Heartwarming / The Book of Boba Fett

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Season 1

In General

• Of all things, Boba's new outfit is revealed to be a heartwarming moment in and of itself. When seen in the Original Trilogy, Boba's armor was meant to be one more tool in his arsenal, and one he didn't take that good care of, but after losing it, and finding a new home with the Tuskens, he treats his father's armor with a lot more dignity and respect, and as a remembrance of the only two homes Fett has ever known.
• Boba's and Shand's relationship in a nutshell is also this. When Boba said that he would make her his right hand woman, he wasn't kidding, as he always takes her advice in consideration before making a choice and is the only one that he hesitates to disagree with.
• For all that the citizens of Tatooine are weirded out by Boba's respect over fear mentality, it does work, as seen with Din Djarin, who is shown to view crime lords with contempt, but who decides to work for him for free, and Krrasantan who makes a Heel–Face Turn and stays loyal to Boba, something he hadn't done for anyone else in all his previous appearances.
• While it would have been so very easy for Boba to continue on as Jabba and Bib Fortuna did things he makes clear that he wants to rule through respect, not fear. The entire series becomes a deconstruction of Heavy Handed Rule by showing that honoring your word and respect all is a far better way.

Chapter 1: A Stranger in a Strange Land

• Boba choosing to save the Tusken child from the Tatooine sand ape instead of leaving him to die is very heartwarming. He then decides to stay with the child's tribe, earning respect from the chieftain.
• The Gamorreans rushing to help Boba and Fennec in fighting the assassins after Boba decides to spare their lives and make them his new bodyguards.

Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine

• In the previous episode, the Tusken child beat Boba, dragged him around, and deprived him of water. After Boba saved the child from the Tatooine sand ape, the kid is now rather fond of Boba.
• When the train passes by, its crew take shots at the Tuskens, with the adults taking up defensive positions and returning fire. Boba, still unarmed, rounds up the nearby children and hustles them behind cover where they'll be safe.
• Watching Boba learn the Tusken culture and help them protect their homeland from colonizers taking advantage of them. In turn, they teach him their ways and welcome him into their community. The scene at the end, with all the Tuskens and Boba performing that dance with the gaderffii sticks around the fire with the soft respectful music? Heartwarming.
• Like in The Mandalorian, it's refreshing to see the Tuskens portrayed as people with culture and values that guide their actions, rather than mindless brutes. It also expands on what little we saw of them in The Mandalorian.
• Boba, of all people, having a Heroic Bystander moment when he rescues Fixer and Camie from a beating by some random thugs in a flashback.

Chapter 3: The Streets of Mos Espa

• When asked to stop a gang of cybernetic thieves from stealing from a water merchant, Boba finds that they're a group of teenagers who only formed a gang because there's no work available in Mos Espa and the merchant is charging several times the water's value. Boba immediately hires them to work for him and pays the merchant the true value of the water. The gang then repays him in kind: first defending him from Black Krrsantan, and then helping him chase down the mayor's assistant.
• During Black Krrsantan's attack, one of Boba's Gamorrean guards is injured. Once the assassin is dealt with, Boba tells the other Gamorrean to take the injured one to his personal bacta tank so it can heal. Note that this is despite having just had a very vicious Wookie make a very good effort to kill him. Nonetheless, Boba insists the Gamorrean goes first.
• The Twin Hutts present Boba with a juvenile Rancor as a peace offering after failing to have him killed. Boba immediately becomes fond of the Rancor, petting and talking to it like a dog. When its trainer tells him the stories about Witches of Dathomir using them as mounts, Boba decides he wants to learn how to do that too.
  • The peace offering itself. The Twins learned that Jabba's holdings weren't willed to them and in fact were in the wrong. While they could have easily shipped off without saying a word they instead make good on apologizing to Fett for the misunderstanding and then suggest he get off the planet too so he isn't killed by the Pykes.
  • The trainer has Boba stand in front of the Rancor while he removes its blinders so it will imprint on Boba.
• Despite being well within his rights to kill him for the attempt on his life, Boba sets Krrsantan free and tells him "no hard feelings." It probably helps that, as established in Star Wars: Darth Vader, they have been colleagues before, be it in service to the Empire or other clients.

