The Book of Boba Fett was highly anticipated thanks to the success of its predecessor, The Mandalorian. Both The Book of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian were created by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, the brilliant minds behind the animated Star Wars universe, and The Mandalorian quickly became one of the most popular and talked about live-action Star Wars projects of all time. From its nuanced characters, impeccable use of practical effects, Western-genre influence to its epic story, The Mandalorian injected a well-needed breath of life into the lifeless franchise.
Through The Mandolarian, fans could reconnect with their love of Star Wars, and masterminds Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni could introduce characters both new and old - like Boba Fett, Ahsoka Tano, Cad Bane, and many others. After the resounding love and support of Boba Fett's cameo in The Mandalorian, the heads at Disney chose to give him his own show on Disney+, which was a big mistake. Huge. Boba Fett was (again, was) one of the most beloved and intriguing characters in the Star Wars canon, but after his show, I think his legacy has been tarnished. From films to video games, there have been many failed attempts to explore the character ever since his first appearance in the Star Wars Holiday Special (1978). While Boba Fett has had a solid fan base, after watching his stand-alone series, I question if this is the content they were looking for?
So, by now you might have gathered that I wasn't a fan of the show, but what specifically didn't I like? The writing. The first four episodes of The Book of Boba Fett had fans like myself (rightly) outraged due to the absurd lack of story. From the second episode, it became crystal clear that there was a lack of story and direction for the entire season, which ultimately made the show feel deflated and pointless. Unlike The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett failed to offer an interesting (and fresh) story that added depth and intrigue to the world of Star Wars. Instead, the first four are wasted thanks to pointless subplots and insignificant details.
Because the first four episodes aren't told in a linear/chronological order, the first half of the season often feels disjointed and unsure of itself. In many cases, the story wastes precious time on pointless subplots instead of developing a solid plot that keeps you hooked. For comparison, in both seasons of The Mandalorian, the writers manage to successfully introduce characters, plot points, weapons, places and information that adds substance to the season. Thanks to good writing, every minor detail in The Mandalorian is critical and noteworthy because it adds depth to the overarching story. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Boba Fett, as it was an inconsistent mess that lacked any form of depth or nuance.
I can hear you saying, "but surely Boba had some good moments." Not on his own, he didn't. All of his key moments were overshadowed by another character, so his thunder was stolen time and time again. A prime example of this is episodes 5 to 7, as Boba gets sidelined in his own show to make way for The Mandalorian Season 2.5.
Am I honestly complaining about this shift? Yes and no. Boba's season was absolutely shocking up until episode 5, so for it to pivot back to the characters and story we know (and love) was a sigh of relief. However, I would've loved Boba to have his own story that was full of lore and action. But instead, we got a half baked idea that didn't add any value to the character, his background, or Star Wars as a franchise.
To conclude, while the final episodes of The Book of Boba Fett are essential viewing for the future of The Mandalorian, the show in its entirety was a laughable waste of time that should've been sent to a galaxy far, far away. Its lack of plot or direction resulted in a lame story that tainted the mystery and integrity of the character