'The Book of Boba Fett' Shows Boba At His Lowest Point
*Spoiler warning for The Book of Boba Fett*
Boba Fett has always been a loser.
Despite the famous bounty hunter's reputation for ruthlessness, he can't seem to stop getting his butt kicked. Whether he's getting accidentally beaten by a blinded Han Solo, shoved into a box by Asajj Ventress, knocked out by R2-D2 or swallowed an ungodly number of times by the Sarlacc, the life of Boba Fett has always been a rough one, but he has continued on nonetheless. For me, one of the best things about the first episode of The Book of Boba Fett was how effectively it conveyed this.
Boba Fett as a character is far more interesting when he's vulnerable. Not when he's in charge of the Mandalorians or fighting Darth Vader in a lightsaber duel, but when he's dragging himself across the sand and struggling to free himself from captivity. The depth and nuance that he has received in recent years has come primarily from his efforts to become a respected figure in the criminal underworld, despite fumbling nearly every step of the way.
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One of the aspects of Boba that makes his constant uphill battle especially relatable is his need to live up to the legacy of his father, Jango. In both the comics and The Clone Wars animated series, we see Boba trying to make a name for himself as a mercenary. Inheriting his father's armor and starship, he is driven by a sense of loyalty to his father, dedicated to continuing on the Fett family name and maintaining its power among the seedier parts of the galaxy. This was made no clearer than in Chapter 16: The Tragedy of The Mandalorian, where he quotes his father directly and calls himself a "simple man making his way through the galaxy".
Boba's commitment to building himself back up has now become a focal point for his journey in The Book of Boba Fett. In Chapter 1: Stranger in a Strange Land, he speaks of ruling with respect as the new crime lord of Tatooine. This is demonstrated by his treatment of those who come to pay him tribute. While he maintains his authority over the planet's other crime figures, he also refrains from harming any of them, even when one of them blatantly disrespects him. Even when he and his associate Fennec Shand are both ambushed in the streets of Mos Espa, Boba shows restraint in fighting off his attackers, reminding Fennec to take at least one of them alive, presumably for valuable information.
Even as Boba continues to be overwhelmed and nearly killed by his enemies, he remains focused on being both a worthy successor to his father and a legend in his own right. His constant struggle against those who would rather see his reputation destroyed makes his journey all the more compelling. Boba is awesome, but he's also human. It's this humanity which makes me root for him and want him to succeed in his new quest. The Book of Boba Fett has done a good job of showing Boba Fett at his lowest point. As long as both this series and Star Wars as a whole remember Boba's vulnerability, I believe that, in return, his character will grow, improve, and continue to live up to his, and his father's, reputation.