Chapter 4: The Gathering Storm

• Before retrieving his ship, Boba releases the Bantha into the wild so she can be free. He bids her a fond farewell, patting her nose and telling her to "make baby Banthas". The bantha even gives him a big, affectionate lick as he's saying his goodbyes. Boba definitely has a soft spot for animals. Earlier in the episode, he's seen sharing his meat with the Bantha when they have to stop for the night.
• When Boba is asked "What prevents us from killing you, and taking what we want?" during the talks, Boba's Rancor immediately growls and claws at the ceiling of his enclosure (which they're sitting above), making the delegates jump. Boba gently assures that he's alright, giving some food to help ease him.
  • Additionally, in the previous episode the Rancor barely moved because it was depressed, but the bond it's developed with Boba seems to have alleviated this, as it now displays the fierceness that one would expect from its species.
• Why Boba wants to keep Fennec around: The Tuskens taught him that one can only go so long as a loner. One needs a tribe.
• His pledge to Fennec. This isn't him taking her on like Jabba or the Empire did him. They will work together and he will protect her just as much as she protects him.

Chapter 5: Return of The Mandalorian

• Despite their usual animosity, Paz Vizsla actually seems relieved to see that Din Djarin is still alive. Din finally gets to thank Paz for helping him get Grogu off Nevarro, and apologizes for the toll it took on the tribe.
• The Armorer declares that the beskar spear must be melted down as it can pierce beskar armor and is too dangerous to Mandalorians. Din agrees, and asks that she forge it into armor. When she asks what item it should become, Din asks for something for a foundling: specifically, something for Grogu. The Armorer is obviously hesitant, believing that the child is no longer their concern now he's with the Jedi, but still fulfills his request. She wraps the gift in a piece of cloth that resembles Grogu's Expressive Ears.
• When the Armorer learns that Din has violated his oath by removing his helmet, she takes the situation in stride and calmly allows Din to leave the covert, even giving him instructions on how to atone for his breach of the Creed. In fact, she also allows him to keep his armor, the Darksaber, and his gift for Grogu, showing that she still respects him as a member of the clan.
• During the flight to Tatooine, Din takes Grogu's gift out and holds it, then turns and looks out the window at the stars, clearly thinking about his absent son.
• Peli is overjoyed that the Mando showed up at her docking bay, especially because he saved her from an angry womp rat.
• While putting the N-1 together, BD-72 uses its holoprojector to show Din where the part he's holding goes right on the fighter itself. After Din thanks the BD unit, it taps its feet happily like an excited puppy. Din has gone from hating droids, to tolerating them, to appreciating them.
• Din takes the N-1 for a test drive, having more and more fun with it as he puts it through its paces. At one point he does a flyby of the starliner he arrived on Tatooine in, pulling up alongside so the Rodian kid who was waving at him on the flight over can see. Bonus points for him giving the kid a nod, as if to say, "Heya, kid...."
• At the end of the episode, Fennec approaches Din to hire him to deal with the Pykes. When Din hears that Boba Fett is the one asking for help, he offers to work with them free of charge, obviously out of gratitude for their help rescuing Grogu.
  • When Fennec makes her reappearance, she is positively beaming. She is genuinely happy to see Din again. Especially heartwarming given how antagonistic their first meeting was.
  • Din also mentions he wants to go see a "little friend" before he meets with Boba. Given that this series does its foreshadowing with a sledgehammer...
  • Related to the above is the fact that the N1's astromech port has been swapped out for a second seat, except it's a very small seat. Almost like they fitted it for a very specific passenger...

