Since Boba Fett’s first appearance in The Empire Strikes Back and his apparent demise in Return of the Jedi, fans have been wanting him back on screen in whatever way they can get him. With every ounce of their collective force, fans were able to swing Disney in this direction—and when it became clear that Boba Fett was getting his own TV run, fans eagerly waited to see if the show would live up to what The Mandalorian had done with its first two seasons. The resulting series was unevenly paced as it crawled along at a snail’s pace in several parts and rocketed along in other areas. But on the whole? The Book of Boba Fett provided steadfast adventure for the audience to sink their teeth into, with a few surprises along the way. Let’s look back at the first (and potentially only) season and revisit the best moments of The Book of Boba Fett.
8. Boba Escapes the Sarlacc
Ever since Boba Fett was unceremoniously knocked into the Sarlacc Pit by Han Solo in Return of the Jedi, fans have wondered aloud and even debated how the iconic bounty hunter might escape. And after decades of speculation, The Book of Boba Fett finally showed us how he did it. As Boba is slowly consumed by the Sarlacc, he manages to grab a dead stormtrooper’s breathing tube (connected to the trooper’s helmet) and uses his armor’s flamethrower to burn his way out. As his hand explodes through the sands of Tatooine, the bounty hunter drags himself out and lays on the ground, almost dead but not quite. Boba’s escape is an iconic moment in the Star Wars franchise, as his survival really comes from generations of fan hope.
7. The Great Train Robbery
During Boba’s time spent living with the Tuskens, he manages to gain their trust and become one of the tribe—which means that their losses are his, and their battles are his. When Boba realizes a train continues to harm the Tuskens by traveling through the Dune Sea and continually trespassing on their land, he devises a plan to make money from the incursion. The resulting train assault is a sequence that showcases the best of The Book of Boba Fett’s visual delights. As Boba and his team board the train and move through it, fighting enemies every step of the way, it evokes memories of classic Westerns with the train becoming a battleground for Boba to conquer.
6. Cad Bane’s Standoff With Cobb Vanth
The introduction of Cad Bane was one that excited Star Wars fans, as the iconic legacy character finally saw his live-action debut after appearing only in several animated series. After Boba goes to war with the Pyke Syndicate, Din tries to convince Cobb Vanth to join Boba Fett in his fight against the Pykes. They arrive at an arrangement (of sorts). Din leaves. And then Cad Bane arrives, to face off against Cobb Vanth. Vanth is reluctant to get involved but ends up losing the standoff against Bane, and he nearly dies in the process. However, this leads to the members of Freetown lending their support to Boba. And as for character introductions? Cad Bane’s is one of the best in Star Wars history.
5. The Rancor Fight
When Boba Fett is gifted a rancor by the remaining Hutts, the audience knows that it’s going to play a role at some point. We just don’t know when, or for what purpose, or how it will get woven into the story. And in the final battle against the Pyke Syndicate, Boba unleashes it—the monster, which Boba had trained to know only him as its owner, went to war against two shielded droids and demolished them in minutes. Seeing this creature—the kind that attempted to kill Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi—fully unleashed against a near-unbeatable enemy? That was a fist-pump-in-the-air moment for fans, with Boba riding the rancor into battle for additional awesomeness.
4. Mando and Pelli Build a Ship
When Din Djarin unexpectedly returned in a leading role, the series took an upswing. With the Mando back in business, he needed a new ship to get around in after the destruction of The Razor Crest. Enter Peli Motto, who salvaged an ex-Royal Guard starfighter from Naboo for Din to use. The only problem? It’s in pieces. Together, the pair fix up the ship and get it working, which leads to a speed the likes of which Mando has never seen. The sequence of Mando and Peli building the fighter is fun and exciting, and the final test flight rounds out the episode with vigor.
3. Fennec Assasinates the Syndicate
When The Pyke Syndicate attacks Boba and his gang of merry people, he sends Fennec away to finish the job. With Fennec gone, Boba Fett’s gang struggles to withstand the relentless attack from the Pykes—at least, until the end of the episode. Like the haunting ninja she appears to be, Fennec sneakily strikes the leadership of the Syndicate. And we experience her attack from the Syndicate’s perspective, seeing every single person in the room die while Fennec remains unseen. We’ve always known Fennec to be a ruthless operator, but seeing it like that became one of the best moments in The Book of Boba Fett.
2. Grogu Makes His Choice
When Grogu reappeared on our screens, there was a collective feeling of relief. Nobody foresaw Grogu coming back into the fold so quickly after his heartbreaking exit during the finale of The Mandalorian’s second season. But when he returned, it felt right. Indeed, seeing him with Luke as he decided on the future he wanted—a future with the Jedi or a future with Din Djarin—felt like we were witnessing a moment of grand destiny. After Din had given a small piece of Beskar armor to Ahsoka to give to Grogu, we weren’t sure if Grogu would pick Mando or the lightsaber. However, in the finale, Grogu’s choice became clear.
1. The Return of Din Djarin
The Book of Boba Fett didn’t need Din Djarin to return, but the series definitely ended up being much better for it. As the image of Din’s helmet first became visible on the screen, we all wondered how long this wonderful reunion would last. Was it a cameo? Was it a tease for an ending? Actually, it turned out to be a pretty monumental moment for the series. Seeing Din return made everything more exciting, fun, and better for the audience. The Book of Boba Fett surprised us with Din Djarin’s return, and we got what we all wanted to see. Read next: The best scenes and moments in The Mandalorian
