This article contains spoilers for The Book of Boba Fett episode 5.
The Book of Boba Fett episode 5 serves to set up The Mandalorian season 3. The first season of The Mandalorian released alongside the launch of Disney+, and Lucasfilm's first live-action Star Wars TV series has swiftly established itself as the streaming service's flagship. It's even launched two spinoffs, the first of which stars the resurrected Boba Fett as he attempts to reinvent himself as a crime lord on Tatooine.
To viewers' surprise, Boba Fett didn't even appear in episode 5 of his own spinoff show. Instead, it was centered upon Din Djarin himself, essentially continuing his story from The Mandalorian season 2. It was a smart move on Lucasfilm's part because The Mandalorian has established itself as a major brand, and the episode makes The Book of Boba Fett essential viewing. It also suggests the relationship between The Mandalorian and its spinoffs, which include an upcoming Ahsoka series as well as The Book of Boba Fett, will be a lot closer than anyone believed; characters will transition from one show to the next.
To be fair to Lucasfilm, this shouldn't really be a surprise; speaking at Disney's 2020 Investor Day, president Kathleen Kennedy caused confusion when she described "the next chapter" of Din Djarin's story to be coming out around Christmas 2021, but it turned out she was referring to The Book of Boba Fett rather than The Mandalorian season 3. But how exactly does The Book of Boba Fett episode 5 progress Din Djarin's story, and what does it mean for The Mandalorian season 3? Here are all the major takeaways.
Din Djarin's beloved Razor Crest was destroyed in The Mandalorian season 3, but in The Book of Boba Fett, Mando gained a new starship. Peli Motto offered Din Djarin a customized N-1 Naboo Starfighter, and although Mando was initially unimpressed, he seemed to have been won over by the end of the episode. It's faster than average, with the astromech port removed, seemingly to hold bounties Din Djarin has captured so he can take them back and get paid. Still, this is a far cry from the Razor Crest, which was as much a home to Mando as a way of getting from A to B; this N-1 Naboo Starfighter is simply a way of getting around, while it's undoubtedly well-armed enough to take on any potential threats in space.
The Mandalorian season 2 ended with Din Djarin allowing Luke Skywalker to take Grogu away for training. It seemed to signify a radical change in The Mandalorian's narrative structure because until now, the entire story had been centered upon the dynamic between Mando and Grogu. But it seems the show is subverting those expectations because Din Djarin doesn't intend to simply abandon Grogu to the Jedi. As far as he's concerned, Grogu is both a Jedi and a Foundling. In fact, he even had the Armorer build beskar armor for Grogu, a symbolic way of declaring him part of the Mandalorian tribe. It's reasonable to assume Disney intends for Grogu to morph into the next Mandalorian Jedi, a smart way of eventually getting him away from Luke Skywalker before the Jedi Temple's eventual destruction. Interestingly, this also means it wouldn't be a surprise to see Mark Hamill reprise the role of Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian season 3, given Grogu is traveling with Luke.
Din Djarin became the rightful owner of the Darksaber in The Mandalorian season 2, an ancient lightsaber whose owner is considered the ruler of Mandalore. But, as fearsome a weapon as the Darksaber may be, sadly, Mando lacks the skill to use it. While non-Jedi can use a lightsaber, to do so, they need to bond with the blade. "It's said that wielding a lightsaber is less like swinging a sword and more like directing a current of power," Luke Skywalker explains in the canon book Secrets of the Jedi. He added:
"When you're attuned to the Force, your thoughts and actions all become part of the same flow of energy, which is then directed through the kyber crystal and into your lightsaber's blade."
Bonding with a lightsaber in this way is difficult for a non-Force-sensitive, and it seems particularly tricky in the case of the Darksaber. Supporting Luke's argument, when Kanan taught Sabine Wren how to use the Darksaber in Star Wars Rebels, he made a similar point:
"Energy constantly flows through the crystal. You're not fighting with a simple blade as much as you are directing a current of power. Your thoughts, your actions, they become energy. They flow through the crystal as well, and become a part of the blade... There's pull. Can you feel it? That sword is old, heavy, but powerful. Respect its strength."
Din Djarin currently lacks the mental discipline to bond with the blade, and as a result, the Darksaber became increasingly heavy as he tried to use it. This led to Mando accidentally injuring himself when using the Darksaber in The Book of Boba Fett episode 5, and he clearly needs a lot of training. Oddly enough, this too may hint at a further Luke Skywalker role in The Mandalorian season 3; who better to teach Mando than the Jedi Master?
Din Djarin was brought up by the Children of the Watch, a Mandalorian splinter-group of religious zealots. Among other things, the Children of the Watch believe it is wrong for a Mandalorian to ever remove their helmet in front of anyone else; thus, when Din Djarin admits he has done so to the Armor, he is expelled from their group. The last survivors of the Children of the Watch know Din Djarin has the Darksaber and clearly envy it; they may well pursue him in hopes of a rematch. Fortunately, Mando will hopefully be able to find himself supporters in the form of Bo-Katan and the Nite Owls. If nothing else, he'll need their help to maintain his armor and weapons after the Armorer cast him out.
Finally, the interconnected nature of the live-action Star Wars TV shows means it's quite possible Boba Fett and Fennec Shand will continue to play a role in The Mandalorian season 3. Indeed, that may be the major role of The Book of Boba Fett; to establish their new status quo ahead of season 3, so the two can serve as additional allies for Din Djarin. If so, The Mandalorian season 3 could feature quite an expansive cast.
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