Caution: spoilers ahead for The Book of Boba Fett episode 6
The Book of Boba Fett episode 6 is a hive of Star Wars Easter eggs and references - here are the ones we spotted after picking our jaws up off the floor. After four episodes focused squarely on Boba Fett's post-Sarlacc misadventures on Tatooine, Disney+'s The Book of Boba Fett took a massive detour in episode 5, reintroducing Din Djarin and continuing where The Mandalorian season 2 left off. Episode 6 ("From The Desert Comes A Stranger") continues very much in that vein, darting back and forth between Grogu's Jedi training and Mos Pelgo, before making one last stop back at Jabba's palace (remember that?)
Putting aside the debate over whether Boba Fett has become a side character in his own TV series, The Book of Boba Fett episode 6 is a love letter to all things Star Wars. The sheer volume of cameos alone will have the Star Wars faithful needing to lie down on a comfy rock after watching. Then there's Grogu's choice between career paths, the increasingly ominous presence of the Pykes, and the (potential) death of a fan-favorite guest character. The Book of Boba Fett episode 6 also impacts all three eras of Star Wars movies, bleeding prequel trilogy flashbacks into Disney sequel foreshadowing.
Of course, this means Star Wars Easter eggs and callbacks are in plentiful supply throughout The Book of Boba Fett episode 6 - perhaps even more so than Mando's reference-heavy offering one week prior. Buckle up for surprise returns, familiar Yoda-isms, and Clone Wars connotations.
The Book of Boba Fett episode 6 begins its Star Wars Easter egg festivities with a classic. The white cylindrical container the Pykes are using to transport credits is known as a camtono - a type of storage device within the Star Wars universe. These have featured in The Book of Boba Fett already, but are worth calling out due to their The Empire Strikes Back connection. In 1980's Star Wars sequel, a background character can be seen running through Cloud City holding what's clearly an ice cream maker. For The Mandalorian, Jon Favreau gave this unidentified prop a purpose, devising the term "camtono" and describing them as containers used throughout the galaxy. Another camtono is later featured during the Sanctuary bombing, with a protocol droid actually speaking the term onscreen.
The first returnee of The Book of Boba Fett episode 6 is Cobb Vanth, once again portrayed by Timothy Olyphant. Still protecting the folks of Mos Pelgo (sorry, Freetown), Vanth is struggling with the increasingly bold Pyke syndicate. Whether he's in any position to do something about it by the final credits remains open to interpretation.
Confronting the Pykes, Cobb Vanth declares himself Mos Pelgo's Marshal, pointing to the stripes upon his belt buckle. When Cara Dune was appointed Marshal of Nevarro in The Mandalorian season 2, she was given a badge featuring the New Republic's logo. Underneath that logo was a flag of red stripes upon a white background - identical to the design currently strapped on Cobb Vanth's waist. The red and white clearly represents law-keepers under New Republic rule.
Returning to where The Book of Boba Fett episode 5 left off, Din Djarin flies toward Luke Skywalker's Jedi training center. Though the planet goes unnamed in this episode, could Luke be on Ajan Kloss? As seen in The Rise of Skywalker, Ajan Kloss is where Luke gave Leia her Jedi training, and where the Resistance make camp after being ejected from everywhere else by the First Order. Since Luke is building houses and training Grogu on this planet, it would make sense if this is also where he teaches Leia. The local flora and fauna certainly looks similar enough.
Of all the Star Wars Easter eggs fans might've anticipated when The Book of Boba Fett began, R2-D2 perhaps wasn't high on the list. Nevertheless, it's the chirpy astromech droid greeting Din Djarin upon his arrival at Ajan Klossibly, before leading Mando toward another surprise Star Wars cameo. R2-D2 was last seen in The Mandalorian season 2's finale, and we'd like to think he and Grogu are now best pals causing all sorts of trouble together.
Luke Skywalker is not a man who enjoys doing his own housework. He relied upon an army of disgruntled maids on Ahch-To, and The Book of Boba Fett shows him using a team of ant droids to construct a building. The design is virtually identical to the structures seen on Ahch-To - especially the circular shape and stonework. Since the Jedi buildings on Ahch-To were already present when Luke arrived, the architecture in The Book of Boba Fett must be of traditional Jedi design.
