The Book of Boba Fett: Chapter 3: The Streets of Mos Espa
January 12, 2022 7:14 AM - Season 1, Episode 3 - Subscribe
Boba Fett must deal with two very different threats.
In the last thread, I was willing to give Favreau the benefit of the doubt that he was going to do something to subvert his boiler-plate white savior tropes, but no, he just went and tied a bow around it in the most boring and predictable way possible. Fuck that.
I did enjoy the glam rock speeder gang, and the inevitable Danny Trejo appearance.
I wish they had gotten a better action director, (i.e. anyone other than Rodriguez) to stage the Krrsantan showdown.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 7:38 AM on January 12, 2022 [6 favorites]
I did enjoy the glam rock speeder gang, and the inevitable Danny Trejo appearance.
I wish they had gotten a better action director, (i.e. anyone other than Rodriguez) to stage the Krrsantan showdown.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 7:38 AM on January 12, 2022 [6 favorites]
he just went and tied a bow around it in the most boring and predictable way possible. Fuck that.
Yeah that was a real shame. I was really enjoying seeing the Tusken culture and to just go "ok they're dead now" as soon as Fett had what he needed was depressing.
Fett employing the random unemployed cyber-youths was pretty funny.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:44 AM on January 12, 2022
Yeah that was a real shame. I was really enjoying seeing the Tusken culture and to just go "ok they're dead now" as soon as Fett had what he needed was depressing.
Fett employing the random unemployed cyber-youths was pretty funny.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:44 AM on January 12, 2022
Mod scooters if anyone didn't recognise the young gang's rides.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:48 AM on January 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:48 AM on January 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
I can never watch Luke defeating the Rancor in ROTJ the same way ever again. They already gave it the mewling death rattle, but now I have to factor in that it might have had depression too?!
posted by Molesome at 7:48 AM on January 12, 2022 [14 favorites]
posted by Molesome at 7:48 AM on January 12, 2022 [14 favorites]
In one of the old EU books there was a story about the old rancor's handler, IIRC he planned to escape with the rancor because he didn't like it being starved and mistreated by Jabba. They were going to live free on Tatooine :(
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:50 AM on January 12, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:50 AM on January 12, 2022 [8 favorites]
Shame about the fridging of the Tuskens, though people in the last threads predicted it.
I loved the Speeder Mods and Danny Trejo though. Feel like I'm more willing to root for Boba Fett's motley army now.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 7:53 AM on January 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
I loved the Speeder Mods and Danny Trejo though. Feel like I'm more willing to root for Boba Fett's motley army now.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 7:53 AM on January 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
That was a very...leisurely chase scene. Was it supposed to be that slow?
When the Wookiee was attacking BF the entire time I was wondering where Fennec was. How come the Scooby Doo gang was more on the ball than her? And how did the Wookiee get into the palace without anybody noticing? I wonder whether Fennec is playing both sides here.
posted by orrnyereg at 8:07 AM on January 12, 2022 [10 favorites]
When the Wookiee was attacking BF the entire time I was wondering where Fennec was. How come the Scooby Doo gang was more on the ball than her? And how did the Wookiee get into the palace without anybody noticing? I wonder whether Fennec is playing both sides here.
posted by orrnyereg at 8:07 AM on January 12, 2022 [10 favorites]
Also: the rancor wasn't Muchi. :-( Where you at, Muchi??
posted by orrnyereg at 8:09 AM on January 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by orrnyereg at 8:09 AM on January 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
The only person we see walking the streets of Mos Eisley seems to be Peli Motto, Amy Sedaris’ character from The Mandalorian, with a gaggle of pit droids behind her.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:09 AM on January 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:09 AM on January 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
Isn't that Sophie Thatcher playing the Blue Scooter Power Ranger, same actress currently killing it as teen Natalie in Yellowjackets? I couldn't find any of the Mighty Moped Power Rangers mentioned in the credits but I'm pretty sure that's her.
posted by Stanczyk at 9:33 AM on January 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Stanczyk at 9:33 AM on January 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
In a series with speeder bikes going 200mph through densely-packed trees, having a leisurely walk through the streets of Mos Espa at a slightly-faster-than-walking pace felt a bit odd.
I can't believe that I expected better than fridging the entire Tusken tribe, though. That was very disappointing.
So far the even-numbered episodes are much better than the odd-numbered episodes. Who knew that Star Trek movie rules applied?
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 9:44 AM on January 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
I can't believe that I expected better than fridging the entire Tusken tribe, though. That was very disappointing.
So far the even-numbered episodes are much better than the odd-numbered episodes. Who knew that Star Trek movie rules applied?
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 9:44 AM on January 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
Everything set in the current day feels like the first Knights of the Old Republic on Xbox. The city is small enough that Boba Fett and his current party walk everywhere, the NPCs all live hilariously close to each other, and most interactions are people stating problems clearly to which Boba Fett has to make a decision. The scooter gang drinks their stolen water less that 50 feet from the water broker's house, but they mention he's price gouging and they have no jobs, so you can take them in your party but Stephen Root will remember that.
posted by Gary at 11:08 AM on January 12, 2022 [21 favorites]
posted by Gary at 11:08 AM on January 12, 2022 [21 favorites]
It has been speculated that this series (and The Mandalorian) are just Favreau and Filoni playing with their Star Wars figures as kids in the early eighties. I gotta say the prospect of Boba Fett riding a rancor does nothing to suggest otherwise.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:28 PM on January 12, 2022 [18 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:28 PM on January 12, 2022 [18 favorites]
Yeah, after hoping this show might subvert some cliches, this one rode right into them. What a damn shame.
posted by crossoverman at 12:56 PM on January 12, 2022
posted by crossoverman at 12:56 PM on January 12, 2022
That was a very...leisurely chase scene. Was it supposed to be that slow?
It was like 20% too slow. Like a small child playing out a chase scene with their toys. Which was maybe the point? But it felt weird...
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:51 PM on January 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
It was like 20% too slow. Like a small child playing out a chase scene with their toys. Which was maybe the point? But it felt weird...
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:51 PM on January 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
When the Wookiee was attacking BF the entire time I was wondering where Fennec was.
I was wondering why she didn't just shoot him in the head at the end of the fight. She was holding her rifle.
Then also, Boba Fett, with his reputation for ruthlessness, didn't execute him. Perhaps his time with the Tuskens changed the way he does things.
But it seems pretty clear that the Tuskens got fridged so that BF has beef with the Pikes; and now, unrelatedly, he is going to war with them. Well worn tropes aside, I'm still willing to see where it goes.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:56 PM on January 12, 2022
I was wondering why she didn't just shoot him in the head at the end of the fight. She was holding her rifle.
Then also, Boba Fett, with his reputation for ruthlessness, didn't execute him. Perhaps his time with the Tuskens changed the way he does things.
But it seems pretty clear that the Tuskens got fridged so that BF has beef with the Pikes; and now, unrelatedly, he is going to war with them. Well worn tropes aside, I'm still willing to see where it goes.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:56 PM on January 12, 2022
It was like 20% too slow.