Chapter 6: From the Desert Comes a Stranger

• Luke is taking good care of Grogu, being gentle but firm in teaching the kid how to use his abilities. As they walk together, Luke uses the Force to "jump" Grogu ahead on the path so he can keep up, and is later seen carrying him in a backpack. The latter evokes memories of seeing him carry Yoda during his own training.
• Luke tells Grogu about Yoda, speaking very fondly of his old master and how he used to "speak in riddles".
  Luke: He was small, like you, but his heart was huge and the Force was strong in him.
• Grogu's wonder and ecstatic joy at seeing Luke lift all the frogs is nothing short of adorable!
• Din is surprised to see Ahsoka at Luke's new school^note and to be fair, so are we. She refers to herself as "an old friend of the family". While she's not sticking around, she doesn't discount the possibility of seeing Luke again eventually.
  • Albeit after the fact, the confirmation that Luke and Ahsoka do both know each other is something many fans have wanted since Rebels.
  • At the same moment she shows up, R2 beeps with excitement when he sees her, and she's got a big old smile on her face. They still recognize each other after all these years.
• Luke wonders if Grogu's heart is in his training when he is talking to Ahsoka, to which she responds that Luke is "so much like [his] father." Knowing that Ahsoka still holds Anakin in a high regard after his death and redemption to his son is very heartwarming indeed.
  • The only way Ahsoka could have known about Anakin’s redemption is if Luke told her how his father sacrificed himself to save him by killing Emperor Palpatine.
  • Or alternatively, Anakin's force ghost appeared to Ahsoka himself and told her everything.
  • This also hits hard after watching Star Wars Rebels. Considering that the last time Ahsoka saw Anakin in person was when he had tried to kill her on Malachor when he was Darth Vader, calling herself a "family friend" to the Skywalkers indicates that Ahsoka has forgiven Anakin for what he did in the past.
  • Luke finally knows someone who knew Anakin Skywalker, not Darth Vader — someone who can tell him more about the man his father was at his best, and knew his mother personally. Luke and Ahsoka's interactions are short and sweet, but speak volumes about how they've bonded, almost as siblings thanks to Anakin, offscreen.
• Luke using the Force to help Grogu keep up with him while walking is rather cute. It almost looks like the Jedi equivalent of a parent swinging their child along by the arms as a game.
• At some point in time, Luke managed to track down Yoda's lightsaber. Just to see the lightsaber again is heartwarming for people who grew up with the prequels. In addition, Luke offers it to Grogu to serve as his own Jedi weapon. Whether Grogu chooses to accept it or not, it's still a sweet gesture.

