Warning: The following contains spoilers for The Book of Boba Fett “Chapter 3: The Streets of Mos Espa,” now streaming on Disney+.
Although most of the Star Wars franchise has had its most important players touchdown on Tatooine, the planet hasn’t been properly explored in that time. However, in Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett, the galaxy’s deadliest bounty hunter offers fans a look at the inner workings of the sand planet. In doing so, more light has been brought to its politics and how it ties to crime in the Outer Rim. But there have also been opportunities to tie the show back to previous events in past films and shows. One example involves the return of an unlikely ally last seen in The Mandalorian.
During The Book of Boba Fett‘s third episode, “The Streets of Mos Espa,” a flashback scene has Boba riding a Bantha through the city of Mos Eisley. As he passes by some spikes holding stormtrooper helmets, the shot lingers for a few moments to take in the scene. In the background, a woman can be seen walking with a collection of Pit Droids. This may seem commonplace in the franchise, but some fans have noticed that the woman is actually a cleverly placed cameo by the engineer Peli Motto, who first appeared in The Mandalorian.
Aside from being an engineer, Peli is also a shrewd businesswoman. Because she is one of the best mechanics in Mos Eisley, her crew doesn’t come cheap. But even if she wasn’t the best, she knows how to get her money’s worth, as shown when she shakes down the Mandalorian to get the largest payout for her efforts. Although she has a rough exterior, she also has a maternal side that appears whenever she sees Grogu. In fact, as the Mandalorian goes to find work to pay her for her efforts, she offers to watch the child and keep him safe. Even when she was held hostage by Toro Calican, she never put the child in danger to ensure her safety.
She also shows her maternal side with her Pit Droids. However, if Grogu is just a child then the droids are more like teenagers, as she gives them more of a hard time but will still go out of her way to keep them safe. Ultimately, in a city filled with untrustworthy people. Peli shows that there is at least one person that travelers can count on. Although it’s unclear how long she has been on the planet, The Book of Boba Fett sheds light on more of the character’s history.
In the flashback sequence, there isn’t much to derive from why Peli was walking around Mos Eisley, but her presence helps offer a timeline for when the events occur in relation to The Mandalorian. Following her run-in with Calican, the Mandalorian crosses paths with Fennec Shand. Then, after being left for dead, she is seemingly found by Boba, who helps her and earns her loyalty. When factoring in the chain of events, the cameo by Peli is likely the earliest canonical appearance of the character yet.
Peli Motto, as a character, isn’t as impactful as the Skywalkers or as threatening as Darth Maul. But what she offers when she appears is a safe space in a part of the galaxy that has felt threatening for decades. But her kindness doesn’t come cheap, and it will take some time to prove that someone is honorable enough in her eyes to earn her respect and kindness. Nevertheless, seeing her in The Book of Boba Fett still confirms that she can hold her own and isn’t afraid to defend anyone who may need it, even if she is a little rough around the edges at first.
To see Peli Motto’s brief return, The Book of Boba Fett is streaming now on Disney+.
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