting, sweet spot is. Nobody's turned into a disillusioned (Luke), back-to-their-old-ways (Han), single-minded workaholic (Leia) a-hole yet. We got the absolute worst of our beloved heroes in those sequels, because someone thought it would be cool/clever to "subvert expectations" and turn everything upside-down. If this show can tastefully (and with restraint) occasionally give us a glimpse of the Luke, Han and Leia we never got in 2015-2019, that will only make this show even more fun and occupy an even larger space in SW lore.

They just based half an episode - in daylight - around a CGI/deepfake character and it absolutely worked. Not once did I sit there going "oh man, that's pretty lame...they shouldn't be doing this!" While I don't want Luke & Co. popping up every time you turn around (that gets played-out and loses its punch; in fact, I don't want to see Luke for another year or so now, if at all), once a season (or, just once period) would be a nice reminder of "things were still good amongst these three, years after Endor and the fall of the Empire...". That's comforting to us OT dorks...

But, yeah...poor Boba Fett isn't even the star/focus of his own show at this point. He barely factored in/made a dent in episodes 1-4. And now he's been absent for two episodes in a row and I don't really see/hear anyone giving much of a rip. Ouch.

[drewprops]

This is end stage Boba Fett we're seeing.

They could easily go back and give us a series based in his prime.

...

[psmith2.0]

Since he's helmeted and all, of course.

And they could've done such a thing here, on this show, had they been thinking. Instead of having him escape the Sarlacc in the opening minutes of episode one, maybe that entire first episode could've been him in the pit, thinking/remembering/dreaming back on his life/adventures...stuff prior to The Empire Strikes Back, the things that put him on the map to where, years later, he winds up on that Star Destroyer listening to Vader (and, unfortunately, eventually in that pit as a result)? Then, at the end of the episode he comes to, decides "enough of this digesting nonsense" and fights his way out. That might've been a neat way to present it all? A proper flashback of his "glory days" which we never really got in two feature films (or a TV show with the character front-and-center, as it turns out).

They had a great opportunity to spend 45 minutes showing us a younger (10 or so years earlier) Boba in his prime, as his life kinda played out before his eyes as he was languishing in that pit.

Then episode two could've been a single, condensed Dances with Banthas story, post-Sarlacc, showing how the Sandpeople took him, taught him their ways, etc. And then, from episode 3-4 on, we're squarely in the present, he and Fennec doing their thing, etc.

They just structured this show kinda odd, IMO. As with Luke in the sequels, we've never been given Boba Fett in his younger, ruthless, reputation-making prime. The Mandalorian is making up for the Luke thing a bit, but this show could've done a similar thing with Boba Fett...they're obviously not against the use of flashbacks. They've just all been post-Sarlacc/Sandpeople-oriented.

But, going forward, I think they should just stay in the "present" (as established by The Mandalorian. Then there's room for Ahsoka, Boba, Cobb Vanth and all the rest. I'm tired of "go back and fill in all the blanks" stuff in Star Wars...they don't always do it well, and it strips away some of the mystery and all the things people have imagined in their own minds for decades.

Unfortunately, with this show probably not setting anything on fire as they might've hoped, I think the most we can hope/expect re: Boba Fett is him popping up in The Mandalorian from time to time. I don't think there's another series in the works at this point. We probably would've heard something by now. "Thanks to the overwhelming success of The Book of Boba Fett, we're happy to announce...". If they were to do that now, I think they're hear the biggest "meh" ever...unless they do what you suggest. "We know older, softer Boba wasn't what you were after; now we're just going to show him about 10-15 years younger, killing the shit out of everyone who crosses his path...Space John Wick, if you will."

[kscherer]

OK, first thoughts:

- I've forgotten what show I'm watching. Is it The Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian Season 3, or Star Wars Episode 7: Erase and Redux?

- AHSOKA!!!! Can't ever go wrong with her!

- R2 Day-toe-ah!

- Luke, Luuuu-uuke. Now, where has he run off to this time?

Fun episode, with lots of cute Grogu training silliness. And what a cliffhanger. Are they setting up The Mandalorian Season 3? Me thinks Grogu wants to be with his buddy, and Luke will be very disappointed.

Speaking of Luke, now there's some fun filler that we've all been wondering about, and why Kathleen Kennedy didn't hire these guys to do that Sequel mess.

More to come. Got to read the spoilers up-thread to catch up on your all's input.

