S01.E06: Chapter Six - From the Desert Comes a Stranger

[formerlyfreedom]

Quote

Mysteries are explored and Boba Fett learns new information.

Dropping Wednesday, February 2, 2022.

[revbfc]

He traveled all that way and never even asked Ahsoka for some pointers on how to wield the darksaber?

[Wylie Bradford]

Do they even know what this show is supposed to be about?

[WritinMan]

Another great episode, but I am really surprised to see so much reliance on characters from The Mandalorian.

With a show that's supposed to be centered around the criminal underworld, I was hoping it would stand on it's own more. Seems like a missed opportunity to introduce more new characters and ideas.

It was cool to see Grogu again though, and it looks like the they've gotten better at the de-aging of Mark Hamill.

It would kinda suck to be a Jedi.

[paigow]

The master plan is falling apart... Vanth is not the fastest gun anymore... Boba lost his primary income source... Grogu has a red pill / blue pill problem to solve...

[Peace 47]

Geez Louise, Luke playing the equivalent of “who do you love more?” with the baby (on the equivalent of a baby blanket!!!) at the end there:  so mean!  I mean, I get it, respecting free will, blah, blah, blah, but Grogu’s just a little kid.  Made me feel so bad for him, especially after he got forced into remembering scary memories of “home.”

At first, I didn’t get why Ahsoka was trying to discourage Din from seeing Grogu on the basis of Jedi teachings and the Jedi way, when she herself forsook that in other shows (that I have not watched).  But Rosario Dawson’s knowing looks and the choice Luke presented at the end after Ahsoka told him to trust his instincts finally pulled it all together for me that she, too, intuits that the choice has to be Grogu’s for some reason.

[NeenerNeener]

I hope Vanth survives. Hell, he got shot in the head on Justified and walked away.

[revbfc]

If Grogu chooses to leave for the Mandalorian life, does that mean he has to helmet up for the rest of his days?

[KeithJ]

I really don't understand what they're trying to do with this show.  It's only seven episodes and Boba Fett has been in about 20 seconds total over the last two.  Personally, even though I like Grogu, I'd like to see them move on from him on the Mandalorian and let him choose Yoda's lightsaber (how did Luke even know Yoda had one, did he ransack his house after he died?)

Cad Bane was ok but they really messed up the color of his skin.  It should be a darker blue than it was.

[callmebetty]

I think Ahsoka and Luke are wrong about this separation thing.  Mando and Grogu are stronger together. And forcing Baby to make a choice is wrong. Grogu loves Dad's fast paced life, this meditation isn't him.

Plus really Luke you became a Jedi pretty quickly l, but Grogu is going to take years long enough that Mando will die in the meantime? Grogu has the skills he just needs the discipline and stamina. 

I think Mando and Grogu need to forge a new future for themselves on what it looks like to be a Mandalorian and Jedi. 

Was not expecting Cad Bane. Is this the first appearance in live action?

Vanth better not be dead.

I can kind if see why this was billed as Mandalorian 2.5. You get certain things out of the way for season 3 and get right into it when it comes back.

[FnkyChkn34]

Is it just me, or do we not love the fact that Din gave the kid chainmail?  I don't know what I was hoping for once I knew the package wasn't big enough for a helmet, but still...  He's nearly a baby.  Luke making him choose now between a lightsaber and Din is unfair too.  I think he'll choose Din, but who knows...

And yeah, The Book of Boba Fett has no Boba Fett.  I'm not complaining, but it's weird.

[Peace 47]

34 minutes ago, FnkyChkn34 said:

Is it just me, or do we not love the fact that Din gave the kid chainmail?  I don't know what I was hoping for once I knew the package wasn't big enough for a helmet, but still...  He's nearly a baby. 

It’s such a poignant gift.  Din has been obsessed with protecting Grogu through most of “The Mandalorian” show, so he wants to give Grogu a gift that will symbolically protect the kid even when Din cannot be there personally.

[dwmarch]

Lots of faces I wasn't expecting to see this episode. Ahsoka, Luke, R2, Cobb Vanth, Cad Bane and Grogu, who can now jump around but still doesn't speak.

