Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Book of Boba Fett episode 1.
The Tusken Raiders encountered in The Book of Boba Fett look different than what Star Wars audiences are used to and might have been expecting. They're certainly more unique than past Sand People seen in the Star Wars galaxy, featured in the series premiere episode as a critical means for Boba Fett's survival after he was almost eaten by the Sarlacc Pit. However, it's probable that the reason this particular tribe looks so unique simply comes down to culture and geography.
In past Star Wars films and series, the majority of the Tusken Raiders seen on screen have been localized around the spaceport of Mos Eisley as well as the Lars Homestead, the childhood home of Luke Skywalker. As such, it's likely that nearly every Tusken Raider seen before The Book of Boba Fett is from a tribe with camps based in the region of Tatooine known as the Jundland Wastes. However, Jabba the Hutt's palace and the sarlacc known as the Great Pit of Carkoon are located in the more northern regions of the desert planet.
When Boba Fett carves his way out of the sarlacc pit he was knocked into during Return of the Jedi, he's still close to death. After Jawas steal Fett's Mandalorian armor, the Sand People soon follow and take him captive. However, while these Tusken Raiders still have the same head wrappings, mouth grilles, and eye covers, their clothing is darker and more decorative than the usual beige garments worn by past Sand People. This is likely because these Tuskens are from a different clan operating out of the Dune Sea, explaining their different form of dress and culture than the Tuskens of the Jundland Wastes.
Additionally, more insights into the Sand People's culture were shown more than ever before, including looks at this tribe's chief and well as one of their children, who was in charge of looking after Boba and his fellow Rodian prisoner. Fett was also given the task of digging for black melons in the dunes, the Sand People's main source of water and hydration beyond raiding moisture farmers. As such, these new Tusken Raiders taking Fett hostage proved to be crucial to his survival after Boba's brutal encounter with the sarlacc's digestive tract.
It makes sense that these new Tusken Raiders would look different than those in the past, seeing as how they're living in a different region of the planet. This makes them a different clan, presumably with their own unique subculture. While they were featured in Boba's flashbacks which revealed how the former bounty hunter survived, it will be interesting to see if he becomes integrated into their tribe further, especially after he saved one of the clan's children in The Book of Boba Fett episode 1.
The Book of Boba Fett releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.
