Warning: SPOILERS for The Book of Boba Fett episode 4.
The Book of Boba Fett revealed the name of Boba's biker gang, and it's even worse than the group's Vespa-like speeder bikes. Book of Boba Fett episode 3 features water-monger Lortha Peel (Stephen Root) coming to Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) to complain about a street gang taking his inventory. The water-monger wants Boba Fett to do something about the situation, so Tatooine's new Daimyo confronts the gang members. Unfortunately, he learns that Peel was overcharging for water, and the youths, who modify themselves with droid parts, can't find work to pay for the supply anyway. To fix things, Boba Fett pays the water-monger for his trouble and hires the street gang as his new muscle.
Star Wars fans weren't especially fond of the street gang in their debut. During the Book of Boba Fett episode 3, Boba Fett learns Mayor Mok Shaiz of Mos Espa (voiced by co-showrunner Robert Rodriguez) is double-crossing him, and the street gang takes off after one of the mayor's representatives that tries to escape. However, the gang uses Vespa-like speeder bikes, and the resulting chase through Mos Espa appears incredibly slow. Unfortunately, the colorful speeder bikes made the group the butt of online memes and jokes.
The Book of Boba Fett episode 4 finally reveals the name of the mechanically-modified street gang, and it's not great. In episode 4, Boba Fett finally finishes his bacta tank treatments, and Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) meets him, informing him that there's "no sign of the Mayor." But, according to Fennec, he doesn't have to worry. "The Mods are combing the streets of Mos Espa," she tells him, revealing the street gang's group name. So, in the end, the Vespa-riding street gang members that modify their bodies simply call themselves the Mods.
The name is a bit too on the nose. After all, mod culture, which originated in London, undoubtedly inspired the street gang. In fact, Quadrophenia (1979) appears to influence the rebellious youths' appearances. The film shows young mods who are tired of their dead-end lives. They ride scooters, fight, and challenge the status quo. The Star Wars street gang/swoop gang is basically a carbon copy of mods down to their Vespa-like bikes and punk aesthetic. Unfortunately, by calling their gang the Mods, The Book of Boba Fett gives the group a name that's a bit too accurate.
Of course, there are reasons the series names the group the Mods. In Book of Boba Fett episode 3, Boba Fett learns about the Mods persuing the Mayor through Fennec's report, so the group is offscreen at the time. Since the gang isn't visible, calling the group the Mods allows the audience to identify who Fennec is talking about immediately. In this case, being on the nose is intentional. It may not be the most creative name, but it gets the job done without the need to bring back the Vespas.
The Book of Boba Fett streams Wednesdays on Disney+.
