IR TV Review: THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT - EPISODE 6 (“From The Desert Comes A Stranger”) [Lucasfilm/Disney+]

While Episode 5 of "The Book Of Boba Fett" brought back an intensity and coolness of what was missing in terms of reintroducing "The Mandalorian" (a great episode from Bryce Dallas Howard), Episode 6: "From The Desert Comes A Stranger" is even better simply because in being directed by Dave Filoni it creates the deep cut that his episode from "The Mandalorian" with the introduction of Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka did in spades. Filoni knows how to tackle the big themes but also the details. For true "Star Wars" fans, this episode is gold. Episode 6 is no exception because there is so many interconnecting ideas that really work. Giving away any more would ruin the episode. But moving away from Boba in a way and recentering in a larger world as long as it keys back into the main story seems to have reinvigorated this show (which seemed as if it was losing its way but that might simply been what creator Jon Favreau thought the structure needed to have). This may be because Fett as a character may not be as interesting as people would have thought but still needed his story told. It also might have to do with delivery or just the essence of Boba's path. Suffice to say, Favreau (along with the help of two directors that have proven themselves) really gives these past two episodes a sense of identity and tone. Rodriguez is good but understanding certain emotional beats and coming more to terms with the mood is a tricky thing still for him. That said, Episode 6, mainly because of Filoni, is the best episode so far of "Boba Fett" without necessarily being about Boba Fett. It is a character piece with a broader structure. And especially with the introduction of another interesting character in Filoni's arsenal, the bar is raised for the end of the season. A

By Tim Wassberg