The Book of Boba Fett: In the Name of Honor

Writer: Jon Favreau

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Summary: Boba Fett, Din, Krrsantan Shand, and the Mods hold off the Pyke Syndicate in Freetown.

Review: I wanted to enjoy this one, I really did. The writers seemed like they were done with the detour, but…yeah this wasn’t good. It wasn’t bad either. I’m going to say this was mediocre.

This show really does feel like Favreau was playing with new toys, and then got bored and went back to his old ones. The last two episodes were not a good idea, and then this one really annoyed me.

It wasn’t the big seige, that was fine up until the end. It was Grogu. Having Grogu show up at the end ruins the second season of the Mandalorian and steals the spotlight from the true star. Having Grogu restore the status quo for Din annoyed me.

I’m not saying this has ruined Star Wars forever because that’s not true. But it was a disappointment. We’ll see if things improve when Kenobi on May 25.

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The Book of Boba Fett: From the Desert Comes a Stranger

Writer: Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni

Director: Dave Filoni

Summary: Lots of pandering to fans who were only here for Din Djarin and Grogu. Oh, and Cad Bane showed up.

Review: I’m sorry, but is this supposed to be The Mandalorian? Because it feels more like that than Book of Boba Fett.

Apparently, Favreau and Filoni have forgotten how spin-offs work. Let me explain. When Russell T. Davies entered Series 3 of Doctor Who, two spin-offs debuted, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. Although the 10th and 11th Doctors did appear on Sarah Jane’s show, they were clearly treated like guest stars. They didn’t take over the show for two whole episodes and make us wonder when we’d see Sarah Jane and her kids.

And yet, here we are, 5 episodes in, and suddenly we’re in The Mandalorian Season 2.5? Boba Fett barely shows up? I’m sorry, but this isn’t a good episode, and no amount of fan service will change my opinion.

Yes, I watched Clone Wars. I’m currently on the final season, in fact. Yes, I watched The Bad Batch last year. I know who Cad Bane is!

Favreau and Filoni don’t need to pander to the impatient “fans”. They were the same fans who chased Daisy Ridley off social media because how dare Star Wars have a female lead. They were the same fans who whined because Luke Skywalker was old and cynical, like he’s not supposed to be upset because a new fascist empire is oppressing the galaxy and his star pupil went to the Dark Side. They hate change. You were already telling a good story!

If Cad Bane had actually fought Boba Fett and Fett jobbed to him, I would have been more excited. But this is frustrating. I wasn’t excited. I was impatient. I don’t want fan service and no substance!

So sorry, I have to be honest. This is getting a low grade. I expected better from you, Jon Favreau.

Grade: C-

Book of Boba Fett: Chapter 5: The Return of the Mandalorian

Writer: Jon Favreau

Director: Bryce Dallas Howard

Summary: Our story takes a slight detour to show us what Din Djarin has been up to lately. He shows the Darksaber to the Armorer, only to be challenged by Paz Vizsla, who believes that because he is a descendant of the Darksaber’s creator, Tarre Vizsla, he should be the one to weild it. Although he defeats Vizsla, he is rejected by the tribe for removing his helmet. Upon returning to Mos Eisley, Djarin once again meets Peli Motto, who gives him a new N-1 Starfighter to replace the Razor Crest. Shand appears and asks for his help.

Review: I have a major problem with this episode: Boba Fett was nowhere to be seen! This is supposed to be his series, right? I wanted to enjoy the episode, as it was actually good to see Djarin, but I was bored. With the exception of the duel, there wasn’t much action. Couldn’t they have just made this an extra episode of The Mandalorian? Why sideline the main star? Shand is the only character we see, and she doesn’t even show until towards the end! I’m sorry, but this wasn’t good.

Grade: D

Star Wars Visions: The Ninth Jedi

Writer/Director: Kenji Kamiyama

Summary: The Jedi Order is nearly extinct. Margrave Juro, ruler of Hy Izlan, invites seven apprentices to his temple to receive new lightsabers, each one having a design lost to time. One is given to Ethan, the youngest, as proof that the rest will receive theirs when they are complete.

Meanwhile, sabersmith Lah Zhima is captured by the Sith. But his daughter Kara manages to escape with the finished lightsabers, which she delivers to the Jedi. It is then revealed that all of the apprentices –with the exception of Ethan–are Sith impostors sent to murder Juro. Kara and Ethan save Juro, but it’s revealed that one of the impostors is Homen, an old friend of Juro. The three set out to rescue Zhima.

Review: This one was beautiful and action-packed. Like The Village Bride, it had one of the best scores of the entire series. I liked the pacing of this story. It felt longer than it actually was, almost as if I was watching a pilot for another series. Out of all of the shorts, this is the one that I wouldn’t mind seeing turned into a series.

One more to go! I’m sure you can all guess which one is next. To be honest, both this and the next one are tied for the best out of all of them.

Book of Boba Fett Episode 4 : The Gathering Storm

Writer: Jon Favreau

Director: Kevin Tancharoen

Summary: The story starts with the flashback this time to when Fett met Shand, saving her from a gut wound. She agrees to help retrieve Slave I.

In the present day, Fett recruits Krrsantan after seeing him fight Trandoshans. Fett tries to get the crime bosses to unite against the Pykes, but to no avail.

Review: I’d been waiting to see how Fett and Shand met. I thought their first battle together was cool.

I like that Fett is not able to convince the bosses to fully unite with him. This is a great way to raise the stakes.

