This article contains spoilers for episode seven of The Book of Boba Fett.The Book of Boba Fett is the third Star Wars show to premiere on the Disney+ streaming service. It concluded last night with its seventh episode. The finale to season one of The Book of Boba Fett was triumphant and grandiose in scale. It featured a variety of characters, from familiar faces to ones that the audience is still getting used to. There were ferocious and merciless antagonists, as well as a plethora of friendly helping hands to defend Mos Eisley.

The episode was also extremely heartfelt. This is because it featured the reunion of Mando and Grogu, something fans of The Mandalorian had been clamoring for. The scene was beautiful and touching but also action-packed, so as not to detour too far from the episode’s narrative.

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Most importantly, The Book of Boba Fett’s first season finale did something that not all of its episodes had: it lived up to the promise of being a space western. It prominently featured science-fantasy elements, such as Grogu’s use of the force. Additionally, it utilized western elements such as vicious antagonists and helpless townsfolk. Previous episodes had either felt strictly like westerns or like typical Star Wars science-fantasy pieces. Episode seven of The Book of Boba Fett masterfully interwove the two, but was particularly heavy-handed on the western elements.

A Gunslinging Boba Fett Takes Center Stage

Boba Fett with Gun Cropped

Mos Eisley does not have a sheriff. It barely has a mayor. Instead, it has Boba Fett, who serves as the region’s Daimyo, or Lord. Though he has a checkered past, the former bounty hunter is the story’s protagonist. The Book of Boba Fett has shown him to be a character with decent morals, on balance.

Unlike in episodes five and six, Boba Fett actually takes center stage in his own show. He is a hard-talking, gun-wielding Daimyo with a purpose: prevent the Pyke Syndicate from trading ‘spice’ (a narcotic) through Mos Eisley and protect its citizenry. In addition to ‘sheriff’ Boba Fett, the city also has ‘deputies’ Mando and Fennec shand to help protect it.

The Pyke Syndicate as Ruthless Antagonists and Criminals

Pyke Syndicate Cropped

Westerns usually feature antagonists that harm townsfolk or otherwise aggravate and antagonize law enforcement. In the space-western that is The Book of Boba Fett, the Pyke Syndicate serves as an insidious antagonist and criminal element.

The Pyke Syndicate is guilty of peddling ‘spice,’ murdering innocents, and paying off the wealthy families of Mos Eisley to turn against Boba Fett during their showdown against him and his allies. They greatly outnumber Boba Fett and have droids with superior technology at their disposal, making them a threat worthy of the season’s finale.

Innocent Townsfolk are Victims of the Pyke Syndicate

Mos Eisley Townsfolk Cropped

In most westerns, and most Star Wars stories as well, it is the innocent who suffer at the hands of the greedy and the powerful. The Book of Boba Fett’s season one finale is no different in this respect. The people of Mos Eisley are powerless to take on the Pyke Syndicate on their own.

The Pyke Syndicate lay waste to much of Mos Eisley. They do this primarily with massive, spider-like droids armed with heavy cannons. These spider-droids are also shielded, which makes taking them down all the more difficult and prolongs their rampage. The Mos Eisley residents who do resist the Pyke Syndicate’s infantry and droids fight nobly, but they are easily backed into a corner. Thankfully, Boba Fett, Mando, Fennec Shand, Krrsantan, and Grogu are on their side and eventually win the day.

The Rancor as Boba Fett’s ‘Trusty Steed’

Boba Fett's Rancor Cropped

Another prominent feature in western tales is that of the so-called ‘trusty steed.’ Usually a horse, this animal is both a side-kick to the protagonist and their means of transportation. In The Book of Boba Fett’s season one finale, the ‘trusty steed’ comes into play relatively late in the episode. However, the side-kick enters the fray to much fanfare because it is none other than Boba Fett’s Rancor. The humongous creature is the only reason that Mos Eisley’s residents and their defenders are able to ultimately defeat the Pyke Syndicate’s spider-droids.

The Rancor does cause damage to Mos Eisley as well, but it is a misunderstood creature. It is loyal only to Boba Fett, and when he is not harnessing the Rancor, it can be mistaken for a blood-thirsty monster.

Boba Fett and Cad Bane Face Off

the book of boba fett easter eggs cad bane

Perhaps the most well-known feature of westerns is the duel. Oftentimes, western films or shows will have the sheriff face off at dawn against a cowboy, bank robber, or some other ruffian. Cad Bane is the lead ruffian in The Book of Boba Fett’s season one finale. He is ruthless, bloodthirsty, and deadly, even beating Boba Fett to the draw and wounding the Daimyo. Though Boba Fett eventually bests Cad Bane, their fight contains the elements of a classic western duel.

The title of The Book of Boba Fett’s seventh episode is “In the Name of Honor.” It could not be more aptly named, as there is much honor to the actions of Boba Fett and his crew. They remained in Mos Eisley when they could have retreated to his palace. As the battle begins, Boba Fett and Mando fight even while hopelessly outnumbered. All in all, the conclusion to The Book of Boba Fett’s inaugural season is a highly satisfying space-western that is an asset to its genre.

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