The Mandalorian Fennec Shand (Spoilers)

Fennec serves as the Devil on Boba's Shoulder... talking about how crime syndicates are to be run in the old ways. Of course, Boba Fett has no angel on his other shoulder, so it's really just the two of them doing debate of using fear or respect for their next move. In a way, she does help Fett not make the same mistake he did a long time ago with the Pykes. After all, can't have those syndicates get the dumb idea of taking advantage of mercy.

 

Her first appearance in The Gunslinger made her out to be cunning, dangerous, and mysterious. Not much depth or complexity. It seems like fans have wanted to build her up into something more than that, and subsequent appearances have played into what the fans want. But there's really not much to build on.

So, basically, she's Boba Fett for the next generation.

 

They could’ve given her more to do in this last episode than open a lock and throw a knife at someone’s hand.

 

Despite their usual dynamic, last episode it was Boba wanting to retaliate against the attempted assassination and Fennec who said that it was unnecessary, that surviving and capturing the assassin was enough of a message.

 

Many of the sentiments regarding Fennec in the last 2 pages is exactly what I feel too. More is needed from Fennec to compliment the on-going story.

Because when I look at the difference between Fennec and let's say a character like Kuiil, for me at the moment, I feel Kuiil is the greater character of the two. He has a backstory where he was indentured to the Empire and he worked hard over many years to gain his freedom. He then retires to a remote area of some backwater planet to live out his years.

So Din arrives and he teaches him to ride one of his steeds to travel to the location of Din's bounty. Kuiil uses his skills to rebuild the Razorcrest and to repair IG-11 to perform a completely different function that ultimately feeds into why Din's group were able to get away from the Stormtroopers. Kuiil stands firm on what he believes in and what he wants out of life; even rejecting potentially lucrative employment with Din. But when the crunch happens, he will go with Din to perform a role in protecting Grogu.

All of this from a part time character. And not even a Greef or a Cara, but a smaller part character. But the difference here is that many parts of Kuiil's characterisation (both past and present) helped feed into the narrative of the overall story and Din's character arc - more than any other character IMO.

And that is the stark contrast between Kuiil and Fennec. Other than being a master assassin and good at shooting people, we know nothing about her and this failure by the writers in developing Fennec more hurts the character of Boba IMO. There is nothing to bounce off. There is nothing of her past that is substantially enriching the narrative of the story. She is fast becoming another Phasma and this is really disappointing because she can be so much more. The writers need to do more with her!

For me, I would have rathered it been her that had had some past history with Black Krrsantan (as in conflict) than Boba being alluded as to having had so.

Because for me, Star Wars is at its greatest when there are multiple characterisations, multiple character interactions and relationships and multiple side story's going on parallel to the main story. We had that with the Tuskens in Chapters 1 and 2. They are now dead and Fennec has nowhere to hide.

 

I'd totally forgotten she killed Taun We.

 

I think more from and about Fennec would be beneficial, but don't see the "need" of it. I think she may have had a similar background to Omega, hence her trying to impart things to the young clone, and I think her facing off against Cad Bane is more than just some cool action.

From Ming-Na herself, we know Fennec likes to plan things out and realized, after the experience with Toro, that she had to be more careful. She used manipulation, but saying that Din was more the valuable target was a risk that backfired. I think her advice to Boba so far lines up with that. At the same time, the BOBF premiere is her most amiable showing yet, and I think this goes back to her first interaction with Omega. Given her time spent with each of the syndicates, maybe she's just been looking for what she feels is the right fit.

@Pro Scoundrel Why was she wrong there? I would think that with Boba still alive and kicking, and Krrsantan locked up, it's the Twins who would have to come up with something else. Retaliation would be the greater risk, and play into a cycle of violence.

 

I thought she was right in that regard. The Twins immediately came to Boba's footstep and then apologizes for the assassination attempt before giving Boba a Rancor as a gift. She's described to be more street smart than Boba in regards to the matter of running a crime syndicate, so it makes sense that she would correctly anticipate the typical reactions of the crime syndicates whenever Boba makes a move.

Also, the fact that it's Fennec would advises Boba against using a fearmongering tactic after the BK's assassination attempt (along with her mentioning that they cannot kill the Hutts without permission) shows that Fennec is no Starscream in Boba's organization nor is she a one-dimensional gun-happy assassin longing for the old ways of doing business. She's just more realistic about Tatooine's society and knows when it's better to show use fear and respect. The fact she is both right and wrong in her opinions of Boba's decision (wrong about Boba's mercy towards the Gamoreans yet right about the Twins' response to the failed assassination attempt) shows the complexity of the politics Boba has to navigate with his new ideology.

 

Oh, I don't think the Hutts are giving up Tatooine that easily. But it's apparent that, ironically, the other syndicates moving in has removed them from the picture for the time being. The Hutts may want to deal with Boba directly, but it's clear that they don't want to deal with the Pykes. Pykes are ruthless criminals that are so feared that messing up a spice deal warrants a death sentence for you and your entire family. When given the option, why not just give Boba a fighting chance and let him and the Pykes duke it out?

There's also an implication that the Hutts were never the same since Jabba's death or otherwise, the Hutts would have reestablished themselves on Tatooine years ago rather than let Bib Fortuna run things.

 

Ming-Na Wen is a star and her performance as Fennec is brilliant. While some may say Boba is the star, Fennec definitely can rival that. This episode showing her being saved and the arrangement between her and Boba added so much depth to her. Her character development is continuing to get better and better.

 

I liked that she had obviously heard of Boba Fett but since his face is so ubiquitous throughout the galaxy she didn’t make the connection automatically.

 

I think she has already met him, his line "Boba is dead" implies that she knew him. Otherwise "Boba Fett is dead" or "Fett is dead" would be more appropriate.

 

I dunno, seems more like just by reputation to me. This is closer to Mando timeline than right after RotJ, there's time for word of his assumed demise to have spread. She's in that world, privy to the hearsay.

 

I said in this in the episode thread, I genuinely think this show would be much better if she was the main character.

 

she definitely has screen presence, Ming-Na Wen is a fantastic actress. I think one of these episodes she’ll get a lot of focus. Especially if the whole Pyke Syndicate gang is involved.

 

Great episode and great performance

 

So you’re saying that the name of the show prevents you from enjoying it?

 

Its a juggling act really. Boba gets the most development and dialogue, since its his show. Fennec is basically just the cool assassin character who kicks butt, just to give her something to do in the show. Which is very much the difference between the 2. And thats really gonna come down to what you prefer to see. If the roles were reversed would she be less interesting?

 

It struck as ambiguous as to whether Boba and Fennec had met each other beforehand.

 

I don't think that's what I'm saying, what I'm saying is, she would be better at the leadership role than Fett is, she makes the decisions so far really and she puts in the work, he stands around doing almost nothing.

 

OK, so if the show was exactly the same, but called “The Book of Fennec Shand,” you’d be enjoying it?

 

Well as the two current roles are written, if she was in the leadership role and Fett was the support character, yes. She is far more interesting thus far in far less screen time.