The Book of Boba Fett episode 7 recap: a fittingly muddled season finale

Date:
Wed, 09 Feb 2022 15:31:44 +0000

Description:
Street battles, angry cowboys and less enthralling surprises in The Book of Boba Fett's season finale.

FULL STORY ======================================================================About this episode

- Episode 7 (of 7), Chapter 7: In the Name of Honor

- Written by Jon Favreau

- Directed by Robert Rodriguez



Spoilers follow for The Book of Boba Fett.

After two episodes of complete silence, Boba Fett has finally spoken but its debatable whether the character's rediscovery of his voice is worthwhile.

The storm thats been brewing in Mos Espas criminal underworld has finally exploded into life, and the shoot-out on the citys streets is every bit the blaze of blaster fire and Mandalorian fighting moves you may have predicted.

Its also, though, disappointingly static and uninventive. In fact, with few genuine surprises across the episodes overstretched running time, it feels like the Star Wars shows supply of wow factor on Mando, Luke and Baby Yodas exploits was used up in its episodic predecessors.

As the first instalment devoid of flashbacks, or narrative diversions in the company of other characters there are also significantly fewer references to previous events in Star Wars canon In The Name of Honor focuses entirely on the former bounty hunters efforts to rule Mos Espa.

Disappointingly, you cant escape the feeling that there was never much of a plan for the characters seasonal arc. This finale is a tale of underpowered villains, telegraphed plot points (rampaging Rancor, were looking at you) and an over-reliance on the season finale formula thats previously been seen in The Mandalorian. The difference here is that, unlike when Mando rallied his friends to protect Grogu,the motivations of Boba Fett and his associates are much harder to define or root for. It turns out Jawas are much better at scavenging than hiding. (Image credit: 2021 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.)

The main reason for that is Fett himself. While his status as a strong,
silent type means weve never gotten to know him, in this show hes a mass of contradictions.

It seems particularly implausible, for instance, that a man who carried the (now seemingly undeserved) reputation as the most ruthless bounty hunter in the galaxy should go through such a significant reinvention after an extended stay with the Tuskens in the Dune Sea.

Where Mando would stick around to fight a lost cause is entirely consistent with the characters history this is the way, after all Fetts new-found respect for his charges feels like a cynical attempt to turn a dark side character into a hero suitable for family audiences. After all, anyone who refuses to negotiate with murderers wouldnt have got very far in Jabbas crime empire.

Indeed, Fetts interactions with former mercenary associate Cad Bane the
shows best antagonist by at least 12 parsecs are an unfortunate reminder of the seedy underworld The Book of Boba Fett initially promised to inhabit. That's before the title character morphed into an unlikely man of the people, though, who offers soothing soaks in a bacta tank to his colleagues. Fennec Shand finally gets to prove her status as a master assassin. (Image credit: 2021 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.)

If Lucasfilm is serious about Fetts shift to the light side, he deserved a better Big Bad than the Pykes. As moderately threatening graduates of The Clone Wars , they always felt like a front for a bona fide criminal
mastermind who, it turns out, doesnt actually exist.

Does anyone really believe those guys could send a pair of Hutts running okay, technically slithering from their claim to Tatooines spice trade? When the Pyke boss talks about protecting his profit margins, its strangely reminiscent of the much-ridiculed tax disputes that caused everything to go south in The Phantom Menace.

The numerous Pyke soldiers, meanwhile, are as disposable and effective as Stormtroopers. Its bizarre, then, that a pair of master tacticians like Boba Fett and Mando should manoeuvre themselves into a position where they can be shot at from all angles. Even armed with jetpacks and missile launchers, they must be aware that, in Star Wars, having the high ground is everything.

Bringing a pair of souped-up battle droids into the fray is clearly supposed to spice things up (pun wholly intended). But, even with their enhanced firepower and forcefields, its hard to forget how easily dispatched they were in the prequel trilogy. It says something that the western-stylized Cad Bane should be the scariest threat in the episode, tormenting Boba Fett with his mix of quick shooting and laconic, cowboy-style taunts. If only remarks like youve got your fathers blood pumping through your veins... youre a killer generated the necessary inner conflict in Fett. Boba and Fennec realize
bounty hunting is much easier than city administration. (Image credit: 2021 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.)

Banes death by gaffi stick ultimately feels like a waste of a character who could have a massive future in the Star Wars universe luckily, the way the camera lingers on the flashing lights on his chest suggests there may be a
way back. Or it may just be a symbol of the end of Bobas own life.

The ease with which Fennec Shand finally proving the master assassin on her business card is justified dispatches the bad guys is also disappointing. Surely this was calling out for a (family-friendly) version of Michael Corleones elaborate succession of hits at the end of The Godfather?

But if theres one thing that defines this season finale, its the shortage of surprises. Fett riding his (almost tame) Rancor into battle has been inevitable since the creature first arrived at the gates of Jabbas Palace if it hadnt come to pass, wed have been looking at a full-on Checkhovs Gun scenario. Life-saving interventions from the Freetown militia and Fennec also have a feeling of inevitability, like the anticipation of a joke building to
a punchline. THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT RECAPS (Image credit: 2021 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.)