The final moments of episode 5 teased Grogu for The Book of Boba Fett and, sure enough, Disney's cash-printing green cutie returns in episode 6, officially the first student of Luke Skywalker's Jedi academy. Until now, it wasn't clear whether Luke might've already had a few younglings lined up, but there's no one for Grogu to steal cookies from this time.
The cameos keep coming, as the great Luke Skywalker himself appears in The Book of Boba Fett episode 6, once again as a digitally-rendered younger version of Mark Hamill. Whereas The Mandalorian season 2's CG Luke looked somewhat... rubbery... The Book of Boba Fett shows massive improvement, with the Jedi Knight now approaching something close to photo-realism. Episode 6's credits list Mark Hamill, so the Star Wars icon must've provided the physical performance for Luke Skywalker once again.
Luke tells Grogu about "someone you remind me of a great deal," before invoking Yoda's name. When Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka Tano debuted in The Mandalorian season 2, she too brought up Yoda, and some viewers believed Grogu made a gurgle of recognition in response, perhaps suggesting the pea-green pair already met at the Jedi temple. That remains a distinct possibility, but The Book of Boba Fett does at least confirm Luke isn't aware of any prior connection between Yoda and Grogu.
There's an amusing Star Wars symmetry in Luke Skywalker training Grogu, given how it was once Yoda training Luke. The image of master and student has now flipped. Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau lean into that parallel with numerous callbacks to Luke's training on Dagobah, and first up is how both tutors demonstrate the Force's potential. Yoda showed Luke the Force's power by levitating his sunken X-Wing from a swamp. Luke motivates his student by levitating a bunch of tasty frogs out of their watery home, leaving Grogu similarly awe-struck, and wanting to learn his master's secrets.
Luke shares with Grogu one of Yoda's most important teachings - size matters not. This famous Star Wars quote is spoken in The Empire Strikes Back after Luke Skywalker fails to haul his X-Wing onto dry land. The young student complains the ship is too big to budge, and Yoda replies, "Size matters not... judge ME by my size, do you?" He then proceeds to effortlessly lift what Luke couldn't.
Yoda's species remains one of Star Wars' biggest mysteries. What are they called? Where are they from? Do they all talk with the same backward syntax? These are questions Star Wars fans have been asking for decades, and in The Book of Boba Fett episode 6, Luke proves himself just as curious, asking Grogu whether he remembers anyone speaking like Yoda used to. It was feasible that Luke Skywalker might've learned about Yoda's species off-screen, but the questions he poses to young Grogu in The Book of Boba Fett strongly imply he's in the dark just as we are.
Through the Force, Luke Skywalker unlocks Grogu's hidden memories. There's no direct precedent for this power specifically in Star Wars canon, but Jedi have shown similar abilities in past tales. Perhaps reawakening memories is just a Jedi mind trick, maybe Luke is Force-healing Grogu's mind, or could Luke be using psychometry (introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars) on a living being?
The Mandalorian already revealed Grogu was present during Coruscant's Jedi temple massacre, but somehow escaped Anakin's wrath. The Book of Boba Fett goes a step further in episode 6, showing this historic Star Wars tragedy from Grogu's own perspective. We see a trio of Jedi attempting to protect the baby Baby Yoda, but all fall victim to the 501st legion's blasters. The squad leader then spots Grogu, but the memory ends there, meaning we still don't know who helped him escape.
Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka Tano appears, because, at this point, why not? Though the specifics of Ahsoka's friendship with Luke remain ambiguous, we know she rendezvoused with Anakin's son after meeting Din Djarin in The Mandalorian season 2, and has been spending time with Luke, R2-D2 and Grogu. Ahsoka and Luke appear fairly well acquainted, suggesting this may not be their first encounter.
Asked by Din Djarin how she knows Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka describes herself as a "friend of the family." This wry line references how Ahsoka was Anakin Skywalker's padawan apprentice during Star Wars: The Clone Wars. However, she also counted Luke's mother, Padmé, as a close friend, and worked alongside his sister's adopted father, Bail Organa, for the Rebellion. So, yes, friend of the family just about covers it.
