{🚨SEMI-SPOILERS🚨}: Created by Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, Skeleton Crew follows four kids who make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet that results in them getting lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy. Finding their way home and meeting unlikely allies and enemies will be a greater adventure than they ever imagined.
This is the seventh live action Star Wars series that introduces us to new characters and a new story set in the galaxy far far away, though out of the many Star Wars shows that were slated to release I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one upon hearing its premise from the initial announcement. But when I learned more about its premise, as well as its extremely talented crew comprised mostly of A24 veterans under the leadership of Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, my interest in the series grew gradually as the show grew closer to release.
These days it’s hard to get excited for any new Star Wars shows when you have a bunch of whiny twats in the fan base running their stupid mouths and ruining everything but I held strong with my excitement for this series and hoped it would be as good as promised with the creative team it had involved. This series ended up absolutely blowing me away with just how amazing it was as it completely exceeded my initial expectations delivering quite possibly the best original Star Wars series we have had to date that has no deep connections to previous entries and is a phenomenal standalone story.
Skeleton Crew is a beautifully crafted and swashbuckling coming-of-age adventure filled with heart, wonder, fun, charm, thrills, pirates and classic Star Wars magic that I feel was very much needed for the franchise. While I have liked or loved a majority of the live action Star Wars shows we have been given so far this one felt very special to me as it touched my heart in unexpected ways and made me truly fall in love with the world of Star Wars all over again. Watts and his extremely talented crew brought an amazing series to life that was passionately crafted on every level and deserves far more attention than it has been getting.
Now due to the way this series is I will need to discuss some spoilers regarding certain characters and plot points so if you have not seen the series yet up to episode five do not read past this point, but know that I won’t be delving into any spoilers regarding some of the majors twists or events that occur throughout the series.
Unlike the previous cast ensembles of the other Star Wars shows this is the first one to have an ensemble full of unknowns, lesser knowns or underrated cast members and yet all of them were fantastic in the series. The four kids at the heart of the show are absolutely phenomenal, given extremely dedicated performances by their respective cast members and offering a new generation of heroes for younger fans to grow up with, as well as offering older fans a much needed chance to feel like a kid again.
We start off with Wim, played by Ravi Cabot-Conyers, who is by far the most adventurous member of the group who dreams of being able to go beyond the protection of his home and be a part of the larger galaxy that he has read about only in outdated stories. Through crazy circumstances he ends up getting his wish granted but not in the way he expected as he gets thrown into dangerous situations that force him to find courage in his heart and be there for his friends in order to survive.
He endures numerous harsh doses of reality in his journey across multiple worlds that fractures his perception on the galaxy based on his imagination, but he retains his willful spirit and expands it, taking on the persona of a Jedi in the making. Ravi Cabot-Conyers played this role excellently and I hope to see him continue to grow and be able to expand his talents elsewhere.
Next up is my favorite of the four who just so happens to be everyone’s favorite in the entire series, which is Neel the elephant-like alien boy played perfectly by Robert Timothy Smith. Oh my god I absolutely adore Neel! He is easily the cutest and most wholesome character we have had in Star Wars next to Grogu. While his best friend Wim is a super adventurous kid, Neel is more reserved with a goody two shoes kind of attitude and an innocently pacifist ideology when it comes to conflict, making him the purest character amongst the kids. His whole world gets turned upside down when he gets thrust into an adventure that has conflict and deadly stakes at every turn yet he manages to retain his heart and kindness throughout the whole ordeal even in a galaxy that doesn’t have much of both. With his very well written qualities, an amazingly adorable practical design, and an incredibly heartfelt performance by Robert Timothy Smith this makes him easily one of the most instantly lovable characters of the series.
Then there is Fern, played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong, who is the most headstrong and fiery personality amongst the kids. But despite seeming like a mean spirited individual that tries acting like a grown up upon first meeting her she is a compelling character that is simply using that fiery personality as a mask to hide the fact that she’s just as scared and insecure as the rest of the kids are with the situation they are put in. We get to see her evolve and mature over the course of the journey as she learns to show proper compassion for others, learn that not everyone is an enemy and that it’s ok to still be a kid that has growing up to do. I’m glad Ryan Kiera Armstrong got the chance to shine as an actress with much better material to work with compared to the last project I saw her in, which was the disappointing adaptation of Stephen King’s Firestarter.
