The Book of Boba Fett ‘From the Desert Comes a Stranger’ ending explained

Warning! Spoilers ahead for this week’s episode of The Book of Boba Fett, “From the Desert Comes a Stranger.”

The much anticipated first spinoff of The Mandalorian, featuring one of Star Wars’ most iconic characters of all time, has, at last, arrived on Disney+.

Last week’s episode saw the triumphant return of Din Djarin in a capsule episode that followed what The Mandalorian had been up to after Grogu’s departure to train with Luke. While he agreed to help Fennec and Boba in their war against the Pykes, the episode ended with Mando saying he needed to visit a friend first.

This week continued to stray from Boba’s storyline to focus on a larger, sprawling story, bringing in more key players for the finale like Cobb Vanth and Cad Bane.

Which Way to Choose

A lot happened in this week’s episode, but the emotional thrust focused on Mando’s visit to Grogu and quest to deliver the gift he had the Armorer make. Of course, when Din arrives, there are multiple roadblocks in his way, from R2-D2 to Ahsoka, who gently questions Din about the intentions of his visit.

While Din is allowed to see Grogu from a distance, their face-to-face reunion doesn’t happen as he agrees to pass off the gift to Ahsoka, who in turn hands it to Luke.

Luke’s manipulations of Grogu are even more questionable. Grogu knows Mando visited, but isn’t even allowed to decide whether he wants to see him. Instead, Luke presents Grogu with a larger question:  take Mando’s gift–a beskar shirt–and continue living with him, or take Yoda’s lightsaber and be a Jedi.

It’s a heartbreaking cliffhanger and an ultimatum that has been disproven in the larger Star Wars universe. From Luke’s perspective, as Darth Vader’s son, attachment is indeed a path to the Dark Side.

However, we know there are plenty of Jedi who have forged their own path, including Ahsoka. It’s unclear which way Grogu will choose, but it’s hard to envision Grogu’s story not including Mando in some fashion.

The Book of Boba Fett is available to stream on Disney+.