Edit: What Paul said in his novelette above. I agree with all of it. And I'll add this bit: Cad Bane is absolutely the most brilliantly costumed evil dude in live action history! What a scary-ass Mofo! Holy cow they nailed that character's appearance just brilliantly! I don't think there's ever been a bad guy I've wanted to see more of, and may actually be rooting for. If he takes out Boba and gets this over with, then power to him.

Ahsoka looked fantastic. Her appearance is clearly all about setting up her series. And, for just about two seconds, it almost felt like there was going to be a little romance between her and Luke. Almost.

The cinematography in the last two episodes has been the best work so far from this group of artists. Absolutely, mind-blowingly great! The CGI, the music, the drama, the costumes and characters are all so Star Wars that, damn it, where were these people 8 years ago!

So good!

Oh, and I'm so glad Grogu found a new way to use those training droid things. Soccer, anyone?

—

I have no idea what happened to Boba Fett, but they've missed the mark on him. There's no real substance in the character, or in Fennec Shand, or in the biker kids, or anyone else other than the Pikes, who needed only a couple minutes to blow a place up to remind us they're the "bad" guys in this mobster war. Right now, I think I just want to get Boba Fett over with so we can move onto the characters that everyone clearly loves: Mando, Grogu, Ahsoka, Luke, Cad Bane. Let's see where their stories take us.

[psmith2.0]

Here's my thinking re: Grogu (backed up by what Luke himself even said...that he's remembering more than Luke has been actually training/teaching him).

Grogu was there in the Coruscant Jedi temple (right?) during that Order 66 horror. Someone, obviously, picked him up and got him away to safety.

I know The Mandalorian depicts Grogu as a cooing, unaware infant/toddler. But as he remembers his past, what's to say that he wasn't already super far along in his Jedi training two decades prior. When you factor in the age thing, it makes even more sense. Little Grogu would've been in his 20's during all that, plenty of time to be a trained, somewhat-seasoned Jedi.

I think that could be the ultimate hook and "oh wow" reveal. I do think, simply because Lucasfilm was caught off-guard and didn't realize how big that pairing would ultimately be, they're making it to where Grogu does choose Mando. But, as his skills/powers return, it'll be less "Mando protecting a baby" and Grogu will be more of a Robin to Mando's Batman...quite capable of protecting himself, once he fully remembers/comes to terms with his past.

I think he's just got a block right now, from all he saw.

I do think there's going to be some big "holy cow" reveal/revelation coming re: Grogu at some point in 2022, on some show or another (The Mandalorian, or perhaps even Ahsoka's show).

I think there's way more to the little guy than we're seeing/realizing right now. Maybe Luke can help with that and his "training" is more that...unlocking/remembrering what he already knows, vs. starting from square one? Luke and Ahsoka say Grogu is to the first student at Luke's new academy. But what if neither of them are aware that maybe Grogu "graduated" ages ago, and is farther along than anyone ever expected?

How neat of a "hook" would that be? Still little and adorable, but absolutely proficient with a lightsaber and all the other Jedi/Force stuff, once he reclaims all those old memories and works through his trauma and blocks?

But I do love the idea of him truly training with Luke Skywalker, and being the first student there. I just wish there was some way to do both...he gets his little Beskar chainmail tunic and Yoda's lightsaber. He learns the ways of the Force, but he's allowed to see his friend occasionally.

What a harsh, sad choice Luke presented. Both are so appealing. However, knowing what happened at Luke's academy - and what it ultimately led to for Luke - having Grogu opt to go back to Mando might be the smart decision here? We, as viewers, know what happened. Does Grogu eventually? Always in motion, is the future. But what if Grogu somehow catches a horrifying glimpse of what's to become of the temple, Luke, etc. at some point? And he's like "I'm outta here...I'll take my chances with daddy and all his cool friends! Some of them are quite pretty too!"

Anything's possible.

[drewprops]

Cad Bane's hat was too small, in my opinion.


...

[kscherer]

I like that thought, Paul. It would make sense.

Also, Drew, you mean hat diameter? I thought it was a bit small, too, but maybe it worked in that sort of western setting?

[psmith2.0]

Is it really wide in the animated stuff? Maybe it didn’t translate to live-action? Too “cartoonish”, literally? I don’t have much familiarity with the character.

But he genuinely gave me the willies when he talked. Clint Eastwood possessed by the devil will do that. 🤠😈

[kscherer]

And those teeth … yipes!

The entire character was brought to life quite well. Another Dave Filoni character. So, with Ahsoka and Bane looking the way they do, it's because their original creator knows them so well and was given the modern tools to bring them to live action. So well done. But Drew is right. If you check out the Wiki entry on him, the hat is too narrow.

But!