If they're doing all this on that giant screen-stage, they probably don't have much room, so they have to do things slowly and speed it up (I noticed speed tricks toward the end of the chase for sure), using a lot of cuts. They probably can't quite do it at half speed with a double-speed playback because certain things (gravity forex) won't look right.
posted by axiom at 4:08 PM on January 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
If they're doing all this on that giant screen-stage, they probably don't have much room, so they have to do things slowly and speed it up (I noticed speed tricks toward the end of the chase for sure), using a lot of cuts. They probably can't quite do it at half speed with a double-speed playback because certain things (gravity forex) won't look right.
posted by axiom at 4:08 PM on January 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Another thought. BF is building his new identity on second chances.
The Tuskens could have left him to die; but they didn't. They could have kept him a slave, but they adopted him. But they're all dead, and he can't repay that trust (although he was trying).
So he's focusing it it outward instead. He's adopting the people who need help. Like Fennec, whom he found dying in the desert, like himself. He gives the Gammorans a second chance when the recommendation was to kill them. He hires the Mod Squad. He lets the Wookie gladiator go, recognising that it wasn't personal and it was just business. He treats the Rancor with kindness instead of using it as a terror threat.
As he said, he wants to rule through respect, not fear. But he's also hungry for community - what he had, for the first time, with the Tuskens. So he's walking the talk. But he still lives in a system based on violence, strength and fear. So there's the central conflict.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:09 PM on January 12, 2022 [15 favorites]
The Tuskens could have left him to die; but they didn't. They could have kept him a slave, but they adopted him. But they're all dead, and he can't repay that trust (although he was trying).
So he's focusing it it outward instead. He's adopting the people who need help. Like Fennec, whom he found dying in the desert, like himself. He gives the Gammorans a second chance when the recommendation was to kill them. He hires the Mod Squad. He lets the Wookie gladiator go, recognising that it wasn't personal and it was just business. He treats the Rancor with kindness instead of using it as a terror threat.
As he said, he wants to rule through respect, not fear. But he's also hungry for community - what he had, for the first time, with the Tuskens. So he's walking the talk. But he still lives in a system based on violence, strength and fear. So there's the central conflict.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:09 PM on January 12, 2022 [15 favorites]
I find this show really disappointing.
When I think about the beautifully choreographed fight scene between Mando and Lang, and how much I came to care about the characters in that show, and compare it to this one where it's just "He's Boba Fett! So everything that happens is weighty with significance!" I can barely believe they're cut from the same cloth. Boba is just... Boring. The action sequences are not exciting. The plot is barely there. I don't care if there's a rancor, or a cool wookiee gladiator, if there's no good story around them. And there's just not here yet.
posted by synecdoche at 5:38 PM on January 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
When I think about the beautifully choreographed fight scene between Mando and Lang, and how much I came to care about the characters in that show, and compare it to this one where it's just "He's Boba Fett! So everything that happens is weighty with significance!" I can barely believe they're cut from the same cloth. Boba is just... Boring. The action sequences are not exciting. The plot is barely there. I don't care if there's a rancor, or a cool wookiee gladiator, if there's no good story around them. And there's just not here yet.
posted by synecdoche at 5:38 PM on January 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
i really like that read on motivation, His thoughts were red thoughts. this was the first episode i didn't really enjoy; but that line of thought connects, and makes sense for the long play. part of my dislike was, as Stanzyck so aptly puts it, " the Mighty Moped Power Rangers." i groaned when i saw them, and thought, here we go - the cutesy shit begins. what next, Jar Jar Binks? ugh. i did like the Rancor subplot, and hell yes, i wanna see Boba Fett ride one! but not at the cost of fridging the Tuskens. i don't think ALL of them were killed - there did not seem to be many bodies. i don't think the little Tusken kid was one of them? i like the thought that they disappeared into the sands, to join numbers with thousands of others and eventually return in formidable force. but the white savior act is ugly. at least Temura Morrisson is part Māori, and not totally white.
posted by lapolla at 5:40 PM on January 12, 2022
posted by lapolla at 5:40 PM on January 12, 2022
GodDAMN Robert Rodriguez cannot direct action. Both the moped chase scene and the incredibly long, lowest-possible-stakes fight with the shield guys were just as amateur as anything I've seen in a decade. I sincerely hope we have seen the last of him as a director.
Regarding the story: I loved last week's ep, and I think that's because it was mostly with the sand people. I had predicted that the flashbacks were going to continue and show him making nice w/ all the sand people tribes, and then eventually in the current time, when everything had hit the fan and it looked like he had enemies on all sides and had basically been defeated, he'd just call them up and explain to the mayor, the hutts, and all the rest that he had a literal army of people surrounding the entire city and that would be that: he'd give over the city to the sand people, and eventually people would start treating them with kindness and humanity instead of fear.
But instead they all got fridged. Ugh. Really frustrating because I have zero interest in the current timeline, where Boba is doing a back-yard production of The Godfather, but with aliens. How is this show so boring?
And let's not even get started on the power rangers. They look like the rejected characters from Alita Battle Angel. I just can't.
We're almost halfway through this season, and I have to say, I don't know that I'm going to make it the rest of the way.
posted by nushustu at 6:04 PM on January 12, 2022 [6 favorites]
Regarding the story: I loved last week's ep, and I think that's because it was mostly with the sand people. I had predicted that the flashbacks were going to continue and show him making nice w/ all the sand people tribes, and then eventually in the current time, when everything had hit the fan and it looked like he had enemies on all sides and had basically been defeated, he'd just call them up and explain to the mayor, the hutts, and all the rest that he had a literal army of people surrounding the entire city and that would be that: he'd give over the city to the sand people, and eventually people would start treating them with kindness and humanity instead of fear.
But instead they all got fridged. Ugh. Really frustrating because I have zero interest in the current timeline, where Boba is doing a back-yard production of The Godfather, but with aliens. How is this show so boring?
And let's not even get started on the power rangers. They look like the rejected characters from Alita Battle Angel. I just can't.
We're almost halfway through this season, and I have to say, I don't know that I'm going to make it the rest of the way.
posted by nushustu at 6:04 PM on January 12, 2022 [6 favorites]
And let's not even get started on the power rangers. They look like the rejected characters from Alita Battle Angel. I just can't.
For a dangerous ragtag street gang that salvages parts from droids, those are very shiny cutesy matching mopeds.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:18 PM on January 12, 2022 [15 favorites]
For a dangerous ragtag street gang that salvages parts from droids, those are very shiny cutesy matching mopeds.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:18 PM on January 12, 2022 [15 favorites]
Yeah, I mean on the one hand we've seen shiny 50's throwback design on Coruscant (siiiiiiiiiiIIiiiIiiiiIiIIiigh), so I'm willing to accept that youths in far-flung flyover planets would emulate fashions from the Big Planet, but congratulations Wheel of Time, there's a new contender for Janky TV CGI, you're no longer out in front by a considerable margin. Wooo!
posted by Kyol at 6:26 PM on January 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Kyol at 6:26 PM on January 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
I want to like this, but there's no emotional core to it and the narrative seems pointless. The Tusken Raiders were the most interesting part and now they've been bumped off.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:41 PM on January 12, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:41 PM on January 12, 2022 [8 favorites]
The only recognizable dead Tusken Boba lingered over was the chief, right? The Kid and The Warrior weren't among the bodies we were shown, so it's a good bet they'll be back.