The fourth final kid of the group is KB, played by Kyriana Kratter, who is a close friend of Fern and wears a cybernetic visor connected to an implant on her head ever since an unspecified accident. At first she is presented as the tech wizard of the group who is capable of a lot of things and hugely comes through for the group in the most dire of situations, but it is revealed that she herself has her own limitations as a result of her condition.
She ends up having one of the most emotional moments in the series, especially in episode 6, where Kyriana Kratter delivers such a heartfelt performance and genuinely conveys what it’s like to have a disability or an invisible disability and the anxiety that can come from advocating for yourself. The fact this series manages to tackle disability of children and accepting ones differences in such a beautiful way through this character was honestly such a wonderful surprise to see, given that this kind of representation is usually never shown in TV and film. It empathizes that it’s okay that not everyone can do the same things as others and serves as a valuable moral lesson to kids and even adults that should be taken to heart.
The thing I find so whimsical about this group is the way that I can see myself in every single one of the kids with their distinctive personalities and traits, which makes me love them even more. And despite their individual traits they all showed how warmth and kindness will forever be key features of Star Wars as they grow together through superb chemistry as a true crew over the course of the series that doesn’t turn on each other for money like the vicious pirate crew they encounter.
Joining the group on their journey are two individuals from the realm of space piracy: SM-33, voiced by Nick Frost, and Jod Na Nawood, played by Jude Law. SM-33 (or Smee if you are a Peter Pan fan) is a decrepit droid who is first mate of the Onyx Cinder, the ship the kids accidentally activate and fly off with. SM-33 joins the long line of insanely lovable droid characters in Star Wars with his unhinged pirate personality and hilariously awesome moments of swashbuckling action that make him a shining star in the series. Nick Frost was the perfect casting for this kind of character, brilliantly delivering humorous piratey dialogue while also proving to be immensely threatening even in his decrepit state.
Jod Na Nawood is a Force-sensitive pirate who starts off as an ally of the kids to help them get home but slowly begins to reveal his true colors. Jude Law delivers a stellar performance as this character, offering immense charm when he is initially presented as a sleazy slimeball of a pirate that goes by multiple aliases, but he then kick things into high gear with his performance when he takes an unexpectedly dark turn, becoming a legitimate threat to the kids.
Jod is such a cleverly written character that you at first expect to grow a heart and change into a better man throughout the series because of his travels with the kids, but instead, he proves himself to be a really greedy bastard that isn’t hesitant to commit heinous acts to accomplish his own agenda making for a great subversion of expectations. Jude Law delivers some truly incredible acting moments in this performance with his talents that feel properly utilized in the world of Star Wars.
The supporting cast of characters and guest stars featured in this series also bring their all to their respective performances, making the adventure feel larger than life and delivering lots of fun, emotion, or tension with their involvement and interactions with the main characters no matter how small or large their involvement is.
Tunde Adebimpe as Wendle, Wim’s dad, and Kerry Condon as Fara, Fern’s mother, play excellent performances as the parents of their respective kids that get their own times to shine in the series, even in small amounts, as well as accurately portraying distressed parents that unravel the true nature of their homeworld.
We also have Kh’ymm, voiced brilliantly by Arrested Development star Alia Shawkat, who is an unidentified owl-like alien and map expert who ended up being an absolute gem of a character that I loved the moment she came on screen. Not only does this character have an incredibly unique design that is a flawless blend of puppeteering and light CGI but she also has such a humorous voice and lovable personality that makes me eager to see more of her in the future. She’s the memorable kind of fantasy quest character that perfectly matches the tone of this series.
Then there is Brutus, voiced by Fred Tatasciore, a Shistavanen member of Jod’s former pirate crew who led a mutiny against him and took over, who serves as one of the antagonists of the series. He was an absolutely awesome and menacing villain to have present in the series, offering intense stakes with his vicious look and merciless personality as a pirate. On top of that Fred Tatasciore provides an incredible voice performance as this character.
