Easter Eggs You Missed In The Book Of Boba Fett

Resurrection, renewal, redemption, maybe a bit of revenge, and a whole lot of respect — all are key themes in "The Book of Boba Fett," which debuted its first episode on December 29 on Disney+. 

This Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison, who played the character's father Jango in "Attack of the Clones") is world-weary but not too tired to take over the criminal underworld formerly led by Jabba the Hutt and then Bib Fortuna. That's where we find the titular anti-hero: Jabba's former palace and in the streets of Mos Espa, where Boba is trying to cement his authority as the new ruler amid continuing upheaval and unease following the fall of the Empire. 

"The Book of Boba Fett" takes place right after the events of "The Mandalorian" Season 2 finale, bringing back Boba as the protagonist of his own series alongside right-hand assassin Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) in Disney's latest effort to expand the "Star Wars" universe. Chapter 1, titled "Stanger in a Strange Land," is set in present-day Tatooine, but a large portion is a flashback to Boba's unforgiving, traumatic journey so far. As he sleeps in his bacta-filled pod, he dreams of flashes of his "birthplace" of Kamino and the loss of his father Jango at the Battle of Geonosis (a scene ripped straight from the film). And while we already know from "The Mandalorian" that Boba survived falling into the Sarlacc pit in "Return of the Jedi," up until now, we didn't know exactly how. "The Book of Boba Fett" shows us — and it's not pretty.

Through nostalgic flashbacks and present-day dealings with the underworld's players, "The Book of Boba Fett" is full of Easter eggs. Here are some you may have missed.

Tribute to Star Wars Legends

Since the premiere of "Return of the Jedi" in 1983, fans have been wondering if and how Boba Fett escaped the Sarlacc pit. In the retconned Star Wars Legends continuity, Boba escapes the pit using his jetpack, as seen in the 1983 comic "Star Wars" #81, titled "Jawas of Doom." And in 1996's "A Barve Like That" comic, Boba also escapes the Sarlacc via his jetpack — this time by telepathically communicating with another victim inside the beast and tricking the creature into launching his weapon.

Boba's canon escape from the Sarlacc is similar to the Legends one, but in "The Book of Boba Fett," the iconic bounty hunter unleashes a flamethrower on his wrist gauntlet to burn the creature from the inside and claw his way up through the deep, sandy pit. When he emerges, he's caked with Sarlacc goo and Tatooine sand — a nod to the imagery of his survival seen in "A Barve Like That."

The wreckage of Jabba's sailing barge

Blink, and you'll miss the wreckage of Jabba the Hutt's iconic sailing barge, the Khetanna, in the scene of Boba Fett emerging from the Sarlacc pit.

In the original trilogy's finale film, "Return of the Jedi," Han Solo inadvertently knocks Boba into the Sarlacc pit as Han, Luke, Leia, and their friends battle to escape Jabba's clutches. This chaotic fighting and the epic death of Jabba at the hands of Leia also resulted in the "sinking" of the Khetanna. Destroyed beyond repair and no longer with a captain, it was left to rot on the sands above the Pit of Carkoon.

In "The Book of Boba Fett," the remains of the destroyed barge can be seen behind Boba at the edge of the pit as he claws his way to the surface and collapses on the sand in the first episode. We're sure the Khetanna has been picked clean of any valuables over the years by some Jawas, just as they do to an unconscious Boba in the first episode.

The wreckage of the Khetanna is seen in more detail in Chapter 4, "The Gathering Storm," as Boba and Fennec fly his Firespray ship over the maw of the Sarlacc in a quest to find his armor.

Droid cameos

These aren't exactly the droids you're looking for, but they're familiar nonetheless. In "The Book of Boba Fett," two droids, in particular, stood out — 8D8 and R-3X. 

The former is a humanoid-esque smelter droid that was last seen as a droid torturer in "Return of the Jedi." In "The Book of Boba Fett," 8D8 is now a butler of sorts helping introduce the callers coming to greet and pay tribute to Tatooine's new crime lord. The droid's mention of "tortured screams" of the Gamorrean guards he drags in is a subtle nod to his previous sadistic role for Jabba. Those two Gamorrean guards are also very likely the same ones who served Jabba in "Return of the Jedi."

The other recognizable droid, R-3X, is lifted from Disney's theme parks — in particular, Galaxy's Edge at Disney World and Disneyland. R-3X had a long history as the fun pilot of Star Tours but most recently took another gig as a DJ at Oga's Cantina in Black Spire Outpost. In "The Book of Boba Fett," R-3X is seen playing a dealer at the Mos Espa casino.

Max Rebo and a Bith musician

A Tatooine cantina wouldn't be the same without the planet's most famous tunes. Luckily, "The Book of Boba Fett" brings back two of the galaxy's most famous musicians for a hefty dose of nostalgia.

Inside the Mos Espa venue, patrons are imbibing and betting while a funky remix of the classic "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" is played by none other than Max Rebo and Figrin D'an. Max Rebo is a blue-skinned, elephant-like creature who was understandably presumed dead after last being seen on Jabba's sailing barge, but it looks like he's alive and well alongside Figrin D'an. The Bith musician – a former member of the popular Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes — played "Cantina Band" in the iconic scene in Mos Eisley in "A New Hope." Though he's without his other band members and in a new town, Figrin D'an seems to be doing just fine playing tunes at the Mos Espa cantina with Max Rebo.