Still an awful, predictable, borderline offensive trope.
posted by mediareport at 7:34 PM on January 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Still an awful, predictable, borderline offensive trope.
posted by mediareport at 7:34 PM on January 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
My read on it was that the little stick that Boba throws on the bonfire at the end represents the kid. I don't think that there's any way in hell that Disney is going to show a dead child on screen. The race through the city using every gag from all the 1970's-era live action comedies...I wouldn't have been surprised to see Herbie the Love Bug (with some extra Droid greeblies tacked on, obviously). This is one of those episodes that makes you question whether all the stuff you did enjoy and thought was good, was actually any good at all.
posted by ssmith at 8:46 PM on January 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by ssmith at 8:46 PM on January 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
whoah, that was such a comedown.
The scooter kids might be all right, but they can go to hell because they had the extreme bad timing to debut minutes before all the characters I liked were fridged.
I want the wookie gladiator and the rancor to become best friends and fuck off from this show.
posted by Sauce Trough at 9:28 PM on January 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
The scooter kids might be all right, but they can go to hell because they had the extreme bad timing to debut minutes before all the characters I liked were fridged.
I want the wookie gladiator and the rancor to become best friends and fuck off from this show.
posted by Sauce Trough at 9:28 PM on January 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
I guess they can bring the gammoreans
posted by Sauce Trough at 10:15 PM on January 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Sauce Trough at 10:15 PM on January 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
Was the biker gang that killed the Tuskens the same one that BF had just talked about destroying because of how his group outnumbered them? Then he finds them all dead, it reinforces the colonizer-savior trope: only He could unite them and harness their strength, without him they are just easy prey for anyone with blasters and speeders.
The pokey chase scene through Mos Espa seemed like a reference to the chase scenes in Back to the Future 1&2, which itself was a throwback to the comedies ssmith mentions. But as for what the hell was going on with the Mod Squad Punkers, I have no idea what that is all about. They each have their own goofy outfit, unique weapon and mods, and are color-coded by bike.
I'd love for a spin-off following Danny Trejo's character: Machete, Rancor Whisperer. Or maybe an update of All Creatures Great and Small.
Morrison's delivery of the last dramatic line was... uninspiring. The guy just doesn't display a lot of range.
posted by Saxon Kane at 10:17 PM on January 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
The pokey chase scene through Mos Espa seemed like a reference to the chase scenes in Back to the Future 1&2, which itself was a throwback to the comedies ssmith mentions. But as for what the hell was going on with the Mod Squad Punkers, I have no idea what that is all about. They each have their own goofy outfit, unique weapon and mods, and are color-coded by bike.
I'd love for a spin-off following Danny Trejo's character: Machete, Rancor Whisperer. Or maybe an update of All Creatures Great and Small.
Morrison's delivery of the last dramatic line was... uninspiring. The guy just doesn't display a lot of range.
posted by Saxon Kane at 10:17 PM on January 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
I'm so mad about everything in this episode, literally everything, EXCEPT the mental image of Boba Fett a couple years down the line at a Rancor Fanciers convention with a bunch of Dathomiri witches???? And his wee rancor all full grown up with some kind of name like Miffy or Pancake or Tootsie just licking on him all the time
It's really just sending me thinking about this. I'm obsessed. I suspect it's just my mind trying to protect me from bad feelings but yay mind thank you I love it.
posted by potrzebie at 11:51 PM on January 12, 2022 [5 favorites]
It's really just sending me thinking about this. I'm obsessed. I suspect it's just my mind trying to protect me from bad feelings but yay mind thank you I love it.
posted by potrzebie at 11:51 PM on January 12, 2022 [5 favorites]
Like just imagine he gradually gets less interested in the politics and the killing and more just yearns to spend time riding Pancake around the Dune Sea and eventually the pykes just say "hey man we'll pay you $4 million [some goofy ass Star Wars money that's only good on a third of the outer rim] to get out of town and take that rancor with you" and Boba's like I thought they'd never ask and he and Pancake get the first jumbo-size transport off planet and buy some quiet acreage and he ends up starting a sanctuary for mistreated rancors and hires Danny Trejo. At the sanctuary he's got a house band and they're just playing a jazzed up Star Wars-y version of "We'll Have a Dalmatian Plantation" all the time because this is after all Disney.
Anyway, you're welcome Disney, I wrote season 2. I take Venmo.
posted by potrzebie at 12:44 AM on January 13, 2022 [13 favorites]
Anyway, you're welcome Disney, I wrote season 2. I take Venmo.
posted by potrzebie at 12:44 AM on January 13, 2022 [13 favorites]
My assumption is that Mighty Moped Power Rangers are from a different play set that the children have picked up and tossed into the mix on their living room floor, which is why they are brightly colored and clearly out of a different universe. If you like that theory, you might enjoy Cosmo, a sci-fi short from DUST.
(Also super disappointed in the tropey handling of the Tuskens solely to provide motivation for the protagonist. WTF)
posted by autopilot at 1:32 AM on January 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
(Also super disappointed in the tropey handling of the Tuskens solely to provide motivation for the protagonist. WTF)
posted by autopilot at 1:32 AM on January 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
When I saw the mopeds I couldn't stop thinking "why are they riding brand new shiny stand mixers? Did a whole promotional set fall off the back of a truck en route to a much more bougie planet?" Those are such kitchen appliance colours!
The fridging was a huge disappointment. But I liked Danny Trejo and the adorable rancor. I'll be very upset if anything bad happens to either of them. (I'm about to be very upset, aren't I?) I also liked the goth Wookiee and hope that he will be back.
I thought the mayor's majordomo looked familiar; he played the shady ex-husband on Veep.
All in all, this hasn't been great, but there are enough good bits for me to keep watching. I didn't get into The Mandalorian right away either, but it grew on me, and I hope that this will too.
posted by confluency at 3:58 AM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
The fridging was a huge disappointment. But I liked Danny Trejo and the adorable rancor. I'll be very upset if anything bad happens to either of them. (I'm about to be very upset, aren't I?) I also liked the goth Wookiee and hope that he will be back.
I thought the mayor's majordomo looked familiar; he played the shady ex-husband on Veep.
All in all, this hasn't been great, but there are enough good bits for me to keep watching. I didn't get into The Mandalorian right away either, but it grew on me, and I hope that this will too.
posted by confluency at 3:58 AM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
On reflection, I do support and subscribe to m’learned friends’ adoption of the Mighty Moped Power Rangers moniker as the true and correct way to reference the disappointingly focus-group-style street gang. I do feel that we may have overlooked the influence of one of their significant TV antecedents, to wit: Poochie. The Poochie Gang doesn’t have the same ring to it though, even if it does capture my disappointment.
