Expectations were high for The Book of Boba Fett after fans wanted a Boba Fett solo project for so many years. While some viewers feel like the show did the character justice, others feel let down. Boba didn't do much in the present day in many episodes, even seeming to be still recovering from his sarlacc pit injuries until the action-packed finale. But were fan expectations set too high for the show because of Boba's earlier appearance in The Mandalorian?
When Boba Fett made his return to the screen in The Mandalorian Season 2, Episode 6, "Chapter 14: The Tragedy," he came into that show with an incredible action sequence. Both in and out of his armor, he was an unstoppable juggernaut. While this Boba Fett was seen in the Book of Boba Fett finale, he wasn't always present during the rest of the season.
Boba Fett didn't do much in his original appearances on screen either -- but his legend has been expanded significantly in the extended Star Wars universe. In the "Legends" canon, which many fans have a deep love for, Boba freed himself from the Sarlacc and went back to being the most dangerous man in the galaxy. Based on those books and his action-packed appearance in The Mandalorian, fans assumed they'd get a certain type of show. The Boba Fett that was in the first four episodes of The Book of Boba Fett was a different character who didn't connect with audiences.
The finale worked hard to redeem Boba Fett in viewers' eyes, and in many aspects it succeeded. But it was still confusing to see Boba need the bacta tank after one encounter with assassins. If Boba Fett was capable of taking down a whole army of Stormtroopers in The Mandalorian, why wasn't he equally capable in his own show? That dichotomy fueled the disappointment.
The finale of The Book of Boba Fett gave fans many of the moments they'd been waiting for, from Boba riding a rancor to Boba and Din Djarin flying and shooting from their jetpacks -- but by then it was too little, too late. Skeptical audiences felt the scenes came without any substance and critical opinion wasn't much better. While the last episode set up ideas for Season 2, Disney has yet to renew the series for more episodes.
It's understandable that fans were disappointed with The Book of Boba Fett when they were initially treated to a much different version of Boba in The Mandalorian. If Boba's initial appearance hadn't focused so much on action, or had been similar in tone to what viewers saw in his own series, they might have embraced The Book of Boba Fett a bit more and made it the success everyone was hoping for.