A monster kill is similar to Jabba's death by Princess Leia

Boba Fett may be down and out during his imprisonment by the Tusken Raiders in "The Book of Boba Fett," but he still knows how to kill a foe like the best of them. When he and a fellow prisoner, a Rodian, dig for shells of water in the Tatooine desert, the Rodian awakens a multi-armed, scaly beast that attacks them and the young Tusken Raider they're with. The Goro-like creature quickly kills the Rodian and goes after Boba and the Tusken Raider next, but Boba uses his shackles and chain to his advantage.

In a move straight out of "Return of the Jedi," Boba swings the chain around the beast's neck and pulls tight, strangling it until it falls. He stands triumphantly atop the creature, holding his chains and glowering at the Tusken Raider. It's a moment where Boba earns some respect from his captors, but also one eerily similar to the way Princess Leia killed Jabba the Hutt by strangling him with her chains.

Robert Rodriguez cameo

Stick around the credits of "The Book of Boba Fett" Chapter 1, and you'll see that showrunner and premiere director Robert Rodriguez has a key cameo in "Stranger in a Strange Land" (he's in the middle in the picture above).

Rodriguez portrays Dokk Strassi, the leader of the Trandoshan family who works under Jabba the Hutt on Tatooine. In the series premiere, Dokk Strassi greets Boba and gives him a tribute in. the form of Wookiee pelt. During the exchange, Boba remarks on the awkwardness of the situation since he had worked for the Trandoshan at one point in his bounty hunting career, and now Dokk Strassi serves him.

As Dokk Strassi leaves the throne room of now-Boba's palace, he tells him, "May you never leave Mos Espa." Boba then leans over to Fennec Shand and says the Trandoshan's goodbye sounded like a threat. This moment probably won't be the last time we see Dokk Strassi in "The Book of Boba Fett," as images of future episodes show him and other Trandoshans dining with their new leader.

Black Krrsantan

One of the most jaw-dropping moments in "The Book of Boba Fett" so far is the surprise live-action introduction of Wookie gladiator Black Krrsantan in Chapter 2, "The Tribes of Tatooine."

"Star Wars" comics fans know the towering, all-black Wookiee gladiator and bounty hunter Black Krrsantan from when he was introduced in 2015 in Marvel's "Darth Vader" series. Black Krrsantan (also known as Santy, BK, and Black K by Doctor Aphra) is also a fan-favorite character in the Doctor Aphra comics. In the lore shown in the comics, Black Krrsantan was taken from his homeworld of Kashyyyk by the Xonti Brothers and trained to be a gladiator in fighting pits.

Black Krrsantan eventually becomes a bounty hunter and works for Jabba, and at one point works alongside Boba Fett. It's likely Mos Espa's new boss knows exactly what the ruthless Wookiee is capable of when they reunite in Chapter 2. And since Black Krrsantan is clearly back to working with the Hutts — namely Jabba's cousins The Twins — we'll likely see this lovably vicious fighter again later in the season.

Tosche Station and Luke's friends

It might be a little late for Luke Skywalker to snag some power converters, but it wasn't too late for "Star Wars" to reveal the iconic Tosche Station and show what the Jedi's childhood best friends are up to.

While Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) brings an epic beatdown to the local menacing swoop bike gang, two humans are cowering and trying to avoid the mayhem. These two humans — a man and a woman — are never named in the episode, but they are most certainly Camie (Mandy Kowalski) and Fixer (Skyler Bible), and this small cantina is likely Tosche Station. 

The brief shot of the door shows details that match the deleted scene of Tosche Station from the first "Star Wars" movie in 1977. Per those original details from the original film, Camie and Fixer were around Luke's age and hung out often at Tosche Station. Camie is also referenced in "The Last Jedi" novel when Luke dreams about what his life would've been like if he never left Tatooine and married Camie instead.

Though their appearances are brief, the Camie and Fixer cameos are a fun, subtle nod to original "Star Wars" details that ended up on the cutting room floor.

Another Robert Rodriguez cameo

Being such a "Star Wars" fan, it's no surprise that executive producer Robert Rodriguez continues to cameo in his series "The Book of Boba Fett." In Chapter 2, this comes in the form of Mos Espa's Ithorian mayor, who may or may not have hired an assassin to take out or test Boba Fett.

In Chapter 1, the mayor's majordomo appears in Boba's new court as a representative of the mayor's office. Both Boba and Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) feel insulted by the mayor not coming himself, but in Chapter 2, the two groups finally meet. The mayor is Mok Shaiz, an Ithorian who communicates via a translator headpiece — aka the voice of Rodriguez.

The mayor rebuffs Boba's and Fennec's allegations that he sent an assassin after him and even thanks Boba for bringing in the assassin for punishment (he's quickly executed). Besides handing Boba and Fennec a sack of coins, Mayor Mok Shaiz offers his "tribute" of advice about "running a family" and tells him to see Madam Garsa Fwip for the latest news about his position in Mos Espa.

Māori influences

Boba Fett actor Temuera Morrison – who is from New Zealand — has been open about how his indigenous Māori heritage is helping him shape the portrayal of the infamous bounty hunter. And that influence is given even more limelight in "The Book of Boba Fett."

Overall, the second episode, "The Tribes of Tatooine," is a character study of both Boba and the clan of Tusken Raiders he joins after escaping the Sarlacc pit. In the process of his training in Tusken warrior ways and gaining a deeper understanding of their rich, indigenous culture, he also goes on a spiritual journey — again flashing back to his childhood on Kamino and the trauma of losing his father at such a young age. As for weaponry, the series' second episode reveals where and how Boba obtained the gaffi stick we see him use in "The Mandalorian" Season 2. In the "Star Wars" universe, the gaffi stick is a Tusken melee weapon. In the real world, the gaffi stick is similar to the taiaha, a fighting stick used by Māori fighters.

