Ahead of The Book of Boba Fett's Disney+ debut, expectations were high thanks to The Mandalorian's successful second season and teases of "big surprises." However, halfway through the season, audience reception was mixed at best due to pacing, the use of flashbacks, and the show's approach to the bounty hunter. While that all changed with Mando's return in Episode 5, Episode 6 gave Star Wars fans everything they could want and more.
Titled "From The Desert Came a Stranger," it's clear that Lucasfilm's Dave Filoni pulled out all of the cool toys for his episode. The new entry picked up right where Chapter 5 "Return of the Mandalorian" left off while also connecting back to The Mandalorian's sophomore season.
So what happened in Chapter 6 to unite the oft-divided Star Wars fan base? And, how did a single episode of a show that many had dismissed manage to set the internet aflame? Here's a breakdown of the episode's biggest moments and why Star Wars fans couldn't help but freak out.
Warning - This article contains spoilers for "Chapter 6" of The Book of Boba Fett.
The Return of The Marshal
Cobb Vanth is back! Just like how Season 2 of The Mandalorian kicked off with the live-action intro of Timothy Olyphant's Cobb Vanth, Dave Filoni's Chapter 6 of The Book of Boba Fett began with the return of Mos Pelgo's favorite marshal.
Unfortunately for him, his exchange with the Pyke Syndicate led to the live-action introduction of another Star Wars gunslinger and his uncertain fate ahead of the series' Season 1 finale.
The Droid Fans Were Looking For
After Mando landed his new Naboo N-1 starfighter, fans were treated to a shot of a familiar droid scanner before the camera revealed the galaxy's OG astromech - R2-D2!
While Mando is looking for Luke and Grogu, just like in the original trilogy, R2-D2 knows best. He actually leads Mando to someone else and then shuts down as Mando is forced to wait.
I Would Like To See the Baby
It's true. All of it. The rumors that Grogu (Baby Yoda) would appear in The Book of Boba Fett proved to be accurate; and despite his Jedi training, and newfound ability to Force jump, he hasn't changed in terms of his affection for Mando and frogs.
The Second Coming of Skywalker
That Luke Skywalker cameo in the Season 2 finale of The Mandalorian is something Star Wars fans never dared to hope for. It quickly ranked as one of the best moments in Star Wars history.
Well, it seems that the return of the Jedi on Disney+ wasn't a one-time thing, as The Book of Boba Fett's sixth episode was largely focused on Luke's training with Grogu!
In addition to Luke telling Grogu about Yoda, audiences also witnessed Luke run through the forest with Grogu on his back as he did with Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back, igniting his green lightsaber, and teaching Grogu through the use of a training remote, the same way Obi-Wan taught him in A New Hope.
An Old Friend of the Family
If Cobb Vanth, R2-D2, Luke, and Grogu weren't enough, Filoni also included Ahsoka Tano following her live-action debut in his episode of The Mandalorian's sophomore season.
Fans weren't sure if she would be seen again ahead of her own Disney+ series. However, having her interact with Luke Skywalker - the son of her former master - and even reference the similarities between father and son was special and a huge payoff for fans of The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels animated series.
Her presence also means that Luke's ties to his parents aren't completely gone, and that he may be able to learn more about them from her in the future. The fact she says "Perhaps" when he asks if he will see her again leaves the door open for a reunion, maybe in her upcoming Ahsoka Disney+ series?
A Third Bounty Hunter
In addition to Filoni bringing in characters from The Mandalorian, he also introduced another fan-favorite animated character to live-action in his Boba Fett episode - Cad Bane.
This Star Wars: The Clone Wars antagonist was the galaxy's most infamous bounty hunter following the death of Jango Fett. Bane was known for his intelligence, ruthlessness, and for crossing paths with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Darth Sidious, and more.
Now it's no secret that Star Wars, and particularly Lucasfilm's Disney+ series, are inspired by Westerns; but apart from Bane's blue skin and red eyes, he dresses the part more than other characters thanks to his wide-brimmed hat, long duster, boots, and dual blasters.
Also, according to Filoni, there was an unaired story arc from The Clone Wars series where Bane mentored a young Boba Fett for a time. However, the relationship ended in a standoff and became the reason for that signature dent in Boba Fett's helmet.
Now that Bane is involved with the Pyke Syndicate on Tatooine, it looks like Star Wars fans may finally see this moment - or something similar - play out in the show's finale.
Grogu's Choice
Finally, Chapter 6 concluded with Luke presenting Grogu with two items: beskar chainmail which Mando had the Armorer forge for him in Chapter 5, and Yoda's own lightsaber.
While fans were eager to see Mando's tiny gift for his Foundling, seeing Yoda's mini-green saber in live-action once again was a surprise and a welcome connection to the prequel trilogy.
Overall, Chapter 6 of The Book of Boba Fett offered Star Wars fans a bounty of Star Wars content, cameos, and Easter eggs that still felt organic to the events playing out in the series. The question is whether Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni will be able to continue topping themselves as fans prepare for Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, and Ahsoka later this year and in 2023.
New episodes of The Book of Boba Fett debut on Wednesdays on Disney+.
