The Book of Boba Fett Double Take: Chapter 6

Wow wow wow. Chapter 6 of The Book of Boba Fett, From the Desert Comes a Stranger, directed by Dave Filoni was an astounding piece of live-action Star Wars content that will definitely live in infamy for years to come. I sat stunned by the episode’s end at what I just watched, amazed by what just played out on screen. Let’s dive into The Book of Boba Fett Chapter 6.

I’d like to get one thing out of the way off the bat, I have no idea what The Book of Boba Fett as a series is supposed to be. It started out as one thing, a deep dive into one of Star Wars’ most famed bounty hunters, and has turned into (arguably) The Mandalorian Season 2.5. Which for me has made this series more of a head scratcher than I anticipated. I have grown to enjoy the story of Boba’s transition into a leader who surrounds himself with similar lost souls, on a mission to make his domain a place founded on respect, but for the past two week’s the series’ namesake character has appeared in a total of one entire scene. Like many others I have enjoyed Chapters 5 and 6 immensely but I’m concerned how far we’ve strayed from the original story central to the show. Again, we have no idea how the series will wrap up but I’m remaining optimistic that everything setup in Chapters 1 through 4 will pay off in the end.

Chapter 6 starts with the very welcome return of Cobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphant and his epic hair) as marshal of Freetown (formerly Mos Pelgo), who lays the smack down on some Pykes as they invade his territory. Not one to be enticed by spice, he just wants his town to remain peaceful at all costs. From his swagger to the cinematography, Vanth’s presence gives Chapter 6 the feel of a Western, a vibe that will be bookended by episode’s end (more on that later).

After last week’s episode I didn’t think we’d reconnect with Din until he joined Boba and company for the war against the Pykes but boy was I wrong! We pick right up where we left off with him last week, as he heads to reunite with Grogu and drop off his beskar gift. Greeted by none other than R2-D2 himself, Din is the only sentient in sight as he witnesses droids building some sort of domed structure. Turns out Din isn’t alone on the planet as he’s greeted by Ahsoka Tano, who explains just what’s going on.

What’s going on is freaking Luke Skywalker using the planet as the site for his first student, Grogu, training to become a Jedi—which we get to actually witness (this is most likely the location we see later in the timeline in Rey’s vision in The Force Awakens and later Luke and Ben Solo’s flashbacks in The Last Jedi). Regardless, this sequence had my jaw on the floor the entire time. First of all, the CGI improvements on Luke are crazy, a vast difference from the last time we saw him. It was like a time machine brought young Mark Hamill back to shoot scenes. Second, the world’s favorite foundling is back! Having Grogu back on screen this soon was definitely unexpected; plus getting to see him as the Padawan to Luke was a great mirror image of Luke’s training with Yoda on Dagobah. Then we get to see Grogu’s memory of his experience on the Jedi Temple in Coruscant during Order 66—what did we do to deserve such gifts? Very few details of his memory are clarified (no clue who those Jedi were), but seeing this event through the eyes of a youngling was heartbreaking and traumatic. Lastly, we get Ahsoka and Luke on screen together for the first time and wow if this isn’t powerful knowing what we know about both of these characters’ histories with Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. I really hope this isn’t the last time Ahsoka and Luke’s paths cross, I think it would be fascinating to dive into what stories can be told as these two move forward from their pasts.

Most heartbreaking of all, we see Din and Ahsoka discussing the reason why Mando came back. Ahsoka points out that Din’s motives are purely selfish in nature, revealing himself to Grogu will only make things worse for the child in the long run. Din’s decision to allow Ahsoka to deliver Grogu’s gift was an emotional gut punch. Definitely the right thing to do, but sometimes the right thing is the hardest thing.

Finally, Boba Fett gets some screen time as he and his crew discuss their manpower shortage. Din’s back from his journey and thinks he knows of some other locals who can come to their aid, which brings us back to where we started on Freetown, with Din and Vanth conversing over drinks in the local cantina. Vanth is proud of the work that’s been done to make Freetown free, but Din points out that if war comes to Tatooine it’s only a matter of time before Vanth and his people are affected. Mando takes off without a firm answer from Vanth when from the desert a stranger comes. Anyone who knows their The Clone Wars would recognize that silhouette anywhere. If Artoo, Ahsoka, Luke and Grogu weren’t enough, fearsome bounty hunter Cad Bane arrives, making his live-action debut! Voice actor Corey Burton returns to provide his signature growl, and it’s as effective (if not more) here as it is in animation. Bane’s Western showdown swagger is front and center as he warns Vanth to remain neutral in the coming war with the Pykes. Violence erupts as Bane blasts both Vanth and his deputy and elsewhere in Mos Espa, a bomb erupts in the Sanctuary, a clear sign that the war has begun.

The episode ends with Luke presenting Din’s gift of beskar chainmail to Grogu alongside Master Yoda’s lightsaber (a possible retcon of canon, details are still sketchy). Like numerous characters have done in this series, Grogu is presented with a choice: Mando or the Jedi. Grogu has already come a long way in his training (his Force jumps were adorable) so it would be a shame to abandon them, but we all know that his true place is at Din’s side. I mean, Din’s Starfighter has a child’s seat already waiting for him! My assumption is this choice will be fully explored in The Mandalorian Season 3.

The Book of Boba Fett finale has a ton of work to do, let’s hope we get a generous runtime so as many narrative elements can come together and get resolved. What did you think of Chapter 6? Which character’s appearance made you scream the loudest? Sound off with us on social media and come back next week as we wrap up all things The Book of Boba Fett.