The ending of the second episode shows Boba crafting and forging his own gaffi stick and being adorned with his signature black robes in scenes showing his transformation into a Tusken warrior. The episode ends with Boba engaging with other gaffi stick-wielding Tuskens in a ritualistic dance that has echoes of the Māori haka — a passionate, high-energy dance challenge made globally famous by the All Blacks rugby team.

The Mandalorian and Mos Eisley

In Chapter 3, "The Streets of Mos Espa," Boba Fett once again has Bacta bath-induced flashbacks. But while the first two episodes are largely spent in flashbacks, the ones in the third episode are much shorter. 

The key flashback shows Boba traveling on a bantha to Mos Eisley to speak with the Pyke Syndicate leaders about the new deal they have with the Tusken Raiders following the destruction of their spice train. When Boba rides into town, he passes by a row of Stormtrooper helmets on spikes — the same motif Din Djarin sees in "The Mandalorian" Season 1, Chapter 5, "The Gunslinger." In both series, the impaled helmets are disturbing reminders of a post-Empire galaxy.

But behind those helmets, blink and you'll miss a quick cameo by Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris) and her pit droids. Fans know Peli Motto as the quirky but reliable mechanic and engineer who owns a hangar where she repairs starships, including Din's.

Mos Espa youth gang and their speeder bikes

In the third episode, Boba employs a gang of local misfits who have made their way on the world of Tatooine by enhancing themselves with droid parts and stealing what they want and need to survive.  For a gang of criminals on a poorer world, they all dress in hip, clean clothes, have shiny and colorful speeder bikes, and possess some sick cybernetic appendages. Speaking of those speeder bikes, they encompass all the possible Jedi lightsaber colors (blue, green, red, and yellow). Sure, purple is left out (sorry, Mace Windu), but that could mean there's a group member missing or space for a new one in the future. It may be a bit of a stretch, but we couldn't help but draw the comparison.

In Chapter 3, we also finally learn more about the mysterious biker woman teased in a previous trailer for "The Book of Boba Fett." The credits name her as Drash (Sophie Thatcher), and she's the leader of the gang on a sleek blue speeder bike. Since her appearance in the trailer, fans have speculated that this "speeder bike girl" could be Ailyn Vel — Boba's daughter in Legends stories — or even a reawakened Arden Lyn, a Dark Jedi in Legends who was "frozen" in a Force trance for about 25,000 years.

From what we know about Drash so far, it's not likely she's either character, but it's still fun for fans to theorize about more Legends inclusion.

'Dank farrik'

"The Book of Boba Fett" Chapter 3 features the return of a popular slang phrase heard a few times in "The Mandalorian" — "Dank farrik."

When Boba and Fennec confront the local biker gang who's been stealing water from the local monger, Boba ends up employing the cybernetically-enhanced group instead. He tells the group's leader, "I hope you fight as good as you talk, Dank." The word "Dank" is part of the full phrase, "Dank Farrik," which is likely a curse word expressed when someone is annoyed or frustrated. 

"Dank farrik" has been uttered several times throughout "The Mandalorian," including when Din Djarin fights the krayt dragon and when Grogu takes the silver toy ball again. Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) also says "Dank farrik" when she realizes Boba is "one of them" — a Mandalorian who doesn't believe in ever taking his helmet off. Notably, the phrase was actually introduced in "The Mandalorian's" first episode with the Mythrol character exclaiming it after Din saves him.

Danny Trejo and the rancor

The Hutt twins return in Chapter 3, and they have a gift for Boba — a rancor. They also apologize to Boba for sending the Wookiee Black Krrsantan to kill him, but the new daimyo can trust the Hutts' apology about as far he can throw the two giant space slugs.

Surprisingly, Boba seems excited about the rancor. The calf comes with Danny Trejo, whose character has been caring for the beast. In a huge cameo, Trejo's character explains that rancors are much more than just fighting beasts — they are emotionally complex, and this one is actually depressed. He also says that rancors imprint on the first human they see, taking off the creature's blindfold so it can supposedly imprint on Boba. Needless to say, the former bounty hunter and new ruler of Tatooine's underworld wants to learn to ride it.

The notion of rancors imprinting isn't new, as unaltered clone Omega bonded with a young rancor in an episode of the animated "Star Wars" series "The Bad Batch." Even more intriguing is that Omega is technically the clone sister of Boba, who was originally dubbed Alpha. And, of course, it's exciting to finally have a rancor back in the Mos Espa palace. Hopefully, Boba will treat this one better than Jabba treated his pet.

The witches of Dathomir

During Boba's lesson on rancors with Danny Trejo's character, it's mentioned that the Witches of Dathomir used to ride rancors, which are actually native to the Outer Rim planet.

The reference is likely a nod to the Nightsisters of Dathomir, who were featured prominently in the "Star Wars" animated series "The Clone Wars." In both canon and Legends lore, the Nightsisters and Witches of Dathomir were lethal female warriors who shunned much of technology in favor of tapping into and wielding the planet's natural channels of dark magic. They first appeared in "The Courtship of Princess Leia" in 1994, which is now a non-canon Legends novel. The most famous Nightsister is Asajj Ventress, who has been a Jedi padawan and bounty hunter throughout her life.

The Nightsisters have also been mentioned throughout the "Star Wars" timeline, from Legends and canon literature to appearing in more than 10 episodes of "The Clone Wars."

The B'omarr Order

The mysterious spider droid carrying a fishbowl of orange-red liquid is actually a member of the ancient B'omarr Order — a religious sect whose members transplanted their brains into these bowls and used the spider droids to move about in order to focus all sensation and attention on their minds.

