Every time an episode of The Book of Boba Fett lands, Fantha Tracks will be giving their responses, and here are our initial gut feelings, deep dives and thoughts on the second episode – Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine. Beware of spoilerific elements in here.
Paul Naylor
I already love this show. Or should that be shows? With the narrative flicking between past and present, The Book of Boba Fett effectively gives you a 2-for-1 experience. And it’s important we see the development of Boba from his Sarlaac escape to the taking of the throne at Jabba’s/Bib’s palace.
Without that context, the fundamental change of bounty hunter to crime lord would be a significant jump. We need to see the evolution. This episode focussed significantly on Fett’s time with his adoptive Tusken tribe. It’s an unusual mix but one that works. We get to see his enslavement, gradual acceptance and eventual enrolment to the tribe. Those of you old enough might recall a TV show called Kung Fu. These scenes often remind me of that 70s series.
The events of Solo: A Star Wars Story are recalled in a more successful train heist. And seeing Fett on a speeder bike was sublime. Throw in Tosche Station (or a similar location) and you’d already have a great show.
However, prior to all these shenanigans, we got to see modern Fett challenging the Mayor, returning to see Max Rebo’s new band before challenging the cousins of Jabba the Hutt! Yep. The sight of two Hutts held aloft was glorious enough, but then we catch sight of a Hoojib and badass looking wookie henchman. Superb.
I can’t wait to see what’s coming next.
Matt Booker
Wow, what an epic montage turned into 25 mins of story. Really dug this chapter, some classic Original Trilogy aliens and characters fleshing out the world beautifully and bringing it all together, digging deep into the lore of races we’ve known since ’77.
Ever so impressed with the direction of this show.
Mark Newbold
When The Book of Boba Fett was announced, it seemed certain that some key waypoints would be touched upon. The small matter of escaping the mighty sarlacc seemed the most pertinent one, but after the desert return of Fett in The Marshal episode of The Mandalorian, his time with the Tusken Raiders quickly became a period of his life that held great interest. On Episode 121 of Making Tracks I asked Mark Mulcaster the question of which time period – the present or the past – was the ‘A’ story or the ‘B’ story. In the case of The Tribes of Tatooine, the past is where it’s at.
Last weeks opening chapter was a steady start, establishing the two ‘era’s’ of the show while easing us into the post season two Mando world of Fennec and Boba. This week, we step on the gas of the story as that stretch of time between leaving the sarlacc and taking the palace of Jabba the Hutt is explored. We see more of Tatooine’s de facto capital Mos Espa, return to Sanctuary and the Bith/Ortolan supergroup, get more of Matt Berry voicing 8D8, meet imposing wookiee bounty hunter Black Krrsantan straight from the pages of Doctor Aphra and even get to see more of the Pykes, made famous in The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch as well as Solo: A Star Wars Story. More than that, we get not one but two very impressive looking Hutt cousins and return to Tosche Station (I say return, Luke’s favourite place to get power converters was cut from A New Hope but entered our field of vision in Behind The Magic in ’98) and finally, canonically, meet Camie and Fixer. Here’s where we get a taste of the more familiar Fett, the greatest practitioner of word economy this side of the Yorkshire Moors in a barfight brawl that definitely left a Roadhouse-sized smile on my face.
In addition, Tatooine is being explored even more. There’s a sense of geography here that readers of planetary maps will appreciate, made even clearer by the conveyex-style train that surges through the Dune Sea, queueing up a thrilling sequence as Fett not only trains this tribe of Tuskens (satisfyingly described as a different tribe to the ones we’ve seen in the past) but takes us on a journey into their ways and traditions. Last week I somewhat sarcastically commented on the tree stump Fett was tied to, questioning how that could be on a desert planet. This week, after he not only grabs a branch but then carves his own gaffi stick, I was struck by the thought that I’ve known Tuskens have wooden staffs since I was 6 years old (I sound like Cassian Andor) – of course there’s wood on Tatooine. So well played, so satisfying, the entire episode hung together perfectly, as evidenced by the overwhelmingly warm reception The Tribes of Tatooine has received online so far.