Cad Bane was created for the Clone Wars series and was always a bit cartoony, so maybe this representation is Filoni's original thought? I'll let it stand.

As far as the voice is concerned, it was pretty well spot-on! Low and gritty.

[psmith2.0]

Well, tonight is it. The last time (for now) I have to wake up at 3am so clue-starved, oblivitard YouTubers, bloggers and so-called professional writers/reviewers don't post content with spoilers in the headline and editorial/thumbnail art (before you even see their opening paragraph - and worthless at this point - "spoiler alert").

Idiots.

So, after last week, I truly have no idea what to expect. They're off the rails so much, Boba Fett-wise, that part of me is almost expecting an entire episode with Ahsoka, Bo Katan, Moff Gideon and Thrawn. Wouldn't be any less "out of nowhere" than the two previous episodes.

I assume there's some sort of final showdown with the Pyke syndicate, but I honestly don't know at this point. They may very well go for the trifecta of a title character not being in his own show. And if last week is any indication, I suppose anyone could randomly show up in this final episode. I discount/poo-poo nothing after the past two weeks.

I've already got my alarm set for 3am. It's times like this I'd love an iPad mini. I bring my MacBook into my bed, prop it on on my knees and a large hardcover book (so it doesn't sink down into the comforter and block the fans) and watch via earbuds so I can hear everything really well. That's been my 3am Wednesday ritual for six weeks now.

Glad tonight is the last one for a while, although I do enjoy the entire experience.

This show has been such an odd mish-mash...tone, pacing, detours, the unexpected, etc. Started out super slow/boring, picked up slightly once things settled into "present day" (Boba and Fennec, Mos Espa, the Pykes, etc.), and the covers really blew off two weeks ago once Boba's story took a backseat.

Favreau might be setting up a huge troll/yank...tonight could be an entire flashback episode of Boba carving a stick for 52 minutes (in honor of his fallen tribe), and all the Pyke/Cad Bane/Grogu stuff gets resolved/revisited in season three of The Mandalorian.

Again, I discount/poo-poo nothing. How could I?!

[kscherer]

Right there with ya!

Not gonna do the 3am thing (Wednesday is sleeping-in day), but the kid and I will be all over it tomorrow night!

And, yeah, no idea. I half expect George Lucas to make a cameo, standing around talking about the past with a bunch of drunken bar-brawlers reminiscing about their lost cantina.

[psmith2.0]

I love knowing nothing (no jokes, I’m talking specifically about these shows ). They really keep a tight wrap on these shows because every episode - especially the last two - have been completely raw/new and I had no idea what was coming (and I don’t watch any rumor/speculation/leak videos on YouTube leading up to the new episode).

I’m sure there are those who know what happens in tonight’s episode, but as long as they don’t post the info in their headlines or artwork/thumbnails, then I won’t go seeking it out.

Fair enough.

I’m a little pumped, I don’t mind saying. I figure we’ll get a few things wrapped up/resolved, but I also assume we’re going to get cliffhangers/reveals that will dovetail into both the upcoming Mando season 3 and Ahsoka’s show. I can easily imagine the epilogue of tonight’s show being a nice Ahsoka tease/setup (with an attached airdate - “SUMMER 2022” or whatever - which is more than we have now). Even if it’s just a Thrawn reveal or something like that. “She’ll know where to find me soon enough…”, etc.

There’s no way, after last week’s cameo-fest, they’re not gonna fully bring it tonight and unleash the goodies.

It makes no sense to happen tonight - the stories don’t really cross at this point - but you know good and well we’re going to get a scene, somewhere at some point, of Luke and Ahsoka fighting together, side-by-side. If people lost their shit last week at just the two of them standing next to a lake and talking, imagine the response when we see two white lightsabers ignite, and then joined by a green one. You know it, I know it. That’s something we’ll get in 2022, mark my words. He’ll show up to help her, or vice versa, at some point during her show, I bet.

[turtle]

I'm working hard to not get spoilers either but also not starting at 0300 to see it before the word gets out.

I avoid this thread and most of the blogs/RSS feeds about it. At least as much as realistic.

I will say, I'm pretty excited to see what happens this episode. After the last two I have to believe it will be awesome. Maybe I'm going to be disappointed, but I'm willing to chance it. With the future shows due to release I'm sure it will tie in well to all of those spinoff shows.

[kscherer]

I'm super excited about this one. Now, if only Paul would quit teasing me with his pipe-dreaming.

Ahsoka and Luke fighting side-by-side?

The two best, most anticipated characters in the history of the franchise chopping heads off together? YES!