There are some great guest stars involved, played by some surprising faces, but there are no major cameos from characters from other Star Wars projects, marking this series as the first show in a long time to not have a deep connection to characters or lore of the Skywalker Saga, which is honestly refreshing.
The show has an excellent and creative story full of light hearted fun, tension fueled thrills and a distinct aesthetic that pays homage to Amblin classics but still feels like a part of the Star Wars. Many people have compared this series to the Goonies and in a way they are right as it shares similar narrative elements and tone with sprinkles of Treasure Planet included. That being said it still feels like a fresh and unique adventure that explores as well as expands upon less explored corners of the Star Wars universe while introducing new concepts and elements at the same time.
And despite being a show about kids on a space pirate adventure that has emotional moments and Indiana Jones like escapades it also manages to build up a very compelling mystery surrounding their homeworld that has surprising golden secrets hidden within what appears to be a soft-authoritarian, isolatory regime that has no knowledge of the outside galaxy past the events of the Old Republic. This means that the people on this planet including the kids have no clue about Order 66, the Empire’s reign, or even the galactic civil war that this story takes place years after. I love that this series doesn’t drip-feed everything and that we’re given key info while the world is allowed to develop by simply existing.
It’s also very much a standalone story that, as mentioned before, has no deep ties to the previous Star Wars installments, making it stand out and be a great gateway for newer fans to enter Star Wars through the perspective of new yet relatable heroes. But don’t let the fact of this show being led by kid characters turn you off from seeing it because there is a lot for adults to enjoy and be engaged, especially when the stakes get escalated immensely as the series progresses when the fun and adventurous nature of the show combines with the grim reality and intensity you’d expect from a pirate story.
Every episode is extremely enjoyable, offering a different little adventure that brings our crew closer together and all leads to an amazing finale that gives us a thrilling and satisfying ending, while leaving the story open for a second season not leaving too many threads hanging like The Acolyte’s ending did before its sudden cancellation.
This series features absolutely incredible technical work featuring stunning visuals and phenomenal effects that lean heavily into practical over CGI, making this adventure feel more alive and magical as well as radiate with its Amblin classic theme. The alien costumes are highly detailed and beautifully crafted, mixing in makeup, puppeteering and animatronics work that gives immense charm to this series along with amazing practical sets that are vibrant and unique. Each planet we visit in this series feels distinct and new to Star Wars, from the suburban At Attin to the pirate-filled outpost all brought to life through well-crafted practical and CGI work.
When CGI is present in the show it all looks fantastic but it isn’t the only special kind of effects featured in this series. We also get a surprising amount of advanced stop-motion animation that brings some amazing sequences to life, including starship sequences involving the Onyx Cinder as well as a thrilling sequence involving a monstrous crab made of complete stop-motion.
Every episode is under the direction of multiple talented directors, most of which are A24 veterans that get to flex their own respective styles, both visually and narratively, while still maintaining the tone and flow of the series under the leadership of Jon Watts and Christopher Ford. There is some truly amazing cinematography on full display throughout each episode all thanks to the unique styles of every director involved, making you feel absorbed into the world presented on screen and bringing forth a mix of emotions based on the context of the scene.
Elevating this fantastic adventure is a phenomenal and whimsical score by Mick Giacchino, fresh off his amazing score from The Penguin. Much like his father before him, Mick brings his own style of music to the world of Star Wars, featuring tonally fitting and thrilling music that enhances all elements of this series, making it feel more fun and tense every step of the way. And given that this series heavily involved space pirates there is a pirate theme to most of the score throughout the series, giving it even more of a unique aesthetic compared to other Star Wars installments.
This series as a whole is an underappreciated gem that deserves far more attention than it has been getting and absolutely deserves to have a second season. Despite having excellent reception by critics and fans online there are not many people talking about the series nor giving it a fair chance when they absolutely should, especially if some of these people have been wanting something new and refreshing from Star Wars that isn’t deeply tied to something else. If you haven’t seen this series I highly encourage that you do. I’m going to give Skeleton Crew Season 1 an A+ = 99.
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