A B'omarr Order spider droid first appeared in "Return of the Jedi" in 1983 in a short scene that shows one of them walking by an open door in Jabba's palace. According to "Star Wars" lore, these monks were the original owners of the palace in Mos Espa until Jabba took over. The "Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded" edition says Jabba let the B'omarr Order spider droids stick around his monastery-turned-palace because he enjoyed how disturbing they looked.

In "The Book of Boba Fett," it appears there are still some members of the B'omarr Order left on Tatooine as one scene shows a spider droid scuttling past the exterior of the palace.

Return of the Jedi parallels

The third episode of "The Book of Boba Fett" has a couple subtle but exciting nods to 1983's "Return of the Jedi."

First, immediately after the title card in Chapter 3, the show cuts to a nighttime scene of a worrt outside Boba's palace. Using its tongue, the giant frog-like creature quickly snags a womp rat and bird at the same time. This scene is remarkably similar to the one in "Return of the Jedi" — an exterior shot of Jabba's palace with the twin suns of Tatooine setting in the background and a worrt snagging a womp rat and a bird with his long, sticky tongue. 

The other "Return of the Jedi" nod is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment when one of the youth bikers crashes into a painting being carried out of a building and rips it in half. Pause the episode at that moment, and you'll get a better glimpse of what the painting is — Jabba the Hutt on his throne, surrounded by his old lackeys, including Bib Fortuna, Salacious B. Crumb, a few Twi'lek dancers, and even Boba Fett to his left. The painting is actually an in-universe version of "Star Wars" artist Ralph McQuarrie's original work

Meilooruns from Rebels

In Chapter 3, Boba's cyberpunk youth biker gang goes on a high-speed chase through the streets of Mos Espa to catch the mayor's majordomo, who is fleeing the new daimyo of Tatooine after refusing to disclose who the mayor is really working for (it's the Pykes). But while the chase and reveal of the mayor's involvement with the Pykes drive "The Book of Boba Fett" story forward in the present, the speeder bike crash also features a subtle but sweet callback to "Star Wars: Rebels." 

When the majordomo crashes, his land speeder slams into several crates of a reddish-orange fruit called a meiloorun. These fruits were key "characters" in early episodes of "Rebels" and were later established as General Hera Syndulla's favorite. And one of Zeb's and Ezra's first missions together in "Rebels" includes them being sent to find the fruits on Lothal — where meilooruns don't grow.

It doesn't look like the appearance of meilooruns in "The Book of Boba Fett" means anything for the main story, but it's a nice Easter egg for "Rebels" fans to find.

Nods to Ralph McQuarrie's artwork

Besides the mural of Jabba the Hutt in his palace circa "Return of the Jedi," Chapter 3 has another nod to famed "Star Wars" artist Ralph McQuarrie. 

After Boba's trippy waking dream when the lizard crawls up his nose, he takes his found tree branch to the Tusken's workstation in order to craft his own gaffi stick. The first shot we see of the area shows the female Tusken holding his branch with another Tusken standing next to a piece of starship wreckage behind her. The shot is a dead ringer for a piece of McQuarrie art he made for "A New Hope." The concept art shows two Tusken Raiders — one holding a rifle and the other in the background atop a bantha. The piece of wreckage in the concept art is nearly identical to the one seen in "The Book of Boba Fett."

Fans know McQuarrie's work was key to the overall style of "Star Wars" from the very beginning. Indeed, he was the designer of characters like Darth Vader, Chewbacca, the droids, the Tuskens, and other elements of Tatooine.

Not Slave I

In June 2021, it was quietly revealed that Boba Fett's iconic ship would no longer be referred to as "Slave I" — a name it carried when it was owned by Boba's father, Jango Fett. Instead, "The Mandalorian" themed LEGO sets dubbed the ship "Boba Fett's Starship." In "The Book of Boba Fett," Boba recovers his lost ship from Jabba's hangar in Mos Espa in a flashback in Chapter 4, calling it his "Firespray gunship." Actor Temuera Morrison also confirmed the name change in a short clip of an interview with The Wrap shared on Twitter. 

Around the same time the LEGO set was revealed, LEGO Star Wars Design Director Jens Kronvold Frederiksen said "Slave I" is "just something that Disney doesn't want to use anymore" (per Jedi News). While Disney nor Lucasfilm has officially commented on the name change, Boba calling it his "Firespray gunship" cements it. 

The ship is, in fact, a Firespray 31-class starship that doesn't really have an equal in the rest of the "Star Wars" galaxy, as it's outfitted with plenty of hidden tools and weapons, including those beautiful sounding seismic charges. It first appeared in "The Empire Strikes Back" and then again in "Attack of the Clones" when it was owned by Jango. It returned in the second season of "The Mandalorian" and now in "The Book of Boba Fett" with its true pilot at the helm.

A Mando cameo is coming

In Chapter 4, "The Gathering Storm," all signs point to a "Mandalorian" crossover later in the season. As we already know, Fennec Shand was shot and left for dead in "The Mandalorian" and later turns up with Boba to help Din Djarin rescue Grogu from Moff Gideon. Fennec is indebted to Boba for saving her (he had her modified with droid parts when she was shot in the stomach) but chooses to stick around and become his right-hand assassin as he takes over Jabba's former kingdom.

In the last scene of Chapter 4, Fennec and Boba discuss their next moves in the coming war with the Pyke Syndicate, and Boba remarks that they have plenty of credits but not enough muscle. Fennec tells him, "Credits can buy you muscle, if you know where to look." As she says this, you can hear Ludwig Göransson's iconic main theme for "The Mandalorian" play. 

