Review | The Book Of Boba Fett: Chapter 6 (From The Desert Comes A Stranger)

Dave Filoni has delivered nothing short of magic. And that alone makes this chapter of The Book Of Boba Fett THE television event of the last decade.

After last week’s episode which sidelined the legendary title character, it’s time to return to the galaxy far, far away in The Book Of Boba Fett. But after the return of The Mandalorian and the Pyke Syndicate moving in on Fett’s territory; can the penultimate episode set up the finale we are all hoping for? Will Boba Fett finally banish his new benevolent side to the sands of Tatooine and rediscover his lethal edge? let’s find out.

FILONI MAGIC

First off, let me just say that this chapter isn’t about The Book Of Boba Fett. This chapter is pure unadulterated Star Wars, in all its glory. The episode was written and directed by Dave Filoni, and as expected, he has crafted one of the finest pieces of Star Wars entertainment ever committed to film. It delivers everything a fan could ever ask for and delivers on a legacy almost four decades in the making. But sadly, we are forced to chalk this chapter up as another where the title character is reduced to a bit-part. And the series suffers as a result.

RETURN TO MOS PELGO

Now to be clear, I will not be diving into spoiler territory here. Even though the entire episode is literally a SPOILER. So I’ll keep it as loose as I can. But needless to say, this episode taps into the essence of George Lucas’ masterwork and expands upon it gloriously. After a brief return to Mos Pelgo and reunion with an old friend, the episode follows Din Djarin on his quest to visit Grogu. Last we saw the little alien he was in the arms of Luke Skywalker about to embark on his Jedi training. And this chapter picks up where we left off.

What follows is an adventure on three fronts; with some aspects rooted in Mos Pelgo, and others following Boba as he gathers his forces for the coming battle. But the majority of the episode follows Din Djarin and his quest to deliver his gift to Grogu. It’s a bold story choice, but Fett is omitted for the most part. Which still doesn’t sit well with me.

DIN DJARIN 

Much in the same way as last week’s episode, Chapter six follows Din Djarin to a peaceful jungle world where Grogu is believed to be residing. We witness him meeting some familiar faces and deepening his connection with Grogu. But as time progresses, the episode moves away from Mando and focuses on the other characters on display. And they alone make this episode the ultimate Star Wars experience. One that will be remembered long after the MandoVerse has come to an end.

The episode also serves as a bridge between the trilogies. Aspects from the Prequels, Original Trilogy, The Clone Wars, and even the Sequel Trilogy are there for all to see. And there is much to digest. I suspect multiple viewings will be necessary to truly come to terms with the masterwork on display. And that is a reward in itself.

SCORE

Once again, Joseph Shirley is on hand to deliver a masterful score that harnesses many of the best themes of John Williams and Ludwig Göransson. It is a testament to the composer that he has taken to the galaxy far, far away so seamlessly. His pulse pounding and at times, emotional score is one to be cherished and will become part of the fabric of the MandoVerse moving forward. And I cannot wait to see where his Star Wars career takes him next.

THE CAST

Normally, I would be quick to cite Temuera Morrison’s noteworthy performance as a standout moment of the episode. But sadly, as eluded to before, Boba Fett is largely omitted from this episode. However, there are several standout performances to celebrate. And let me just say that the addition of YouTube deep-faker Shamook to the ILM visual effects team has paid immediate dividends. His work has delivered some breathtaking results. And if this is a sign of things to come, then anything is possible for the future of storytelling.

VERDICT

After last week’s episode largely omitted Boba Fett, I was desperate to have him brought back to the fore. But sadly, I was disappointed again. And as the twin suns begin to set on the series, we are left to reconcile the fact that Boba Fett has been largely sidelined from his own series. And that is criminal.  However, instead of feeling like he was short-changed like last week; this week we were rewarded with an episode that delivered the very essence of Star Wars. In the finest possible way.

What we are left with is an entry that will be remembered as an adventure big enough to rival the biggest movies in the entire saga. Something many of us never thought we’d see. And the payoff is bigger in scale than anything we had dared to dream of. In the end, Dave Filoni has delivered nothing short of magic. And that alone makes this chapter of The Book Of Boba Fett THE television event of the last decade.

The Book Of Boba Fett is now streaming on Disney Plus.

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