The Story of the Faithful Wookiee

Despite being part of the infamously awful 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special, this cartoon short is well-regarded for one main reason -- it was the first appearance of cult-fave character Boba Fett. Before he showed up in 1983's Return of the Jedi, and decades before he began complicating storylines in The Mandalorian, Fett's first turn as a taciturn bounty hunter was in this animated episode that Chewbacca's son Lumpy watches during the holiday special. The Story of the Faithful Wookiee feels like one part of a long-running serial, because not much actually happens. Luke and the droids go looking for Han Solo; Fett pretends to be a friend while secretly scheming with Darth Vader; our heroes live to fight another day.

As always, Fett is an enigmatic villain behind his face-hiding shield, and the best thing about Faithful Wookiee is the world-building, with Luke et al running around seeking Solo on a planet crowded with fascinating creatures, otherworldly red landscapes, and the odd Imperial soldier in distinctive white armor. Actionwise, though, Faithful Wookiee is a dud. Fett is unmasked drama-free, departing with a bland "We'll meet again, friend," before our friends close out the episode with a joke and laughs all around. The animation style is occasionally beautiful (a scene in which Fett scales a mountainside in search of a life-saving serum is a roseate stunner), but just as often odd (R2D2 is strangely rubbery and flexible). As an artifact, it's interesting, but flawed, and ultimately better remembered for its first look at Fett than for its own dramatic appeal.