Asking more important questions, Din Djarin wants to know what Luke Skywalker is doing on this unnamed planet. Ahsoka says the ant droids are constructing a "great school," where Luke will induct a new generation of Jedi into the ways of the Force. This line sets up Luke's Star Wars sequel trilogy arc, in which he trains nephew, Ben Solo, but creates the monster known as Kylo Ren, who burns this "great school" to the ground. From Ahsoka's description, we can assume Luke's construction project is the same fiery wreckage he and R2-D2 watch burn in The Last Jedi's flashback scenes, especially as both have the same circular design (though it's hard to be certain after Kylo's pyrotechnics).
Ahsoka directly refers to Grogu as Luke's "padawan" for the very first time. The term was first used to describe Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Phantom Menace, and denotes a Jedi in-training somewhere between a youngling student and an official Jedi Knight. Ahsoka believes Grogu might've already graduated to padawan status by the time he debuts in The Book of Boba Fett.
Much of the time, it's obvious when someone is wielding the Force in Star Wars. But when Din Djarin hands his gift for Grogu over to Ahsoka Tano, she subtly casts her hand over it in quiet contemplation. Though difficult to say for certain, she's most likely using the Force to intuit what the gift may be (making her a nightmare during Secret Santa season), and sensing the love with which Mando chose it.
As we choke back the tears watching Grogu reach out to Mando's ship flying away, notice how the youngster is stuffed into a backpack and carried over Luke Skywalker's shoulders. This image is, of course, a homage to The Empire Strikes Back, when Luke carried Yoda the exact same way as part of his Jedi training. Luke even performs the same flipping jump he attempted on Dagobah.
Grogu's training continues with Luke teaching him the classic Force-jump technique. Canonized by The Empire Strikes Back (but more prominent in Return of the Jedi and the prequel trilogy), the Force-jump allows Jedi to perform feats of acrobatics that would otherwise be impossible. The move has become commonplace throughout Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Disney's sequel trilogy, and numerous video games.
Continuing to borrow liberally from Yoda's Guide to Jedi Training, Luke Skywalker tells Grogu, "You're trying too hard. Don't try... Do." With this Star Wars Easter egg, Luke is essentially paraphrasing a famous Yoda quote from The Empire Strikes Back - "Do... Or do not. There is no "try"."
Grogu's next lesson is all about balance. The vertically-challenged youngster must stand upon the edge of a log using only one leg, and the fledgling Jedi enjoys more success than he did jumping. This stage of Grogu's training is based on when Luke balance one-handed while Yoda perched on his upturned foot. You can see why Luke changed the exercise for himself and Grogu.
At least give him a lightsaber, Luke! Ramping Grogu's training up a gear, Luke brings out a training remote - a floating ball that fires low-impact blasts as a means of testing agility and reflexes. This is the same device Obi-Wan Kenobi made a young Luke Skywalker train with on the Millennium Falcon, allowing his student to practice deflecting blaster bolts using a lightsaber. Somehow, Luke sees fit to unleash the training remote on a defenseless Grogu to improve his Force-jumping. No wonder Ben Solo broke bad.
When Luke worries whether Grogu is benefiting from these lessons, Ahsoka replies, "Sometimes the student guides the master." On one hand, this can be interpreted as a nod to the many times Ahsoka guided Anakin during Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but her advice is also eerily similar to Darth Vader's words during A New Hope's final battle against Obi-Wan Kenobi. Confronting his former mentor on the Death Star, Vader chides, "I was but the learner; now I am the master." The similarity perhaps demonstrates how much of Anakin's personality dwells within his former padawan.
Still on the topic of Grogu's dedication, Luke wonders aloud whether his student's "heart is in it." This time, Ahsoka Tano playfully responds with, "... So much like your father." Here she's comparing Luke's doubts over Grogu to the reservations Anakin had about Ahsoka during their early days together.
As Din Djarin's N-1 pulls in for landing at Jabba's palace, one of the Hutt's floating skiffs can be spotted parked outside the hangar. These skiffs haven't had much luck in Star Wars, with one destroyed in Return of the Jedi, and another crashed into when Boba Fett and Fennec Shand stole back the Firespray gunship.