It makes sense for Mando to cameo in "The Book of Boba Fett," as the two series occur around the same time, and the two Mandalorian foundlings have crossed paths in the past. Mando is also Grogu-less and has to contend with the reality of his ownership of the Darksaber, which Bo-Katan Kryze still really wants. Though Göransson also composed a similar theme for Boba's series, it's the first time we've heard the distinct "Mandalorian" tune in the show, so it's all but confirmed that we'll see Mando again soon.

Thundercat

"The Book of Boba Fett" Chapter 4 had a fun cameo for music fans, as bass guitarist and singer-songwriter Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner appeared as the modification artist known as "Modifier." Thundercat's character seems like the go-to man for the job of modifying your body with sleek droid parts, and his handiwork appears to be very popular among the youth of Tatooine.

In "The Gathering Storm," Modifier is the one who works on Fennec and gives her mechanical parts in her stomach to save her life. He also sports a cool battle droid hand that he can switch out with different tools depending on the job he's doing. In real life, Thundercat is known for his membership with thrash band Suicidal Tendencies and his work on Kendrick Lamar's album "To Pimp a Butterfly." The album's track "These Walls" won Thundercat a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Performance, and he also won a Grammy in 2020 for Best Progressive R&B Album for his "It Is What It Is" studio album.

'You want to head a Gotra?'

Post-Sarlacc Boba Fett is clearly a different man. He wants nothing more to do with bounty hunting and cares more for earning respect and loyalty than he does in instilling an apprehension in everyone he meets. In a flashback, he tells Fennec that he wants to kick Bib Fortuna off Jabba's throne and rule Tatooine's criminal underworld. She asks him, "You want to head a Gotra?" To her, this is a baffling notion for hunters like them.

Even the most diehard "Star Wars" fans might miss the mention of Gotra and its meanings in the galaxy. Borrowing from Hindu culture's idea of clans and lineage, in "The Book of Boba Fett," Gotra likely means a tribe of like-minded, loyal people and even a (crime) family of sorts. This makes sense as Boba is the new daimyo whose time with the Tusken Raiders taught him the importance of strength in the loyalty of your "family." In "The Mandalorian," the Abyssin criminal Gor Koresh swears by his Gotra that the information he gives to Din Djarin is legitimate as the Mandalorian interrogates him.

In "Star Wars," Gotra can also reference the Droid Gotra, which was a group that advocated and fought for droid rights. The Droid Gotra has been mentioned several times in the canon, including in the "Tarkin" and "Most Wanted" novels and in several "Darth Vader" and "Doctor Aphra" comics.

The Darksaber and the legacy of Mandalore

Most of the bad things that have happened to the planet Mandalore and the Mandalorians can be traced right back to the Darksaber and those who seek to wield it. The legendary black lightsaber first appeared in live-action in "The Mandalorian," but it's appeared and had its origins explained in "The Clone Wars" and "Rebels."

In "The Book of Boba Fett," five years post-Empire, Mandalorian Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) still possesses the blade after winning it from Moff Gideon. In Chapter 5, "The Return of the Mandalorian," Din gets another lesson in the saber's dark history and heavy legacy. The Armorer (Emily Swallow) tells him the Darksaber was constructed by Tarre Vizsla, who was the first Mandalorian Jedi thousands of years ago. Since then, the blade has been viewed as a symbol of the rightful leader of Mandalore.

The key to the Darksaber is that it must be won in combat, the Armorer says, or "it will be a curse unto the nation." She goes on to explain the history of the Night of a Thousand Tears, the Great Purge of Mandalore, and the "cautionary tale" of Bo-Katan Kryze. In "Rebels," Mandalorian Sabine Wren gives the Darksaber to Bo-Katan, who uses it to unite the Mandalorian clans against the Empire. This action results in the Empire sending a massive fleet of bombers to destroy the planet and any survivors. Chapter 5 shows a horrific flashback to the planet covered in flames and wreckage and the Mandalorian capital Sundari being blown up.

And though Din rightfully possesses the Darksaber, the Armorer's training shows he's highly unskilled with this type of blade, echoing scenes of Sabine's training in "Rebels" episode "Trials of the Darksaber."

Jedi: Fallen Order

Chapter 3 of "The Book of Boba Fett" features the official return of Mos Eisley mechanic Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris), who is seen walking with her trusty mechanic droids in a background shot. But "Return of the Mandalorian" also includes the first live-action appearance of a fan-favorite droid from "Jedi: Fallen Order." 

In the 2019 video game, former Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis finds a companion in BD-1 — a type of droid created to be compact companions with a steadfast willingness to assist researchers and adventurers in dangerous locales. The game shows that BD-1 previously accompanied by Jedi Master Eno Cordova before the fall of the Republic. The droid eventually teams up with Cal in the young man's quest to rebuild the Jedi Order.

In "Jedi: Fallen Order," Cal's BD-1 has "an almost disturbing enthusiasm for data collection and little regard for self-preservation" (via Star Wars Databank). In "The Book of Boba Fett," a BD droid is seen in the employ of Peli and assists Mandalorian Din Djarin in fixing up his new N-1 starfighter. 

N-1 starfighter

One of the most exciting returns in "The Book of Boba Fett" Chapter 5 — besides the Mandalorian, of course — is the N-1 starfighter, also called the "Naboo starfighter." These sleek gold and silver ships were constructed for defense and security and were famously used as escort crafts for the queen of Naboo during the prequel era.

