Why Boba Fett Must Die in This Season of 'The Mandalorian'

Boba Fett — who we saw very briefly in The Mandalorian Season 2, Episode 1 (Chapter 9: The Marshal) — has made his official return in the hit Star Wars series’ latest installment, Chapter 14: The Tragedy.

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Fett (Temeura Morrison) wasn’t characterized exactly how many Star Wars fans expected him to be. Sure, he was after his armor — now in the possession of Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) after he procured it in a deal with Mos Pelgo Marshal Cobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphant) earlier this season — but, he also seemed almost, dare we say, honorable, in his intentions.

Fan-favorite Fett is a complicated character in the Star Wars universe. From his first canon appearance in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) — when he is working for Jabba the Hutt and trying to throw Han Solo (Harrison Ford) into a sarlacc pit — until now, he is nothing if not complex.

One thing we can’t deny is that Fett — despite his reputation as a heartless mercenary — has never gone back on a contract (that we know of). If he’s given a job, he does it.

This leads one to think that he will, truly, be in Djarin’s debt until Grogu is safely returned, even if costs Fett his life. In this writer’s opinion, it’s going to have to cost Fett his life or the show can’t go on, so to speak, in regard to what’s coming next for Star Wars on Disney+.

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Here’s why.

A Boba Fett spinoff is almost inevitable.

The Walt Disney Company recently trademarked the name “Boba Fett” for a host of new merchandise, indicating that this is far from the last we’ll see of the bounty hunter and his famous green Mandalorian armor.

The odds are good that we’ll get confirmation of a Fett spinoff, featuring Morrison in the title role, sooner rather than later. Disney and Lucasfilm aren’t likely to have the actor appear in two Star Wars series on Disney+ simultaneously, so from a purely practical standpoint, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni more-or-less have to write him out of The Mandalorian to make way for a new series.

This also makes sense from a timeline standpoint if the Boba Fett spinoff, as rumors currently indicate, is a prequel that takes place somewhere between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and The Mandalorian. Remember, The Mandalorian is set about five years after Star Wars: Episode VI – The Return of the Jedi.

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Star Wars owes Fett a purpose.

Forbes makes an excellent point about Boba Fett, who had but four lines in the original trilogy, yet became an icon in Star Wars lore:

At least in current canon, Fett was little more than a child when a Jedi decapitated his father in front of him, then later yes, sure he’s the one capturing Han Solo for Jabba the Hutt and working with the Empire, but he’s a bounty hunter! Our current “hero” Mando works for questionable dudes all the time as a bounty hunter, and he was literally working for the Empire when we met him (to find Baby Yoda in the first place). So I think we’re passing a bit too much judgement on Fett’s moral character to begin with.

But yes, I agree that Boba Fett needs to be redeemed, just not in the way we’re talking about here.

Rather, I think Star Wars owes Fett justice as a character…

By letting Fett die for a cause — Grogu’s potential contribution to the Jedi Order — that is, arguably, greater than any single character in The Mandalorian, Star Wars could give him his just due and allow him to serve a purpose that actually matters within the larger Star Wars canon and the future of the franchise, both on the Disney+ streaming platform and the big screen.

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Din Djarin needs a ship.

The Razor Crest, tragically — hence The Tragedy — is no more, thanks, unsurprisingly, to Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito). This leaves Din Djarin desperately in need of a ship and Fett has the iconic Slave I at his disposal. See where this is going?

If Fett dies, Djarin could, potentially, become the new owner of Slave I.

On a personal note, this is my least favorite argument for why Boba Fett needs to die in The Mandalorian — but it is, nonetheless, an argument that can be made. Furthermore, Fett dying and Djarin taking ownership of Slave I could potentially open the door for Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) to continue appearing in The Mandalorian in future seasons.

The actress has made it known that she would like to reprise her role on an ongoing basis.

What do you think? Is there any way Boba Fett will make it out of The Mandalorian Season 2 alive?