Relive the story so far with The Book of Boba Fett episode 1 , The Book of Boba Fett episode 2 , The Book of Boba Fett episode 3 , The Book of Boba Fett episode 4 , The Book of Boba Fett episode 5 and The Book of Boba Fett episode 6 .

And where The Mandalorian season 2 finale gifted us a Luke Skywalker cameo
and introduced a whole new TV show, all The Book of Boba Fett can muster is a shot of Cobb Vanth in Bobas bacta tank , as the Modifier who restored Fennec to health waits to go to work. Its great that Vanth lives to fight another day, but it really cant compete for impact.

The one genuine surprise moment is Baby Yodas arrival in an X-Wing piloted by R2-D2. Considering the significance of Grogus Jedi vs Mando choice last week, his turning up on Peli Mottos doorstep decked out in his beskar chainmail
is a wonderfully understated beat in an episode that could rarely be accused of subtlety. Theres also some memorable moments when the Child uses the Force to leap into Mandos arms, when he falls asleep next to the Rancor, and when Mando takes him for a spin in his new spacecraft.

All of which illustrates the most disappointing aspect of The Book of Boba Fett that all the best bits of the show that bears the former bounty hunters name are actually The Mandalorian in slightly different clothing. Our verdict The Rancor does its best King Kong impression. (Image credit: 2021 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.)

In the Name of Honor is an appropriately muddled finale to a mixed bag of a
TV show. While it has its standout moments most of them involving Mando and Baby Yoda there are precious few moments to get a Star Wars fans blood pumping. The episode even fails to capitalise the open goal of a Rancor tearing chunks out of a souped-up battle droid.

It also highlights the writers struggles to get a handle on the protagonist and who they want him to be as Disney Plus ' corner of the Star Wars galaxy evolves . At the end of seven episodes, has anything weve learned in The Book of Boba Fett enhanced the reputation of a character whose iconic status has been based on his four decades as an enigma? No, is the short answer.

If the show does get a second season, serious questions need to be asked
about whether and how they can enhance the character. Because, right now, its biggest legacy is the way its teed up Mando's third season to perfection.
And, on the evidence of what weve seen there, Din Djarin and Grogus return is going to be a blast. Force facts "You've gotta ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk? (Image credit: 2021 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM.
All Rights Reserved.) When Cad Bane tells Mayor Mok Shaiz, That all depends
on how much your two stomachs can bear, hes giving us an impromptu lesson in Ithorian anatomy. A BD droid similar to Peli Mottos appears in the Jedi: Fallen Order game. Lukes famous X-Wing fighter gets a cameo. Later on in Star Wars canon, it will take an extended dip in the seas of Ahch-To, as Luke cuts himself off from the Force. In The Rise of Skywalker , Rey pilots the ship to the Sith homeworld of Exegol. Theres an unlikely reunion when R2-D2 lands in Peli Mottos hangar bay its almost definitely the first time R2s seen R5-D4 since the pair were captive on a Jawa Sandcrawler in A New Hope. R5s infamously bad motivator led to Uncle Owen and Luke buying R2 instead changing the course of galactic history. If that isnt the Quacta calling the Stifling slimy as spoken by Cad Bane repeats a saying Boba Fett himself uttered to Koska Reeves in The Mandalorian season 2 finale. Mok Shaizs Twilek majordomo was educated on the city planet of Coruscant, the seat of Old Republic (and later Imperial) government that features heavily in the prequel trilogy. Theres some familiar sound effects from Return of the Jedi in the episode, notably the squeals of the Gamorreans as they tumble off a cliff,
the roars of Boba Fetts pet Rancor, and the Wilhelm Scream when one Pyke Syndicate soldier is sent flying by the Rancor. Theres also some familiar
bits of dialogue. The majordomos offer to dispense with the pleasantries recycles a Darth Vader line from Return of the Jedi, while Peli Motto calling a droid a bucket of bolts echoes Princess Leias description of the Millennium Falcon in The Empire Strikes Back. When Cad Bane says, Ive known you a long time, Boba, its something of an understatement. Along with Aurra Sing and Dengar, Bane was one of the bounty hunters who mentored the young Fett after the death of his father, Jango. Consider this my final lesson is a reference to their master/pupil relationship. Using the word tablet to describe a portable computer feels conspicuously like the language of planet Earth. Traditionally, similar devices in the Star Wars galaxy have been known as datapads. As mentioned by the majordomo, Oba-Diah is the Pyke homeworld. Not to be confused with the Transformer Scorponok, the two Scorponek annihilator droids are a larger version of the Droidekas that appeared in the prequel trilogy in canon, both models were products of the Colicoid Creation Nest. Wookieepedia suggests theyre based on concept art created for Attack of the Clones. In canon, they apparently came into Imperial possession at the end of the Clone Wars. The question is, how did the Pykes get their hands on them? Were they in league with an Imperial remnant like Moff Gideons? One of the Pyke uses sleemo as an insult. Anakin Skywalker also says the word in The Phantom Menace it means slimeball in Huttese. The Rancor climbing up a Mos Espa tower is a clear nod to the original 1933 King Kong. Beskar not only repels blaster fire and light/darksabers its also pretty useful against
Rancor jaws. The meiloorun fruit Boba Fett picks up from a street vendor in Mos Espa has appeared in Star Wars before theyre the favorite snack of Hera Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels.

The Book of Boba Fett is available to stream on DIsney Plus.



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