Perhaps next episode they’ll all finish their gap years and go back and finish their MBAs? I feel their disappointed parents may put their collective feet down about getting their offspring into that bacta tank to grow that [body part] back this instant!
Also, some of the Tuskens will definitely be back, if you arsk me. They were the best thing in the show so far and the we’re-going-to-make-you-assume-everyone-is-dead-but-not-show-you was kind of slathered on a bit too richly.
I’m yawning in advance about the biker gang themselves being misunderstood victims of the Pykes or whatever though. (Gang signs which superficially resemble a Behemoth’s hand are very easy to paint, even if you’re not a member.)
posted by aesop at 3:58 AM on January 13, 2022
Perhaps next episode they’ll all finish their gap years and go back and finish their MBAs? I feel their disappointed parents may put their collective feet down about getting their offspring into that bacta tank to grow that [body part] back this instant!
Also, some of the Tuskens will definitely be back, if you arsk me. They were the best thing in the show so far and the we’re-going-to-make-you-assume-everyone-is-dead-but-not-show-you was kind of slathered on a bit too richly.
I’m yawning in advance about the biker gang themselves being misunderstood victims of the Pykes or whatever though. (Gang signs which superficially resemble a Behemoth’s hand are very easy to paint, even if you’re not a member.)
posted by aesop at 3:58 AM on January 13, 2022
I have a suspicion that the Pykes attacked the Tuskens and left the rather obvious gang sign to try to blame it on the biker gang in hopes that they and Boba finish each other off, or at least do sufficient injury to one another that those pesky payments aren't much of a concern.
posted by synecdoche at 4:35 AM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by synecdoche at 4:35 AM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
I liked the Mighty Moped Power Rangers! They're something new and different to SW, yet they fit. Re: their ridiculous rides, remember that Mos Espa used to be big into podracing, and so, like all hipsters, they went retro. And what we've seen so far from the Rangers themselves personality-wise is an interesting addition to this setting. Like, one of the reasons I was a little ehhhh about an all-Tatooine show was, is it going to be ALL dusty craggy monochrome tough-guys?
They also seemed like something that would have appeared in Star Wars Underworld, which helps me to reassure myself that maybe they're not the product of a focus group.
Agreed about the other complaints, though. I want to believe the entire Tusken flashback thread was not solely included to justify equipping a gaffi stick to the new Boba action figure, but.
I continue to get considerable enjoyment from Favreau's stunt casting (though nothing can ever top Herzog). Every familiar actor is made to seem as if they belong in this universe. Here's hoping they maintain that careful balance.
I have a suspicion that the Pykes attacked the Tuskens and left the rather obvious gang sign to try to blame it on the biker gang in hopes that they and Boba finish each other off
Yes. There seemed to be a lot of that going on in this episode: Boba being manipulated into solving others' problems without knowing it.
I don't think that there's any way in hell that Disney is going to show a dead child on screen.
Well then why'd they buy a franchise whose most recognizable character literally murdered a room full of children.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 4:39 AM on January 13, 2022 [6 favorites]
They also seemed like something that would have appeared in Star Wars Underworld, which helps me to reassure myself that maybe they're not the product of a focus group.
Agreed about the other complaints, though. I want to believe the entire Tusken flashback thread was not solely included to justify equipping a gaffi stick to the new Boba action figure, but.
I continue to get considerable enjoyment from Favreau's stunt casting (though nothing can ever top Herzog). Every familiar actor is made to seem as if they belong in this universe. Here's hoping they maintain that careful balance.
I have a suspicion that the Pykes attacked the Tuskens and left the rather obvious gang sign to try to blame it on the biker gang in hopes that they and Boba finish each other off
Yes. There seemed to be a lot of that going on in this episode: Boba being manipulated into solving others' problems without knowing it.
I don't think that there's any way in hell that Disney is going to show a dead child on screen.
Well then why'd they buy a franchise whose most recognizable character literally murdered a room full of children.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 4:39 AM on January 13, 2022 [6 favorites]
"Fridged"????
posted by jonathanhughes at 5:38 AM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by jonathanhughes at 5:38 AM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
‘Fridging’ is the practice of killing off or hurting a minor character in order to motivate or torture a main character.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 5:44 AM on January 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by TheophileEscargot at 5:44 AM on January 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
But as for what the hell was going on with the Mod Squad Punkers, I have no idea what that is all about. They each have their own goofy outfit, unique weapon and mods, and are color-coded by bike.
They’ll make very distinctive action figures, I guess.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:14 AM on January 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
They’ll make very distinctive action figures, I guess.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:14 AM on January 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
They’ll make very distinctive action figures, I guess.
"Always. Be. Merchandising." - George "Ewoks" Lucas
posted by briank at 7:48 AM on January 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
"Always. Be. Merchandising." - George "Ewoks" Lucas
posted by briank at 7:48 AM on January 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Pancake! ❤️❤️
posted by Sauce Trough at 9:01 AM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Sauce Trough at 9:01 AM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
If anyone cares to indulge me in some wildly-tangential and unlearned-in-lore speculation -
1- So we learn that Tatooine was once an ocean planet(!) (Well it was news to me).
2- The Pyke are apparently an aquatic/amphibious sort of species. Where's their homeworld?
3- The Tusken - are they native to Tatooine? If so, how did they evolve to live in a radically-different ecosystem (the desert). Or did they? Is there a reason you never see them outside their all encompassing-gear? Are they, too, and aquatic/amphibious species. Their headgear has some superficial resemblance to Pykes' inasmuch as there are couple of 'barbel' spikes.
4- We got to know that there were some hardcore/fundamentalist Mandalorians and some who were a bit more worldly. As in there was no monolithic culture for Mandalorians. What if the same were true of the Tusken's species?
5- What if the Tuskens are Pykes?
6- Where are the trees for the Gaffi sticks? What does that lizard know? *What the hell are they hiding in those seitches?* And what will happen to the ahem 'spice' if the water ever comes back?
Someone better disappoint me soon or I'm going to weave myself a helluva crossover here.
posted by aesop at 10:22 AM on January 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
1- So we learn that Tatooine was once an ocean planet(!) (Well it was news to me).
2- The Pyke are apparently an aquatic/amphibious sort of species. Where's their homeworld?
3- The Tusken - are they native to Tatooine? If so, how did they evolve to live in a radically-different ecosystem (the desert). Or did they? Is there a reason you never see them outside their all encompassing-gear? Are they, too, and aquatic/amphibious species. Their headgear has some superficial resemblance to Pykes' inasmuch as there are couple of 'barbel' spikes.
4- We got to know that there were some hardcore/fundamentalist Mandalorians and some who were a bit more worldly. As in there was no monolithic culture for Mandalorians. What if the same were true of the Tusken's species?