The N-1 starfighter was most famously seen in "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" as an attack craft during the Trade Federation's invasion of Naboo. A young Anakin Skywalker flies an N-1 starfighter during the battle and helps destroy a droid control ship to help the Naboo to victory.  In "Return of the Mandalorian," Din Djarin helps Peli Motto fix up an N-1 starfighter as a replacement for his destroyed Razor Crest. At first, he calls it a pile of junk, but he learns during a test flight that the decades-old ship still packs quite a punch.

Podracing through Beggar's Canyon

"Now THIS is podracing," a young Anakin Skywalker says as he fires at a droid control ship from his N-1 starfighter in "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace." It's a reference to his favorite, dangerous pastime of podracing through the dunes and caverns of Tatooine and, in particular, his epic win in the Boonta Eve Classic.

One of the most dangerous sections of the Boonta Eve Classic podracing track was Beggar's Canyon, a dry river bed that included winding stretches and tight turns around towering desert rock formations. In "The Book of Boba Fett," Chapter 5, Mandalorian Din Djarin takes his refurbished N-1 starfighter for a test flight through Beggar's Canyon — an epic scene that takes fans all the way back to 1999.

There's even a shot of a womp rat resting on a rock before the Starfighter speeds through the area — a nod to Luke Skywalker's quote about how he used to "bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back home." Din lets this womp rat scurry away.

That's so wizard

In Chapter 5 of "The Book of Boba Fett," when Peli Motto asks Din Djarin how his test flight with the revamped N-1 starfighter went, he replies, "Wizard."

The use of this "Star Wars" slang is another callback to the prequel film "The Phantom Menace," but it's also a nod to another Jedi Padawan from the High Republic era. Young Jedi Ram Jomaram often uses the word "wizard" to exclaim how cool or awesome he thinks something is. The loveable Padawan with a penchant for all things mechanical has appeared several times throughout the ongoing High Republic publishing initiative, including in novels "The Rising Storm," "Race to Crashpoint Tower," and "Midnight Horizon." In "Midnight Horizon," out on February 1, 2022, "wizard" is described as "Ram's favorite word for when something was completely amazing and the best possible thing ever."

"Wizard" is also a subtle Easter egg nod to young Anakin Skywalker's Tatooine friend Kitster Banai, who calls the future Darth Vader's podracer "so wizard."

New Republic officers

Chapter 5 of "The Book of Boba Fett" also features a return cameo by New Republic Captain Carson Teva, played by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. Captain Teva appeared in two episodes of "The Mandalorian" — "The Passenger" and "The Siege" — and famously (and reluctantly) saved Din Djarin, Grogu, and the Frog Lady from certain death at the hands of giant ice spiders.

In "Return of the Mandalorian," Captain Teva and other New Republic officers "pull over" Din's N-1 starfighter for speeding too close to a commercial ship. The three men can't see each other through their ships, but Captain Teva recognizes Din's voice and tries to ask him some questions about reported Imperial remnants on the planet Nevarro. Din then flees law enforcement and heads back to Tatooine and Peli Motto's Mos Eisley body shop.

The other New Republic officer is Lieutenant Reed, who is played by Max Lloyd-Jones, aka the actor whose body was used for a CGI young Luke Skywalker in "The Mandalorian" Season 2 finale (via Epic Stream).

R-5 from A New Hope

When Din Djarin visits Peli Motto's body shop in Mos Eisley, we get a look at the plethora of droids she employs to help her fix up starships. Besides a BD droid straight out of "Jedi: Fallen Order," eagle-eyed "Star Wars" fans will see the return of an astromech droid that is pivotal in Luke Skywalker getting R2-D2 and C-3PO from the Jawas in the very first "Star Wars" film.

R5-D4 is seen rolling through Peli's shop, still sporting the hole in his top where his busted motivator exploded right after Luke and Uncle Owen bought the droid in "A New Hope." "The Book of Boba Fett" Chapter 5 isn't R5's first reappearance since the Empire fell. The droid was also seen in at Chalmun's spaceport cantina when Din arrived searching for work and later at the Mos Eisley spaceport after Peli acquired the droid — all scenes from "The Mandalorian."

Yoda's lightsaber

At the end of "The Book of Boba Fett," Chapter 6, Luke Skywalker (a body double with the CGI-ed face of young Mark Hamill) presents Grogu with a choice: a little Beskar chain mail top made from Din Djarin's spear or Yoda's former lightsaber. The choice is a physical and mental one, as Grogu has struggled to fully give himself over to the Force in his training because of his attachment to the Mandalorian. Din (Pedro Pascal) likewise misses the little green guy dearly and tries to visit him during his training with Luke before Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) convinces him to let Grogu make his own choice.

The appearance of Yoda's lightsaber essentially confirms that the late Master Jedi crafted a new blade after he lost his last one in the Senate duel with Darth Sidious in "Revenge of the Sith." The blade that he lost was depicted being destroyed during a celebration of the eradication of the Jedi Order, which was led by Grand Vizier Mas Amedda shortly after Order 66.

Star Wars writer Charles Soule and Lucasfilm creators have also previously confirmed that Yoda likely built several lightsabers over his lifetime seeing as he was around 900 years old when he became a part of the living Force in "Return of the Jedi."

R2-D2's reunion

When Din Djarin lands on a lush, unnamed planet to visit Grogu in the sixth episode, iconic astromech droid R2-D2 is the first one to greet him. As Mando lands, R2's antenna pops up and spins as it determines who and what is about to touchdown in Master Luke's supposedly secret hideaway.

Though we can't speak droid, it's clear R2-D2 recognizes the N-1 starfighter Din is flying. If the droid could speak Basic, he would probably say something like, "Dang, I haven't seen a Naboo Starfighter since the Battle of Naboo more than 30 years ago."

