Ah, friends! Skeleton Crew has burst onto our screens, bringing with it all the fun and fantasy of classic adventure tales of yesteryear. The show follows a group of kids who stumble upon a hidden spaceship that accidentally rockets into deep space. There, they end up in a shadowy outpost full of colorful pirates, and one, the mysterious Jod, also known as Crimson Jack, is willing to help them… as their strange home planet is actually the legendary home of a legendary treasure. .
It's clear, then, that all the ingredients are there for a fun, pirate-filled game across the galaxy far, far away (and that's exactly what I said in our Skeleton Crew review, too). And, as I watched and loved the first few episodes of the show, I realized that it's also clear that this is what Star Wars really needs right now.
I'm not talking (only) about pirates. Skeleton Crew is a standalone story in the Star Wars universe that weaves together all the recognizable elements of the galaxy (there are droids, a shadowy outpost, fun creatures, and even stories about the Jedi), but is not tied to any overarching story ( at least). at least not until now). And that makes it a very welcome breath of fresh air, something I had no idea I even wanted.
Take off
It's no secret that Star Wars has been in a bit of a tough spot lately. Progress on the Rey movie appears rocky, as the Daisy Ridley-starring project recently lost another writer. And then there's the recently announced trilogy, which, while very exciting, I can't help but feel like it's another set of movies that simply won't get made, in the same way that I doubt we'll ever see any of Taika Waititi, Shawn Levy, or Patty. Jenkins' films (although I would love to be proven wrong).
By contrast, Skeleton Crew has felt incredibly refreshing. Its progression to the screen was quiet and unremarkable, and more importantly, it has no complicated ties to the Skywalker Saga. Instead, it's firmly in its own hyperspace lane, with the freedom to tell a fun, adventure-filled story without needing to adhere to any grander designs.
Although that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the Star Wars projects that do join a greater whole. My favorite TV shows of the Disney Plus era have been Ahsoka and The Mandalorian, both of which are deeply connected to much bigger stories. I'm also very excited for The Mandalorian & Grogu, as well as Dave Filoni's upcoming movie (which is said to tie together the Disney Plus shows), along with the Rey movie and the new trilogy as well. But Skeleton Crew makes it clear that there is room for smaller stories in the galaxy, and that we should have more.
And there's a lot to dive into with Skeleton Crew without any of these ties to the larger galaxy. Therein lies the mystery of At Attin: why is it so secluded? It's there In fact A legendary treasure hidden somewhere in all those suburbs? Is everything more sinister than it seems? – as well as the enigmatic Crimson Jack and his undoubtedly murky past. Plus, there are smaller things at stake that are no less important: whether Wim will be able to reconcile with his distracted father, whether Fern's mother will stop pressuring her so much, and whether Neel will be able to return to his loving and adorable family. That's a lot to think about as you watch without all the Jedi and Sith baggage.
Adventure awaits you
In fact, Skeleton Crew reminds me of the original Star Wars movie, specifically, what it would have been like if it had remained independent. It would simply be the story of a young man who discovers an adventure in a large and strange galaxy after escaping from his small and secluded planet; there would be no “I am your father” twists, just a low-key lightsaber fight, and there would be no Emperor. (on screen, at least). There certainly wouldn't be any prophecies, midi-chlorians, Yodas (babies or not), or much, much more.
Of course, I would never say that Star Wars should have stayed and ended, but what I mean is that Skeleton Crew stays true to the heart of the saga even as it carves out its own corner far, far away from the drama surrounding the series. destiny of the galaxy. That's exactly why it's the kind of story Star Wars needs right now: something that gets closer to its roots while also forging its own path. That recipe is also built into its foundation, and the creators told our sister publication, SFX Magazine, that they were inspired by an old LucasArts game.
Time will tell if Skeleton Crew ends up tying into the larger narrative that runs throughout the Disney Plus shows (the creators have already promised that there won't be any “wacky” cameos, but I hope that doesn't mean there's no chance for for Hondo Ohnaka to appear). ), but for now, it's exactly the kind of fun, free adventure across the galaxy I never knew I (or Star Wars) needed.
Skeleton Crew is streaming on Disney Plus now. You can stay up to date with our Skeleton Crew release schedule. For more information, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything the galaxy far, far away has in store.