We’re at the halfway mark, and I’m still enjoying the season. I won’t say this was the best episode of the season so far, but I did enjoy it.

Grade: A.

Star Wars Visions Review: The Village Bride

Writers: Takahito Oonishi & Hitoshi Haga

Director: Hitoshi Haga

Summary: On a remote planet, a village chief ‘s daughter named Haku and her lover Asu wish to surrender themselves to bandits who have reprogrammed Sepratist droids to raid their village, despite her sister’s objections. A fallen Jedi named F and an explorer named Valco intervene when Haku’s sister faces execution.

Review: One of things I love about anime is how beautiful it can be. Kinema Citrus gives this story a rich palette.

The music for this short was the best I’ve heard in the entire series. Not to sell any of the others short, because they had excellent scores too.

As for the story, it was great. I liked the relationship between Haku and Asu. Their selflessness for their village made me want them to be together. I loved F and Valco’s fight with the droids.

Two more to go, and in reality, they could be tied.

Book of Boba Fett ep. 3: The Streets of Mos Espa

Writer: Jon Favreau

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Summary: Fett is tasked by water-monger Lortha Peel to punish cyborgs stealing his wares. Instead of punishing them, Fett employs them.

In the flashbacks, we learn that the Nikto gang massacred the Tuskens. The flashbacks are interrupted by Krrsantan, who makes short work of Fett’s security until Shand and the cyborgs gain an upper hand. The Twins return, saying they will leave Tatooine, and leave a Rancor behind. Fett wants to train the beast.

Fett and his new employees go to Shaiz and discover he is working for the Pykes. Fett realizes he must now prepare for war.

Review: I’m beginning to like that the more Fett tries to rule his way, the more complicated the situation gets. The fight with Krrsantan was excellent.

I loved seeing Danny Trejo and the Rancor. Trejo just looks like someone who could tame something that huge. I can’t wait to see Fett actually ride it.

Keep up the great work, everyone!

Star Wars Visions Review: TO-BI

Writer: Yuichiro Kido

Director: Abel Góngara

Summary: An armless inventor named Professor Mitaka has created a sentient robot named T0-B1, who dreams of becoming a Jedi. While searching for a kyber crystal to power a lightsaber, T0-B1 accidentally sends a signal into space, attracting a Sith Inquisitor to its presence. We eventually learn Mitaka is actually a former Jedi and TO-B1 is powered by a kyber crystal, meaning he is Force-sensitive.

Review: We Americans have Walt Disney, and the Japanese have Osamu Tezuka. Tezuka may not have started the manga industry, but he was one of the most prolific creators in both manga and anime. One of his most beloved creations was Mighty Atom, or his more famous name Astro Boy, which has been adapted into 3 series and a CG movie. This short is basically a love letter to the boy robot. Not only does T0-B1 bear a slight resemblance to Astro, but its name is similar to the name of the son of Dr. Tenma, his creator. In the story, Tenma’s son is killed by an oncoming car, and he creates Astro to replace him. Mitaka is modelled after Professor Ochanomizu, a colleague of Tenma who is head of the Ministry of Science, who becomes Astro’s surrogate father after Tenma rejects him (I’m currently watching the 80’s version of the anime). As a fan of Astro Boy, I loved this concept. I thought the idea of a Force-sensitive robot was a great way to pay tribute.

Next up are my top 3 favorite Visions shorts. Either one of these could be the best one, but I decided to put The Village Bride next.

Book of Boba Fett ep. 2: The Tribes of Tatooine

Writer: Jon Favreau

Director: Steph Green

Summary: Fett and Shand interrogate their would-be assassin, who claims that he was sent by Mok Shaiz, the Mayor of Mos Espa. Shaiz of course denies this. Fett then meets two of Jabba’s cousins, the Twins, who want to reclaim his throne.

In the flashback plot, Fett steals some speeders and teaches the Tuskens to ride them. After a successful train raid, Fett performs the Tuskens’ initiation ritual and is admitted into the tribe.

Review: I liked this better than the premiere, and I liked the premiere. The Twins had a great introduction. I doubt we’ve seen the last of them.

I’d heard somewhere that Favreau doesn’t like to have flashbacks. The flashbacks are still entertaining, though. I like all this attention to the Tusken culture, and I’m glad we’re getting both of these plots. I’m liking this show a lot.

Star Wars Visions Review: Lop and Ocho

Writer: Sayawaka

Director: Yuki Igarashi

Summary: A rabbit-like slave named Lop is found on the planet Tau by Yasaburo (a clan leader) and his daughter Ocho, who adopt her, with Ocho even calling her her little sister. The story flashes forward, and Ocho is now older and cooperating with the Empire. This puts her at odds with her father, who wants the Empire off their world.

Review: Not long ago, I heard a saying “You are often part of two families: the family of blood and the family of choice.” This short uses that saying . Lop is not even the same species as Ocho or her father, and yet she treats her as such, even placating her with food to convince her to join their clan.

I liked how honor-bound Yasaburo was. He wants the Empire gone. To him, Ocho is betraying her family as well as her world. With no one else to turn to as an heir, Lop is the logical choice. It’s easy to see why this infuriates Ocho.

I liked how Lop is so trusting of Ocho. Even after Ocho kills their father, she still thinks her sister can be redeemed. The ending was well-handled.

To be honest, I could’ve ranked this higher, but with the next 4 titles, I had to put this somewhere. I didn’t dislike it, it’s just the next 4 are so amazing.