The Star Wars Holiday Special reference in The Book of Boba Fett you might have missed

The third chapter of The Book of Boba Fett stunned and surprised Star Wars audiences in many ways, from colorful speeder chases to subtle nods to previous projects. At one point in “The Streets of Mos Espa,” Boba Fett actually makes a reference to the Star Wars Holiday Special. “I’ve ridden beasts 10 times his size,” Boba Fett said to the rancor caretaker when requesting to learn to ride the beast. Enter “The Story of the Faithful Wookiee.”

The 1978 special featured a brief animated segment that has become iconic despite the remainder of the event’s infamous status among fans. The short cartoon featured Boba Fett in his first-ever appearance riding a creature that resembles what we here on Earth call a “dinosaur.” When Fett spoke to the caretaker this week, Star Wars fans were quick to point out that, if the segment were canon, he would have been referring to this moment.

Okay, okay. The holiday special will probably never, ever be officially canon. But Disney+ did add the cartoon to its platform, and who’s to say those few minutes of the … experience didn’t actually happen? Or maybe it was all a dream … Boba’s sure had plenty of those lately.

The more Star Wars content we get, the more freedom future content has to reference other in-universe story beats. “The Streets of Mos Espa” also referenced the Nightsisters depicted in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and gave a quick nod to Star Wars: Rebels fans. Some even compared the speeder chase scene to Attack of the Clones.

Notably, the first comics-original character to appear in live-action, Black Krrsantan, also debuted in The Book of Boba Fett‘s second chapter. As a fan, you don’t have to consume everything to understand every reference. But it’s sure nice to be able to appreciate them when you do catch them.

The Book of Boba Fett is streaming now exclusively on Disney+.