5- What if the Tuskens are Pykes?
6- Where are the trees for the Gaffi sticks? What does that lizard know? *What the hell are they hiding in those seitches?* And what will happen to the ahem 'spice' if the water ever comes back?
Someone better disappoint me soon or I'm going to weave myself a helluva crossover here.
posted by aesop at 10:22 AM on January 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
what will happen to the ahem 'spice' if the water ever comes back?
Spice doesn't come from Tatooine, it's mined on Kessel by the Pyke Syndicate, as seen in Solo.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:57 AM on January 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Spice doesn't come from Tatooine, it's mined on Kessel by the Pyke Syndicate, as seen in Solo.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:57 AM on January 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
4- We got to know that there were some hardcore/fundamentalist Mandalorians and some who were a bit more worldly. As in there was no monolithic culture for Mandalorians. What if the same were true of the Tusken's species?
This is something that Ep 2 makes reference to: that some Tuskens are raiders, and some Tuskens (like the ones who took in Boba) are more chill. Boba reassures the Pykes that the Tuskens who are shaking them down are the chill kind that you can do business with.
for whatever reason the division of Tuskens into raiders and chill bugs me. Like there are good ones and bad ones.
posted by Sauce Trough at 11:00 AM on January 13, 2022
This is something that Ep 2 makes reference to: that some Tuskens are raiders, and some Tuskens (like the ones who took in Boba) are more chill. Boba reassures the Pykes that the Tuskens who are shaking them down are the chill kind that you can do business with.
for whatever reason the division of Tuskens into raiders and chill bugs me. Like there are good ones and bad ones.
posted by Sauce Trough at 11:00 AM on January 13, 2022
damn this episode has me in a lather.
We had this big reveal of these Hutt twins in ep 2 and it's like "oh shit, they got a mean looking wookie and a litter with 20 people carrying it, they've come all the way from Hutt space and they mop their faces with little rodents. these hutts don't play."
But no, the hutts are peacing out because they're scared of some fish faced dudes. And by the way here's a rancor and you can keep the wookie, he has resale value. like wha?
It will be interesting to see if there was any point to the twins. I'm sure there must be, they wouldn't waste all the screen time introducing them otherwise.
and don't get me started on the Pykes. I know that Star Wars has always been crappy with names (Darth Tyrannus, what's that guy about?) but calling the fishfaces the Pykes has me reaching for gob-bluth-come-on.gif.
posted by Sauce Trough at 12:42 PM on January 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
We had this big reveal of these Hutt twins in ep 2 and it's like "oh shit, they got a mean looking wookie and a litter with 20 people carrying it, they've come all the way from Hutt space and they mop their faces with little rodents. these hutts don't play."
But no, the hutts are peacing out because they're scared of some fish faced dudes. And by the way here's a rancor and you can keep the wookie, he has resale value. like wha?
It will be interesting to see if there was any point to the twins. I'm sure there must be, they wouldn't waste all the screen time introducing them otherwise.
and don't get me started on the Pykes. I know that Star Wars has always been crappy with names (Darth Tyrannus, what's that guy about?) but calling the fishfaces the Pykes has me reaching for gob-bluth-come-on.gif.
posted by Sauce Trough at 12:42 PM on January 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
But I liked Danny Trejo and the adorable rancor. I'll be very upset if anything bad happens to either of them. (I'm about to be very upset, aren't I?)
I mean, that's Chekhov's Rancor if there ever was one, right? Of course something's going to happen. It's a slow-moving assassination. Recall, Trejo said to the rancor "Don't worry. He'll be back."
And while we're on that scene...Am I to understand Fett has a soft gooey heart for big beasts? Can the dope be so naive as to willingly stand in front of a multi-ton carnivorous beast (brought to you by the Hutts, no less) and think it's all good? Yes, it imprints on the first human it sees...it imprints the human as dinner. Just dumb.
Letting the Wookie go free? He'll be back. Probably in some sort of deus-ex-wookie move, rescuing Fett from some mess he got himself into.
In the opening, we saw a (mechanical?) spider with some kind of orb full of red liquid, approaching the castle. Was that some sort of assassin spider droid thing? Chekhov's Spider, too?
The chase was pitiful. Slow and full of janky CGI. And chock full of "humorous" crosswalk antics.
And Boba Fett just isn't imposing/impressive. I don't know what they're going for in this show, but there's no reason anyone here would fear or respect the guy so far.
About the best thing I can say about this episode is it felt compassionately brief.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:45 PM on January 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
I mean, that's Chekhov's Rancor if there ever was one, right? Of course something's going to happen. It's a slow-moving assassination. Recall, Trejo said to the rancor "Don't worry. He'll be back."
And while we're on that scene...Am I to understand Fett has a soft gooey heart for big beasts? Can the dope be so naive as to willingly stand in front of a multi-ton carnivorous beast (brought to you by the Hutts, no less) and think it's all good? Yes, it imprints on the first human it sees...it imprints the human as dinner. Just dumb.
Letting the Wookie go free? He'll be back. Probably in some sort of deus-ex-wookie move, rescuing Fett from some mess he got himself into.
In the opening, we saw a (mechanical?) spider with some kind of orb full of red liquid, approaching the castle. Was that some sort of assassin spider droid thing? Chekhov's Spider, too?
The chase was pitiful. Slow and full of janky CGI. And chock full of "humorous" crosswalk antics.
And Boba Fett just isn't imposing/impressive. I don't know what they're going for in this show, but there's no reason anyone here would fear or respect the guy so far.
About the best thing I can say about this episode is it felt compassionately brief.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:45 PM on January 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
N-thing the "this was not good" sentiments here: really pissed off that the Tuskens got fridged; kinda meh on the moped gang, but OK; the chase was unnecessary, waaaaay too long, too slow, and too floaty-CGI janky. I did like the bonding-with-the-rancor scene; complete with a "NOT NOW I'M BONDING WITH MY RANCOR" interruption.
Boba Fett just isn't imposing/impressive.
It's noticeable so far that most fights he gets into, he needs to be rescued from. The Wookiee fight in this one needed pretty much _everyone_ to prevent him from being crunched; Fennec had to help him in the fight in town in the first episode. Can't remember the assasination attempt last episode.
Also: totally Fett's fault that the Tuskens got murdered, no? He stole the bikes; he tried to horn in on the bikers' protection racket. His fault.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 1:02 PM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Boba Fett just isn't imposing/impressive.
It's noticeable so far that most fights he gets into, he needs to be rescued from. The Wookiee fight in this one needed pretty much _everyone_ to prevent him from being crunched; Fennec had to help him in the fight in town in the first episode. Can't remember the assasination attempt last episode.
Also: totally Fett's fault that the Tuskens got murdered, no? He stole the bikes; he tried to horn in on the bikers' protection racket. His fault.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 1:02 PM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
In the opening, we saw a (mechanical?) spider with some kind of orb full of red liquid, approaching the castle. Was that some sort of assassin spider droid thing? Chekhov's Spider, too?