Why is Grogu still in that little potato sack outfit? Do they at least wash it once in a while? Kid's not going to need the force, he'll have a stench that'll knock a Jawa off a Sandcrawler!

I was hoping the deputy would yell at Mando to park his ship on the flats next time as he was leaving.

[Megras]

Does anyone else think that given what we learnt last episode about there having been a Mandalorian Jedi in the past that Grogu should be allowed both the armour and the sabre? Also, given the youngling flashback and Luke saying its like he's remembering the training, might this indicate he'll be through it in record time - say about in time for the next series of The Mandalorian?

[FnkyChkn34]

1 minute ago, Megras said:

Does anyone else think that given what we learnt last episode about there having been a Mandalorian Jedi in the past that Grogu should be allowed both the armour and the sabre? Also, given the youngling flashback and Luke saying its like he's remembering the training, might this indicate he'll be through it in record time - say about in time for the next series of The Mandalorian?

I agree that he should have both.  I think he'll somehow manage it.

[Sakura12]

Is this the book of Boba fett or the book of other Star Wars characters. Lol Cad Bane (who should be a darker blue), Ahsoka, Vanth, and Luke

Ahsoka and Luke know each other. I wonder if they talked since she knew his father and mother. I get that being not a Jedi she is all about choosing your own path. Grogu is a child for his species but he's been around longer than Ahosoka.

Why can't Grogu be protected by beskar and have a lightsaber? He is a tiny thing.  

[callmebetty]

Grogu should pick up both the lightsaber and the chain mail. When Luke says to choose, he should continue to hold both.  Showing his choosing both his dad's way and a jedi way.

[MrWhyt]

boy this episode had everyone in it... except for the titular character. Hope Space Raylan turns out to be ok.

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Sakura12 said:

 

Is this the book of Boba fett or the book of other Star Wars characters. Lol Cad Bane (who should be a darker blue), Ahsoka, Vanth, and Luke

 

At this point I feel like they should have just named it Book of Tatooine or Star Wars: Tatooine. They wouldn’t have had to change a thing and would made a lot more sense. 

4 hours ago, callmebetty said:

 

I think Ahsoka and Luke are wrong about this separation thing.  Mando and Grogu are stronger together. And forcing Baby to make a choice is wrong. Grogu loves Dad's fast paced life, this meditation isn't him.

 

I agree and I feel like they are supposed to be wrong. To me this is the difficulty with using Luke and Ahsoka this story. They were never going to see it any differently. Ahsoka was trained by a system that broke and Luke is building a system that will break. It’s frustrating to watch but inevitable. 

Edited February 2, 2022 by Guest

[Sakura12]

If we go by the movies, Luke said his first student was his nephew Ben Solo. So that should mean Grogu chooses Din. 

[FnkyChkn34]

1 hour ago, Peace 47 said:

It’s such a poignant gift.  Din has been obsessed with protecting Grogu through most of “The Mandalorian” show, so he wants to give Grogu a gift that will symbolically protect the kid even when Din cannot be there personally.

It is, I agree.  It just makes me think of medieval times and jousting knights... not futuristic Star Wars.  

[AnimeMania]

Instead of a lightsaber, Luke should have put down a fat juicy frog and said remember that trick I showed you, "All you can eat frogs". Grogu would have definitely chosen the "Force".

Why did Mando go looking for those townspeople, he should have headed to the Tuskan Raiders that fought the Sand Dragon.

I wonder why the writers made Boba Fett the least popular character in a TV show about him. Everybody else is more skilled, more interesting, and better liked than the main character. Boba Fett is the poop that attracts all of the flies.

[magdalene]

I know Luke is a beloved character but quite frankly at the end I wanted to throttle him.  To force a small child to make such a choice is cruel.  The Mandalorian code is very flawed but the Jedi code makes my teeth grind.  Grogu is a traumatized child - he needs the love of a parent not detachment. And he needs to get away from that cursed Jedi school.  Ever since I learned from a gloating fan boy - mocking my affection for Grogu - that every student of that school is doomed I have wished Grogu  to not stay there.

