TV REVIEW: THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT - Season 1

4/5

This Is His Way.

7 Episodes. Starring: Temuera Morrison & Ming-Na Wen. Created By: Jon Favreau. 

He's no good to me with a Dad bod! Yeah, right! Ever since Boba Fett made his surprise appearance in 'The Mandalorian'. Blasting everything out of the sarlacc pit midway through Season 2. Something we've wanted to talk about for so long like another classic cameo here (even if you already know, you know our drill). This has been the way. Rocking for all those Fett's who feel a little soggy around the midsection (*holds his hand that holds a donut, all the way up*). May the paunch be with you! Shame on those who body shame. Now sitting his ass on the throne longer than Thanos (when he's not taking one of his multiple Lazarus Pit like scuba baths). Whilst also at first not doing s### in this sublime slow burner. 'The Book Of Boba Fett' opens up more chapters to Jon Favreau's Mando-verse with Robert Rodriguez taking it to a Mexican stand-off in this western shogun space opera. One that has recently explored its Samurai origins with the Japanese 'Visions' anime series. Even the theme tune rides out in a call to the wild west like some of the episode titles (Chapter 6: 'From The Desert Comes A Stranger' Yee Haw!). All as his right-hand soldier Ming-Na Wen makes history as the first person to complete the Mickey Mouse trifecta. Disney's 'Mulan' animation. Agent May for Marvel's 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D'. And now for her best role yet (and that's no walk in the park, she always swings for the fence) in a galaxy, far, far away with 'Star Wars'. Plus she was great in my favourite TV show 'ER' too, just saying. This is the prescription. Add a holy trinity of chapters in story closing conclusion amongst the most epic episodes 'Star Wars' has ever done (and we're counting all those cinematic, episodic parts), and may the 4 out of 5 be with you. Especially with another classic directed from the new Ron and one, 'Jurassic World', 'The Help' and the best episode of 'Black Mirror's' Bryce Dallas Howard. Everything she touches in this galaxy far, far away turns to gold like C-3PO. Refreshing like the former falling down 'House Of Cards' of Robin Wright dealing a double direction to conclude Part 1 of the fourth and final season of Netflix's 'Ozark'. What would be the best thing on TV if it wasn't on your money laundering laptop with band stickers like guitar cases. But when it comes to not showing his face much (and he doesn't follow the Mando, wear a helmet like a mask creed. This is not his way), can we really call this 'The Book Of Boba Fett' if a few pages are torn out like 'Blade Runner 2049'?

Back in college they used to call me "two minute Tim." No, this was not related to a certain prowess...honest. I didn't leave the AC Green life until my late twenties...well, because love. It was in relation to how long I spent in conversation with people as I roamed the halls. In retrospect it wasn't a good look ("social whore" was another one. Which is kind of ironic now you think about it, taking in what I just said. Don't you think?). Neither is it a good one that after this former bounty hunter was a wanted poster on the sort of origin story of the BDH episode, Mr. Bob A. Feet logs less than two minutes in the penultimate episodes of 'THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT'! Cue the Jeff Goldblum 'Jurassic Park' camera tap. Why? We told you we can't tell you. If you know, you know. Guess who's coming to dinner? It's great for the series, but not for the show. If you know what we're getting at. Even if you love who crashed the party and how that culminates in one formidable f###### force of a fantastic finale that world building assembles like an avenging epic ensemble straight out the Marvel Universe, giving Disney its plus. Besides we're sure strong, silent type Temuera Morriston doesn't or pays it no mind. The kiwi cool NZ star of 'Once Were Warriors', 'Moana' and a trilogy of new millennium 'Star Wars' that flew like a falcon with clipped wings has had skin in the game of of these 'Clone Wars' before. Django duelling with Obi Wan in the shooting rain before Ewan McGregor's solo series will be with you this May like the fourth. But what this stoic soul loses in slow burning screen-time we do too. Between posturing for the throne and pondering his hunter life in this war without a bounty on anyone's head (except maybe his own) with subtle punctuation under the stars. Or making nice with desert rats like a filet-o-fish sandwich, before a 'Lawrence Of Arabia' like great train heist. Piercing the sand like snow in the same desert he dug himself out of. Not to mention more classic creatures he throws galaxy kill to, fresh off the barbie. He's a compelling character finally circling his arc like a crest. Right as this series seriously spices up its life, dealing with that rack of plot like the Oscar nominated 'Dune' adaptation that expands Denis Villeneuve and Timothée Chalamet's universe, like having the worms too. All for more quick draws and good, bad and ugly under the stetson than Eastwood spaghetti. Cue the camera work that flies by the seat of its pants for more TMI crotch shots than the time Ron Howard rode 'Solo'. 

CGI makeovers that are so convincing they could stop lookalike soldiers of winter earning a fortune. A bar owner we thought was Oscar nominated actress Jessica Chastain, but was actually a 'Flashdance' legend (and that's not John Turturro with her either). Forget 'The Eyes Of Tammy Faye', we need to take our helmet off and get our eyes tested. Gangster wookies like those black furry dogs that always barked up a storm of fear. Armed with electric brass knuckles that could give chewie a run for his money. A gang with colourful choppers straight out of 'Biker Mice From Mars' in 'Power Rangers' pastels. And two paunchy, Grinch green henchmen who look like the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' thugs Bebop and Rocksteady, Cowboy. Not to mention 'Terminator' like destroyers on this seasons judgement day. A 'Justified' sheriff showdown. And bass God, Thundercat emerging from the 'Apocalypse Now' depths of 'Drunk' waters with the tools of an upgrade like a Haim '3AM' bass remix for your 'Licorice Pizza'. All amongst the cool cameos we will let you see for yourselves and a scene stealing Ming like May's Marvel in Disney's new dynasty. Speaking of which, when did (redacted) learn how to walk like a pimp?! The book of Bob' may not be Star Wars scripture to those trained in the way of the force, but it's still very, very entertaining. All cooked up from the 'Chef' who literally started the M.C.U. Jon Favreau with Robert Downey Jr. and 'Iron Man' in 2008. Now Happy go lucky, racking up the Disney dollars and fan service, doing the same for this Plus streaming revolution and wider 'Star Wars' world with his 'Mandalorian' series. Which by "the way" was the best Lucasfilm production since the original, iconic trilogy told you it was your father. Still, now the Daddy of iconic enemies and cult favourites is back it sometimes feels a little off. Especially as the seemingly feared and invincible Fett is older and weathered here. But all in all that vulnerability just adds more character and truth to his grit. Plus after two seasons of Mando we couldn't just have another series about a bounty hunter could we? Could we? One of this shows greatest undoing might be telling the story of one of the most mysterious characters in George Lucas' universe, taking the lid off this silent assassins compelling intrigue. But brimming with backstory, once you get over this, a former tin can hitman becomes a fleshed out, blood, sweat and tears, fully developed part of this whole new Disney world. And Jon Bernthal's brilliantly bruising 'Punisher' fear not. Mickey Mouse does let him shoot first too. Now if we get to turn to a second book of Boba in this fantasia fantasy kingdom. Especially with Temuera's desires to hunt down Samuel L. Jackson's Django decapitating, Mace Windu ("I owe him big time!"). Let's not keep Fett on the shelf like carbonite. Bring him back warm. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'The Mandalorian', 'Star Wars-The Empire Strikes Back', 'Star Wars-Visions'.