5 Reasons Boba Fett’s Character Had to Change (& 5 Reasons We Wish He Hadn’t)

The iconic Star Wars bounty hunter, Boba Fettwent through several character changes when he returned for his own spinoff, and there are many reasons for and against this change. After making his big comeback in The Mandalorian In Season 2, fans were treated to an exciting post-credits tease that promised Boba his own show, aptly titled The Book of Boba Fett. However, many viewers were not impressed with Boba’s portrayal in The Book of Boba Fettbelieving him to be weak compared to previous appearances. Even Boba Fett star Temuera Morrison thinks his character talks too much, an opinion shared by many fans.

Though it may be hard to see loved Star Wars characters undergo drastic changes, this approach had some justification. The Book of Boba Fettthe underlying story was incredibly interestingand had great potential to transform Boba into a more interesting protagonist. However, it’s hard to deny that some changes only hurt the show and severely limited how amazing Boba could have been. Weighing the reasons why Boba should or shouldn’t have changed The Book of Boba Fett provides a more comprehensive look at how the show handled his character.

10

Stagnant characters are less interesting

Star Wars is about how characters change over time.

The main reason why Boba Fett’s character needed to change The Book of Boba Fett it is the basic nature of storytelling. Any good story is about how the characters grow and evolve throughout the narrativewhich makes them compelling as viewers follow their journey. This is especially true for the Star Wars films, in which George Lucas focused on the classic hero’s journey defined by Joseph Campbell. The original Star Wars The trilogy saw Luke Skywalker change from an immature farmer to a wise Jedi, while Anakin Skywalker fell to the dark side throughout the prequels.

If Boba Fett hadn’t undergone any significant changes, his story would be meaningless. He had a terrible experience when he fell into the Sarlacc pit in Return of the Jediand The Mandalorian season two illustrated how the years have changed him. As fun as it was to see a version closer to the original trilogy, the idea of ​​Boba going from a lone bounty hunter to a powerful crime boss was an interesting direction. Having an amoral character find redemption and care about something bigger than himself is also classic Star Wars.

9

Boba Fett’s redemption brings his story full circle

His good qualities were covered in The Clone Wars

Although Boba Fett’s characterization throughout much of the The Book of Boba Fett may seem strange compared to the original trilogy, it’s actually quite in line with Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Although Boba did terrible things as a child while seeking revenge for his father’s death, it was clear that deep down he was a good person, receiving bad advice from the bounty hunters who took him in. who only cared about getting paid was motivated not by malice, but by the desire to live up to what he considered to be his father’s legacy.

One of those not shown Clone Wars arcs would have had Boba team up with Cad Bane, fight Sand People, and eventually defend those in need, all of which played a role in The Book of Boba Fett. By taking Boba back to his Clone Wars-era origins, he becomes the kind of noble leader the show always suggested he could be if he overcame his worst impulses. This isn’t to say that Boba is the perfect good guy, as he will destroy those who get in his way if necessary, but it is an improvement over his days working with the Empire.

8

Boba Fett is more than a clone of his father

Trying to be your father almost led to the same fate

Breaking away from bounty hunting also freed Boba Fett from the shadow of his father, Jango Fett. Although these two characters were never the same in history and personality, Much of Boba’s life was dedicated to following in his father’s footsteps. The Book of Boba Fett It also features several sequences in which Boba dreams of his father leaving Kamino to go on constant missions, showing how his father’s memory still shapes him decades later. It’s poetic that Boba almost suffered the same fate as his father when he seemingly died on a desert planet after a battle with a Jedi.

Unlike his father, however, Boba survived the Sarlacc pit and was given a second chance to walk a different path. Learning from his time with the Sand People and later taking control of Jabba the Hutt’s criminal empire, Boba created a new legacy that diverges from Jangocausing the two to separate. They may have identical DNA, but now Boba has more on-screen material to make him stand out in the canon.

7

Din Djarin became the new Boba Fett

He possessed many of Boba’s recorded qualities

Another character Boba Fett needed to differentiate himself from was Din Djarin, who effectively took his place thanks to The Mandalorian. Like Boba in the original trilogy, Din Djarin was a man of few words that people either respected or paid the price for.. He was willing to work for the Empire, at least initially, and even had a carbon freezing chamber, a callback to Boba capturing Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back. Most significantly, Din Djarin never took off his helmet in front of others, something Boba was known for in the originals and the Legends timeline.

With Din Djarin possessing so many Boba qualities, this put Star Wars in a tricky position when resurrecting Boba. Happily, The Mandalorian Season 2 gave Boba a new design and skill set before regaining his armor, separating him from Din Djarin and showing how he had changed. Of course, this had to apply to The Book of Boba Fettas there was already a popular show about a Mandalorian bounty hunter. Making Boba a crime lord kept him connected to his roots while also showing a different aspect of his character. that wasn’t much like Din Djarin.

6

Boba Fett’s canonical story needed to differentiate itself from the legends

A new continuity means exploring characters in different ways

In the original Star Wars Expanded Universe, now known as “Legends”, Boba Fett remained a bounty hunter for most of his life after Return of the Jedi. He also sought revenge on Han Solo, became the leader of the Mandalorians, helped the New Republic during the Yuuzhan Vong War, and even trained Jaina Solo. Despite all of these experiences, which included meeting and partnering with his long-lost granddaughter, Boba was still a hardened man who returned to bounty hunting.

