Warning: spoilers are forward for the primary two episodes of Star Wars: The Skeleton Crew, streaming now with a Disney+ subscription.
Star Wars is again on the small display screen with Skeleton Crew as the primary live-action undertaking since The Acolyte over the summer time, and I used to be so bummed about that present getting cancelled that I wasn’t significantly trying ahead to the franchise’s subsequent entry within the 2024 TV schedule. So, I did not even watch the trailer for Skeleton Crew when it was launched, and my information of the present mainly consisted of that Jude Legislation had been solid and it was going to be about children.
Nonetheless, I am a fan of the galaxy far, far-off going again to VHS tapes within the ’90s, so I wasn’t going to simply not give it an opportunity when it may turn into among the finest Disney+ Star Wars reveals. The Disney streamer launched the primary two episodes on premiere day, and I perceive why after watching them. So, let’s get into what it was like to observe a Star Wars undertaking fully unspoiled by a trailer and what I used to be most impressed by after two episodes.
Skeleton Crew Is Simply Enjoyable
Look, I really like when Star Wars will get darkish and/or gritty. Rogue One is by far my favourite of the franchise’s motion pictures outdoors of the unique trilogy. I am normally in opposition to even my most beloved characters getting back from sure demise (as Drive ghosts or in any other case). Even my Rebels-loving coronary heart will not rank Ahsoka over the heaviness of Andor. As a child, I’d rewind the the scene of Han Solo being frozen in carbonite, as a result of what’s an area opera with out some tragedy?
However gosh dang all of it to healthful heck, Skeleton Crew was simply a lot enjoyable as quickly as Wim, Neel, Fern, and KB have been launched that I felt like I used to be A New Hope once more for the primary time. This sequence actually reveals Star Wars via the eyes of youngsters greater than even the lighter animated sequence did, and I am hoping that sense of enjoyable does not change in Episode 3 and past.
The At Attin Thriller
The largest thriller of the present to this point issues the planet that the youngsters come from, which they insist is At Attin, not realizing that that is a spot of delusion and treasure to the remainder of the galaxy. That gradual reveal was implausible, so far as I am involved, not least as a result of one thing appeared off in regards to the planet from the beginning. Whereas the Star Wars galaxy is a big place and never each planet goes to be Tatooine, I used to be getting vibes from At Attin that ranged from The Giver to Courageous New World, with out the latter’s problematic points.
It is also good to have a Star Wars thriller that is not essentially going to contain secret Sith or deep Jedi lore or house whales. Is there a wonderfully affordable rationalization for At Attin being a delusion to all people besides the 4 children? Is At Attin an outer house El Dorado? What about Wim’s mint situation Outdated Republic credit score? I do not know, however I am invested to find out.
Fully New Areas
Whereas I do love some good old style Tatooine motion for the sake of nostalgia and I did nerd out when Lothal was introduced into live-action on Ahsoka after being so closely featured in animation on Star Wars Rebels, Skeleton Crew that includes a planet that hasn’t been visited repeatedly in addition to an area port that doesn’t need to be Mos Eisley to be a hive of scum and villainy? Nice to see. Unspoiled as I’m (and will stay), I can not say with any uncertainty that these children will not wind up on any terrain that is acquainted to franchise followers, however I recognize the originality to this point.
The Nostalgic Vibes
I am certain that Skeleton Crew shall be an excellent entry into Star Wars for children, and I beloved the sense of nostalgia that I took away from the brand new present’s first two episodes. The similarities to Goonies aren’t any coincidence after the basic ’80s movie’s director gave some recommendation to Skeleton Crew‘s co-creator, however I additionally discovered myself considering again to A New Hope and Return of the Jedi specifically.
Certain, there have been critical moments and fights in these movies which can be a few of the most iconic in cinematic historical past, however there have been additionally hijinks and shenanigans and Ewoks. Skeleton Crew felt like a tonal throwback to me in the easiest way, and I completed the second of the 2 episodes simply hoping that this would not be the second present this 12 months to polarize probably the most vocal members of the fandom.
The Youngster Actors
Credit score the place credit score’s due – whereas Jude Legislation could be the huge identify connected to Skeleton Crew, he did not flip up till the previous few moments of the second episodes to enigmatically use the Drive. Unspoiled as I’m, do I do know who his character is, how lengthy he was within the brig, or why he waited for a foursome of preteens earlier than utilizing the Drive to fetch the important thing? I certain do not, however as a result of performances from the youngsters, I used to be offered on the present effectively earlier than the John Williams-loving Jude Legislation confirmed up.
The primary solid of youngsters are Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Wim, Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Fern, Kyriana Kratter as KB, and Robert Timothy Smith as Neel, and seeing them bounce of one another jogged my memory of the primary season of Stranger Issues. I hadn’t seen any of these children in any initiatives earlier than their adventures in Hawkins and the Upside Down began, and I did not have any preconceived notions in regards to the Skeleton Crew children both. They make an excellent ensemble after two episodes.
Jude Legislation The Jedi (Possibly?)
Jedi and Sith aren’t at all times my favourite elements of the prolonged Star Wars universe, since I do not assume that every part must contain the Drive to be fascinating. (See: my love of Rogue One and Andor.) So, I am not invested within the concept of Jude Legislation’s character as a Jedi (or not). It is potential his character is anyone acquainted from Star Wars lore primarily based on clues that I simply have not caught, and I have not gone searching for any spoilers since watching the primary two Skeleton Crew episodes. However Legislation’s character acquired a stable introduction to set him up as – I assume – the mentor character of the present.
Now, I do know there’s each likelihood that Jude Legislation’s character is not truly a Jedi, as there are extra Drive customers within the galaxy far, far-off than the identical order as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, however a mysterious Drive-user carrying an extended gown with a mystical music enjoying over the soundtrack makes me assume Jedi. Both manner, this appears unlikely to be a state of affairs like The Mandalorian the place the principle characters’ tales are slowly however certainly absorbed by the bigger mythology of the saga.
All in all, I am a fan of Skeleton Crew after getting into unspoiled, and I am tempted to stay as spoiler-free as potential for the remainder of the season and into the 2025 TV schedule. Whether or not you are with me or not on that, you’ll be able to rely on new episodes of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew releasing on Wednesdays on Disney+.