It was the same thing that spooked C-3PO when he was coming in at the start of ROTJ. The old canon (not sure if still valid or not) was that they were called B'omarr monks, that Jabba's palace used to be their monastery but I guess he let them continue to live there?, and IIRC that they deliberately extracted their own brains into those…conveyances as part of a spiritual pursuit.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 2:14 PM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
It was the same thing that spooked C-3PO when he was coming in at the start of ROTJ. The old canon (not sure if still valid or not) was that they were called B'omarr monks, that Jabba's palace used to be their monastery but I guess he let them continue to live there?, and IIRC that they deliberately extracted their own brains into those…conveyances as part of a spiritual pursuit.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 2:14 PM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
When you take the recap and credits off the runtime that slow chase scene was almost 10% of the episode. I went and watched it again…and yup it’s definitely a candidate for worst chase. I almost wonder if it was supposed to be sped up in post production and someone forgot to.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 2:59 PM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 2:59 PM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
remember that Mos Espa used to be big into podracing
Mos Vespa
posted by Sparx at 3:28 PM on January 13, 2022 [20 favorites]
Mos Vespa
posted by Sparx at 3:28 PM on January 13, 2022 [20 favorites]
And now they're big into podcasting. And a proper palatte.
posted by Stanczyk at 4:29 PM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Stanczyk at 4:29 PM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
In the Star Wars galaxy, rancors are nice, but best when they come with a free Danny Trejo.
Overall I thought the episode was just okay. I too was sad they killed off the Tuskens. They left the door open that one or two may have survived, but having hope that they did feels like setting one's self up for a letdown.
posted by JHarris at 7:26 PM on January 13, 2022
Overall I thought the episode was just okay. I too was sad they killed off the Tuskens. They left the door open that one or two may have survived, but having hope that they did feels like setting one's self up for a letdown.
posted by JHarris at 7:26 PM on January 13, 2022
that slow chase scene was almost 10% of the episode.
And it was just so we could get the Mayor's assistant to tell Fett that the Mayor was working with the Pikes. Could there have been a more disappointing denouement?
posted by nushustu at 8:57 AM on January 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
And it was just so we could get the Mayor's assistant to tell Fett that the Mayor was working with the Pikes. Could there have been a more disappointing denouement?
posted by nushustu at 8:57 AM on January 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
and don't get me started on the Pykes. I know that Star Wars has always been crappy with names (Darth Tyrannus, what's that guy about?) but calling the fishfaces the Pykes has me reaching for gob-bluth-come-on.gif.
I mean, have you met the Mon Calamari? Also, while I agree with your larger point about bad Star Wars names, "Darth Tyrannus" doesn't strike me as the best example—all the "Darth" names were intentionally evil-sounding noms de guerre, and "Tyrannus" isn't even the stupidest name of that character.
posted by The Tensor at 10:58 AM on January 14, 2022 [6 favorites]
I mean, have you met the Mon Calamari? Also, while I agree with your larger point about bad Star Wars names, "Darth Tyrannus" doesn't strike me as the best example—all the "Darth" names were intentionally evil-sounding noms de guerre, and "Tyrannus" isn't even the stupidest name of that character.
posted by The Tensor at 10:58 AM on January 14, 2022 [6 favorites]
Sorry, but jizz-wailing is the canonical "bad at naming" example, I think
posted by Pronoiac at 2:29 PM on January 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Pronoiac at 2:29 PM on January 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Surely the ur-example of bad naming in Star Wars is "star wars"...?
posted by The Tensor at 2:36 PM on January 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by The Tensor at 2:36 PM on January 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
If only Kit Fisto were a jizz-wailer
posted by Saxon Kane at 3:50 PM on January 14, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by Saxon Kane at 3:50 PM on January 14, 2022 [5 favorites]
I have a thousand nitpicky questions - is the fancy biker gang nocturnal, to be that pale? The wookiee was able to sneak into the palace no problem but didn't know about the rancor pit? Boba is just going to take that free rancor trainer ? And I wasn't really enjoying the Tusken flashbacks, but killing them like that was cheap.
But overall... I had fun? The majordomo is an office manager, the kids have beautiful speeders and no known history of using them for anything but showing off. It was so bad it was funny. And blowing off being a crime boss to play with the new puppy was sweet. Doesn't say much for the man's chances of survival and success in his new chosen career, but: sweet. "Lord Shand" has a nice ring to it.
posted by mersen at 4:32 PM on January 14, 2022
But overall... I had fun? The majordomo is an office manager, the kids have beautiful speeders and no known history of using them for anything but showing off. It was so bad it was funny. And blowing off being a crime boss to play with the new puppy was sweet. Doesn't say much for the man's chances of survival and success in his new chosen career, but: sweet. "Lord Shand" has a nice ring to it.
posted by mersen at 4:32 PM on January 14, 2022
If the show's going to do deep-cut fan service, I think that doing the 'you're a loose Rancor, godzilla-stomping around Mos Espa' level from Kinect Star Wars would be a good choice. Blended with the 'Boba riding a big pink brontosaurus' from the Holiday Special, of course.
posted by bartleby at 6:14 PM on January 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by bartleby at 6:14 PM on January 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Very meh episode, aside from Danny Trejo. I hated the design on the gang and their scooters. Pacing is glacial in places. Hoping next week’s is more exciting.
posted by gnutron at 7:17 PM on January 14, 2022
posted by gnutron at 7:17 PM on January 14, 2022
Surely the ur-example of bad naming in Star Wars is "star wars"...?
I'm just so tired of all these star wars...
posted by nushustu at 8:47 PM on January 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
I'm just so tired of all these star wars...
posted by nushustu at 8:47 PM on January 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
I liked the Mighty Moped Power Rangers!
I’m right there with you! I especially liked Space Scooter Bionic Courtney Barnett.
Seriously, I think it’s the closest we’ve gotten to the old-school George Lucas spirit in a long time. Remember, Luke and Cammie and Fixer and them were meant to be hot-rod kids. I didn’t know Tattooine Graffiti was what I was missing, but there it is.
posted by MrBadExample at 10:04 PM on January 14, 2022 [5 favorites]
I’m right there with you! I especially liked Space Scooter Bionic Courtney Barnett.
Seriously, I think it’s the closest we’ve gotten to the old-school George Lucas spirit in a long time. Remember, Luke and Cammie and Fixer and them were meant to be hot-rod kids. I didn’t know Tattooine Graffiti was what I was missing, but there it is.
posted by MrBadExample at 10:04 PM on January 14, 2022 [5 favorites]
Also, Buck Strickland and Enrique in the same episode? I assume there’s some master plan to get the whole Strickland Propane crew back together…honey.
posted by MrBadExample at 10:09 PM on January 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by MrBadExample at 10:09 PM on January 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
With the Lambrettas and the anoraks and the calling people 'mate,' clearly the space mods are set for a spice-fuelled rumble with the Nikto rockers out in Brighton, er I mean Mos Eisley. Extra points for a jizz-cover of "Sea and Sand."
posted by MarchHare at 5:19 AM on January 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by MarchHare at 5:19 AM on January 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Seriously, I think it’s the closest we’ve gotten to the old-school George Lucas spirit in a long time.