And was that a hoojib the Hutt twins were holding? If so, that might just be the greatest nod to the past we’ve had since the skull of Xim the Despot got blasted to dust in Solo. Big thumbs up all round, and let’s hope it continues.
Carl Bayliss
Having been slightly underwhelmed by the first ‘chapter’ of ‘The Book Of Boba Fett‘, my expectations for this second instalment were raised, as this was going to have to make up for my disappointment and pull me back on board.
In a very un-Star Wars fashion, I had a good feeling about this one, upon seeing the episode runtime of 53 minutes I figured we were going to get more in depth and that’s exactly what we got. Picking up with the captured ‘Nightwind’ assassin, I loved how they dropped him into the rancor pit to extract the information on who hired him, only for him to find there was no rancor!
The mayor and his aide are very reminiscent of the Jabba/Bib Fortuna relationship, with the subserviant Twi’lek constantly trying to appease his master. We then get Jabba’s twin cousins introduced, as they are staking a claim to the territory once held by their relative (point to note here, I wouldn’t want to be party of the party carrying their ‘litter’ around). Clearly they will play a larger role in the comping episodes.
We then get more flashbacks to Boba and the Tusken tribe – having proved his worth in the previous episode he is becoming more involved in their activities, and when they are attacked by a speeding train he vows to help rid them of the attacks. A New Hope cutting room floor casualties Camie and Fixer are being hassled in a small bar, before Boba turns up and disptaches the Nikto thugs, before stealing their speeder bikes. This sets up the ‘training montage’ as he teaches them to ride the bikes and jump between them, ready for the attack on the train – this segment is VERY reminiscent of the heist in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Having taken down the train, we discover it is a spice shipment being coordinated by the Pikes and Boba spares them but tells them that they will need to relay a message to their masters that they can no longer travel freely through the Dune Sea.
As reward for his actions Boba is accepted as a member of the Tusken tribe, and after a rite of passage to obtain his gaffi stick, he is dressed in the robes we first see him in during season two of The Mandalorian and fashions the branch he collected into his weapon.
This was much more what I expected from the series, and as a fan of Solo the attack on the train gave me the same feelings as the heist sequence so a definite winner. I’m much more excited by the rest of the series now, and this episode will get many more watches in the coming days.
Dee Tails (Quay Tolsite, Solo: A Star Wars Story)
I woke up on the 5th of January and was greeted by a message from my good friend Matt Booker, all he wrote was “Hope ya watching Boba Dude“. (But of course Ha) Which got me thinking why would he say that unless another one of my creature heads has made an appearance. Then I got another one from another friend Lordofthane on instagram asking me the same question.
Less than an hour later I was watching it …
My instant thoughts were ‘Thieving Scum’ HaHa, then it all began to dawn on me the validation being given to Quay Tolsite and the look of the Pykes being represented in Solo and not just that the added bonus of seeing our faces for the first time too. With the uncertainty within the Star Wars community regarding what is canon and what is not from the recent films, I was never sure if the stand alones like Rogue One or Solo would survive that question.
I noticed the practical helmet, it’s design and fit over what would be another creature head underneath, but it was the colours and design of the leaders robes, I had a flood of memories, flashbacks if you will that suddenly brought it all home for me, I could barely stop the tears felt so humbled and grateful.
I need to get over there don’t I ? 😂
Johanna Nybelius
So, the first episode was a bit slow, but with episode two things start to happen. Overall I liked the faster pace, even if most of the action was in the scenes where Boba Fett remembers his days with the tuskens.
When it comes to the tuskens I was a bit puzzled in the first episode on why they looked so different compared to the tuskens we have seen so far, but now we also got an explanation for that; they are simply a different tribe that split a long time ago from the more violent tribes.
The Book of Boba Fett is definitely filled with a lot of nostalgia and winks to the fans of the original trilogy, it’s evident from the use of familiar alien species. Now the hutts are back as well, and talking about Nal Hutta. I think my interest going forward will be mainly to see how Boba Fett handles his crime lord duties. It is obvious that he lacks the information channels that his adversaries have, and so far he only has the muscle power of himself, Fennec and two Gammorean Guards. Will that be enough to keep his position as daimyo?
