Why That Mandalorian Episode Was Necessary For The Book of Boba Fett
Star Wars‘ new series The Book of Boba Fett has taken a total detour from its own titular premise for an episode of Disney’s The Mandalorian. Mando gets a huge variety of status quo changes and upgrades for the third season, but that particular detour in the character and its narrative has gone on to spark a fierce debate in the Star Wars fandom. Many people are now barging in on how the best Book of Boba Fett episode is the one that has absolutely nothing to do with Boba Fett himself – but this is quite the case.
Now, as we know, there’s a distinct thematic reason why all these makers of Star Wars TV had chosen this side-story of The Mandalorian in The Book of Boba Fett – here’s why:
In the “Chapter 5: The Return of The Mandalorian” Din Djarin is in a strange limbo: he has been kicked out of his Mandalorian clan for the “crime” he committed by taking off his helmet in front of others (while on the mission to save Baby Yoda in the second season). Meanwhile, Mando already won the Darksaber in the battle against Moff Gideon – a sword stands as a symbol of leadership in the culture of the Mandalorians. Armorer tells Mando that he can be only redeemed in the waters under the mines of Mandalore – the same mines that have been destroyed by the Empire. To explain in short: Mando finally has the chance to change from being the black sheep of the clan to the savior who gathers all the scattered clans back to Mandalore.
Mando is requested to re-team with Boba Fett and Fennect Shand at the very end of the episode and he goes on to take the job at no cost. Now, this would have been easy to just have Book of Boba Fett bring in Din Djarin’s “muscle” like a crossover novelty – however, instead, Star Wars looks like it’s building something more significant.
“The Return of the Mandalorian” succeeds in building a very serious thematic bridge between Din Djarin and Boba Fett: one that totally needs to be established in Star Wars Universe franchise. Both these characters are quite legendary in their own ways, being Bounty Hunters distinguished by their Mandalorian armor; while at the same time, the two are now “black sheep” that donut really belong to the Mandalorian culture but still manage to have deep ties to it.
The Season 2 of The Mandalorian re-introduced Boba Fett by retconning his father, Jango Fett, into a Mandalorian warrior. The Book of Boba Fett has explored Boba’s arc of finally getting a “second life” where he views having a family as a serious need. However, getting that same family has proven to be a tough quest for him. Din Djarin has also come to learn the value of family from his time spent with Grogu, and now he has to rediscover his right place in any family, through a few arduous quests or fights.
By aligning these two Star Wars characters in purpose, Star Wars has succeeded in creating a fertile ground for a new union between The Mandalorian and Boba Fett, as the bigger story of Mandalore and its people continues to move forward in the franchise.
