Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Episodes 1 & 2 Review

‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ is the latest ‘Star Wars’ series to right Disney+, aiming to do something different with the franchise. The first two episodes release on Disney+ together, and they’re a brilliant introduction into this slice of the galaxy, with an energetic beginning, a wonderful cast and an intriguing hook for the rest of the series that doesn’t force people to know reams of lore to understand. It’s a strong start for the show.  

‘Skeleton Crew’ centers around a group of four kids, who live a mundane life on a remote planet, just going through the motions at school. Wim, Neel, Fern, and KB. Wim very clearly longs for adventure, as he spends his time fantasising about being a Jedi. On day, all four of them stumble across a long lost ship that whisks them across the galaxy, forcing them to work together and find new allies to make their way home. 

The first episode beautifully sets up the situation that the kids find themselves in, and the wider galactic scenario as a whole. The opening crawl helps setup the widespread problem of piracy the New Republic faces, followed by a classic pan down and boarding sequence. Pirates are robbing a vessel they believe to be full with credits, and there are some intimidating designs. Chief among these are is the first mate, who has a great aesthetic reminiscent of an alien in the cantina of ‘A New Hope’. He and the rest of the crew stage a muntiny when they find the ship is carrying one measly credit. The New Rupublic are clearly wiser than they seem. 

The rest of the episode focuses on the monotonous everyday life all four of the kids lead. Wim and Neel live out relatable school lives, pretending to be Jedi (who hasn’t had imaginary lightsaber duels?), having crushes, daydreaming about a more exciting life and more. Fern and KB add other parts of this, the rebellious kid and the quiet and reserved one. There’s plenty of humour and to be found in these moments, and it adds a feeling of safety. 

Though there’s something sinister about the planet the kids are on, called At Attin. Its structures and infrastructure looks very Earth-like, safety droids are present everywhere. This is further added to with reference to a mysterious programme called “the Great Work”, a Soviet sounding scheme that inducts kids into helping to keep the Republic peaceful and strong. The barrier is also something that is kept kids thinking that there is only the planet they’re on, with starships not permitted to enter or leave. The droids are also very creepy. In episode two, audiences learn that pirates think Attaton is a lost planet of eternal treasure.

There’s definitely something not right.

Wim gets to explore where he shouldn’t, and comes across what he thinks is an old Jedi Temple. He drags Neel to explore it, with Fern and KB tagging along, humorously messing with the boys like pretending to be the safety droids and calling claimsies. That playful dislike however becomes true dislike when Wim activates the ship, and it flies away. It’s a fun dynamic, again like school dynamics on Earth. Something that’s worth mentioning here is the scale. Sometimes, it’s hard to grasp how big these starships are, but when the Onyx Cinder thunders away, its huge scale becomes apparent when compared to the kids and Wim’s dad. This is something apparent when the pirates board the vessel in the opening too.

Episode two is shorter, though brings the kids to meet SM-33 and the pirate antagonists. Nick Frost voices the droid, who delivers some funny lines as the kids mess with his logic. The rest of the cast are wonderful too, and aren’t awkward or unnatural. SM-33 takes them to a pirate starport, possibly the worst thing he could have done. Here the kids fumble around, trying to ask the galaxy’s scum for directions, even cheekily describing some as aliens. Naturally, this doesn’t go well, and after a fun action seqeuence showcasing SM-33’s punching skills, the kids get tossed in the brig. Neel attempts to demonstrate the bond he’s forged with getting a small critter to get them the key, though it sadly doesn’t work. This is where Jod Na Nawood introduces himself, allegedly he can help them. 

This is where episode two ends. These two episodes are a fantastic opening for ‘Skeleton Crew’, hooking audiences both new and old, maintaining a tone fit for younglings and older Jedi Masters. It stars a wonderous cast, and poses intriguing questions about Attaton that will assuredly unravel over the series. The tone is whimsical yet still takes the franchise completely seriously, and charts a brave and fresh new path for ‘Star Wars’.