The Book of Boba Fett: Where you’ve seen the mayor’s species before

Mayor Mok Shaiz of Mos Espa has already proven to be an important character during the first two episodes of The Book of Boba Fett. He is an alien known as an Ithorian, a species who has been around ever since the original Star Wars movie came out in 1977.

The first Ithorian can be seen among the numerous aliens at Mos Eisley’s Chalmun’s Cantina in A New Hope. Like many background characters, his name and the name of his species is not said in A New Hope. Over time, this character became known as Momaw Nadon and the Ithorian species has been developed over the course of many Legends and canon stories and reference materials.

Due to their atypical throat structure–they have two mouths on both sides of their neck–Ithorians cannot speak Galactic Basic. This is why they are often seen communicating with translator collars and why their voices sound automated, such as Mayor Mok Shaiz’s voice when communicating with Boba Fett in the second episode.

In terms of other Ithorians that fans have seen before, one of the most recognizable is the collector Dok-Ondar who fans can see at Galaxy’s Edge.

When it comes to animated Star Wars, fans have most recently seen an Ithorian character during multiple episodes of The Bad Batch. The Ithorian Bolo is a regular at Cid’s on Ord Mantell.

Ithorians can also be Force-sensitive, as evidenced by Ithorians who have been Jedi. The Ithorian Byph is one of the younglings who goes to Ilum to get his kyber crystal in The Clone Wars.

Hundreds of years earlier, during the era of the High Republic, the Ithorian Jedi Knight Mikkel Sutmani shows a great deal of courage to do everything he can to save innocent lives when they are attacked by the ruthless Nihil.

While Ithorians aren’t new to Star Wars, Mayor Mok Shaiz is the most prominent Ithorian to ever appear in live-action Star Wars before. Ithorians have often been background characters, so it is exciting to see an Ithorian be an influential politician and important character. He will undoubtedly continue to be an important character in future episodes.

As of the end of the second episode, he is still skeptical of Boba Fett, and does not believe the former bounty hunter has what it takes to be a crime lord. Only time will tell if his mind changes and if he ultimately becomes more of an ally or enemy to Boba.

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