An episode of The Book of Boba Fett without Boba Fett.

The Plot

The fifth chapter of this ongoing Disney+ show is featuring The Mandalorian Din Djarin. The episode is playing after the events of the second season of The Mandalorian and starts with Mando attacking an abattoir to get to the boss, Kaba Baiz, which he is hunting for a bounty. When he finds him, he gets attack by Baiz' guards and kills them before killing Baiz and taking his head with him. In the fight - Djarin is fighting with the Dark Saber - he wounds himself with the Dark Saber.

When he returns the head of Baiz, Din Djarin asks his employer to give him the information he was searching for. He wants to know the closest shaft to the substrata, and after some back and forth he gets the information and leaves hobbling.

He finds the way to the shaft, and some mythosaur markings, that he can see using his scanner.

He finds the Armorer and another Mandalorian, Paz Vizsla. The latter is taking care of his wound, while the Armorer is asking which weapon did injure Djarin. Djarin surprised that both of them survived, answers that he wounded himself with the Dark Saber accidentially. The Armorer explains that the Dark Saber is only a blessing, when won in battle - and gets to know, how The Mandalorian won it from Moff Giddeon. The Armorer also explains the story of the Dark Saber and the Great Purge. Both she and Vizsla are disappointed, that Djarin didn't kill Moff Giddeon, who was also responsible for the killing of Thousands of Mandalorians.

Then they come to talk about the Beskar spear, and the Armorer tells, that its existence is a threat to Mandalorians, since it can pierce through Beskar armor. She adds that the Dark Saber is a more noble weapon.

While the Armorer is converting the spear into some armor for Grogu, the Mandalorian asks if she knows Bo-Katan Kryze. But she doesn't think good of Kryze, 'who wanted to rule Mandalore based purely on blood and the Dark Saber'.

Then a flashback scene of the Night of a Thousand Tears, when Mandalore is destroyed and most Mandalorians are killed. The sect living on the moon of Concordia did survive though. This is also why they consider staying close to the Creed essential.

Djarin asks the Armorer to forge something for Grogu to keep him save. She tries to explain, that a Jedi most forgo all attachment, but Djarin insists. She then forges a chain mail.

Djarin and the armorer practice sword fight, but Djarin is not really able to wield the Dark Saber. He is told, that he is too weak to fight against the Dark Saber. Djarin looses the training against the Armorer, but wants to continue. She just says, that persistence without insight will lead to the same results - and says that he seems distracted.

Djarin then is challenged by Vizsla to a duell, since Vizsla wants to get the Dark Saber for himself. After a short fight, Djarin is successful and able to kill Vizsla, when the Armorer ends the duel.

Then both of the duellants are asked to their observance of the Creed, which Vizsla confirms, while Djarin cannot confirm, since he has removed his helmet, when he tried to safe Grogu. The Armorer responds that Djarin therefore is no Mandalorian anymore. Djarin wants to apologize and atone. Vizsla, who calls him an apostate, says he should leave. The only way to be cleansed is by the living water below the mines of Mandalore - which are, according to Djarin, all destroyed. It seems like Djarin is banned from the sect. He takes the Dark Saber and the chain mail and leaves.

He then travels to Tatooine on a commercial flight, where he expects to get a new aircraft. Before boarding the flight he must take of his weapons, which is also a violation of Mandalorian religion. On the flight a Rodian child is waving at him, reminding him of Grogu.

Arrived on Tatooine the Mandalorian heads for Peli Motto, saving her from a womp rat. He asks her for the replacement of the Razor Crest. She shows him a N-1-starfighter, after he gave the credits to a droid.

After disliking the starfighter first, Motto and Djarin fix the ship with the help of Jawas and Djarin takes a test flight, on which he is caught by New Republic officers, but manages to get away.

When returning Djarin praises the ship and also Motto is pleased. She also tells him, that an old friend dropped by, but Peli Motto locked her out, since she didn't trust her. But Fennec Shand just arrives and offers Din Djarin some credits to help Boba Fett. Din Djarin accepts to help, but refuses the payment. He says that he first has to visit "a little friend".

My Opinion

This was one of the best episodes of the show so far in my opinion, Din Djarin is really bad ass and it looks like this is going to be a big change to the course of events. I think he fits perfect into the show and will be a good aide to Boba Fett against the Pykes. I am excited whether we see the Reunion with Grogu in the next two episodes or will jump to the clashes between Boba Fett and the Pyke Syndicate.

The big problem with this episode is, that it didn't really help the main storyline of Boba Fett, but was more a setup for The Mandalorian Season 3. Since I am really looking forward to this, I don't mind, but I really have the feeling, that they need to produce another season of The Book of Boba Fett to do the characters some justice. Because there are only two more Episodes left and I am not sure, if this will really be enough to end the story line of Boba Fett. Especially if the episodes will be of the same or similar length than the ones have been so far.

I hope they won't rush through the last two episodes, because this could really destroy the show. Maybe the third season of the Mandalorian is kind of a second season to The Book of Boba Fett and will revolve around the battle of Tatooine between the Pykes and Fett. But that would be a strange shift, if you take into consideration how the second season of The Mandalorian ended.

So yes, I still am excited and looking forward to what the next two episodes will bring us - and how the stories will continue.

Cheers, @andy-plays