Dan Lo
I had remarked on the relatively new trend of flashbacks in Star Wars after watching the first episode of The Book of Boba Fett. This continued on in chapter two, where we once again had only another 12 minutes or so of current day events with the rest of the (much longer) episode set within a flashback. We continued to get two shows in one, so to speak. My opinion on that is mixed, which I’ll get to later.
The episode once again kicked off with a wide shot of Jabba – I mean, Boba’s palace near the end of what must have been an insanely long walk for Fennec Shand and the captured Mortal Kombat ninja. We don’t need to call him that anymore of course, as he is now identified by Wookieepedia as “Unidentified Night Wind assassin“. We got a nice mix of nostalgia and humor thanks to Fennec’s non-rancor prank. As our good friend Greg McLaughlin asked, too soon to mention Haslab’s failed rancor campaign? Deep cut. We finally got to meet the mayor, revisited the Sanctuary cantina, ran into previously unknown Hutt twins, and snarled at by a scary-looking Wookiee. And that was about it for present day events. At this point, it’s become clear that bacta naps are a part of Boba Fett’s routine whether he sees action or not.
Flashback: Boba in full on Last Samurai mode, being taught Tusken Raider combat. But oh no, a Pyke Syndicate spice train! There were no train tracks of course, so the Tusken Raider’s description of “long speeder” was actually more accurate. To address the obvious speed deficit, Boba tracked down and went full GTA on a speeder bike gang (was that Camie??) and jacked the entire fleet, which his new friends promptly began disassembling upon his return. I chuckled. After some riding lessons, we once again saw a Star Wars train being raided by a ragtag group of underdogs on speeders in what was a genuinely fun and impressive action sequence. I particularly liked the pilot droid. The Tusken Raiders emerged victorious, the Pykes were spared, and the remainder of the episode portrayed Boba Fett’s full acceptance into the tribe.
I don’t know if it’s due to an expectation for an exclusively present day story or a shortage of enthusiasm for Tusken Raiders on my part, but there’s something disorienting about spending a considerable bulk of the show (so far) within flashbacks. Or maybe there’s still something odd about seeing so much backstory for a character whose appeal had once been the mystery that surrounded him. That wasn’t entirely a complaint of course; Temuera Morrison is a joy to watch on screen. At this point, there may not be much gap left to fill between the fire dance and Boba’s appearance in The Mandalorian, and perhaps the show will pick up steam once we remain firmly in the present time.
Random notes: Were my eyes playing tricks on me, or was Ahmed Best in Mos Espa? Mok Shaiz’s translator collar was cool. I’m not sure if I’m more impressed by the strength of the servants, or the platform the Hutts were being carried on. Seeing Banthas get shot was kind of jolting. Return of the Jedi speeder bike nod. How close was the Tusken kid to blinding himself? Back to the Future III vibes when the pilot droid periodically boosted the train’s speed. The lizard going in/out Boba’s nose also felt familiar but I couldn’t pinpoint why. Maybe Total Recall, but that’s not quite it. Boba’s hood screamed “Palpatine”. I never realized gaffi sticks were mainly made of wood. The end scene must surely have been based on a haka dance, right?
Ross Hollebon
I can’t believe they showcased the new Haslab Rancor in this chapter! Jokes aside, “The Tribes of Tatooine” is crafted beautifully into the indigenous stories and history of the Tusken Raiders, as well as the complicated web of organized crime, and its protocol, on Tatooine.
Once again via flashback, Boba Fett’s assimilation into the Tusken tribe is a physical and spiritual journey where he proves himself, and earns rewards along the way. The story has expertly introduced how Boba literally forged who he now has become upon meeting Din Djarin on Tython—complete with dark ceremonial robes and his gaffi stick. The social commentary of indigenous lands being ravaged and taken, and large, furry animals (banthas here in place of buffalo) being slaughtered for no true purpose, was smart and keeps expanding the understanding of what Tuskens dealt with, and how different tribes manage their own situation. Which brings us to the Pykes and their spice trade on the desert planet. Boba leads his Tusken tribe in neutralizing the crime syndicate, and also establishing tolls for offworlders to pay the Tuskens of the Dune Sea. But they are just the beginning of the big-named devious enterprises.
