Who Is Winning The Book Of Boba Fett? A Star Wars Power Ranking
The first episode of "The Book of Boba Fett" is here, and while it looks to continue the blend of nostalgia and novelty set up by "The Mandalorian," it also has the potential for some "Game of Thrones"-level power struggles. By setting part of the story on Tatooine just as Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) takes over Jabba the Hutt's crime empire, "The Book of Boba Fett" is able to introduce elements of courtly drama and backstabbing, only instead of royals duking it out, it's a host of shady aliens scrambling for power in this seedy underworld.
That's where we come in. Each week, we'll be ranking the characters who appear in new episodes, scouring the details and leaving no spoilers unturned in our investigation to discover who is a power player and who will be left without their head (sorry, six-legged sand buddy). This week, we're getting to know a host of characters who haven't been seen on screen before, while also witnessing the return of fan favorites and familiar faces. Who will win the game of Tatooine? Let's look at our options from "Stranger in a Strange Land."
12. The Sand Beastie
Despite coming in dead last on this list, this six-legged creature gets one of the coolest introductions of the episode. When Boba Fett and the Rodian prisoner (Dawn Dininger) are digging for water, the prisoner sweeps their hand over what seems to be a fossil. But no, actually, that fossil is moving, and it becomes a large, scaly hand that begins to choke the prisoner out.
This sand creature is as of yet unnamed, but it looks a bit like if Ishirō Honda's Godzilla had the body type of that CGI abomination from The Scorpion King. Despite the unpleasant comparison, the lizard-like beast is pretty cool, but he also gets killed and beheaded by Boba Fett pretty quickly. While this particular sand creature has been neutralized, who knows if it has some vengeful relatives out there? We'll see in the coming weeks if it's just a one-off, but if it is, that's a lot of new creature design for a very short scene.
11. The Rodian Prisoner
Even though we can't really read the expressions on this pal's bulgy-eyed face, it's still pretty clear they're totally miserable. One of the first spoken English lines of the series comes when Boba Fett escapes from the ropes the Tusken Raiders have put him in and unsubtly asks his fellow prisoner, "Rodian, do you want me to cut your bonds?" His whisper-yelling sets the Tuskens on them, and the Rodian is clearly saying "why did you do this to me?" with its sweetly inexpressive face.
Later on, the pair end up stuck together again, re-enacting the movie "Holes" for the Tuskens who want them to dig for water in the harsh desert climate. The Rodian prisoner is clearly just trying to do what's they're told, but Boba Fett threatens to strangle it with a chain, I guess just to see if it understands English? If that's not harsh enough, the prisoner gets beat to hell by the sand creature, and doesn't even get to share in the glory of having beheaded it.
10. The Jawas
These little hooded creatures barely get any screen time in this first episode, and when they do appear in flashback, it seems to be so we can point and say, "Hey, look, Jawas!" Still, they're doing well for themselves, keeping the roaming scavenger agenda alive while staying out of any major drama. Their glowing yellow eyes are full of mischief as they take Fett's armor and smack him in the face with the barrel of a gun when he tries to fight back. Rapscallions, the lot of them!
9. 8D8, AKA Matt Berry
First off, we need to talk about how Boba Fett's court droid is voiced by international treasure Matt Berry. How exciting that Berry, who is most-known in America for his wickedly hilarious turn as Laszlo the vampire on FX's "What We Do in the Shadows," has entered the Star Wars universe. With Berry as 8D8 and Taika Waititi as IG-11 in "The Mandalorian," I personally am hoping the Disney+ Star Wars universe will just keep casting "What We Do In The Shadows" actors as droids forever. Fingers crossed we get to hear Natasia Demetriou as a robot who sings in Russian before season's end.
So yeah, the long-faced, red-eyed droid didn't actually do much in this episode besides introduce noteworthy locals who wanted to pay Boba Fett respects, but casting Berry is in itself a power move. Droids should never be underestimated, either; 8D8 has already showed a casual love for torture, likely left over from his days with Jabba the Hut, and he seemed confused when Fett didn't roll with it. We'll keep an eye on this guy.
8. The Tuskens
It's tough to say where this tribe of sand-dwelling people falls on this list, because they appear only in flashback and we can see that Boba Fett has escaped them in the current day. Still, they approach the hero, who is legendary in the eyes of "Star Wars" fans, with an indifference that borders on cruelty. They're a strong people, who are set in their ways and don't feel the need to explain themselves to anyone, nonetheless a prisoner.
The Tuskens see a lot of action in this episode, particularly in a night-time battle that takes place when Boba Fett attempts to escape. Boba Fett is known as a skilled fighter, but they best him easily and make him walk behind them in chains while they journey through a sandstorm. Fett eventually earns the respect of the Tusken leader, whose regal staff sets them apart, by bringing the Tuskens the head of a sand creature. The episode ends with Fett earning some respect from his captors, but they definitely still have the upper hand.
7. The Sarlacc
We don't actually see much of what this fearsome, giant creature looks like in the first episode of "The Book of Boba Fett," outside of a quick exterior shot as Fett makes his escape. But the series picks up exactly where Boba Fett's arc last left off — 38 years ago–with him trapped in its pit. The pit itself is pretty gnarly, full of gooey corpses and drippy tentacles. The Sarlacc lands a spot dead center on this list because it seems even more unnervingly indifferent than the Tuskens, but it's also way more powerful. Stay away from the place it calls home and you'll pretty much be fine. Clearly, this is easier said than done.