Chapter 7: In the Name of Honor

• Grogu chose to return to Din over his Jedi training. Peli is absolutely delighted to see him again and insists on feeding him before he goes looking for Din. She also gets to learn his name, even if she does think it's a "terrible" one.
  Peli: [to R2-D2] Just slow down, give me a second. You just got here. Let me say "hello" to my old pal. [to Grogu] Well hello, bright eyes. Come here [she picks him up and hugs him].
  • Grogu is also clearly happy to see Peli again. Like Mando, he knows and trusts her as an ally and is happy to be scooped up by her, remembering how she doted on him and took care of him. With Peli, Grogu also gets to have a nice meal and is doted on once again. Even though Grogu is very intelligent and was able to understand Luke perfectly, he's still a child, and Peli allows him to be a child again with her for the first time since he was captured on Tython.
• When the Mods say they are not leaving Mos Espa because it's their home and the people need them, Boba listens to them and chooses to stay instead of running back to his more easily defendable palace.
• Fennec saving the Mods while they are pinned down. Mind you, she had been sent to take out the Pykes' leader. She just chose to save the Mods of her own will. Drash is genuinely surprised Fennec went out of her way for them and gives a sincere thank-you. Fennec is touched and replies with a slight but genuinely warm smile, "Manners; I like that."
• Din acknowledges that while the other factions on Tatooine turning on Boba was the "smart move", it was still dishonorable. Boba says that it would likewise be smart for Din to just cut and run (indirectly giving him permission to do so), but Din never even considers it. He gave his word, and they'll die together if it comes to that.
  Boba: I suppose you'll be heading out.
  Din: I'm not.
  Boba: You should.
  Din: It's against the Creed. I gave you my word. I'm with you until we both fall.
• Din has been rejected by the Armorer for having removed his helmet, and has his own crusade ahead to regain his honor, but his faith in the Creed has not wavered. Boba has never taken being a Mandalorian very seriously, but when he asks Din if he still believes in "that Bantha fodder", Din doesn't hesitate to say yes. Furthermore, Boba says he's glad to hear it.
  Boba: You really believe in that Bantha fodder?
  Din: I do.
  Boba: Good.
  Din: The way I see it, we have two choices. We wait until they get into position and launch a siege on their terms.
  Boba: Or?
  Din: We rush out there, catch them unaware. Then we can escape to your ship at the palace.
  Boba: I can't abandon Mos Espa, these people are counting on me.
  Din: Okay, then. We'll both die in the name of honor.
  Boba: You sure you wanna stay?
  Din: This is the way.
• The people of Freetown arrive to help Boba and Din, as it became their fight the second Bane shot Cobb and killed their deputy.
• Krrsantan makes it back to the Sanctuary after (literally) throwing off his attackers in an Offscreen Moment of Awesome. When seeing the Wookiee being shot and forced to limp as he struggles to make it back, Boba personally goes out to cover him and pulls him to safety behind the speeder. After telling Krrsantan that he's happy to see he survived after believing him dead, Boba promises to let him use his bacta tank to heal once the fight is over.
• Peli and her pit droids come all the way to Mos Espa to bring Grogu back to Din. She even suggests that Grogu guided her there with the Force. Despite having a giant Battle Droid on their asses trying to gun them down, you can hear Din's joy at seeing him again. Grogu uses a little Force assistance to jump out of his seat and into his dad's arms, embracing his surrogate father after being apart.
  Din: Hey, what are you doing here? [Grogu leaps into his arms] Oh! Okay, little guy. I'm happy to see you too. I didn't know when I'd see you again. It's okay. Yeah, I missed you too buddy.
  • Peli coming all the way to Mos Espa becomes even more touching when one remembers her comment to Din back in "The Marshal" that she doesn't leave Mos Eisley because it's so dangerous between cities on Tatooine. Despite her reluctance to leave, she still made the trip to reunite Din and Grogu.
  • Before they get back to the carnage, Din has time enough to see that Grogu is wearing the beskar chain mail he left as a gift under his clothes. The Child chose his armor -- his dad -- over being a Jedi. Din gets briefly distracted, as he's in fatherly awe that Grogu is wearing a piece of his culture's armor; his adopted son is officially embracing the culture as his own.
    Din: Hey, that's the shirt. You got the shirt!
• Before he goes to try and stop the Rancor, Din gives Grogu the silver knob from the Razor Crest that the kid loved to play with, and tells him that everything's going to be okay.
  • Din also calls for the others to stop firing because their shooting is only frightening the rancor. He then tries to get control of the reins, only using his flamethrower when it tries to eat him.
• Grogu uses his force powers to first keep a droid from killing Din and, later, to calm the raging (and scared) Rancor down, gently putting it to sleep. He saves it from having to be put down to stop its dangerous rampage. Then he walks up to gently pet it, and cuddles up with it, falling asleep by its side.
• The final interaction between Boba and his people is them having a laugh over Krrsantan getting the fruit that Boba was given and not wanting to share it. They aren't just his employees. They've become family.
• After leaving the planet, Din and Grogu head off in their new ship to continue their adventures together. After Grogu repeatedly taps on the glass (as a final touch, note that Grogu is tapping with the control knob from the Razor Crest), Din tells him repeatedly that he won't do it, but eventually gives in, telling Grogu that "this is the last time". He then lights up the ship's sublight booster as Grogu squeals in delight and excitement, enjoying the rollercoaster-esque ride.
• Boba is still smarting from his wounds after the battle. When Fennec asks him why he didn't heal it in the bacta tank, Boba says it's still in use. Then Krrsantan shows up, having already been healed as Boba promised. So who's in the bacta tank? The Stinger reveals that Cobb Vanth is currently healing in the tank, and that the mod surgeon who saved Fennec's life is preparing to work on him.

Tie-ins

• This Christmas-themed promo for the LEGO Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter set, in which Mando gives presents to various friends and family across the galaxy (including some characters who hadn't become real LEGO minifigures yet).