Which is precisely why I didn't like it. But we all like different things and that's okay!
posted by cooker girl at 11:18 AM on January 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Which is precisely why I didn't like it. But we all like different things and that's okay!
posted by cooker girl at 11:18 AM on January 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
The psychological background of the rancor makes perfect sense to me. In Episode VI the keeper obviously loves his rancor, judging by how upset he is when Luke kills it.
I too was wondering where Fennec was during the Wookiee fight. Still, no one does "menacing" better than Ming-Na Wen, so I'll forgive it.
posted by lhauser at 11:19 AM on January 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
I too was wondering where Fennec was during the Wookiee fight. Still, no one does "menacing" better than Ming-Na Wen, so I'll forgive it.
posted by lhauser at 11:19 AM on January 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
The psychological background of the rancor makes perfect sense to me.
It serves as a good representation for what this series seems to be doing with BF. The rancor is a fearsome creature, both in appearance and ability. But only of necessity to survive in the harsh environment of Tatooine. Left to itself, it would be happy by its humanoid caretaker's side, getting belly rubs and munching on Purina Bantha & Rice Rancor Chow. Similarly, BF still dreams of his tragic childhood, watching his father fly off on missions and then getting decapitated by someone claiming to be the "good guy."* He wears the Mandalorian armor -- which is so ridiculously upgraded that it apparently has knee-guns -- and has killed for a living, he doesn't seem to love having to do it, or even having to play the tough guy. Part of him wants that family he lost as a child -- and now he's trying to recreate it with a Family in Italics. Anyway, whatever happens with the Rancor will probably shape/reflect what happens to Fett: if the somewhat heavy-handed implication that Trejo is really a Trej-aitor and turns the Rancor against Fett, that would suggest a tragic path wherein he descends into the world of violence. If on the other hand the Rancor isn't a trap or Fett manages to re-train it or something, then we're probably going a redemptive route.**
*Lucas really liked the missing/lost idealized father trope, didn't he? Armchair psychoanalyis: the popularity of this story amongst boomer-creative types reflects their own experience as children of the "Greatest Generation," never able to live up to the heroic ideal of their stereotypically emotionally absent fathers.
**Favreau probably riffing on The Sopranos and Tony's tragic fondness for various ducks, dogs, and horses.
posted by Saxon Kane at 11:56 AM on January 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
It serves as a good representation for what this series seems to be doing with BF. The rancor is a fearsome creature, both in appearance and ability. But only of necessity to survive in the harsh environment of Tatooine. Left to itself, it would be happy by its humanoid caretaker's side, getting belly rubs and munching on Purina Bantha & Rice Rancor Chow. Similarly, BF still dreams of his tragic childhood, watching his father fly off on missions and then getting decapitated by someone claiming to be the "good guy."* He wears the Mandalorian armor -- which is so ridiculously upgraded that it apparently has knee-guns -- and has killed for a living, he doesn't seem to love having to do it, or even having to play the tough guy. Part of him wants that family he lost as a child -- and now he's trying to recreate it with a Family in Italics. Anyway, whatever happens with the Rancor will probably shape/reflect what happens to Fett: if the somewhat heavy-handed implication that Trejo is really a Trej-aitor and turns the Rancor against Fett, that would suggest a tragic path wherein he descends into the world of violence. If on the other hand the Rancor isn't a trap or Fett manages to re-train it or something, then we're probably going a redemptive route.**
*Lucas really liked the missing/lost idealized father trope, didn't he? Armchair psychoanalyis: the popularity of this story amongst boomer-creative types reflects their own experience as children of the "Greatest Generation," never able to live up to the heroic ideal of their stereotypically emotionally absent fathers.
**Favreau probably riffing on The Sopranos and Tony's tragic fondness for various ducks, dogs, and horses.
posted by Saxon Kane at 11:56 AM on January 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah, the Wookie fight: terrible security set-up at Fett's, and it highlights the absurdity of his attempt to step into Jabba's seat and oversee a giant criminal empire when his organization consists of 1 admittedly bad-ass assassin, 4 teenage cyborgs with wack-ass weapons and an improbable obsession with vintage Mod style, 2 bumbling, always late Gammoreans, and a droid with a great voice. They don't even have enough people to put someone on the back door!
posted by Saxon Kane at 12:02 PM on January 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Saxon Kane at 12:02 PM on January 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
It annoys me that I, with no experience in crimelording, can very easily tell that Boba is going about this all crabbed. First you recruit your majordomo, your bodyguards, you biker gang, and maybe a few dozen more murderers-for-hire, then you declare yourself the Warlord of Bartertown or whatever. Prepare for war before you declare war. The fact that he's not dead in his bacta tank from a bowcaster bolt to the face mid-flackback is just the writers taking it easy on him.
posted by The Tensor at 2:14 PM on January 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by The Tensor at 2:14 PM on January 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
clearly the space mods are set for a spice-fuelled rumble with the Nikto rockers out in Brighton, er I mean Mos Eisley.
More on that topic from /Film
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 8:02 AM on January 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
More on that topic from /Film
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 8:02 AM on January 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
My husband could not remember Fennec Shand's name and called her Sinn Fein. Still laughing days later.
posted by JennyJupiter at 8:52 AM on January 16, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by JennyJupiter at 8:52 AM on January 16, 2022 [5 favorites]
Shower thought: Why even bother getting tribute from the Pykes? What are the Tuskens going to do with cash?
posted by orrnyereg at 1:10 PM on January 16, 2022
posted by orrnyereg at 1:10 PM on January 16, 2022
First you recruit your majordomo, your bodyguards, you biker gang, and maybe a few dozen more murderers-for-hire, then you declare yourself the Warlord of Bartertown or whatever. Prepare for war before you declare war.
How do you recruit all these people before the tribute money has started coming in?
posted by TheophileEscargot at 9:34 PM on January 16, 2022
How do you recruit all these people before the tribute money has started coming in?
posted by TheophileEscargot at 9:34 PM on January 16, 2022
He's not much of a criminal for a crime boss... he's not very threatening.
Also, the virtual sets they're using allows them really nice visuals and the look of a big budget production, but... it has this feeling of being small/low-budget, can't put my finger on it, I think it's because most scenes have few characters... compare the feeling when they're in the palace versus in ROTJ with the ton of xtras.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 9:49 PM on January 16, 2022
Also, the virtual sets they're using allows them really nice visuals and the look of a big budget production, but... it has this feeling of being small/low-budget, can't put my finger on it, I think it's because most scenes have few characters... compare the feeling when they're in the palace versus in ROTJ with the ton of xtras.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 9:49 PM on January 16, 2022
The more I watch this show the less I like it. I am glad they got a POC to play the lead in this, but Temura Morrisson is like anti-charismatic; the longer he's on screen the lower my interest in the story gets. And it's not like the character of Boba Fett has amazing, scintillating dialog, but neither did The Madalorian, and Pedro Pascal managed to invest him with a full personality without even using his face 90% of the time.
