Book of Boba Fett Spoiler Recap: In the Name of Honor

Seven weeks really flies by, doesn’t it? It seems like only yesterday we were watching Boba Fett claw his way out of the Sarlacc, and here we are now, with this particular book coming to a close. Despite my misgivings about things being able to come to a satisfying conclusion after two weeks away from the main storyline, all in all I think Chapter 7: In the Name of Honor did very well at resolving the major conflict of the season.

The episode kicks off in the ruins of The Sanctuary, where Boba, Fennec and Din have come to investigate the explosion set off by the Pykes at the end of the last episode. So much for my theory that Garsa Fwip somehow survived the blast, Spider-Maul style. Not to mention the dream I had of Boba and Fennec needing to investigate something by going to the Sanctuary all dressed in swanky clothes, and maybe dancing together for professional reasons, but oh, is that a little spark of something they feel?

Ahem. Sorry. 

Now that it’s clear the Pykes want to go to war, Boba suggests they retreat to the Palace and wait for Cobb Vanth and his garrison from Freetown to arrive and relieve them. The Mods, led by Drash and Skad, are opposed to the idea of hiding while the people who depend on them are left to fend for themselves in the street. Because ruling with respect also entails listening to those who work for him, Boba agrees to stick it out in the Sanctuary. 

One point on which he absolutely refuses to budge, however, is that the spice trade must cease under his rule. Fennec counters that the bulk of Jabba’s business concerned the spice trade, but Boba is adamant. It’s not worth it. 

Meanwhile in Mos Eisley, Cad Bane has returned from Freetown to deliver the news that Cobb Vanth has been “convinced” to remain neutral. His audience is made up of the leader of the Pyke syndicate, and Mayor Mok Shaiz, who is not offworld as his Majordomo repeatedly asserted. Despite wanting Boba dealt with, Mok Shaiz balks at the overt violence, preferring roundabout, covert operations. Bane proposes that he head to Mos Espa and draw Boba out. 

As this is unfolding, Peli Motto’s garage gets a visit from a certain x-wing piloted by a familiar astromech. Just as my eye was twitching in preparation for Luke Skywalker to show up again, the top of the ship opens to reveal not Luke, but instead Grogu seated on the pilot seat. He looks as happy to see Peli as she is to see him. As she looks him over, she sees he’s wearing the little beskar shirt Din sent. 

You know, as glad as I am to not have to see Luke again, I’m sorry to have missed Grogu telling him exactly where he and the Jedi can stick their “no attachments” rule. 

With the prospect of war now inevitable, Boba’s crew decides to divide and conquer. The Gamoreans are sent to watch the Klatoonian territory, Krrsantan goes to the Trandoshan quarter, and the Mods return to the Worker’s District, which is under the jurisdiction of the Aqualish. 

As they keep an eye on the brewing tension, Boba has some problems of his own to contend with. Namely his long-standing animosity with Cad Bane finally coming to a head. The bounty hunter arrives at The Sanctuary and calls him out to negotiate. When Boba refuses to deal with him, saying he will only speak to the head of the Pykes, Bane throws him for a loop: it was the Pykes who massacred the Tusken tribe, not the Nikto bike gang. 

Boba is ready to shoot Bane then and there, but Fennec intervenes, telling him to stand down and set the time and place for a shootout himself, rather than charging in when he’s feeling emotional. Though it’s obviously killing him, Boba stands down. 

I realize the bar is the damn floor at this point for stuff like this, but I want to thank everyone involved for resisting the urge to have Bane taunt Boba for listening to what his female second-in-command had to say. Not totally on-brand for Star Wars, but the real world has me conditioned to expect the worst.

Though the crisis with Bane is averted for now, all is not smooth sailing in Mos Espa. If you thought Boba was just a tad too trusting when the crime bosses agreed to stay neutral in the fight, your instincts would be correct. No sooner do they have Boba’s fighters surrounded than they press their attack. The Gamoreans fall off a cliff to their deaths, Krrsantan is overwhelmed by Trandoshans, and the Mods call Boba and Fennec in a panic. 

Fennec reasons that a monster like this can’t be beaten without taking off the head, and offers to go to Mos Eisley to finally do that murder she’s been wanting to do all season. Because Boba knows there’s a time and place to reign her in, and this certainly isn’t it, he gives her the go-ahead and she heads out of town.

But not before stopping to bail out the surrounded Mods. It’s a great little moment between them, because though Fennec might be “too old” for aestethic enhancements, she is technically a Mod herself. Yet another reason to hope for a season 2 is more time spent with this strange little family. 

