#Boba Fett Treads Familiar Ground In ‘Stranger In A Strange Land’

There are quite a few nods worth noting in this episode. The most fun might be the inclusion of the droid 8D8. 8D8 was seen in Jabba’s droid torture room in “Return of the Jedi”, torturing a GONK droid and generally assisting the incredibly evil droid EV-9D9, who gave Artoo and Threepio their assignments when they were given to Jabba. It’s no wonder that 8D8 is so keen on torture in the name of Boba Fett as that is his primary function. No word on what happened to EV-9D9, but 8D8 is a welcome touch.

Once inside the cantina of Garsa Fwip (Jennifer Beals), we’re treated to a number of fun sights and sounds for fans of “Star Wars.” First, the band looks like a blend between the Max Rebo band and Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes, both bands that were featured on Tatooine in the classic trilogy. Whether it’s them or not is anyone’s guess, but they do play a smooth rendition of the original Cantina Band theme song. Their astromech drummer really completes the trio.

Fans of Star Tours and Galaxy’s Edge at Disney theme parks will no doubt recognize the dealer at the gambling table in Garsa Fwip’s sanctuary as an RX-series pilot droid. Although this one doesn’t speak, RX-series droids have typically been voiced in “Star Wars” by Paul Ruebens.

Other eagle-eyed fans might notice that the Trandoshan, Dokk Strassi, who brings Boba Fett tribute does so with a Wookiee-hide. Trandoshans have long hunted Wookiees for sport — something we saw first hand in “The Clone Wars” — but Boba Fett’s costume also sported braids of Wookiee-hide in the classic trilogy. Perhaps with the gift from Dokk Strassi, he will put them back on his costume. Another fun fact about Dokk Strassi, though, is that he is played by none other than Robert Rodriguez, giving the director a wonderful cameo.

As far as the other major cameo in the episode, it comes from comedian David Pasquesi, playing the Mayor of Mos Espa’s Majordomo. “Star Wars” has had a great run of casting comedians in key roles on their television shows and Pasquesi’s weaselly Majordomo is no exception. He was also in “Strangers with Candy,” which starred another comedian-turned-“Star Wars” actor: Amy Sedaris AKA Peli Motto on “The Mandalorian.”