Skeleton Crew

I cannot for the life of me understand why Obi Wan and The Acolyte look cheaper than this show. From a production standpoint Skeleton Crew has been the first Star Wars show in a while that feels expansive, full and fun.

For all the lack of passion that's been felt as an audience member of Star Wars for some time, the last place I'd expect to feel this IP redeem itself was a kids series. My favourite Star Wars films/shows have always been the darker ones, Episode 5, 3, Andor, some parts of Rogue One and the Mandalorian. But Skeleton Crew captures a perspective that's been sorely missed from Star Wars - kids.

I feel a sense of wonder, adventure and stakes I've not enjoyed from this universe in some time. It's also, rather exhaustingly, the only thoughtfully directed show they've put out besides Andor and a decent handful of The Mandalorian. There's actual scenes, actual character growth, mis en scene that's telling story instead of just looking 'Star Wars.' Star Wars has always been for kids as much as adults - the irony is it took them to make a kids show remind us that basic story telling craft still exists as Disney. Please keep making shows like this for kids, and please keep making shows like Andor for adults. It's the riding the middle that's continuously tanked the tone of other entries - Obi Wan is a perfect example. It had no idea who its audience was, and committed poorly to trying to fit in everyone. Boba Fett is another example that springs to mind.

Kudos to the showrunners for bringing something fresh to Star Wars. Sure, heavily influenced by the kids on bikes era - but a fresh take in this universe joyfully received by myself and my partner.

This show is perfect for kids. Don't listen to the cranky millennials and Gen x reviewing the show. 80s vibe like stranger things, has mystery, adventure, pirates, everything kids will love!

The adult main character (I think he will be the main character) is one of my favorite actors. He's never let me down before, I'm sure it's going to be great!

To be honest, this is a refreshing change. I haven't liked much star wars stuff Disney has put out lately. Andor was good.. And I'm not sure whatever happened to the mandolirian. The show makes be feel like a kid again and I hope it only gets better.

I can imagine how the initial pitch went like: "It'll be like The Goonies but in the Star Wars universe! We'll take the angle of kids to look into the concept, while making it interesting via elements from The Treasure Island with a visual touch of Pirates of the Carribean. Think of how Super 8 worked - a Spielberg-ish childhood fantasy!"

So much effort, so many visual details and trivia, yet, you can get bored along the way. Because Star Wars stuff is no longer being "created". It's simply being "generated" the way AI generates images. I'll be glad if this one manages to attract today's kids into the original Star Wars stories but if the question at hand is whether adults would be on board this pirate ship, not so sure here.

The Mandalorian rocks as the unique SW series that had gravitas of sort, leaning more towards Sergio Leone westerns than to cheaper space operas. The Acolyte was a betrayal to SW at the very least. Skeleton Crew is, well, neither so bright nor so demented. I don't feel like glorifying or trashing it.

But I do have some resentment with Disney's treatment of SW... They never even tried to respect and explore the essence of the concept... Rather, they turned it into a "setting" for whatever series they felt like doing. It was wrong. SW is, in and of itself, a dynamic network of valuable ideas and stories to communicate. What Disney+ had been doing is to utilise it for external agendas, concerns and pushes.

Anyways... Unlike The Acolyte, Skeleton Crew is at the very least not toxic - so far. (And I'm waiting for the great explanation to why a Jedi would need to wait for some kids to be thrown in his jail cell in order to perform his most simple trick and make the key come to him!)

I'm approaching this review cautiously, acknowledging that 'Skeleton Crew' appears to be targeted towards a younger audience. While children may enjoy it, I found the first four episodes quite underwhelming.

The story lacks depth, feeling more like a children's movie that jumps from location to location without much consequence. The war backdrop feels superficial, and the action sequences lack the impact they should have.

The acting, while not terrible, could be stronger, especially considering the caliber of some of the cast members. Even Jude Law, at times, seems to be phoning it in.

The production design is impressive, but it can't save a story that feels slow-paced and ultimately rather forgettable.

Perhaps the series improves later on, but based on my initial viewing, I remain unconvinced. Please prove me wrong!

Although Skeleton Crew is aimed at kids to bring in the next generation of Star Wars fans, it surprisingly appeals to older viewers too. In this Star Wars series, four kids discover a buried starship in the woods on At Attin, a peaceful and prosperous planet hidden in a galaxy full of pirates, greed, and chaos. Dreaming of adventure-at least some of them-the kids accidentally activate the ship and end up lost on the far side of the galaxy. Thankfully, the ship comes with a run-down droid who helps guide them. But since the kids have lived a sheltered life, they often stumble into trouble.

While it's unmistakably Star Wars, Skeleton Crew feels like an 80s kids' adventure movie-think The Goonies-but set in space. For long-time fans, it's packed with nostalgic touches, from the gear and spaceships to the alien creatures, all reminiscent of the original trilogy. Hardcore fans will also love the many Easter eggs sprinkled throughout, which bring back fond memories of the franchise's early days.

I especially appreciated seeing younger versions of various alien species we know from past films. It makes the galaxy feel more connected, showing that some alien races are a constant presence rather than one-off appearances. There are also fun cameos, like a brief glimpse of a boy who looks like a young Kylo Ren. These little details keep you hooked and eager to spot more.

Jude Law, the biggest star in the cast, doesn't appear until the end of the second episode, so it's hard to judge the overall acting quality early on. The young actors, though less experienced, do a decent job. Two of the main kids stand out, reminding me of performances in classics like The Goonies or Stand by Me. One of the four kids is a non-human alien, which makes it tricky to evaluate their acting, and another wears a cybernetic visor that hides much of their facial expression, bringing to mind Geordi La Forge from Star Trek.

The production quality is top-notch, with Disney's budget clearly on display. The special effects are flawless, leaving nothing to criticize. However, the episodes are quite short, and the long end credits-over five minutes-feel excessive. With only eight episodes in the season, I worry the story might not progress much unless the pace picks up significantly.

Despite these concerns, Skeleton Crew has been a pleasant surprise. It's fun, nostalgic, and engaging for viewers of all ages. I'm excited to see where the story goes and glad that it offers something even for adult fans of the Star Wars universe.