6. The Gamorrean Guards
These green guys get credit where it's due for perhaps gaining the most ground of anyone in the episode. The pig-like guards, who are played by Frank Trigg and Collin Hymes, used to work for Jabba. When 8D8 presents them to Boba Fett when he holds court, they're one word away from being tortured or executed. But Fett gives them a second chance. They were exceedingly loyal to Jabba, so it should stand to reason that they'd be loyal to him, too. He asks them outright if this is the case, and they say yes. The Gamorreans live to guard another day — or, actually, that same day, since people are already after Boba Fett.
When Fett and his crew leave the cantina, they're quickly surrounded by assassins. The Gamorrean Guards leap into action quickly, kicking butt and fending off would-be killers with machete-like weapons. So we know they weren't lying about the loyalty thing!
5. Dokk Strassi and His Ominous Wookie Fur
This Trandoshan family leader, voiced by episode director Robert Rodriguez, was apparently buddy-buddy with Jabba before Boba Fett took over, and he pays his respects to the new crime boss in a backhanded way. When Fett holds court to meet his new associates, Dokk Strassi comes in and offers what appears to be a Wookie fur as tidings to the new leader. There's already some friction between the two, as Fett notes that he used to work for Dokk Strassi.
"May you never leave Mos Espa," the lizard-like man says ominously, before making his exit. "Even when a Trandoshan pays you a compliment, it sounds like a threat," Fett says afterwards. He doesn't sound especially concerned, but maybe he should be. If this scene is any indication, the series will likely deal with potential usurpers trying to grab at Boba Fett's power. Dokk Strassi is like a snake in more ways than one, but his veil of politeness is just strong enough to keep him in Boba Fett's good graces. For now.
4. The Guy This Book Is About, Boba Fett
I wish I could say the beloved bounty hunter came out on top this week, but that would be a downright lie. "The Book of Boba Fett" so far positions the protagonist as a sort of put-upon underdog who is constantly getting burned by either the frying pan or the fire. Over the course of the hour, he's beat up by Jawas, Tuskens, the sand creature, and mysterious assassins. His superpower so far seems to be that the dude just doesn't quit.
Boba Fett still has some key triumphs in this episode. He beheads the sand monster, semi-successfully navigates his first encounter with a bunch of power-hungry locals, and most importantly, punches and flamethrows his way out of the Sarlacc pit. So far, Morrison plays Fett similarly to the way Pedro Pascal first played The Mandalorian, with all the blank-slate coolness of a character whose backstory and key motivations are still under wraps. By taking over Jabba's territory, Fett is already making major power movies, but he's also hesitant to embrace many of the more traditional elements that come with his new role. It's tough to tell at this point whether or not he really knows how to play the game.
3. Garsa Fwip
Maybe it's because Boba Fett's reign is giving me "Daenerys Targaryan is here to make everything better but also doesn't know the first thing about how any of this works" flashbacks, but it's hard not to see potential enemies all around the new leader. Twi'lek cantina owner Garsa Fwip (Jennifer Beals) is one of those characters who could easily be friend or foe, but at this point, she's clearly putting on some kind of a show.
The regal businesswoman sends servants to take Fett and Fennec Shand's (Ming-Na Wen) helmets for cleaning, then she swoops in and offers them full use of the Sanctuary. When Fett says they're there for business, she asks if he wants his Gammorean guards "hosed down and fed" while they chat. Methinks the lady doth offer too much. Maybe she's just really trying to make a good impression, but it seems like she's trying to separate Fett and Shand from their protection and distract them from their mission. When Boba Fett leaves, she gives him a flirty arm touch, so maybe she's after something else entirely. Still, it's worth noting that the group is attacked by mysterious assassins right after leaving her "little slice of paradise," and the timing feels suspicious. Garsa Fwip has money, charm, and connections, and she's clearly a pro at playing games.
2. Mayor Mok Shaiz & His Majordomo
Does this guy know how to make things awkward, or what? The mayor of Mos Espa is conspicuously absent from Boba Fett's court introductions, seemingly by design. He sends a Twi'lek majordomo (David Pasquesi) instead, and the messenger is a total pro at being totally annoying. First, the majordomo clarifies that he's not the mayor. Then he clarifies that he has no gift for Boba Fett. Then he clarifies that the mayor himself would actually like a gift from the new crime lord.
The majordomo commits like 17 faux pas in under a minute, and seems to be using a sort of ineffectual go-between schtick as a discreet power move on the mayor's part. When Fett refuses to give the mayor a gift, instead offering "the gift of your leave unmolested," the majordomo warns–in his irritatingly nonchalant way–that another mayoral delegation may come their way soon. This is a quick exchange, but I think there's a good chance Mok Shaiz will become one of the season's major antagonists. Is there a better power move out there than just straight-up not showing up when summoned by the crime lord of Tatooine?
1. Fennec Shand
All of the effortless cool and unshakeable calm "Star Wars" fans ascribe to Boba Fett? Yeah, I guess something went wrong in the Lucasfilm lab and Ming-Na Wen's Fennec Shand ended up with it instead, sorry. The assassin appears as Boba Fett's right hand in the show's present day arc, advising him when he meets the locals and ensuring he doesn't make a wrong move as he comes into power. When Fett says "Keep an eye on that one," after the majordomo leaves, she says, "I keep an eye on everyone," and we believe it. She's basically doing all the cultural translation stuff Jorah (Iain Glen) did in "Game of Thrones," only she's much savvier and not at all prone to puppy-dog eyes.
Shand also gets the best action in this episode. While some of the fight scenes in this first outing feel sluggish, her engagement with the energy shield-bearing assassins is well-choreographed and satisfying. She fights off the attackers, turning their own electrified wands against them with relish. While Boba Fett returns to the bacta pod to recuperate, she does intense parkour across the city. She kicks one off the roof with a smile, and saves the other for interrogation. She's competent and fearless, with excellent instincts that will surely come in handy as usurpers come for Fett's space throne.