The Star Wars universe is packed to the brim with seemingly infinite characters, some insignificant, some crucial. But almost any character in a franchise this popular can be some fans' favorite, so where these iconic figures pop up is an important decision. The Book of Boba Fett started from the humble concept of giving a beloved character with very little actual exposure in the source material some time in the spotlight.
Along for the ride were a variety of characters from the larger Star Wars universe, some of whom took up a shocking amount of screen-time, but others were barely featured. Cad Bane drops by in the final moments of the penultimate episode of The Book of Boba Fett, and immediately takes on the role of major antagonist.
Before his appearance, the main bad guy of the piece is an amorphous mass of hired guns and dangerous enforcers for the Pyke Syndicate. Boba Fett's turf war for the territory he stole from Bibb Fortuna features plenty of henchmen, but no heavy hitters. After an episode and a half of cross-promotion for other upcoming Star Wars products, Bane appears as if from nowhere. The character is the only named antagonist present in the short series, but his presence is not long. Bane appears a couple of times throughout the single episode after his introduction, but he ultimately gets lost in a show with a modest runtime and a shameless cast of characters.
Cad gets exactly four scenes in his first live-action appearance. He walks out of a sandstorm to confront Cobb Vanth at the newly christened Freetown. He threatens the Marshall, encourages him to stay out of the upcoming conflict, and reveals that he is being paid by the Pyke Syndicate. Bane throws down in an old-fashioned western duel and blasts both Vanth and his deputy. He then disappears as quickly as he came and the episode ends. Episode Seven sees Bane chat with his employers. He claims that he succeeded in convincing Freetown to fall back, then learns that the syndicate is responsible for slaughtering Boba Fett's beloved Tusken Raiders. Bane reappears when it's time for the final battle, taunts Fett with that information, and tries to goad him into action. He is rebuked, however, and disappears into the exciting maelstrom until it's time for the final duel.
Cad Bane's final showdown with Boba Fett is the strongest moment for the character in this series. Hardcore fans are aware that the two bounty hunters have a history, and that Bane actually helped to train Fett in the ways of the craft. The pair engage in yet another old-fashioned Western quick draw competition. Bane wins handily, but Fett's armor saves him. The resulting fight lets both men show off their similar skills and equipment. Bane gets to speedrun through his self-centered philosophy to show the apparent growth Fett has undergone. Fett wins the fight with his gaderffii stick, the symbol of his time with the Tuskens, and his new lease on life. Fett kills Bane, officially ending Bane's first, and possibly last live-action appearance.
So, three dialogue scenes, two duels, and a fairly solid dark reflection of the protagonist ending. That's Cad Bane's lot before his demise. His death isn't the problem, it's perfectly reasonable that he would die here. The problem is that they took this character that tons of fans love and put him into this minor role, with barely any screen-time to establish his narrative weight. If the character was introduced in an early episode, or if he was teased as a threat that loomed over the horizon it would be very different. Cad Bane could've been the thing that kept the audience on the edge of their seats as the plot continued. Unfortunately, The Book of Boba Fett had way too much on its plate to even try building up a primary antagonist.
It is reasonable to ask whether Cad Bane really deserves better. He's always been one of many bounty hunters who can be called up at a moment's notice to fill an antagonist for hire role. Bane came to prominence for plenty of fun villain moments throughout The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch. Some characters don't need to be main characters, but an entirely new character could've largely filled the tiny role Cad Bane filled in this show. Bane isn't an especially deep or complex character, but that's part of what people like about him. It's important that not every character become the main character. Maybe Bane's perfect lot in life was to show up out of nowhere, barely interact with the plot, kill one named character who turns out to have survived later, and die. But, if the show hadn't spread itself so thin, it could've still handled its antagonist better.
A villain walking in from offscreen and relying entirely on visual recognition to swiftly establish himself is just lazy writing. The Book of Boba Fett packed way too much, including ads for other shows, to be a truly satisfying narrative.