The Book of Boba Fett Double Take: Chapter 7

The Book of Boba Fett Chapter 7, titled In the Name of Honor, picks up right where last week’s episode left off, in the wreckage of the Sanctuary where Din returns from Freetown and updates Boba on the results of his negotiations. Boba and crew are down but not out as they plan to defend themselves while waiting for neighborly aid. Throughout the series we’ve seen how Fett has changed from bloodthirsty bounty hunter to benevolent clan leader, and this change is firmly cemented in his decision to rid Mos Espa of the lucrative spice business—deciding not to retreat to his fortress and stay inside the city limits to fight the Pykes. Fett has become a man of the people who listens to his people, not a domineering leader who can’t listen to the ideas of others.

Meanwhile, we get a shocking (to me at least) revelation via a scene with Mos Espa’s Mayor, the Pyke Syndicate leader and hired hand Cad Bane that it was the Pykes who killed Boba’s Tusken friends and who made it look like it was the Nikto gang. The Mayor’s on board but isn’t thrilled that a war has been started, knowing there is no turning back, the Syndicate turns their eye to ridding the city of Boba and his crew, and Bane thinks he has a way to get it done.

It seems like every week I predict that the Mando/Grogu storyline will be over and we won’t pick up with them again until their own series’ season 3, but I was wrong once again! Grogu arrives on an X-wing piloted by R2-D2, having chosen the beskar chain mail and Din over the Jedi path. Peli Motto is all of us as she happily reunites with the child (and learns his real name, an amazing cheeky joke) and goes into caretaker mode; can’t join with dad until the baby’s tummy is full! Amy Sedaris’ screen time is one of my favorite things about the show. I wouldn’t complain if Motto were to get her own standalone series—I love how her comedy injects levity into a mostly dramatic series.

While Fett’s crew is in place across the planet, ready for Freetown’s aid, Cad Bane arrives to negotiate on behalf of the Pykes. Boba refuses to allow the spice to flow through Tatooine, which prompts Bane to drop the truth bomb about who really killed the Tuskens. Bane tempts Fett to a shootout but instead of responding emotionally, he ends negotiations which triggers a trap set by the Pykes across the planet. The citizens turn on Fett’s army and quickly overwhelm his forces (RIP Gamorrean guards). The bulk of the remainder of the episode follows Fett and his crew as they continually pivot as they battle the Pykes.

Highlights of the battle include: the two Mandalorians teaming up to spring a surprise attack (loved the camaraderie and how they had each others’ backs); the arrival of Freetown’s citizens and how they work through their differences with the Mos Espans to work as a team (does “We Are All Tatooine” have a good ring to it?); Motto deciding to bring a CHILD to a battle (though how freaking adorable was it when Grogu jumps into Mando’s arms?!); and the Rancor making his return à la King Kong. Let’s not forget the debut of the Scorpenek droid (aka Annihilator, based on an unused Attack of the Clones concept by legend Dough Chiang) who wreaks tons of havok and proves a solid Pyke weapon. While a lot of runtime is dedicated to the battle, none of it is ever wasted. This is the war that’s been talked about for multiple episodes so it’s fitting that the finale focuses on it so much. Plus, there is enough emotion, drama, comedy and action that things never seem imbalanced.

Cad Bane returns to settle the score with Boba, a scene rife with history and context for those of us who have followed these two for years. Bane thinks he knows all about Boba, he did train him as a child, but he can’t come to understand who Fett has chosen to become; a killer still yes, but one who is compassionate and understands the value of family. Bane wins the shootout but succumbs to death by Gaffi Stick, an appropriately symbolic way for Boba to kill him.

Fennec Shand’s assassin skills and overall badassness gets highlighted as she makes her way to the Syndicate’s hideout on Mos Eisley, making quick work of the leader, Mos Espa’s Mayor and the heads of all the crime families. I absolutely loved this scene simply for the fact that a strong female got to show off and get all the bad guys. More of this always please.

The Book of Boba Fett (season 1….?) wraps up with Fett and Shand walking the streets of Mos Espa, feeling the love from the citizens, something the two of them still are adjusting to. Din and Grogu (in his rightful spot in the N-1’s droid dome) then blast off together for adventures unknown. Let’s not forget about the post credits scene showing Cobb Vanth in the bacta tank, he survived! His return to the screen can’t come quickly enough as he’s become a favorite in the Star Wars universe.

Overall this series had a lot that I enjoyed, mainly seeing Boba’s transformation into a killer with a heart. While I really loved all the Mandalorian, Luke, Grogu and Ahsoka stuff, I can’t help but feel that all of it was misplaced in this series. I fully trust that Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau have a plan but I can’t help but ponder if the storytelling that went on in The Book of Boba Fett would have been better told in The Mandalorian Season 3. The inclusion of so much Mando content just made The Book of Boba Fett feel confusing as a series. I’m sure in the context of the rest of this timeline’s overall narrative we will look back and things will be more clear but for now The Book of Boba Fett stands as a disjointed but ultimately successful Star Wars adventure that I will happily rewatch very soon.