All the powerful players of Tatooine

The first episode of Boba Fett’s book looked forward and back. For most of the episode, director Robert Rodriguez explored where Boba had been since we last saw him in Return of the Jedi, move towards his reappearance on The Mandalorian. The other part was looking past what Boba Fett was getting back to Tatooine meant for Star wars and it looks like a pretty tough road for the bounty hunter turned crime boss including some mysterious new characters.

AT the end of The Mandalorian season two, we saw Boba Fett and Fennec Shand kill Bib Fortuna and reclaim the throne once occupied by Jabba the Hutt. We already knew that after Jabba was killed by our rebel heroes near Sarlacc, his second in command took the reins. But now it is Boba’s job, and as he sits on the throne as the new daimyo (a term Star wars borrows from our own world the title of vassal lord of a shogun in feudal Japan) of the Jabba empire, here is who he has to worry about … at least at first.

The mayor of Mos Espa

Perhaps the biggest mystery of the first episode is the identity of the mayor of Mos Espa, Mok Shaiz. Shaiz sends his butler, an anonymous Twi’lek played by actor David Pasquesi, in their place, which is the first sign of disrespect. A few signs later, Boba and Fennec know that whoever this mayor is, they believe they are above the new crime boss.

Now, obviously, since we have the character’s name, there’s a good chance Mok Shaiz will be a new character. But if The Mandalorian taught us something is expect a callback – and since the character is being kept a secret here, maybe it’s someone we just know with a new name. Some random possibilities that come to mind are the old pillars of Tatooine Sebulba or Watto or the bartender Wuher, who would have really evolved in the world. Maybe it’s a famous bounty hunter, maybe a Bossk or a Dengar, or even a member of the Bad Batch, who has settled into a whole new life. Most likely though, he’s someone new.

Note: Although there may be some confusion as to whether Mok Shaiz is the name of the mayor, or the name of the butler, io9 confirmed with Lucasfilm that Mok Shaiz is the mayor’s name yet to be seen.

Garsa Fwip

Played by Jennifer Beals, Garsa Fwip is the owner of the Sanctuary, a local watering hole in Mos Espa who appears to have stolen Max Rebo from the chaos of Jabba’s Palace in Return of the Jedi. It’s a much classier joint than even working for Jabba, with an RX series droid dealing with what Sabacc looks like. Either way, like most business owners in a gangster-run area, Fwip seems to know that a new boss doesn’t mean a lot of changes, and she pays homage to Boba. But you don’t choose an actress like Beals to show up and do nothing. She could be a powerful ally for Fett and Shand, or a devious foe.

Night Wind Assassins

When Boba Fett and Fennec Shand leave the Sanctuary, they are ambushed by several deadly assassins who the credits refer to as “Night Wind Assassins.” We’re assuming that’s their gang’s name, and we’ll surely learn more as soon as Shand is able to capture one. We don’t know who controls them, maybe the mayor of Mos Espa? (It should be noted that “Night Wind” was the name of a light cargo YT-1300 in classic West End games Star Wars: The Role-Playing Game. So you understand producer Dave Filoni was probably a fan.)

The Untitled Swoop Bike Gang

Several years before ascending the throne, when Boba was still without his armor and captured by the Tuskens, he witnesses a gang of what looks like creatures from Kajain’sa’Nikto on fast motorcycles racing around. rob and beat a person in their house. The gang members then paint a symbol that looks like a “J” and “L” back to back on the side of the dwelling. It almost looks like a deconstruction of the Rebel Alliance starbird, with two hooks or the initials of a famous director’s cut.

As far as we know, this isn’t a symbol we’ve seen before, and while the creatures also wear the same jackets, this episode doesn’t spell out what’s written on it. Suffice to say that it is not a bunch of good guys. So despite they ride on swoop bikes similar to someone like Enfys Nest, we imagine these aliens are not friendly. But speaking of friends …

Boba’s allies

While most Boba Fett’s book First establishment of enemies for Boba and Fennec, we also meet allies. There is the unnamed “Aqualish Don” who arrives and wants to create some kind of friendship with the new criminal lord. There’s also Dokk Strassi, a Trandoshan crime boss who employed Boba as a bounty hunter, as well as 8D8, the foundry droid who worked for Jabba the Hutt. Fun fact: he is voiced by Laszlo himself, Matt Berry!

More importantly, the first episode established the start of an alliance with the Tuskens, whose hierarchy we are seeing for the very first time. It seems likely that a moment between Boba’s defeat against the Sand Centaur at the end of this episode and the return of his armor The Mandalorian, he falls well with the powerful. This should be helpful in attempting to hold the throne of Mos Espa.

Boba Fett’s book episode one is now airing on Disney +. New episodes drop every Wednesday through February.

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