Star Wars Skeleton Crew Episode 3 Review

The third episode of ‘Skeleton Crew’ helps establish some key facts about Jod and At Attin, with only a little bit of action. This change in pace to the introduction is by no means a bad thing, as the show offers some enjoyable characters and character development, with some excellent species and location design. It shows that this series will also be more like ‘The Mandalorian’, showing audiences new pockets of the galaxy in each episode. 

The first part of the episode deals with the kids’ escape from the pirate starport. Jod frees them, and they all easily get past the pirates, without any hassle. Wim seems to think it’s because Jod is a Jedi, and he’s somewhat convinced the other kids of that too. This results in some hilarious moments where Jod has to put himself in increased danger, like going after SM-33 even though he just thinks it’s a worthless droid. 

While Jod is on this mission, the kids vote on what to do with their new friend. It’s all humourous and all like kids to do this. Jod meanwhile meets up with another pirate, it turns out Jod was a pirate and not a Jedi after all. It still seems like his use of the Force is legitimate though, not magnets or any of the other ways Fern suggests. SM-33 also holds Jod in suspicion, not believing that he’s a Jedi either. It does though seem like Jod geninuely does want to help these kids, though only because he thinks it will get him treasure.

It is a bit of a shame that audiences don’t fully see his fight with the pirates, only a bit with his fight in the transport vessel and Jod freeing the ship from the fuel lines. After this, they jet into hyperspace, with the pirates pursuing bounty hunters. It’s a bit underwhelming. 

Jod again displays his caring nature, making the kids food and putting them to bed. KB displays her suspicion that Jod isn’t a Jedi, which shows how astutue some of the kids are. Jod is taking the kids to a friend of his who can help decipher the coordinates of the kids’ home. This creature is an owl like thing, and lives in an observatory built into a moon, which is rad. It’s something that only ‘Star Wars’ can do. 

It’s here that some crucial reveals are made. At Attic has been cut off from the galaxy for thousands of years, and the inhabitants on the planet think it’s still the time of the Old Republic, evidenced by the fact that the kids are completely unaware that Alderaan has been destroyed, that the Empire rose and fell, or what government is in power. This shows just how cut off the planet is. There is also a hint that the Great Work is related to finding this mysterious treasure. It’s a huge reveal, one that has massive repercussions. 

Kim, the owl-like creature, also outs the fact that Jod’s real name is Crimson Jack, and alerts the New Republic to the fact that he might have kidnapped several kids. It’s something that pays off when the Republic do arrive, and Jod whisks the kids away. However they display that they’re not stupid (at least Fern and KB do), and force Jod to admit more about his backstory (he admittedly never did say he was a Jedi, though he didn’t correct that notion either), that he’s just as lost as they are, but is willing to help them. It shows that Jod does have a spark of Jedi goodness in him, and he clearly just feel in with the wrong crowd. 

A brief spacefight ensures, with the X-Wings trying to disable the Onyx Cinder, and Jod organising the defence. He sets Fern and Wim in the gunner’s seats, and they have a literal blast shooting at the government, further highlighting their rebelliousness. Wim is frustrated that Neel gets to fly, though it’s likely only because Neel got picked to do something cool before he did. They jump to hyperspace, to who knows where. 

Back on At Attin, the parents of all the children are distraught that the children are missing. The safety droids however don’t help the situation, as they relay the fact that the supervisor that a message won’t go out to the Republic. Of course that poses the question of who the supervisor is, and what exactly they know about the situation. The situation on that planet continues to get creepier. 

The third episode of ‘Skeleton Crew’ is less action-centric that the previous two episodes, but it answers some important questions about the show, while also deepening others. While the pirate Starport is quickly left behind, the moon observatory is an excellent location, manned by an owl creature. The spaceflight above the moon was great, and it’s nice that the mystery of Jod wasn’t dragged out unnecessarily.