In "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace," R2-D2 was the droid who accompanied a young Anakin Skywalker in an N-1 starfighter as the two joined other Naboo fighters as the Trade Federation attacked. It was in these scenes that R2-D2 helped Anakin pilot the starfighter and inadvertently blow up the main reactors inside the Trade Federation's droid control ship, essentially winning the battle for Naboo.

The Jedi Temple

The sixth episode of "The Book of Boba Fett" spends a lot of time with Grogu and Luke Skywalker, who is training the little green guy in the ways of the Force as part of his efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order. Another part of those efforts is building a new Jedi Temple, which a bunch of spider-like droids are seen doing in this episode.

By the end of the episode, the new Temple is complete, and it bears a striking resemblance to the temple that is seen being destroyed in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." In that sequel, Luke's nephew Ben Solo destroys the temple and kills many of his uncle's other Jedi apprentices in a fit of rage after his confrontation with Luke. 

Since this location is a secret in "The Book of Boba Fett," it's highly likely that this is the temple Ben Solo will eventually destroy. More of the temple and Luke's other Padawans are seen in "The Rise of Kylo Ren" comics.

Grogu escaping Order 66

Due to his age, it's clear Grogu is old enough to have still been a Jedi youngling during the Clone Wars and the fall of the Jedi Order as chronicled in the prequel films.

In the sixth episode of "The Book of Boba Fett," Luke briefly taps into Grogu's mind using the Force to help him unlock suppressed memories of his life before meeting Din Djarin. In a flashback scene from Grogu's point of view, we see three older Jedi at the Temple on Coruscant try to fend off a squad of clone troopers. The troopers have been enacted to execute Order 66 and kill all of the Jedi.

The three unnamed Jedi fall to the clones' blaster shots and then we see the troopers approaching a swaddled Grogu. The flashback then cuts back to Luke and Grogu before we can see who steps in to protect the youngling next. There are many ongoing theories about what other older Jedi could have escaped Order 66 and helped Grogu survive through two decades of Imperial control. It's likely we will learn more about Grogu's past in "The Mandalorian" Season 3.

Echoes of Luke's training in Empire Strikes Back

Since the sixth episode largely covers Grogu's Jedi training, it's not surprising that the scenes were chock full of callbacks to Luke's time training with Yoda on Dagobah in "The Empire Strikes Back."

Luke is now the master, and it's touching to see him use the same lessons, phrases, and physical maneuvers to show Grogu his potential in wielding the Force. Luke even brings back some of Yoda's famous phrases like "size matters not" and a tweaked version of "Do. Or do not. There is no try."

In another scene, Luke wears a backpack and runs, leaps, and flips through the bamboo forest before climbing up a stalk to show Grogu how beautiful and vast this planet and the whole galaxy can be. This quick-paced scene is a direct nod to Luke doing the same thing with Yoda on his back, performing the same impressive Force front flip he did on Dagobah in "The Empire Strikes Back," all while keeping the little green Jedi safe and secure on his back.

The Mods

Boba Fett's gang of youthful cyborg space bikers make a brief appearance in the sixth episode of "The Book of Boba Fett," where they are officially named the Mods. This gang first appeared earlier in the season when Boba employs them after he learns they are being ripped off with high prices by a local water monger.

The gang has drawn much criticism over the season, as some fans believe their cyberpunk-esque style and brightly colored speeder bikes are not "Star Wars." However, die-hard George Lucas fans have been quick to point out that the Mods are a nod to the creator of Star Wars.

At a Television Critics Association panel in January 2022 (via TVLine), Fennec Shand actor Ming-Na Wen confirmed that the Mods represent "a real homage to a lot of things [Lucas] always loved." The Mods are also a clear nod to Lucas' first major work, "American Graffiti," which premiered in 1973 and showcased greaser and rock 'n' roll cultures of the early 1960s. The real-life Mods were also a subculture in the UK in the 1950s and 1960s composed of young people obsessed with brightly-colored scooters and the unique musical stylings of jazz and power pop rock. 

In Star Wars, mods means modification, while in real life, the term stands for modernist. Like the colorful, dynamic Star Wars Mods that rose after the fall of the stiff, fascistic Empire, the UK Mods surged in popularity in the wake of World War II.

Freetown and Cobb Vanth

In the sixth episode of "The Book of Boba Fett," Mandalorian Din Djarin returns to Mos Pelgo to recruit Cobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphant) and his people in Boba's fight against the encroaching Pyke Syndicate. In the scenes, we learn Mos Pelgo has been renamed Freetown, which is a direct nod to the town's name in the canon Expanded Universe of Star Wars literature. Specifically, Chuck Wendig's "Aftermath" trilogy of novels is where we first meet Cobb Vanth and the town of Mos Pelgo/Freetown.

Vanth appeared in the live-action for the first time in The Mandalorian Season 2, when "The Marshal" episode saw him decked out in Boba's armor and asking Din for help getting rid of a Krayt dragon. The renaming of Mos Pelgo as Freetown is an excellent callback to Star Wars books and helps bring Vanth's story full circle. He's clearly dedicated to fighting for and protecting his people, even when he is severely wounded by Cad Bane in the sixth episode. Bounty hunter Cade Bane, of "The Clone Wars" fame, is now working for the Pykes and threatens Vanth to stay away from Boba Fett. 

When Vanth doesn't back down, he and his deputy are shot. The deputy clearly dies, but Vanth's fate isn't clear as the townspeople rush out to help him.