Cobb Vanth is one of my favorites so I am hoping since he was only shot once that he is only wounded.

[Guest]

It really annoys me that the show doesn’t use Ahsoka to emphasize the difference between a Jedi and a force user. The two are not the same thing. Leia and Ahsoka are trained forces users but not Jedi. Now they have Grogu stuck between two hardline philosophies with no wiggle room. 
I do understand why they have her taking the stance she does but it’s still annoying. 

Edited February 2, 2022 by Guest

[callmebetty]

A forced choice isn't a choice at all, IMHO. 

[thuganomics85]

Damn, they really kind of just gave up on actually making this show about Boba Fett anymore and used these remaining episodes to bring back Mandalorian folks or continue to expand the Clone Wars characters into the live action universe.  Honestly, I'm not even complaining, but its surprising.  I know the second season of The Mandalorian got some fair criticism of spending a lot of time bringing in new characters for potential spin-offs/expansion, but it never felt like they lost sight of it's main characters (Mando and Grogu.)

Speaking of which, Grogu!  Good to see the little fellow again and him slowly, but surely, learning to master the ways of the Force.  Even if right now he seems more interested in using it to acquire more tasty frogs instead of any actual Jedi stuff.  Too bad Luke seems to be continuing the whole "Jedis shouldn't have any personal attachments" ideals, which I think is a bad call.  It is clear that he is missing Mando and seeing him again would probably benefit him in a lot of ways (same for Mando too.  Poor guy clearly wants to get some father/son time in!)  But now it looks like Luke is actually doubling down and making Grogu choose.  Have a feeling I know what he will decide...

The CGI for younger Luke was better than last time at least, but I found Mark Hamill's line reading to be very stiff here.  Not sure if he was directed this way or; as I saw suggested somewhere else; maybe some kind of device was used to make his voice sound younger and it threw things off.

Cool to check in on Ahsoka as well and remember that she has her own spin-off on the way!

Cobb Vanth!  I was hoping he would show back up and bring in some more Timothy Olyphant awesomeness.  Still voting for them to just do a Star Wars version of Justified with him.  Just need to get Walton Goggins to show up as some kind of criminal, which shouldn't be hard for a place like Tatoonie.

Of course, things aren't looking so well for Cobb though thanks to a sudden appearance from Cad Bane in the flesh/CGI for the first time!  At least Cobb was only shot once, so I can see him pulling through.  His deputy was totally done in though (didn't see the credits, but I think that was Charles Esten of Nashville/Whose Line is it Anyway? fame.)  Definitely a game changer there.  Notice that they decided not to mess with perfection this time and just had Corey Burton voice him again like in the animated series.  Gives me hope that 

Spoiler

if they ever do a live action Thawne, they'll just keep Lars Mikkelson and his epic voice for the role.

Don't see many folks surviving that Cantina explosion, so if that is it for Garza that was kind of a waste of Jennifer Beals.

At least Boba was on camera this time.  Mainly to stand to the side and let Fennec do all the talking!

One episode left and I'm not quite sure what is going to happen here.

[NeenerNeener]

5 hours ago, AnimeMania said:

I wonder why the writers made Boba Fett the least popular character in a TV show about him. Everybody else is more skilled, more interesting, and better liked than the main character. Boba Fett is the poop that attracts all of the flies.

I've seen the original trilogy multiple times and I always seem to forget Boba Fett is a character in it. I remember back in the early 90s when the SyFy channel used to show Dark Shadows reruns and there was the occasional ad for somebody selling Boba Fett maquettes during the commercial breaks. I didn't know who Boba Fett was, what a maquette was or why anyone would want one, but the sound of "Boba Fett maquette" amused me.

 

ETA: the Deep Fake Luke is really, really, really good. Five minutes after this episode dropped somebody probably made porn out of it.