Also, Fett himself seems colossally bad at everything he does, from getting rooked by the mayor in the first episode to getting the whole Tusken tribe wiped out in this one. The only success he's had was the train hijack. It's not really clear why he wants to be a "crime lord" in the first place, nor why he thinks he would be good at the profession, even though it mostly seems to involve lounging around your palace collecting tribute. He hasn't really spent any time actually organizing crime though, or even meeting with criminals.
The only thing I'm looking forward to at this point is seeing the Mighty Morphin Mod Squad merge to form a hideous half-human, half-droid Voltron and save the day. (Also the further adventures of Pancake and Machete.)
posted by whir at 12:55 PM on January 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
Also, Fett himself seems colossally bad at everything he does, from getting rooked by the mayor in the first episode to getting the whole Tusken tribe wiped out in this one. The only success he's had was the train hijack. It's not really clear why he wants to be a "crime lord" in the first place, nor why he thinks he would be good at the profession, even though it mostly seems to involve lounging around your palace collecting tribute. He hasn't really spent any time actually organizing crime though, or even meeting with criminals.
The only thing I'm looking forward to at this point is seeing the Mighty Morphin Mod Squad merge to form a hideous half-human, half-droid Voltron and save the day. (Also the further adventures of Pancake and Machete.)
posted by whir at 12:55 PM on January 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
I think it's because most scenes have few characters
I'd imagine most of that is dealing with covid restrictions -- not just restricting the number of people on set but the headache of clearing all those extras, having enough extra-extras to cover anyone who calls out on the day of filming, etc. Fett is the same people, same tech, behind Mando and you see *far* more people in the background of pre-covid Mando than intra-covid Fett.
posted by nathan_teske at 2:40 PM on January 18, 2022 [2 favorites]
I'd imagine most of that is dealing with covid restrictions -- not just restricting the number of people on set but the headache of clearing all those extras, having enough extra-extras to cover anyone who calls out on the day of filming, etc. Fett is the same people, same tech, behind Mando and you see *far* more people in the background of pre-covid Mando than intra-covid Fett.
posted by nathan_teske at 2:40 PM on January 18, 2022 [2 favorites]
Temura Morrisson is like anti-charismatic; the longer he's on screen the lower my interest in the story gets
My theory is that this show went into production with a specific goal to make Boba Fett the least popular Star Wars character instead of the most popular.
I'm actually enjoying Temuera Morrison's anti-charisma. He's a freaking clone! Of course there's no personality!
posted by rocketman at 12:59 PM on January 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
My theory is that this show went into production with a specific goal to make Boba Fett the least popular Star Wars character instead of the most popular.
I'm actually enjoying Temuera Morrison's anti-charisma. He's a freaking clone! Of course there's no personality!
posted by rocketman at 12:59 PM on January 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
I wish the show would actually lean into the fact that Boba is a clone. He has/had millions of brothers, and the strange circumstances of his birth and upbringing must have had an effect on his psyche.
But the show seems uninterested in that, or in the fact that he has a legit claim on the kingship of Mandalore, since Jango was one of the previous kings. It's hard to believe he doesn't know any of that backstory.
posted by suelac at 1:53 PM on January 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
But the show seems uninterested in that, or in the fact that he has a legit claim on the kingship of Mandalore, since Jango was one of the previous kings. It's hard to believe he doesn't know any of that backstory.
posted by suelac at 1:53 PM on January 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
Kind of chuckled at Fett offering the Mod Squad a job. One of the core jobs of a crime boss is to be an employer of last resort. But not sure if I feel this means he's got natural instincts at the crime bossing, or is just out of his depth for not doing it earlier.
I doubt they're going this direction, but present-day plot keeps making me think we could be watching Yojimbo but with a Rosencrantz-and-Guildenstern approach--Boba Fett is a forgettable criminal being set up to fight the others, and the Mayor is the one who's actually the Toshiro Mifune character.
posted by mark k at 11:21 PM on January 21, 2022
I doubt they're going this direction, but present-day plot keeps making me think we could be watching Yojimbo but with a Rosencrantz-and-Guildenstern approach--Boba Fett is a forgettable criminal being set up to fight the others, and the Mayor is the one who's actually the Toshiro Mifune character.
posted by mark k at 11:21 PM on January 21, 2022
Boba Fett is a forgettable criminal being set up to fight the others
That would be preferable to my suspicion that Disney is establishing him as a Cuddly and Virtuous Crimelord, the better to condition Disney's audience (that is to say, all of humanity) to accept our future of global mafiocracy.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 7:21 AM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
That would be preferable to my suspicion that Disney is establishing him as a Cuddly and Virtuous Crimelord, the better to condition Disney's audience (that is to say, all of humanity) to accept our future of global mafiocracy.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 7:21 AM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Ugh, scooters are not "mopeds," even if they're flying space Lambrettas for space mods. No pedals means not a moped.
Sincerely,
a guy with both a Vespa (scooter) and a genuine moped (pedals) in the garage
posted by sonascope at 6:43 PM on January 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
Sincerely,
a guy with both a Vespa (scooter) and a genuine moped (pedals) in the garage
posted by sonascope at 6:43 PM on January 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
I liked the Mighty Moped Power Rangers!
Maybe it's a generational difference, but they're obviously Space Ally Sheedy's Vespa Gang.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 12:13 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Maybe it's a generational difference, but they're obviously Space Ally Sheedy's Vespa Gang.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 12:13 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
I'm embarrassed for every Star Wars effects team ever after watching that chase scene between the scooters and the Thunderbird through Mos Vespa. Folks citing bad Knights of the Old Republic and Janky TV CGI are right on target. Imagine the same franchise in 1980 that made the speeder bikes on Endor making something as schlocky as this. How far they have fallen.
posted by Nelson at 9:22 PM on February 16, 2022
posted by Nelson at 9:22 PM on February 16, 2022
This show is very silly. I’m enjoying it, but I can’t take it seriously AT ALL. Luckily it doesn’t seem to be taking itself very seriously either.
I can only imagine the direction includes a lot of ‘ok, now make a face like you’re a badass’
Jon Favreau living his best life calling up all the character actors he always wanted to work with and saying ‘hey you wanna be in Star Wars?’
I can’t help loving it even though it’s ridiculous.
posted by bq at 10:07 AM on April 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
I can only imagine the direction includes a lot of ‘ok, now make a face like you’re a badass’
Jon Favreau living his best life calling up all the character actors he always wanted to work with and saying ‘hey you wanna be in Star Wars?’
I can’t help loving it even though it’s ridiculous.
posted by bq at 10:07 AM on April 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
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posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:31 AM on January 12, 2022 [17 favorites]