Skeleton Crew

Since I know a lot of hate will be directed towards this show because of the up-and-down of recent Star Wars, I'm happy to say that this is an up. So far...

The first 2 episodes don't tread new ground, or very original, but that's not a bother, since it delivers well on everything. The cast and their acting are great, costume/set design are probably the best we've seen since Andor, the writing, especially the hilarious banter between the kids, was good. Again, nothing new, but it's intriguing nonetheless, and I'm excited to keep watching. It gives me heavy Treasure Planet vibes.

As someone who hasn't enjoyed recent Star Wars myself, I was surprised by Skeleton Crew. I do hope that everyone slightly interested, or even upset with recent shows, gives it a chance. Don't let the "for kids," talk put you off. Star Wars is made for all, and so is this.

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.

Watched the first two episodes and while there is a clear effort to create a "goonies in space" show here, what is so wrong with that? This is a much different take on a story existing in the Star Wars universe. I enjoyed the look and feel of what a suburban town looks like in this world because we have never really seen that. The town they come from reminded me more of the neighborhood from E. T. then anything we had seen recently in shows. The 4 main characters are typical but enjoyable, they each have their clearly defined roles in the group and are acted well by the actors. The pirate vibe isn't necessarily something we have seen played out before and adds a slightly spooky element and an atmosphere of danger. If this was a movie from the 80s it would have fit right in. Enjoying it so far for the new story telling elements in the Star Wars universe, the hints of nostalgia of movies of my childhood, and the fact I can share this Star Wars experience with my kids. Well done!

I've been putting off writing this one for a little while as I wanted to make sure I'd thought through what I wanted to say. This is because, whilst "Skeleton Crew" takes on a lot of the ideas I think that the franchise overall should do, I didn't love it.

At Attin is a remote planet, hidden from the rest of the galaxy by an artificial barrier that protects it from curious starships. Four Children, Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), KB, Kyriana Kratter and Neel (Kacie Borrowman/Robert Timothy Smith) discover what they believe to be a Jedi Temple. However, it's actually a downed and overgrown star ship - which they accidentally use to blast off into hyperspace. Unable to locate their home planet, and in a universe that believes its existence to be a myth, the kids are lucky to stumble across Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law) a force user, who offers to help get them home.

I think that "Star Wars" should perhaps take a leaf out of "Star Trek's" book and produce stories that don't - even tangentially revolve around the Skywalker family. The world, the infrastructure, is built, it seems like madness to me not to use it. Even acknowledging that, for once, this series is designed to bring a new and younger audience into the world, and not for jaded old nostalgia hunters like me, I thought this was fine overall but occasionally struggled to hold my attention. I wonder if I'd have preferred an opened ended, touring the galaxy, opus - rather than the fairly contained story we get here.

I liked the performances from all concerned, and the set pieces when they occur are good - and I particularly enjoyed how the series was essentially "Treasure Island" in space. The child actors, who can often make or break a series like this, are good and there are several excellent vocal cameos.

I suspect that my real feeling is that this would have made a really good movie, if it had been honed down to under two hours, but in terms of 2024 Star Wars series, I think I preferred "The Acolyte".

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!