The Book Of Boba Fett

[Christopher]

I know I've seen some people complain about the episode lengths, but I don't mind. I'd rather see the episodes have different lengths, so they can just tell the story they want to tell in the time they need to tell it, rather than stretch it out or cut it short.

Yes. Many's the time over the decades that I've wished TV shows had the freedom to make their episodes as long or short as the story required, rather than having to insert padding or take out worthwhile material to make it fit a fixed length every time. With streaming TV, I finally get my wish.

Although that's speaking in general. With regard to the Boba Fett premiere, it didn't even feel like a full episode -- more like half of one, just abruptly cutting off in mid-flashback. That's disappointing. What I like about The Mandalorian is that it feels like an old-school episodic series -- it has developing story and character arcs, but each installment tells its own self-contained story with a beginning and end. The Boba premiere gives the impression that this is going to be a single serialized story with each episode just being a piece of it, though it's hard to know for sure after only one episode. (Maybe it's more like there's an opening 2-parter and then it's more episodic, but we'll see.)

 

[Tosk]

It looked to me like they were submerged in the Sarlacc's digestive juices.

You can see fluids dripping on surfaces and when the Trooper's air hose is yanked the air jet mists rather than bubbles.

 

[Christopher]

You can see fluids dripping on surfaces and when the Trooper's air hose is yanked the air jet mists rather than bubbles.

Oh, okay. So SantaEddie74 is probably right that it's about the toxic vapors.

 

[cooleddie74]

Yeah, the environment inside the stomach of the Sarlacc has to be awfully pungent and full of bad air. Like having someone spray the scent of stomach acid around you and asking you to breathe naturally.

 

[Crewman6]

The shortest Mandalorian episode was 36 minutes, and it's longest was 55 minutes, so I have a feeling this will probably be similar.
I know I've seen some people complain about the episode lengths, but I don't mind. I'd rather see the episodes have different lengths, so they can just tell the story they want to tell in the time they need to tell it, rather than stretch it out or cut it short.

Unfortunately, as in the case of "Mandalorian", the episode run time is short because they don't bother creating an interesting cast of supporting characters, they don't bother developing at all the few characters they focus on and they fundamentally just don't have a story worth telling.

 

[JD]

It's still a bit early to be judging everything that harshly, some shows take a few episodes to build that kind of stuff up.

 

[cooleddie74]

Look at TNG. An unimpressive start would be a mild way to describe how that series got off the ground.

And I'll argue that The Book of Boba Fett had a much stronger opening than TNG did.

 

[cooleddie74]

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[fireproof78]

Look at TNG. An unimpressive start would be a mild way to describe how that series got off the ground.

And I'll argue that The Book of Boba Fett had a much stronger opening than TNG did.

That's not hard to do.

 

[Jedman67]

I liked it. I had no expectations coming in

 

[saddestmoon]

I enjoyed it a lot, and am looking forward to seeing more of Fett’s story told!

 

[Crewman6]

It's still a bit early to be judging everything that harshly, some shows take a few episodes to build that kind of stuff up.

Look at TNG. An unimpressive start would be a mild way to describe how that series got off the ground.

And I'll argue that The Book of Boba Fett had a much stronger opening than TNG did.

It's not "too early" to judge. The show has SEVEN episodes. If your first one is bad, you've done a terrible job in planning your very, very short season. Inexcusable, really.

TV is very different than it was 30 years ago. Yes, TNG was a very bad show at first and it's a minor miracle it eventually got better, years later. But those days of letting a show "find itself" are basically over.

But when your show is supposed to be a tight narrative that stretches only 7 short episodes, you damn well better make every minute count. Which this show failed to do.

 

[dupersuper]

aside from his childhood vendetta against Obi-Wan .

You mean Mace?

It's not "too early" to judge. The show has SEVEN episodes. If your first one is bad, you've done a terrible job in planning your very, very short season. Inexcusable, really.

TV is very different than it was 30 years ago. Yes, TNG was a very bad show at first and it's a minor miracle it eventually got better, years later. But those days of letting a show "find itself" are basically over.

But when your show is supposed to be a tight narrative that stretches only 7 short episodes, you damn well better make every minute count. Which this show failed to do.

I'm getting the distinct impression that you'll be here to tell us how bad all seven episodes are...

 

[KennyB]

“Sand People on Speeders” is my new band name.

 

[Jayson1]

Unfortunately, as in the case of "Mandalorian", the episode run time is short because they don't bother creating an interesting cast of supporting characters, they don't bother developing at all the few characters they focus on and they fundamentally just don't have a story worth telling.

