Boba Fett has become one of the most popular characters in the Star Wars franchise. Despite his relative lack of presence in the original trilogy, the bounty hunter became a fast fan favorite, with novels comics and video games expanding upon his role in the universe. Before the prequel trilogy waded into his backstory, Boba Fett was an imposing man of mystery who could track the Millennium Falcon when even the Imperial Navy couldn't.
All of that makes his death in Return of the Jedi so silly. He goes out like a chump, knocked into the air by a blinded Han Solo swinging wildly, causing him to activate his jetpack. That throws him headfirst into Jabba's barge, and then he tumbles to the ground and rolls into the sarlacc pit to be eaten by a literal hole in the ground. Although the Expanded Universe found ways for him to escape, current canon still has him dying on Tatooine.
A fan theory posted on Reddit doesn't answer how he might have escaped being slowly digested over a thousand years in the Pit of Carkoon, but it does suggest exactly why he went out like he did -- and finds a way to remove the blame from Boba Fett, and instead pin it on the machinations of the heroes.
R2'S (OTHER) MISSION
Boba's death comes after he's presumably been relaxing on Jabba the Hutt's party barge, en route the sarlacc pit for the execution of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca. R2 is forced to serve drinks to patrons, of whom Boba was presumably one. For Boba and the members of Jabba's retinue, it's effectively an enormous party bus, en route to Tatooine's hot spot for a little entertainment. However, after R2 shoots Luke his lightsaber, the heroes are quickly able to turn the tables, and an afternoon of fun for Jabba's hangers-on transforms into a whirlwind of horror.
The fan theory puts forward that part of R2's mission on the barge was to drug the beverages he served. He conceals an assortment of tools over course of the franchise, so there's no reason he couldn't have also stored away a drug to use against his masters' enemies. Doing so could explain how Jabba's forces were unable to stop the Rebels, despite their superior numbers, allowing the surprise attack to be even more effective.
BOBA WASN'T QUITE HIMSELF
This theory actually goes a long way toward explaining how Boba Fett was so quickly incapacitated. Remember, this is Boba at his peak. He's the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy, even personally delivering the goods to Darth Vader. But even though he's been shown to be incredibly dangerous, the battle over the sarlacc pit does him no favors.
He doesn't get a single shot off with his main blaster before Luke cuts it in half. He's knocked down easily, and slow to get to back on his feet. He even misses the clear shot he has at Luke. That could be Luke using the Force to protect himself, but the Jedi is otherwise occupied fighting five other people simultaneously.
Drugs in Boba's system would also explain his seemingly diminished awareness. He doesn't appear to notice the Wookiee moving behind him, because he does nothing about Chewbacca. The blind Han Solo swinging a staff wildly catches Boba by surprise. Activating his jetpack, Han sends Boba flying. Boba has flown plenty of times, but he's out of control in this scene.
BOBA FETT REDEEMED
Boba Fett's death has been the subject of mockery for almost 40 years. This theory explains how someone so competent could be taken out so pitifully and makes everyone else involved look even better. If correct, it means R2 can lay just as much claim to bringing down Boba as Luke and Han do. And despite being drugged, Boba still rushed into battle and briefly stood up to a Jedi. He may have been quickly overwhelmed, but he still flew into battle instead of just being useless, like most of the other people on the barge who ultimately just exploded.
This theory is the best explanation yet for how Boba went out. It's also not too dissimilar to a sketch from the animated parody series Robot Chicken, which similarly suggested that Boba died easily because he was drunk from partying a little too hard on the barge. (Skip to 0:27 in the video below to see drunk Boba Fett in all of his glory.) Now someone just needs to figure out how to explain the equally disappointing death of Captain Phasma, and we'll be set.