Edited February 2, 2022 by NeenerNeener

[FnkyChkn34]

46 minutes ago, thuganomics85 said:

Of course, things aren't looking so well for Cobb though thanks to a sudden appearance from Cad Bane in the flesh/CGI for the first time!  At least Cobb was only shot once, so I can see him pulling through.  His deputy was totally done in though (didn't see the credits, but I think that was Charles Esten of Nashville/Whose Line is it Anyway? fame.)  Definitely a game changer there.  Notice that they decided not to mess with perfection this time and just had Corey Burton voice him again like in the animated series.  Gives me hope that 

  Reveal spoiler

if they ever do a live action Thawne, they'll just keep Lars Mikkelson and his epic voice for the role.

 

It wasn't Chip Esten, it was JJ Dashnaw.

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, NeenerNeener said:

ETA: the Deep Fake Luke is really, really, really good. Five minutes after this episode dropped somebody probably made porn out of it.

It really was a lot better than his previous appearance. After that one someone posted a better version YouTube and Lucas Films hired him for ILM. Guess we are seeing the results of that here. 

[tennisgurl]

We return now to the Book of...A Lot of People Not Named Boba Fett. I have genuinely enjoyed this show, I truly have, but it really hilarious to me that the shows best episodes have basically been Mandalorian episodes, with very little of the actual title character. Its less of a book and more of a novella of Boba Fett. I cant even be mad though, I have missed Din and Grogu so much, even in these slices The Mandalorian is such a great show with so many instantly memorable characters, it really does its space western thing with such style. I like this show, but its no Mandalorian. In fact, just about everyone gets more screen time this week then Boba. We get appearances from Cobb Vanth, Ahsoka, Mando, Grogu, Cad Bane, and even Luke freaking Skywalker, but Boba gets about one line. 

It was wild seeing Luke and Ahsoka together, and while I really liked seeing Luke redoing a bunch of his training that he did with Yoda back in the day, I think he is making a huge mistake trying to make poor Grogu choose between being a Jedi and being with Din. Its seems so cruel to a child (and thanks for giving him those fun trauma memories of Order 66 Luke) making him choose between his adopted father and this destiny he is being told he has, that's an awful choice for anyone, let alone a child. I would think that Ahsoka, someone who saw how the worst parts of the Jedi order ended up bringing down the Republic, who left them behind, would be more open to creating a new kind of Jedi Order where they didn't have to give up their family and loved ones. We know how badly it went and we know how badly its going to go for Luke's new Jedi Order, its just so frustrating watching them making the same mistakes the past Jedi's made. Cant Luke train Grogu but let Mandi come and visit, and take the kid out for some weekends? We know how much Grogu loves adventuring with his dad, that would probably make him an even better Jedi, the kids going to get bored just meditating all the time. I hope that Grogu grabs both of them, he can follow the way of the Jedi and his dads way. This hardly feels like a choice, especially the way Luke's selling it.

Mando trying to get R2 or the droids to tell him where Luke was is basically me every time I'm talking to an automated recording service on the phone. "Is there anyone alive I can talk to?"

Cobb had better just be wounded and not dead. He's too cool to get taken out so easily, even if its by Cad Bane, in what I think is his first live action appearance. 

Edited February 2, 2022 by tennisgurl

[Sakura12]

I think they are kind of stuck with how Luke's school ends up. So Ahsoka can't really say anything to change it. Giving Grogu a choice is the most they can do without changing canon. 

Maybe she should say she can teach Grogu to be a force wielder but not a Jedi. 

[Morrigan2575]

Posting before reading.

OMG was that Cad Bane in Live Action? Also, when the hell is Feloni going to give Witwer a job?! 

Space Raylan better be OK! Damn if I don't love me some Timothy Olyphant. 

This episode has everything and only a minute of Boba Fett. LOL

Got me Grogu, Luke, R2, Ahsoka, Jedi Training, Degobah Montage. Grogu has a choice to make...although not much of a choice, 50 years and he's barely toddler...what's another 50 with Mando and then he go to be a Jedi. 🤔

Admittedly I was hoping we'd see Kyle Katarn at the academy. 😂

 

7 hours ago, Sakura12 said:

If we go by the movies, Luke said his first student was his nephew Ben Solo. So that should mean Grogu chooses Din. 

