Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett Episode 4 Review
Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett™ Chapter 4, “The Gathering Storm™”, serves as the final connective tissue for the Star Wars™ series to move forward. We once again begin in Daimyo Boba Fett’s™ bacta tank™, and delve instantly into a long series of flashbacks.
These flashbacks provide us the necessary information to feel the tension of the impending war on Tatooine™ as well as revealing how Fett’s partnership with Fennec Shand™ began. Below, let’s break down the most important moments from Chapter 4, as well as make a few predictions for the next episode.
Finding Fennec Shand
Boba Fett travels to Jabba the Hutt’s™ palace, now controlled by Bib Fortuna™. But when he sees how many guards there are, he waits to try again another day. Luckily, that same evening he notices a distant battle — one waged by Din Djarin™ and the Correlian™ Toro™ in The Mandalorian™ episode “The Gunslinger™” — and decides to investigate. Boba Fett finds the famous bounty hunter Fennec Shand left for dead in the dunes.
Mos Eisley™ Mod-Parlor
Now, at this point in the episode, we don’t know if Boba Fett recognizes Fennec Shand. Maybe he’s merely helping a stranger out of the kindness of his heart. He carries Fennec on his bantha™ all the way to the outskirts of Mos Eisley. There he pays a hefty sum to a specialist at a Mod-Parlor. You’ve seen this kind of thing before; last week’s episode introduced a scooter gang full of teens who alter their organic bodies with droid parts. With this scene, it’s finally revealed how exactly Boba Fett manages to save Fennec Shand from her fatal stomach wound.
Bounty Hunters Back from the Dead
Once Fennec Shand awakens, she is slightly perturbed at Boba Fett because she owes him a debt for saving her life. However, the two strike up a mutually respectful relationship as they discuss their profession as well as the desire for more personal power and liberty. Boba Fett offers Fennec Shand a black melon to help with her pain. Then, he asks for her assistance in retrieving his Firespray™ gunship from the hangar in Jabba’s palace.
Retrieving Boba Fett’s Ship
Their mission is one of stealth. Fennec Shand uses a survey droid to bring back a thermal map of the area. While they wait, Boba Fett bids farewell to his bantha, expressing that the only way forward is with his ship. While in The Mandalorian we didn’t exactly understand Boba Fett’s ambitions for taking over Jabba and Bib’s Tatooine territory, his reasoning becomes clearer as he discusses his future with Fennec Shand. He tells her he’s tired of working for people who don’t value his life. Fennec Shand acts as if she’s unmoved, though we see a spark of interest in her.
The palace infiltration becomes equal parts action and comedy. the bounty hunter duo faces a peppy LEP droid as well as a culinary droid whose moves are very similar to General Grievous™. For the second time in “The Gathering Storm,” Boba Fett uses his name to evoke a specific reaction. This tells us he is at least aware of his reputation, and not afraid of using it to gain an advantage. Of course, he also has the skills to back up that confidence. With Fennec by his side, he also knows he’s even more formidable. Fortunately for him, once the gunship is reclaimed, Fennec says she’ll stick around.
Settling Scores
Boba Fett’s first order of business once he has his ship is to obliterate the Nikto Biker Gang™. If you recall, this group is responsible for the death of Boba Fett’s Tusken™ family. With his revenge exacted, next Boba Fett revisits another old enemy: the sarlacc™. Flying into the pit, Boba Fett scans for his lost amor. Unexpectedly, however, the sarlacc is alive — and it’s hungry. Boba Fett and Fennec Shand escape by killing the creature with sonic detonators, and then Boba Fett’s search continues on foot. Fennec Shand suggests a bacta tank for the wounds he incurs crawling around in its stomach acid.
Forming Their Own House
Our favorite ex-bounty hunter has more goals than simply surviving. “You can only get so far without a tribe,” he explains to Fennec Shand, before requesting her loyalty. When she hesitates, he reminds her that no employer will ever care about protecting her more than a friend can. After they make this pact to rise to the top, we flash forward to the bacta tank in the present. Just in time for the biggest fight of his life, Boba Fett is told he’s completely healed from his physical injuries.
Gathering Allies
Mos Espa’s™ Daimyo’s first stop is Garsa’s™ Sanctuary. There he witnesses Black Krrsantan’s™ petty bar fight with a group of Trandoshans™. The wookiee™ uses his knuckle dusters, as well as years of brute strength honed in the gladiator pits, to bully these patrons — seemingly out of nothing else but boredom and/or the frustration at losing his place at the Hutt Twins’™ side. In an homage to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope™, Krrsantan rips off a Trandoshan’s arm. Then, Boba Fett offers him a job. The Daimyo needs extra muscle around the house, after all.
Near the end of the episode, Boba Fett gathers all of other underworld leaders in a bid against the Pyke™ Syndicate. He proposes that the families of Mos Espa join an alliance. Though they’re disagreeable at first, they all find the offer amenable after the rancor™ makes a quick, claw-filled cameo.
Finally, Boba Fett must prepare for war. He and Fennec Shand look out across the dark desert, discussing how they could gain more warriors before the fights break out. We can only assume Chapter 5 might follow Boba Fett as he gathers his remaining forces. The bigger questions are — who will these allies be? Could they be old friends, or will they be new faces? A familiar clip of music at the episode’s end hints at the appearance of another notable Mandalorian.
Will Boba Fett succeed in defending his territory from the powerful spice syndicate that destroyed the tribe he held so dear? These questions will keep us on our toes until next Wednesday!
What did you think of Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett Chapter 4? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!