When the Star Wars canon was rebooted, this entire story was relegated to a separate timeline, giving The Book of Boba Fett the freedom to take the character in a new direction. As good as many of Boba’s stories in Legends were, there’s no reason why Canon had to take the exact same approach, especially since some of them were similar to the plots of The Mandalorian. Fans now have two timelines with two versions of Bobaeach dealing with their story differently, but with lots of interesting ideas.

5

Boba Fett lost what made him cool in the original trilogy

A man of few words who got the job done

Unfortunately, not all changes to Boba Fett’s character in The Book of Boba Fett were the best, especially compared to the original trilogy. Simply put, Boba wasn’t as cool as he used to be and he didn’t need to be that way. Becoming the new crime boss in a chaotic city like Mos Eisley, with rival gangs on every corner, could have been the perfect opportunity to show Boba in his element. Boba could have taken his cruel qualities from the films and translated them to the streets of Mos Espabuilding your empire through actions not words.

While there were glimpses of this version of Boba, he acted primarily through reason and diplomacy. This may have made some sense after his time with the Sand People, and Boba was allowed to use his brain, but it meant that several moments weren’t as satisfying as they could have been. When a street gang steals water and publicly disrespects Boba, he offers them a job rather than making an example of them. After threatening the other crime lords, he gently asks them to remain neutral. This became a pattern throughout the show that made Boba much less cool and intimidating.

4

Boba Fett was much better in Mandalorian season 2

A perfect mix of old Boba with some new qualities

Another reason why Boba Fett’s portrayal in The Book of Boba Fett seemed disappointing was because The Mandalorian season 2 has already shown the perfect way to bring him back. The season 2 finale premiere showed Boba with a sense of mystery about him, watching from a distance and leaving viewers guessing what he would do next. When he made his full appearance in the season finale, he was calm, collected and stern, completely in control of the situation. All of his dialogues sounded like the words of a warrior, whether they were intimidating or honorable.

He also had several impressive action scenes, first with his gaff and then with his old Mandalorian armor. Morrison’s voice had a nice ring to it, giving this Boba a great balance of old and new qualities. Unfortunately, this version of Boba didn’t translate well The Book of Boba Fettboth in his attitude and his physical abilities. The Boba who shot Bib Fortuna at point blank range and threw his body to the ground to claim a throne would not have wasted so much time being civil to his enemies, nor would he have come so close to losing fights where others had to save him.

3

Boba Fett’s Character Change Felt Too Sudden

Even in the flashbacks with the sand people

As previously stated, character growth is good, so there was nothing inherently wrong with Boba Fett becoming a different person. However, The Book of Boba Fett didn’t give Boba enough room to growin the main plot or in the flashbacks with the Tuskens. Boba begins the main plot already determined to rule with respect rather than fear, while in the flashbacks he risks being caught by offering to free a fellow prisoner. None of these examples make much sense considering how Boba was presented in Return of the Jedi and at the end of The Mandalorian 2nd season.

If Boba had started the series with the intention of ruling with an iron fist, there would have been an opportunity for him to transform into a leader who cared about his people. He would come to see the citizens of Mos Espa as his new tribe, realizing the futility of ruling through fear and, as a result, becoming a new man. Similarly, Boba should have been more selfish and resistant to joining the Sand People in the flashbacksworking with them out of necessity before eventually staying voluntarily. Star Wars characters tend to change drastically, but usually not all at once.

2

Boba Fett could have been the perfect foil for Din Djarin

Maybe they would have become enemies

One aspect The Mandalorian 2nd season which was transferred to The Book of Boba Fett it was the dynamic between Din Djarin and Boba Fett. Although Boba wasn’t as rude as in The MandalorianHe and Din Djarin still made a good team, with the latter’s sense of honor in the face of certain death surprising the former. That being said, Boba’s change in character has meant that he and Din Djarin don’t complement each other as well as they used to.and limited the potential for how their relationship could change in the future.

If Boba had remained a more hardened warrior, willing to do terrible things to get what he wanted, he would have been a much better foil for a man like Din Djarin. Perhaps Din Djarin had cut ties with Boba after they saved Mos Espa from the Pyke Syndicate.causing them to become enemies in the future. While this is just one possibility, it demonstrates how their differences create more potential for the story. Having Mandalorians (or characters in Mandalorian armor) with different backgrounds and philosophies made their interactions memorable in The Mandalorian 2nd season.

1

Star Wars needs more stories about bad guys

Not every lead needs to be a nice guy

The biggest reason why Boba Fett shouldn’t have changed so drastically in The Book of Boba Fett and that Star Wars needs more stories with bad guys in the lead. While some Star Wars TV shows have certainly focused on morally gray protagonists; the bad guys rarely get time as main characters. Novels like Star Wars: Darth Plagueis by James Luceno showed fans how fantastic and refreshing stories can be when told from the villains’ point of view. The Acolyte was originally marketed as a show about the Sithbut this promise was not fully fulfilled.

Despite being a crime lord, Boba doesn’t commit many notable crimes and even refuses to get involved in the spice trade. Although this clearly takes inspiration from The godfatherit also seems like Disney and Lucasfilm are afraid of making the main character too bad a person, demanding that he be a more noble man from the beginning. Maybe this would be the best approach if executed better, but the occasional show about a bad guy isn’t unreasonable. Hopefully future Star Wars TV shows will learn from this, giving Boba Fett more of the qualities he already possessed.