Let's pretend that shit never happened 😁

Edited February 2, 2022 by Morrigan2575

[callmebetty]

I want Mando to go all Mel Gibson on Luke. 

"Give me back my son!"

[Morrigan2575]

2 hours ago, thuganomics85 said:

didn't see the credits, but I think that was Charles Esten of Nashville/Whose Line is it Anyway? fame.)

I thought it was James Roday from Psyche 

After all that I totally forgot to talk about the bomb which I think we all saw coming.

Edited February 2, 2022 by Morrigan2575

[Penman61]

RIP character who, every time I saw her since the first ep, I thought: "She looks like a young Jennifer Beals."

Me, today, reading the credits: "Wow, I need her skin care regimen..."

[paigow]

8 hours ago, dwmarch said:

Lots of faces I wasn't expecting to see this episode. Ahsoka, Luke, R2, Cobb Vanth, Cad Bane and Grogu, who can now jump around but still doesn't speak.

A lot of Team Boba has history with Cad: Fennec & Ahsoka [animated] 

[Morrigan2575]

Just now, paigow said:

A lot of Team Boba has history with Cad: Fennec & Ahsoka [animated] 

Wouldn't mind a Bad Batch/Omega tie in...someone needs to take that SOB down! 😂

[paigow]

13 minutes ago, Penman61 said:

RIP character who, every time I saw her since the first ep, I thought: "She looks like a young Jennifer Beals."

Me, today, reading the credits: "Wow, I need her skin care regimen..."

Dick Wolf Universe pays better??? She will be a recurring Mob Wife on Organized Crime

[Morrigan2575]

1 minute ago, paigow said:

Dick Wolf Universe pays better??? She will be a recurring Mob Wife on Organized Crime

Oh, nice. 

[Sakura12]

It would be great to see an older Omega show up. Boba needs to meet his sister. 

Maybe Ahsoka could show up with Grogu and Rex (since Boba Fett has been wasted). And we can have a Star Wars finale. 

[arc]

I unno, young Jedi Master Luke kinda sounds like a herb to me. But yes, the de-aging was sublime. No quibbles from me.

Ahsoka's promise that there's no safer place in the galaxy than with Luke feels less reassuring to viewers who just saw that three Jedi caretakers got wiped out by a platoon of clone troopers.

BTW, the show has looked a lot better in these last few episodes, but Ahsoka's montrals still have the problem they did from The Mandalorian: they look like crappy rubber props.

There's a term among TV writers: "schmuck bait". Among other things, it's used to refer to a show hinting that it might blow up its entire premise. Obviously they wouldn't do it (series finales aside), hence "schmuck bait". Anyways, let's all wonder if Grogu's gonna pick the lightsaber or not.

(That said, I'm writing this in a forum about a show that started by killing off Bib Fortuna and crew, and then merciless bounty hunter Boba Fett has spent the rest of his time trying to be a violence-free, crime-free "crime lord".)

I'm sad Jennifer Beals went out like that. What an underwritten part.

10 hours ago, KeithJ said:

It's only seven episodes and Boba Fett has been in about 20 seconds total over the last two.

And! Fennec Shand was running that war council!!! Boba literally didn't say a word on screen!

9 hours ago, FnkyChkn34 said:

Is it just me, or do we not love the fact that Din gave the kid chainmail? 

Given his own inability to wield the Darksaber competently, he needs chainmail just to protect himself.

7 hours ago, magdalene said:

I know Luke is a beloved character but quite frankly at the end I wanted to throttle him.  To force a small child to make such a choice is cruel. 

This may be part of the journey that led to Luke's own path away from rigid Jedi doctrine later.

3 hours ago, thuganomics85 said:

Damn, they really kind of just gave up on actually making this show about Boba Fett anymore and used these remaining episodes to bring back Mandalorian folks or continue to expand the Clone Wars characters into the live action universe.  Honestly, I'm not even complaining, but its surprising.

Not quite the same thing, since Favreau and Filoni always knew they had seven eps for this and have a growing empire of Star Wars live-action TV they're overseeing, but it reminds me of when Aaron Sorkin got a full-season pickup of Studio 60 and then ran the show into the ground. So when it was obvious the show was doomed, he spent a few of the last episodes doing store brand West Wing stuff and backburnered the SNL premise.