On the heels of “War of the Bounty Hunters” and coinciding with the start of the “Crimson Reign” Star Wars and Marvel comics series, the crime syndicates and underworld are blasting into the spotlight across new content avenues—but is it something “a simple man making his way through the galaxy” can handle? Mok Shaiz, the Ithorian mayor of Mos Espa, reminds Boba of during their first encounter: “Running a family is more complicated than bounty hunting.”
Boba, the new Daimyo of Tatooine, and Fennec Shand are well-versed on underworld etiquette, but more from the hired hand perspective than from the throne. Now they’re dealing with crime lords who travel the streets of Mos Espa via litter. Twins of the Hutt Clan have returned to stake their claim to Jabba’s former holdings, and even brought along Doctor Aphra’s favorite disgraced Wookiee gladiator, Black Krrsantan. Boba stands his ground as he and the Hutts feel each other out, but it appears to be just the beginning. And that’s without knowing what other criminal “tribes” are ascending upon Tatooine in the vacuum of Jabba’s former rule.
Tusken culture has helped remake Boba, but is he savvy enough to navigate this next level of high-stakes galactic Godfathering. More haunting drum beats, trippy spice dreams, and opportunistic and deadly entrepreneurs to come, I’m sure. And please let it include Crimson Dawn (and maybe even Qi’ra).
Clair Henry
The Book of Boba Fett continues to surprise me. For a programme with so little dialogue it’s incredibly action packed and captivating. I’m enjoying the flashbacks from after the sarlacc pit to explain how Boba Fett has become a confident leader with conviction.
Just when you thought the Hutts were gone the twins appear, which was unnerving yet brilliant all at the same time. How on earth do they command such respect? With an angry wookiee I hear you cry! I look forward to seeing this develop further in the series.
Eric Onkenhout
Well, that was just about the awesome-est thing I’ve ever watched. The Book of Boba Fett Chapter Two: The Tribes of Tatooine blew my mind and most everyone else’s. It had character-building, world-building, and some very cool fan service. So let’s not waste any time and get to it.
It was great seeing Jabba’s palace from the front door again, although it would’ve been fun to see the eye droid before it opened. One of the assassins is brought before Boba by a couple of Gamorrean guards, and the 8D8 droid says he is from the Order of the Night Wind. So there’s a new bit of information to look forward to learning more about. After cursing out Fett, the assassin gets dropped into the rancor pit below the throne room. Scared half to death, the assassin quickly reveals that the mayor sent him. Unfortunately for us, and fortunately for the assassin, the pit was empty.
Fett foregoes the litter and pays a visit to the mayor with Fennec. The mayor, an Ithorian called Mok Shaiz, denies sending the assassin and actually kills him, deeming them illegal. The mayor then tells Fett to go to Garsa’s Sanctuary and find out who sent the assassin. So why did the assassin say that the mayor sent him? I found that a little confusing. Maybe he just tried to tell Fett what he thought he wanted to hear? But, for some reason, I believe there is more to it than that.
Fett visits Garsa Fwip at her cantina, and she tells him the Twins have “laid claim to their cousin’s bequest.” This comes as news to Boba. A low drumbeat is heard from outside. Fett and Shennec go out to see twin Hutts being carried upon a litter. Finally, a proper CGI Hutt! Apparently, these are twin cousins of Jabba who have come to take back the territory to their family. This was a pretty intense scene, I must say. Probably the most intimidating a Hutt has been portrayed since Jabba in Return of the Jedi. So many Hutts lately are portrayed as being silly, but not these two. Their names were never given, however. I hope that changes, and I hope we see them again.
