There's just SO MUCH to unpack with this episode of "The Book of Boba Fett", but once again... where's Boba Fett? He made it into a couple of minutes of this episode. But I also wonder if that's by design. We saw just SO MUCH of him in those first four episodes, almost always without the helmet on. And I think that dispelled a lot of the mystique of the character from the way we knew him before. Clearly these two episodes were intended to tie up some loose ends from "The Mandalorian", along with laying groundwork for the third season of that series. But I also get the sense that this also could have been a reset to make us wonder that much more about Boba Fett.
I think one of the biggest deals about this episode is how the technology for presenting Luke Skywalker improved. People picked over his appearance in "The Rescue" with a fine-toothed comb. But this was just breathtaking! It seemed so effortless, and it didn't take me out of the viewing experience. I can only imagine the work that went into this, because it seems like a monumental achievement in visual effects.
And then there's Grogu leaping from stone to stone. I didn't feel like I had to suspend my disbelief whatsoever. And it was amazing to see his progress. But it was also a little bittersweet hearing Luke acknowledge that Grogu was probably remembering more than Luke could actually teach him, as was Ahsoka's comment about Anakin.
I did not like the choice presented to Grogu at the end though. I understand the symbolism, but why can't he have both things? Obi-Wan wore armor during the Clone Wars. Doesn't Shaak Ti wear Togruta jewelry, cloths, and body paint? I thought it was kind of silly to make him choose in that way.
Yoda: "Decide you must how to serve them best. If you leave now, help them you could. But you would destroy all for which they have fought and suffered."
Luke: "They're my friends. I've got to help them."
Also Luke: "Grogu, you have to pick - the Jedi or your friend." So many ESB parallels there in that choice for Grogu.
I took this as an emotional inflection point for both the characters and the audience. But it's been laid out that way in terms of the story - Luke can see that Grogu won't fully commit to his training. He was able to see the trauma Grogu experienced during Order 66 - and on that front I wonder if those flashbacks might eventually have him see Anakin! How would Grogu feel about training with the son of a traitor who led an effort to kill him and the Jedi who were protecting him?
Luke also seems to be relying on Yoda's teachings. Has he found the ancient Jedi texts yet? Who knows. But he now knows Ahsoka, who has made it clear that she has concerns over Grogu's attachment to Din Djarin based on her knowledge of what happened to Anakin. Luke fell prey to his attachments and was drawn into Vader's trap. But he also depended on Anakin's attachment to his son as the Emperor was trying to kill him. That helped to turn Anakin back to the light, saving his soul, and Luke's life. The word COMPLICATED doesn't even begin to cover it.
