The Book of Boba Fett episode 6 review: Cameos, death, and a bit of Boba

We’ve reached the penultimate episode of The Book of Boba Fett and once again the plot isn’t about him. Don’t let my criticism fool you, I enjoyed every moment of episode 6, but my issue with the episode is the same one I had last week. This is a series about Boba Fett, and it’s somehow become about everyone but him.

Episode 5, “Return of the Mandalorian,” was basically a pre-season 3 episode of The Mandalorian and now episode 6, “From the Desert Comes a Stranger,” is essentially the same thing. It’s less insular and hyper focused on Mando which allowed for the world to open back up, but the majority of the plot work done in it is set-up for the bounty hunter’s third season.

That’s not to say the plot of The Book of Boba Fett wasn’t pushed forward by the episode. It was. It’s just not the primary focus and, in some ways, felt like the side plot in The Mandalorian not the main plot of The Book of Boba Fett.

Still, once again this was a solid episode. There’s real emotional stakes carved out here that’ll definitely see viewers returning to Mando’s story, watching his series if they haven’t, or catching up in time for season 3’s premiere. This is in large part due to the storyline surrounding his and Grogu’s separation.

But, before we dive into that bit of story which left me in tears, let’s talk about how good Star Wars becomes when it leans into the space western elements of its universe’s story conventions.

The Book of Boba Fett has become about everyone but Boba

We open “From the Desert Comes a Stranger” with Cobb Vanth, our first cameo of the episode. He’s got a few Pykes to handle. They’re there to do a spice drop but Cobb warns them off. As Marshal of the Mos Pelgo territories, he won’t tolerate spice being sold in the region.

He’s willing to let the Pykes go and explain away the situation as them reading the map wrong, but it still ends in a shootout. They, of course, lose and there’s one Pyke left to carry Cobb’s message back to the syndicate. Anyone one who tries to run spice through his territory will go missing, never to be heard from again.

Reader, this is where I should have seen the events of the end of the episode coming but, alas, I did not. Perhaps, I was too excited about Cobb’s cowboy swagger and ‘Think this through’ mentality to realize that his threat, which wasn’t too far off from Boba’s demands to the Pykes in “The Tribes of Tatooine,” would become a major problem with predictable consequences.

It didn’t help matters that we were then swept along with Mando to the planet where Luke Skywalker is training his foundling, Grogu. The Book of Boba Fett took us from a tense standoff to the tranquil peace of a training session in an area with the most greenery this series has ever seen. However, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t also heartbreaking.

The whole point of Mando making this trip was so he could see Grogu. He’s missed his child but, before he can even glimpse Grogu, he’s intercepted by R2-D2 who leads him to where spider-like droids are building a school. He’s expected to wait and it turns out he’s not waiting for Luke and Grogu but rather Ahsoka Tano.

Elsewhere, Grogu and Luke are meditating but the young one is a bit distracted. There’s a frog afoot and he catches it with telekinesis. He almost manages to eat it before Luke catches him and he’s forced to let it go. In a show of skill and power, Luke lifts a host of frogs out of the near by pond. It’s impressive to the child but likely distressing to the poor amphibians. No frogs were eaten though so they live to ribbit another day.

During the walk they go on next, Luke tells Grogu about Master Yoda. It’s a moving scene not only because he assures him that his size doesn’t matter and that there was someone incredibly powerful who was just like him, but also because it leads to Luke helping Grogu remember what happened before his time with Mando.

Tragically, the child had been witness to Jedi being shot down by storm troopers. The memory fades before we can see how Grogu escaped, so perhaps that’s a trip into the past that’ll come in The Mandalorian season 3.

What Grogu doesn’t know once he and Luke settle back into their training, is that Mando is just down the hill. Ahsoka has taken the bounty hunter to see his former charge but not close enough for the child to notice. She, like the Armorer, reminds Mando that Jedi are to let go of all attachments.

Ahsoka even goes as far to question if Mando’s visit is really about Grogu or about what he personally needs since he misses his son. She doesn’t refer to the child in that manner, but it’s clear that’s who Grogu is to Mando. Ultimately, instead of giving Grogu the armor he had commissioned for him in-person, he gives it to Ahsoka so that she can give it to the child.

Mando’s chief concern is making sure that Grogu is safe. He also doesn’t want to make this separation any harder for him. Once he hears from Ahsoka that Grogu misses him very much and that seeing him again could prove difficult for the child, Mando makes the decision as a parent to do what’s best for Grogu.