The Hutts aren’t too impressed with the new daimyo and ask their muscle to step forward. A dark-haired Wookiee appears through the crowd that’s gathered (funny how crowds like to gather when there could be a shootout at any second. Remember the bartender in The Mandalorian who stood right behind Din while Cobb Vanth points a blaster right at him?). Anyway, the dark-haired Wookiee is Black Krrsantan from the Doctor Aphra comic (his first appearance was actually in Darth Vader #1 in 2015). It’s so cool seeing the comic books getting some much-deserved cred. More people should be reading the comics. And anyone who has read Doctor Aphra knows Black Krrsantan is deadly. The confrontation avoids violence, for now.
From this point on, The Tribes of Tatooine is a flashback where we see how Fett’s relationship with this particular Tusken tribe grows. Putting into words how this happens doesn’t do it justice. You really need to watch it. Fett gains their respect by fending off a gang of Pykes looking to salvage any water for themselves, as water on Tatooine is like gold. First, Fett travels to Tosche Station, where we see our old pals Camie and Fixer having a drink. A gang of Niktos picks a fight with Fixer as Fett walks it and takes care of business. It would’ve been great if he said, “Sorry about the mess,” as he left. He then takes the gang’s swoop bikes and returns them to the Tusken camp. They use the swoops to hijack the train and tell the Pykes to take a hike. This whole scene reminded me of the train scene in Solo. I loved how the train conductor droid ran away like Grievous.
The Tuskens fully accept Fett in a ceremonial ritual, including a lizard crawling up Fett’s nose, causing hallucinations. And dressing Fett in Tusken robes and teaching him how to carve his own gaffi stick. The ceremony ends with a dance around a fire that was beautiful and amazing to watch. It is nice to learn that not all Tuskens are brutes, as we learned some resort to killing and some don’t. And knowing that Tem Morrison is so proud of his heritage and he shows it in this scene.
The Tribes of Tatooine was such a fantastic episode! I love how they’re developing Fett’s character into something much more interesting, and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here. Five episodes left!
Richard Hutchinson
This episode really is what Star Wars is about. There’s no need to invent whole new species of aliens each chapter, and it was clear there was a real world feel to it with broken parts and borrowed, used equipment. I loved Tales from Mos Eisley and this was like an episode of those short Legends stories fleshed out and on screen.
I still don’t like Fett taking his helmet off, but it is a minor issue for what is turning about to be a great show.
Becca Benjamin
The Book of Boba Fett, Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine aired on Wednesday, January 5th. And it did not disappoint! Those that seemed on the fence about the new series are now rejoicing like a bunch of Wookiee Warriors.
The second chapter almost doubles in runtime compared to the first chapter, and it’s most definitely warranted. That said, visually, we are ridiculously spoiled and in a good way. From sweating Twin Hutts to a tall, dark, and brooding gladiator Wookiee (yes, I said Hutts and Wookiee in the same sentence), our eyes had a delectable feast. Oh, and let’s not forget the empty Rancor pit and the Pyke Train sequence!
Still, beyond our eyes, there’s a lot more to this than meets the eye. The Book of Boba Fett seems to be more of a spiritual transition for Boba, adding character growth and depth to the “an action speaks louder than words” character.
In addition to Boba’s lizard spiritual guide, (literally) we learn there are different types of Tusken Tribes spread throughout the vast sands of Tatooine. Essentially, not all Tuskens are vicious, mindless monsters like those that snatched up an innocent Shmi Skywalker, picking mushrooms off her moisture vaporators that fateful morning. Also, if you’d like to explore more Tusken culture, check out John Jackson Miller’s Kenobi novel and Troy Dennings Tatooine Ghost. Both Legends, but are excellent reads!
All in all, this chapter is the answer to Fennec’s ongoing question since Chapter One. She continuously suggests “rule with fear,” but now we know why he tends to rule with respect. Simply put, it is not the way.
Mark Mulcaster and Mark Newbold discuss The Tribes of Tatooine on Episode 122 of Making Tracks
- Hardcover Book
- Christopher, Adam (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 496 Pages - 06/28/2022 (Publication Date) - Random House Worlds (Publisher)
