Every few months, Disney+ invites us back to a galaxy far, far away. While we haven’t gotten a new Star Wars movie since 2019, we’ve gotten a plethora of content set in this famous franchise. The newest addition? Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, which is a coming-of-age show that follows four children who end up on an adventure to make their way home after being lost in the galaxy. Much like with the MCU, Disney+ has been a platform for franchises to experiment with many different styles. This new show is nothing like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Ahsoka, or The Acolyte.
The first three episodes of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew promise a fun, low-stakes adventure into the galaxy we know and love. Those who have seen the trailers may be apprehensive about a show that doesn’t feel very much like Star Wars. And while Jude Law portrays a Force-wielder, the show definitely has a very different feel throughout. The goal is less to make an epic blockbuster but more to make a classic ’80s adventure. In the vein of old Amblin movies like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and The Goonies, we have a group of kids living their ordinary lives before discovering the extraordinary.
Set after Return of the Jedi, this series reimagines the Star Wars galaxy through the eyes of children. It’s an interesting take because it feels like a childlike adventure that only happens to be set in a world we know and love. When we’re first introduced to our main characters, they are not too familiar with everything we’ve seen from the galaxy. Wim, played by Ravi Cabot-Conyers, wants to be a Jedi and is amazed when he believes he has discovered a Jedi temple in his small town. However, his father is preoccupied with work and doesn’t believe him, which leaves Wim to investigate with his friend Neel (Robert Timothy Smith).
A child’s look at the world offers optimism that not every Star Wars protagonist has. They have a wonder to them that also comes with different priorities and bad decisions. While most Star Wars movies and shows are about political battles, oppression, and crime, this show has characters worried about being late for school, taking tests, and trying to find fun in an unremarkable place. It’s a new flavor that Jon Watts brings here, similar to what he did with the Spider-Man movies he directed for the MCU. This show is created by Watts and Christopher Ford, who had previously collaborated on Clown, Cop Car, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. They bring a new flavor to Star Wars that feels welcome to the franchise.
We’re less focused on Jedi, Sith, the Empire, and the Rebellion in this show. But Star Wars: Skeleton Crew doesn’t need it; we have space pirates, blasters, and the Force. This is undeniably a Star Wars show, even if many scenes and situations feel new. The pacing throughout the first three episodes is excellent, and the show picks up more and more as we introduce new characters. A flaw that Skeleton Crew has early on is that the protagonist, Wim, is constantly making bad decisions that propel the story forward. It makes sense because when your character is a child if and they see a flashing light, they’re going to be curious enough to press it; that’s how many children are.
But it can be frustrating, especially when supporting characters like Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) are much smarter than him. Starting in the second episode, the show begins to introduce new characters, like a droid named SM 33, voiced by Nick Frost, and a mysterious Force-wielding stranger played by Law. From here, the show becomes a much more entertaining ensemble piece, even if it feels like the development of the children comes to a bit of a standstill. The show spends more time developing its story and background of their world than it does developing each of the kids as people. However, this issue may hopefully be addressed in later episodes of the show.
While Star Wars: Skeleton Crew can feel low stakes compared to the rest of the galaxy, this is a show about a group of lost kids who need to return home. You can find yourself getting more invested in the danger because you don’t want to see bad things happen to these children, and they often find themselves in environments that put them at risk. This show manages to be lighthearted and entertaining, not aiming for the highest of highs and instead aiming to be a fun show meant for the whole family. It’s definitely a more grounded take that all audiences can watch rather than a dark look at the seedier aspects of the galaxy. It’s a show that young children can enjoy, but adults can enjoy it just as much.
SCORE: 7/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 7 equates to “Good.” A successful piece of entertainment that is worth checking out, but it may not appeal to everyone.
Disclosure: ComingSoon received screeners for our Star Wars: Skeleton Crew review.