Edited February 3, 2022 by arc

[AnimeMania]

25 minutes ago, Penman61 said:

RIP character who, every time I saw her since the first ep, I thought: "She looks like a young Jennifer Beals."

Me, today, reading the credits: "Wow, I need her skin care regimen..."

Naw, you just need to paint yourself pink.

[judemorrigan]

I kind of hate that they're having Luke go all-in on the whole jedi "no attachment" thing. I mean, he spent he blew off both Yoda and Obi-Wan multiple times on Dagobah when they told him he needed to put aside his attachment to his friends and family. And as a direct result, he succeeded where they had failed spectacularly.

[Lazlo]

47 minutes ago, arc said:

(That said, I'm writing this in a forum about a show that started by killing off Bib Fortuna and crew, and then merciless bounty hunter Boba Fett has spent the rest of his time trying to be a violence-free, crime-free "crime lord".)

 

Yeah, that has been a real problem for me. It is very hard to read this Lawful Good version of Boba as the same guy he was even as recently as The Mandalorian. Bib Fortuna was obviously not a particularly nice guy but straight up murdering him in cold blood simply to take over his racket seems wildly out of character for the Boba we've been following for the last 6 4 episodes.

 

53 minutes ago, arc said:

I'm sad Jennifer Beals went out like that. What an underwritten part.

It is a mind boggling waste not only of a charismatic (and stunning) actress but also a character with a lot of potential - seriously, a mysterious, morally ambiguous Twi'lek ex-slave who runs a 'neutral' cantina on Tatooine. I mean that's a heck of a hook but the show seems to have gone out of it's way to ignore her.

[arc]

By the way, when Fennec said their fight might need sheer numbers, that might have been a good time for Boba to suggest recruiting Tuskens. Or hell, does he even have any misgivings about rounding up a bunch of people for a fight he might not win considering that's how he lost that first found family of his????

Crazy theory I just came up with: maybe the bacta tank was dulling Boba's killer instinct. 

Edited February 3, 2022 by arc

[paigow]

Did Luke tell Rey that Kylo/Ben was the First Student enrolled in the Skywalker Jedi Academy?

[magdalene]

Luke comes across as a hypocrite. He has emotional attachments.  Does he want Grogu to become a sociopath? That's what happens to children who are not allowed to have emotional  bonds with parental figures. The Jedi code baffles me.

[paigow]

3 hours ago, arc said:

By the way, when Fennec said their fight might need sheer numbers, that might have been a good time for Boba to suggest recruiting Tuskens.

Would any other Tuskens even know Boba, much less be inspired to follow him? If Vanth is a genuine, New Republic approved Marshal, then squads of X-Wings should be a holo-call away.

[FnkyChkn34]

I honestly didn't even realize that the bar owner was Jennifer Beals.  The first four episodes were just average, so I wasn't entirely paying attention, LOL.

[Boadicea]

57 minutes ago, magdalene said:

Luke comes across as a hypocrite. He has emotional attachments.  Does he want Grogu to become a sociopath? That's what happens to children who are not allowed to have emotional  bonds with parental figures. The Jedi code baffles me.

Now I have this image of Grogu dressed as a little Homelander!  
 

I was so ticked with Luke by the end of this episode (it wasn’t helped by the fact that Luke is hardly one of my favorite Star Wars characters): how do you ask a baby to make a choice like that?  Especially as we just saw Grogu having a memory of several Jedi being slaughtered by a bunch of storm troopers (or rather a memory that proved something another Star Wars character that I like a whole lot better than Luke once said, that “hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side”).  
 

How could anyone ever think that Luke, who canonically had next to no training, could capably train another generation of Jedi?  It’s not surprising that the Academy ended up being a spectacular failure. (And this episode also made me like Asoka less: whether she wants to be a Jedi or not, she does have training, knowledge and experience that Luke totally lacks and would be useful as an instructor at a new Jedi Academy but she only seems interested in showing up for some unknown reason and then leaving.