With Bane gone, the Sanctuary is then surrounded by Pykes looking to finish the job. Din assures Boba that even if the people of Freetown are no longer coming, he’ll stay with him because he gave his word that he would. To do otherwise would be to go against the Creed. We’ve seen already that Din still claims “Mandalorian” as his religion, and believes beskar armor to be Grogu’s by right. Though he has a lot to unlearn about the more fanatical ways of the Children of the Watch, it’s clear it matters to him a great deal. 

The Mayor’s Majordomo offers to go out and negotiate with the Pykes on Boba’s behalf, and Boba agrees a little too quickly, sending the man out with a handwritten message. For some reason, the majordomo doesn’t bother reading it to himself before reading it out loud to a handful of angry Pykes, but likely comes to regret that when he sees that Boba has refused to surrender.

Things escalate at once into a shootout - because of course they do - but hope is not lost as the Freetown citizens show up to help, though without Cobb Vanth, who they say was gunned down in cold blood.

The Mods and Krrsantan converge on the Sanctuary and help clear out the shooters, just in time for a new threat to arise: Scorpenek droids.

When it becomes abundantly clear their weapons won’t pierce the droids shields - and bless Din for trying to take a few whacks at it with the Darksaber - Boba tasks Din with distracting the droids so the others can escape while he goes for reinforcements. 

In way over his head, Din does his best but is waylaid by queen of chaos Peli Motto herself, in from Mos Eisley to deliver a certain little someone to his dad. Though Din is touched that Grogu came back for him, this is hardly the time for a heartfelt reunion, with very aggressive droids chasing them down. 

Boba’s solution turns out to be brilliant in its simplicity. Energy weapons not doing the trick? Ride in on a rancor. The rancor does what the others could not, and in short order, the two droids are taken out of commission - one with a little help from Grogu, who can now use the Force without immediately passing out. 

While the dust clears, Cad Bane returns for Boba, determined for the two of them to have it out right then and there. He taunts Boba, no doubt hoping the bounty hunter will lapse into the insecurity and rage that dominated so many of his choices when he was young. But that was then. Illustrating just how far he’s come, Boba refuses to take the bait. Bane manages to get a couple of shots in, and it looks like this is it for Boba. 

Then in a surprise move, showing how he’s grown as a man and a warrior, Boba stands back up wielding his gaffi stick. It’s not the entire Pyke syndicate, but its hard to imagine that he didn’t get his sense of catharsis in taking out Cad Bane once and for all after a lifetime of antagonism. 

Since Boba is just a touch too busy to deal with a panicking rancor, the task falls to everyone else, who’s natural inclination is simply to shoot the poor thing while it King Kongs all over Mos Espa. Grogu, however, brings an alternative solution and uses the Force to subdue it into a nap, before curling up and joining it on the sand. He can do some Force tricks without falling asleep, but this was a bridge too far.

Panic breaks out in Mos Eisley when it becomes clear to the power brokers of the war that they’re losing. Before they can strategize and regroup, one by one they find themselves permanently taken out of commission. Master Assassin Fennec Shand just doing what she does best, and looking good doing it. 

This scene was short, but also a huge relief, because for a second I thought we were going to veer right into lazy writing town and have Fennec betray Boba for the ~drama~ of it all. I’m glad my instincts and my ship held strong. They are a rock solid unit and I defy anyone to mess with that. 

Once things back in Mos Espa have calmed down, Boba and Fennec patrol the streets, bearing witness to the gratitude - and yes, the respect - they have earned by avoiding a drawn out war in the city. Boba is hesitant, wondering if they’re the right people for the task, and Fennec assures him that they are. Though they haven’t always seen eye to eye over the course of the season - or even this episode - it’s reassuring to see that they align when it really matters. With the Mods and Krrsantan - and Cobb Vanth healing in the bacta tank awaiting cybernetic parts! - it looks like they’re in good shape to keep things running smoothly.

While the episode technically ends with Din and Grogu speeding off into the third season of The Mandalorian, it’s that last scene with Boba and Fennec and their crew that feels like the definitive button on things. The structure of the overall season was questionable at times, and I’m sorry we lost time with them over two episodes. But I do think this new leadership position, and the new status quo in Mos Espa is fertile ground for some new, grounded stories. Tatooine is a hotbed of social tensions, the city rats vs the sandcrawlers, the small time gangs and the Tuskens out in the desert. If they do return for another season, I hope we can keep it focused on this part of the story. We don’t always need a Jedi for it to be a Star Wars story.

What did you think? Did you like how the duel played out? Did the season stick the landing? Are you hoping for a season 2? Let us know on Twitter! 

For more Book of Boba Fett, be sure to catch our episode recap panel - The Book of Bonnec - on Space Waffles!

The Book of Boba Fett is available on Disney+