Chapter 3 of The Book of Boba Fett: What We Didn’t Expect

Chapter 3 of The Book of Boba Fett has enraged some diehard Star Wars fans. Admittedly, Robert Rodriguez threw us a few serious curveballs in “The Streets of Mos Espa.” But The Book of Boba Fett has taught us to expect the unexpected (lizard psychedelics? seriously?), and it’s all the better for it. Stars Wars needed a shakeup, and Boba Fett’s jolted us from the complacency of spaceships and Jedis we’ve come to expect.

So Chapter 3 of The Book of Boba Fett slammed us with plenty we weren’t expecting. 

1. Mods, AKA the Mos Vespas: a subtle homage to famous rock band The Who? Whether or not Rodriguez intended that, a bunch of ragtag teens riding Mos Vespas became Boba Fett minions. They saved him in a battle against former gladiator wookiee Black Krrsantan. They chased down the majordomo. Why’d Boba Fett pick a gang of teenagers to defend him? Mysteries abound. 

2. Tusken Raider Slaughter: I’ve written about this as the most devastating scene in any Star Wars movie, and I stand by it. Boba Fett tossing an unfinished gaffi stick onto the funeral pyre sent me into a sobbing wreck that even Leia’s death couldn’t touch. I’m spoiling for some serious revenge. 

3. Black Krrsantan battle!: okay, we knew this one was coming. That former gladiator was spoiling for a fight, and it was a matter of time. But Chapter 3 of The Book of Boba Fett delivers. The battle involves Boba’s entire security force (including those aforementioned mods) before he marches Black Krrsantan to the Hutt twins, who basically say, “Sorry, our bad. By the way, we’re outta here.” Then Boba Fett sets the Wookiee free for old times’ sake. Not a shock, because Boba Fett sets pretty much everyone free, unless they murder innocents. 

4. Danny Trejo: No one expected Danny Trejo to show up in a Star War, even if he is director Robert Rodriguez’s second cousin and frequent collaborator. He’s best known for his work on Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and Spy Kids. Spy Kids. For real. His appearance in Chapter 3 of The Book of Boba Fett is totally unexpected.

5. Boba Pett: Speaking of Danny Trejo, he appears up in Chapter 3 of The Book of Boba Fett with a baby rancor, which can apparently become very loving, and which Boba Fett decides he will ride into battle like the Jedi of yore. And it’s also a gift from the Hutt twins. Double-edged sword? We’ll see. But he’ll definitely snarf someone before the series ends.  

6. Allusions to the Star Wars Holiday Special: Boba Fett says he’s ridden something much bigger than a rancor. He means an ichthyodont — which he rode during the Star Wars Holiday Special. Which everyone hates. But that was the first time Boba Fett ever appeared on screen. So that’s kind of awesome. 

Love it or hate it, Chapter 3 of The Book of Boba Fett brought some surprises. We’ll see where Chapter 4 goes. There’s bound to be revenge for the Tusken Raiders’ death. We’ll see some more of the Mos Vespas. And the rancor’s gonna eat someone. 

That’s a promise.