New Republic-era Droidekas

In "The Book of Boba Fett" Chapter 7, the season finale, a new type of battle droid is introduced: the Scorpenek droid. The Pyke Syndicate unleashes two of these huge and deadly droids on Boba Fett's crew while they try to fight off the Pykes and protect Mos Espa. Luckily, Boba has a rancor and a little green friend who help him take down these droids and win the war for Boba Fett and crew.

In the Star Wars Legends continuity, Scorpenek droids were used by the Separatists during the Clone Wars, along with the familiar Droidekas. Both types of droids had rapid-fire laser cannons and deployed nearly impenetrable deflector shields. The Scorpenek droid was first mentioned in the book "The New Essential Guide to Droids," and its concept art appears to be an early form of what would become the Droideka in "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones." 

Cad Bane versus Boba Fett

Boba Fett and Cad Bane have a long history dating back to the prequel era, and the latter learned the bounty hunting ways from the former's father, Jango Fett. The two bounty hunters have had a tolerate-hate relationship for decades, and they reunite in "The Book of Boba Fett" Chapter 7.

Boba is working for himself and his people, and Bane is being paid by the Pykes to enforce the flow of spice in the area. This leads to a battle between the two parties and an epic duel between Boba and Bane. The duel ends in Boba's favor, with him stabbing Bane with his Tusken gaffi stick. Interestingly, the clash echoes the one from an unfinished episode of "The Clone Wars."

In the unaired arc, the duel between the two bounty hunters shows them squaring off on Tatooine and shooting each other. The unfinished scene shows how Boba got the circular dent in his helmet, which is still there even after being repainted. Though it wasn't clear in the unfinished episode, Bane appears in "The Bad Batch" with a metal plate on his head — hinting that Boba shot him in the head during the duel. In "The Book of Boba Fett" season finale, the metal plate is shown again when Bane's hat is knocked off, all but confirming the unfinished episode is part of the canon.

Luke Skywalker's first student

Fans didn't have to wait long to find out who Grogu chooses when Luke Skywalker presents him with a choice between Yoda's lightsaber or the Beskar metal shirt from Mandalorian Din Djarin. The choice isn't shown, but Grogu is quickly flown back to Mos Eisley in Luke's X-Wing with R2-D2 as the pilot. Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris) helps reunite the little green guy with his adopted dad, and Grogu helps Boba Fett and his crew save the city by using the Force to dismantle one of the Scorpenek droids and putting the rampaging rancor to sleep.

In the previous episode, Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) tells Din that Grogu is set to be Luke's first student when his new Jedi Temple is completed. "Star Wars" comic fans knew this couldn't be true, as "The Rise of Kylo Ren" series from Marvel detailed Ben Solo's journey as his uncle's first student. Fans also know that Ben killed all of his classmates and burned down Luke's temple in the final step to the dark side under the influence of Snoke.

Well, if that isn't the Quacta calling the Stifling slimy

During Boba Fett's duel with Cad Bane in Chapter 7, the two trade barbs in a nod to their fraught history over the decades. At one point, Bane says, "If that isn't the Quacta calling the Stifling slimy," which is basically Star Wars for "the pot calling the kettle black." And it's not the first time we've heard this phrase in a "Star Wars" television series.

In "The Mandalorian" Season 2 finale, Din and Boba meet with Bo-Katan Kryze and Koska Reeves to enlist their help in rescuing Grogu from the Imperial clutches of Moff Gideon. With all four of them being Mandalorians in some way — from heirs to foundlings to heirs of foundlings — they all have different views on "the way" Mandalorians should act. As such, the two women don't like Boba, and he doesn't like them. While trading barbs before their weapons come out, Koska says, "I didn't know sidekicks were allowed to talk."

Boba responds with, "Well, if that isn't the Quacta calling the Stifling slimy" — poking at Koska's place as Bo-Katan's "sidekick." 

Like brother, like sister

We knew the moment was coming, but it was incredible to see nonetheless. In the season finale, Boba Fett triumphantly rides in atop his pet rancor to save the day from the Pyke Syndicate. The image of someone riding a rancor is a callback to the Witches of Dathomir, who rode them to scare their enemies in battle. But it's also a nod to another "Star Wars" character who was recently revealed as Boba Fett's clone sister.

In "The Bad Batch" season 1, the Clone Force 99 group of mutated clones adopts young female clone Omega and saves her from Imperial clutches on Kamino. It is in this series that we learn that Boba (clone name Alpha) is not the only unaltered clone of Jango Fett — Omega was also created not as a soldier but as a highly intelligent assistant to Kaminoan scientist Nala Se. 

In one episode of "The Bad Batch," the group takes a mission to retrieve a young rancor, which Omega ends up bonding with and riding — one of the first hints that rancors are complex creatures and much more than savage beasts.

The godfather of Tatooine

With the conclusion of "The Book of Boba Fett" — for now — the clone and ex-bounty hunter is now the godfather of Tatooine. And in the season finale, there are two key moments that are callbacks to "The Godfather" films.

The first comes when Boba sends the former mayor's Twi'lek majordomo out to share his terms of surrender with the Pykes. The majordomo reads Boba's words on his tablet, telling the Pykes he offers them "nothing." This speech echoes the one by Michael Corleone in "The Godfather: Part II," when he says, "my offer is nothing."

And in the end of the episode, after Boba and his crew win the battle and restore peace, he and Fennec walk the streets of Mos Espa, bowing and acknowledging the people as they clean up the wreckage. One citizen comes up to Boba and offers him a meiloorun fruit, which Boba gives to Krrsantan. This moment is a subtle nod to Don Corleone receiving gifts of fruit from those he ruled over in "The Godfather."