Skeleton Crew: A Star Wars Adventure!
We are going off on an adventure!
Skeleton Crew promised us adventure, excitement, and galactic murderous pirates! But did it deliver?
Obviously, the answer is yes.
It delivered all that and so much more. We met new characters like Wim, Fern, KB, Neel, Jod, and SM-33. After seeing the first couple of episodes at an AMC (thanks Fandango!) with the family I knew the show would be something special. As promised the show delivered that Amblin 80’s feel perfectly! It was great to see that tone with a Star Wars twist! As an added bonus, I’ve shown those movies to my kids so they could grow up with them too. We loved the premiere and the show and were 100% in from the start!
Let’s take a look back at the season!
This Could Be a Real Adventure
The show starts in a world that mirrors our own. A familiar setting that feels so alien in a Star Wars story! The kids each have their own identity and goals. When everything is over it’s clear this is the start of a real adventure. The kids are immediately likable and grounded which can be a hard bar to hit.
Way, Way Out Past the Barrier
We see a dangerous pirate port through the eyes of these sheltered kids! The ferryman! The chef’s special! And even the woman who sees the kids and tries to help them! Not to mention the best protector SM-33! A pivotal episode as the kids begin to realize just how lost they are and how dangerous it is out here in this wild galaxy!
Very Interesting As an Astrogation Problem
The kids escape with the dubious Jod but refuse to leave without SM-33. The boys are trusting while the girls are much more doubtful of their new supposed ally. The escape is tense and Jod wrecks the port with a snapped fuel line that makes for a great action moment. We meet Kh’ymm! A small owl-cat creature with vast knowledge of the galaxy who finds coordinates for At Attin while stalling for New Republic forces to deal with Jod/Crimson Jack or whoever he is. The kids escape with Jod just as the X-Wings arrive.
Can’t Say I Remember no At Attin
The coordinates lead to a place similar to At Attin, but very different. In this world (At Achrin) the inhabitants war with each other over resources and the children are soldiers! The whole place has a topsy-turvy, upside-down, bizarro At Attin feel which is rough and unnerving for the kids. Neel has some excellent scenes and reckons with his own courage while remaining steadfast in wanting peace. In the end, he shows immense bravery in saving his friends from a haywire SM-33! The scene is amazing and reveals more of the mystery of SM-33’s previous captain legendary pirate Tak Rennod.
You Have a Lot to Learn About Pirates
The crew heads to Lanupa to find the coordinates to At Attin in Rennod’s pirate hideout Skull Ridge Mountain.
… Which is now a spa. Much to the dismay of SM-33.
The whole episode is hilarious! 33 complaining about how the pirate is ruined by the new extravagant inhabitants! The kids disguised as wise elders all the while doing kid things in the background. The pirate treasure room is glorious, and the spa setting makes for some beautiful Star Wars visuals. The kids pair off and KB has a fun moment with a wrench. And with all the booby traps, pirates, and bounty hunters after them, the episode is very exciting! It was all fun and games until the moment we all knew was coming. Jod betrays and threatens the kids which is hurtful and heartbreaking!
Zero Friends Again
Betrayed and abandoned the kids need to reclaim their ship and find home on their own. They disagree over how best to do that and split up. This episode is my favorite and the KB/Wim relationship hits home here. Wim might not be the most careful person on the team but when KB needs his help Wim focuses up and does everything he can for his new friend. It’s surprisingly heartfelt and sincere and makes for one of my favorite moments of the entire series. When the kids reunite they have a bit more understanding and empathy. They also blow up their ship to reveal a super cool shiny new one! Not something I saw coming but a rad moment nonetheless!
We’re Gonna Be in So Much Trouble
Jod, a prisoner of his former crew, barters with the coordinates and leads the pirates to At Attin which they plan on plundering together. The kids also head home and are captured by Jod. Jod has completely done away with any pretense of being a good guy. He’s harsh and hurtful to our precious kids who do everything they can to defy him. It’s sad to see how hurt Wim and Neel are when they learn that not everyone is trustworthy. The barrier is an interesting thing to see in action. On the planet, Jod is welcomed by the residents as a Republic Envoy and led straight to one of the vaults filled with the treasure Jod so desperately hungers for. The kids reunion with their families is a scary one.
The Real Good Guys
The At Attin locals are oblivious to Jod’s true intentions and the kids are unable to explain things while under surveillance of the security droids. When Jod meets the supervisor it’s an amazing scene and the supervisor sees right through Jod’s charade. Wim, Neel, Fern, and mastermind KB all come up with a plan to stop Jod while Wendel and Fara desperately try to keep up. The kids work together to foil Jod’s plan with the help of Kh’ymm and the New Republic! Not only that but Wim and Fern convince their parents to believe in them. A beautiful moment when Fern tells her mom that even in a dangerous galaxy there are good people out there too. The action moments are amazing and the kids work so well together now. Neel ain’t even rattled after getting blown up a little bit!
DID I MENTION THE B-WINGS?
While things on their planet will be forever changed, the possibilities are wide open and I want nothing but the best for those kids. Jod’s plan is foiled and I hope he gets locked up for good!
How dare he yell at Neel.
Claimsies
This show rocks.
Skeleton Crew takes such a different approach to nostalgia than so many other things these days. Instead of referencing or winking at us Skeleton Crew takes a Star Wars story and gives us an adventure that stands alongside its inspirations. Much like classic Star Wars, it takes the best of everything that inspired it to create something new and exciting. The main kids all give 100% performance and their characters shine and fully bring us in with their performances. In action, comedy, and drama they feel grounded and dimensional. Jude Law also makes an excellent Star Wars debut. His character has layers upon layers and his charisma shines throughout. The worlds we visit all give us fresh eyes on familiar tropes. Wrap it all up with an air of mystery, naivete, and a coming-of-age story and you have something special. I love and respect how much the story told its own stand-alone adventure. So many Star Wars projects these days have a high price of admission. You heard Andor was great? Have you seen Rogue One? Oh, you want to watch Ahsoka? You should probably watch 7 seasons of The Clone Wars and 4 seasons of Star Wars Rebels. Oh cool! Tales of the Empire! Barriss is a character whose tale is told throughout The Clone Wars and Morgan Elsbeth is in both The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. While many of us love and enjoy all of the media and how it all connects together it can be overwhelming for someone looking for a place to start.
I definitely recommend Skeleton Crew as a great starting place for new fans! A Star Wars adventure that can truly be enjoyed by all generations together.
Check out the Rogue Rebels Skeleton Crew playlist here!
You might also like:
- The High Republic Adventures: Phase II
- Star Wars Rebels
- Episode IV: A New Hope
- Adventures in Wild Space
- The High Republic: Escape from Valo
- Pirates Price
- Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure
The Rogue Rebels 