To be honest, that conversation felt very manipulative, but I also want Mando and Grogu to be reunited and am not a fan of this ‘let go of all attachments’ lifestyle, so I’m admittedly biased. Anyway, that moment hurt my feelings as did Grogu seeing Mando’s ship take off. Reunite them, I beg!

After that we’re treated to more training with Luke as Grogu begins to excel. When Ahsoka approaches him, they briefly talk about the child’s bond with Mando before she hands him the parcel containing the armor Mando gave him. From there she departs, but we’ll see her again in her own series set to come to Disney+ at some point.

Boba Fett’s one scene in The Book of Boba Fett episode 6

Our one moment with Boba Fett in episode 6 comes when Mando flies into the docking bay at the daimyo’s palace. He’s there for a meeting which Fennec is leading. She explains that they’ve pinpointed where the Pykes are likely located based on what’s been whispered about in the streets.

While she believes Mando and Krrsantan are enough to build out their enforcers, they’re still in need of foot soldiers. Once Mando says he believes he can help with that, we’re once again taken out of Mos Espa and to another part of Tatooine.

I have to say once again that Boba’s show being hijacked by Mando and his plot isn’t what I thought we’d be getting. Even though I am enjoying these episodes, it’s a strike against the series.

Who is “The Stranger” in The Book of Boba Fett episode 6?

Mando’s help comes in the form of reaching out to Cobb for assistance. He’s briefly waylaid by the marshal’s upstart deputy but the two men do manage to get a drink in the local cantina.

Cobb is hesitant to say yes to Mando’s request for fighters on behalf of Boba Fett and to lead the garrison himself, but he doesn’t tell him no. Instead, Cobb says he’ll see what he can do. The bartender isn’t too happy about it but Mos Pelgo is now Freetown, and it’s clear Cobb believes that Boba’s fight is going to end up being theirs at some point.

Not even a minute later, his belief becomes a reality when a stranger walks into town. Cobb sends everyone, including his deputy, into the cantina as he engages with the man. Star Wars fans already familiar with him, however, more than likely immediately recognized him.

The person Cobb is in a standoff with is Cad Bane, a notorious and ruthless bounty hunter. He’s in Freetown on behalf of the Pykes. He tells Cobb that the Syndicate will match whatever Boba intends to pay him and his people; all they have to do is let things play out. Cad also informs Cobb that Boba is “a coldblooded killer who worked for the Empire.”

Cobb, however, doesn’t budge on wanting to know who he is. His deputy also pops out of the cantina at the worse time. The tension is so high, it’s obvious a shootout is imminent but with Cobb distracted by his deputy, he wounds up getting shot by Cad who also shoots the deputy multiple times. Before Cad leaves, he tells the people of Freetown that Tatooine belongs to the Syndicate and that no harm will come to anyone as long as spice keeps running through the town.

While the deputy is most assuredly dead, Cobb likely isn’t and if we don’t get an update on his status in The Book of Boba Fett finale then we probably will in The Mandalorian season 3. The deputy’s death, however, wasn’t the only one dealt in episode 6.

The Pykes also paid a visit to Garsa Fwip’s Sanctuary where they left a bomb behind. It detonated, blowing the cantina into a deadly fireball that no one likely survived. The Syndicate isn’t messing around and this violent show of power is their declaration of war.

Unfortunately, these power plays are undercut by The Mandalorian plot which ends the episode. The double duty The Book of Boba Fett is pulling isn’t serving it well as every time it seems like the show’s present day plot is getting exciting focus is pulled elsewhere.

The final moments of “From the Desert Comes a Stranger” are spent with Luke and Grogu. Luke presents the child with Mando’s gift, but he also presents him with a lightsaber.

Grogu must choose. If he accepts the armor then he’ll be returned to Mando, but if he accepts the lightsaber then he has chosen to master the Force, will be Luke’s first student at the school he’s building, and he’ll likely never see Mando again.

Luke also reminds Grogu that a short time for him is a lifetime for others which means he has a big decision to make. Personally, I don’t think he should have to choose. There was a Mandalorian Jedi, Grogu could walk the same path. The episode, however, ends before the child makes his choice.

I’m assuming we’ll find out what Grogu’s decision is in next week’s finale. If we don’t, then it’ll be the hook going into The Mandalorian season 3 and the question on everyone’s minds moving forward. See you next Wednesday for the finale, readers, where Boba hopefully is once more the lead of this show.

The finale of The Book of Boba Fett Disney+premieres Wednesday, Feb. 9 on .