The Book of Boba Fett Episode 4 Review: ‘Another improvement after a shaky start’

The Book of Boba Fett episode 4 places us back in flashback mode, this time focusing on the ex-bounty hunter’s relationship with Fennec Shand. Seeking revenge following the murder of his Tusken tribe, Boba finds Fennec close to death after being shot by Toro Calican, and thus begins the pair’s unlikely partnership.

Is The Book of Boba Fett episode 4 worth watching?

Boba’s post-Sarlacc story is more interesting here than in previous episodes, finally lining up with the show’s present to paint a bigger picture of what’s at stake. Similar to the first season of The Mandalorian, which took us on a myriad of seemingly disparate adventures before bringing the story together, The Book of Boba Fett has started to feel like it’s working towards something. Our anti-hero’s ongoing conflict with the Pyke Syndicate is finally taking shape, and for the first time the future of the series feels exciting.

Boba’s characterization in the show has been all over the place thus far. A former bounty hunter who worked for literal space Nazis somehow morphed into the most altruistic person in the galaxy. In episode 4, we get a belated glimpse into why that’s the case. It’s still not enough to justify the sudden about-face, but it certainly helps it easier to swallow that Darth Vader’s go-to contractor suddenly cares about Tatooine and its people.

But that doesn’t mean that The Book of Boba Fett’s latest episode is darker than previous installments. This still has all the trappings of a live-action Saturday morning show, with one particular segment in Jabba’s palace featuring the kind of overblown characters the show has gradually introduced. It also features some excellent use of practical effects that could have been ripped straight from the original trilogy.

While the show’s train sequence from episode 2 remains its high point, the action here is notably better than in last week’s episode. Boba and Fennec make for a good team, even if I’m not sold on the swiftness in which their bond has formed, and it’s certainly an improvement over the low-speed Vespa chase.

Speaking of the Vespas, the Mods (that’s their official name now, like it or not) are notably absent this week. A controversial addition to the show when introduced in episode 3, Boba’s cybernetic clan of twenty-somethings have been unflatteringly compared to the Power Rangers. While I was more forgiving of their addition than most — I felt last week’s episode was more in-line with the prequels than anything Disney had thus far produced, wackiness and all — it’s looking like they’ll remain background characters for the foreseeable.

But while the Mods may remain little more than soldiers in Boba’s upcoming war, Black Krrsantan is fortunately getting a better deal. Those who were somewhat disappointed with his fate in last week’s episode should be pleased with how things are shaping up for the ruthless Wookiee, along with the potential implications this has not only for Boba, but with the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series, too.

The Book of Boba Fett Episode 4 Review: The final verdict

The Book of Boba Fett episode 4 is another improvement in what has been a shaky start for this Star Wars series. While nowhere near as immediately gripping as The Mandalorian, the show is starting to take form and setting up good things in its future. Hopefully it can continue this momentum and step out of Mando’s show by its conclusion.