Blink and you'll miss it, but The Book of Boba Fett features a massive surprise cameo from The Empire Strikes Back bounty hunter, Boba Fett. The character can be briefly glimpsed shortly after Din Djarin returns to Tatooine, standing by a holographic map with Fennec Shand.
On his route to Mos Pelgo, Din Djarin passes a Jawa sandcrawler, exciting the furry creatures below (probably because he paid them generously for ship parts). Atop the sandcrawler is the skull of a Krayt dragon, and this is likely the creature Djarin himself helped kill in The Mandalorian season 2's premiere. How many dead Krayt dragons can there be in the vicinity of Mos Pelgo?
Imagine getting your big Star Wars return, only to discover you're sharing an episode with Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Ahsoka Tano, R2-D2, and a certain bounty hunter yet to appear. That's how Mos Pelgo's Weequay bar owner must feel making his The Book of Boba Fett debut after initially featuring in The Mandalorian season 2. Once again, the proprietor is played by W. Earl Brown.
We know the Tusken Raiders wanted its pearl, while the Jawas nabbed the skull. That still leaves quite a few Krayt dragon bones unaccounted for. When Din Djarin buys Cobb Vanth a drink, The Book of Boba Fett reveals the creature's ribcage is now used for decoration/structural support at Mos Pelgo's local drinking establishment.
Upon reuniting with Cobb Vanth, Din Djarin learns that Mos Pelgo now goes by the inventive name of "Freetown." This change is a nod to the Star Wars: Aftermath novels by Chuck Wendig, which introduced Cobb Vanth, and provided many ideas that found their way into The Mandalorian (Vanth getting Boba Fett's armor, the Mining Collective, etc.) Aftermath also ends with Vanth's community renaming itself Freetown.
The Weequay isn't the only Freetown returnee from The Mandalorian season 2 - Cobb Vanth also speaks with a "Jo." Played by Karisma Gideon in both Disney+ shows, Jo was one of the fighters who helped Djarin and Vanth slay the Krayt dragon. She's also the first to run over after Cad Bane's attack.
The final character surprise up The Book of Boba Fett episode 6's sleeve - Cad Bane makes his live-action Star Wars debut. A bounty hunter of galactic renown, Bane first appeared in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, before extending his animated back catalog via Star Wars: The Bad Batch. Now working for the Pyke syndicate, this is the first time Cad Bane has been glimpsed in a live-action setting, and he's voiced by original actor, Corey Burton.
As the tension mounts between Cad Bane, Cobb Vanth, and *checks notes* Scott the deputy, a three-way standoff emerges, riffing very heavily on Sergio Leone's The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. Vanth is clearly Clint Eastwood's unnamed character (Good), while the hapless Scott is a dead ringer for Tuco (Ugly). That makes Cad Bane the equivalent of Angel Eyes (Bad) and, sure enough, this western villain was the original inspiration behind Bane's design and demeanor.
Another The Book of Boba Fett Sanctuary sequence, another bunch of Star Wars Easter eggs to sift through. As the Pykes enter, Garsa Fwip (a Twi'lek) is speaking to a Rodian. A protocol droid is assisting patrons, astromechs serve drinks, and an RX croupiers for a Snivvian and a Chadra-Fan. A Brittaro stands in the background of the same shot, but the question remains, do these guys ever actually leave? Two Bith are providing music for the night but, curiously, there's no sign of Max Rebo. Don't expect any breakdown of the Sanctuary's alien cameos next week...
According to Star Wars comic books, Yoda's lightsaber was destroyed by Mas Amedda as a symbolic representation of the Jedi's end. Turns out Yoda made another, because Luke Skywalker gifts his fallen master's old weapon to Grogu - but only if he rejects Din Djarin's gift of Mandalorian beskar armor. Bit harsh there again, don't you think, Luke?
The music playing when Luke Skywalker devilishly offers Grogu a choice between Jedi and Mandalorian paths will evoke many memories. Ludwig Göransson's theme melds together elements of his own Luke Skywalker score from The Mandalorian with John Williams' classic "Force theme."
The Book of Boba Fett concludes Wednesday on Disney+.