Sometimes their is a reason for that. You want the focus to always be on your lead meaning the show is more about his or her's journey and all the other characters are their to support that character. Not ever character needs agency or focus. They just have a function to perform in the story. I would say this happens a lot when it comes to these shows that only have like 6 episodes or so. It's not like the old days when your trying to fill out 22 to 26 hours every year. Since this show like The Mandalorian is built around these private stoic male leads I see why they are going this way. This show is about Bobba Fett were as a show like The Expanse is about the world building and all the different political perspectives so you get multiple narratives and a show like The Orville is about the whole crew and the crew as kind of bunch of friends/family out on adventure together. If you did this to this show then the very fabric of the show would change.

 

[KennyB]

Unfortunately, as in the case of "Mandalorian", the episode run time is short because they don't bother creating an interesting cast of supporting characters, they don't bother developing at all the few characters they focus on and they fundamentally just don't have a story worth telling.

This episode was 48 minutes. No commercials. And this weeks episode was pretty damn amazing. It IS called The Book of BOBA FETT for a reason.

But when your show is supposed to be a tight narrative that stretches only 7 short episodes, you damn well better make every minute count. Which this show failed to do.

This is phenomenal universe building with shades of some of the greatest films ever made. I don’t know WTF you are looking for. This week had the feel of some of the greatest westerns ever with a side order of Dances with Wolves……seriously do you need space battles? Lightsabers?

 

[Christopher]

I do like how the two live-action series have fleshed out and deepened the Tusken, who started out as just a stand-in for one-dimensional "Indian" baddies from old Westerns but are now being approached from a more modern, sympathetic perspective as a colonized, displaced people trying to defend their homeland.

I was hoping we'd get to see what they look like under the wrappings. I thought that once Boba was fully initiated at the end, they'd finally show their faces to him (or else give him wrappings like theirs). But I just checked Wookieepedia, and it says they have a taboo against showing their faces even to each other, which feels like kind of a copout. I've always been curious about what they really look like. (By the same token, I appreciate the clarification that the Pykes' rigid, angular "heads" are helmets and masks rather than some kind of carapace. That was never clear to me when they appeared in The Clone Wars.)

Conversely, it's not a good idea for Boba to spend all that time bare-headed in the desert sun. Those wrappings exist for a reason. Even when they finally gave him a hood, the first thing he did was to throw it back, which makes little sense. You'd think he'd be grateful for the sun protection. After all, this is Boba Fett. He's not a guy historically known to be reluctant to cover his head.

It's surprising how little time is being devoted to the present-day story. I wonder if that will change now that Boba's completed his journey in the flashbacks, or if the balance will continue that way throughout. I hope we get more present-day stuff, so that Ming-Na Wen gets more to do. (Or maybe they'll switch to giving her flashbacks?)

 

[Jedman67]

Conversely, it's not a good idea for Boba to spend all that time bare-headed in the desert sun. Those wrappings exist for a reason. Even when they finally gave him a hood, the first thing he did was to throw it back, which makes little sense. You'd think he'd be grateful for the sun protection. After all, this is Boba Fett. He's not a guy historically known to be reluctant to cover his head.

Yeah, but the audience needs to see the actors face. Rule of TV lol

It's surprising how little time is being devoted to the present-day story. I wonder if that will change now that Boba's completed his journey in the flashbacks, or if the balance will continue that way throughout. I hope we get more present-day stuff, so that Ming-Na Wen gets more to do. (Or maybe they'll switch to giving her flashbacks?)

I think starting the series with flashbacks does a lot of world building. I don't see the need for more. I also wouldn't care to see Boba constantly in bacta, once is enough.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Spoiler: I guess

Knowing what people can do to each other I think I'd take my chances with the Rancor. At least, it should be quick.

How the hell can Ben Kenobi say only imperial stormtroopers are that precise with train snipers like that on Tattooine!

The Mayor should really invest in a better security system or at least stay a couple of rooms away from the front door. I liked the character though.

Another episode that really speaks to my inner ten-year-old. I tell you some days I could really use a lizard to snort and give me some direction.

EDIT: ah crap, this probably should go in the other thread

 

[1987SpaceGuy]

Spoiler

I've enjoyed this weeks episode (2) much more than last weeks one, both the present day and flashback parts.
I liked how the gave a bit of insight into the sand warrior (Tusken) culture and how he kinda became one of them.
the hoover bike driving (and jumping) lessons were funny.

What's up with the train "fish" heads transporting glittery spice/splice?! Isn't that the same stuff from Dune?!
Really confused.