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- November 26, 2019
- 2:00 am
The Mandalorian has proven itself to not only be one of the best original offerings on Disney+, but one of the best new shows on television, period.
Its conflicted protagonist is a member of a dying race, a warlike yet honorable people who once inhabited the planet Mandalore in the time of the Old Republic. During the time period in which the series is set, in between the original and sequel film trilogies, they’re a people whose numbers are dwindling fast, due to a long, long history of conflict that has led them to being forsaken by their own government and exiled to the moon of Concordia, where they were left to die out.
While the history of Mandalore is a bit fluid, one thing that has never changed is the race’s distinctive armor, armor which has been very familiar to fans ever since the first big-screen appearance of the bounty hunter Boba Fett in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
Before the release of The Mandalorian, it was even speculated by some fans that the title character might actually be Boba Fett, as that character’s fate has been retconned since his seemingly fatal plunge into the Sarlacc pit in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. It turns out that Boba is still alive, meaning that he may very well be wandering the galaxy during the events of The Mandalorian, but the differences between the two characters are many, and significant.
All of these differences stem from the most obvious one: Boba Fett isn’t actually Mandalorian. He’s a clone of Jango Fett, who claimed to hail from Concord Dawn, a planet within the Mandalore system. Although Jango wore Mandalorian armor outfitted with the types of bells and whistles common to those worn by the warrior race, he had been disavowed by the Mandalorian government, which regarded him as nothing more than a scoundrel, a common mercenary whose only interest was in a paycheck.
This goes to the core of the differences between Boba Fett, who followed in his father’s footsteps in becoming the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy, and the Mandalorian, whose identity is very strongly tied to his homeworld and its culture.
While both Boba and the Mandalorian are seen operating as bounty hunters, and both operate mostly according to the codes of that profession, that and their armor is basically where the similarities end.
This is because, like his father before him, Boba Fett’s code of honor is largely his own, untethered to any larger philosophy, which stands in stark contrast to the Mandalorian, whose code isn’t just a personal preference, but his actual religion. Watch the video to hear The Differences Between The Mandalorian And Boba Fett Explained!
What are the key differences between The Mandalorian and Boba Fett?
The Star Wars universe is vast and full of characters, but few have captured fans’ attention quite like the Mandalorians. The Mandalorians are a warrior culture with deep roots in Star Wars mythology, and two of the most well-known Mandalorian figures are Boba Fett and The Mandalorian. While they may seem similar, there are important differences between the two characters. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between The Mandalorian and Boba Fett, their histories, and what makes them unique.
To start, it’s important to understand that Boba Fett and The Mandalorian come from different eras in the Star Wars timeline. Boba Fett appeared in the original trilogy of Star Wars films, which took place between 1977 and 1983. Meanwhile, The Mandalorian is the central character in an eponymous Disney+ series currently on air.
Boba Fett was introduced as a bounty hunter who worked for the Galactic Empire in the original trilogy. He wore a signature outfit, including a helmet adorned with the iconic T-shaped visor. He was a somewhat mysterious figure, with relatively little backstory initially revealed on screen. Boba Fett eventually met his end in Return of the Jedi when he was knocked into the Sarlacc pit by Han Solo.
In contrast, The Mandalorian takes place after the events of Return of the Jedi, where the Empire has fallen and out-of-work bounty hunters roam the galaxy. The Mandalorian is a bounty hunter like Boba Fett, but he is not strictly aligned with any particular government or organization. He wears a similar Mandalorian-style helmet to Boba Fett’s but has a different T-shaped visor that splits in the middle.
One of the most significant differences between the two characters is their backgrounds. Boba Fett had virtually no backstory provided in the original trilogy films, and most of his background was expanded upon in books and comics. On the other hand, The Mandalorian has a fleshed-out backstory that viewers are learning about through his adventures on the show. We know that The Mandalorian is a foundling, a member of a people whose home was destroyed by the Empire. His backstory is integral to the series’ plot, and it sets him apart from Boba Fett, who was a relatively blank slate on which creators could project whatever narrative they wanted.
Another critical difference between the characters is their personalities. In the original trilogy, Boba Fett is a largely silent, mysterious figure, consumed with his mission to capture Han Solo. Meanwhile, The Mandalorian is portrayed as a compassionate hero who is often torn between his duties as a bounty hunter and his desire to do the right thing. Unlike Boba Fett, who is solely motivated by his bounty hunter lifestyle, The Mandalorian’s actions are often driven by a sense of responsibility for his foundling heritage and his desire to act with honor and integrity.
Overall, while both characters are Mandalorians and bounty hunters, they have deep differences in background, personality, and chronology. Boba Fett served as a cultural icon for years before the Mandalorian’s inception, and they do share similarities in their armor and lifestyle. However, The Mandalorian is clearly meant to be his own separate entity, with his own story, while Boba Fett was more of a mysterious figure to be content to convey an aura of danger and mystique.
In conclusion, The Mandalorian and Boba Fett are two iconic characters in the Star Wars universe, and while they share certain traits, they are entirely different characters. Fans will undoubtedly continue to explore their differences and similarities for years to come, but it’s clear that The Mandalorian is a fleshed-out character with a nuanced backstory, outlook, and moral allegiance that separates him from his beloved predecessor.
