Review: Boba Fett Has His Day in Promising 'The Book Of Boba Fett'

The second "Star Wars" television series created by Jon Favreau – "Star Wars" fandom's new savior – is a look at one of the most popular characters of George Lucas' franchise.

You may recall that in the original trilogy's final chapter "Return of the Jedi," bounty hunter Boba Fett was unceremoniously catapulted into the gaping mouth of the dreaded Sarlaac – an enormous worm like creature who lives in the sand and digests its prey over a thousand years.

The new series, "The Book of Boba Fett," does double duty with telling the tales of how Fett was able to save himself from the Sarlaac and what happened to him afterwards, but also the continuing story of how he came in control of Jabba the Hutt's dynasty – an event that occurred at the end of "The Mandalorian: Season Two."

Starring Temura Morrison – the man who has played Fett since the prequel days – Fett heals himself in a horizontal bacta tank while having nightmares about his time following his escape from the Sarlaac pit. This involves Jawas and Tusken Raiders, holdovers from the original trilogy days and a thrill for fans of the series.

When he's not dreaming of the past, Fett hears the pleas of the locals and accepts their offerings. Except one, of course. Mayor Mok Shaiz's Majhordomo (David Pasquesi) comes to offer a "welcome" as the Mayor's formal offering. He then suggests Fett offer something to the Mayor in return. Prodded by his right-hand gal Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen), Fett will have none of that. While the Majordomo promises that there could be trouble because of his refusal, the two make their way through town where Fett states he will rule with respect, while Fennec insists they should be ruling by fear.

The two go to the local cantina owned and run by Garsa Fwip (Jennifer Beals) who is surprised at Fett's new position, but accepts it graciously. (Or does she?) These two are basically "the mob," but, you know, doing it kind of nicely. That is until they are attacked and a fight/chase ensues. But who is behind it?

The first episode of the fan-baiting series premiere does have lots of eye candy for the "Star Wars" faithful from the Sarlaac itself to Jabba's palace, and even a cameo by our favorite cantina band. It follows "The Mandalorian's" pacing with fan service mixed with fight scenes combined with a bit of plot. Here we seem to be setting up a rivalry between the mysterious Mayor and Fett himself.

As directed by Tarantino pupil Robert Rodriguez, the series has the same epic feel as "The Mandalorian," which will attract fans of that show, but to be fair there needs to be a bit more. For some reason, Disney seems to like to keep these "Star Wars" series earthbound on desert planets. (There were two in the sequel films, and the "Star Wars" land at the theme parks is yet another.) It was when "The Mandalorian" went spacebound and to Ashoka's planet that things got really interesting and felt more like "Star Wars." Not that the sand planets don't, but let's get some space battles going.

That said, "Disney" is finally realizing that as much as they keep insisting there are so many stories to tell in the "Star Wars" universe, fans love the original trilogy so much that they want to keep things in that realm – or within the Skywalker saga time period. They want that familiarity of the things they grew up loving to be front and center. When Luke came back at the end of "The Mandalorian," Season Two, fans went wild. When there was a lightsaber battle with Ashoka, the internet was abuzz. These are the things the fans want, and, call it fan-service if you want, but this is what makes "Star Wars" so special: The familiar visuals, the familiar themes, and the simplicity of good versus evil.

While "The Mandalorian" has another season coming soon, fans are eagerly awaiting the "Obi-Wan" series which promises not only more Ewan MacGregor as the famous Jedi, but the return of Darth Vader. It should be epic.

For now, we get Boba Fett finally having his day. While barely a blip in the original trilogy, he now has a story all his own, and, so far, it looks like a promising one.

New episodes of "The Book of Boba Fett" air on Disney+ every Wednesday night, with the first episode released December 29th.