Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Premiere Reignites Wonder

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew™ might be a show with kids as the main characters, but make no mistake: That opening scene is brutal. Maybe even the most graphic in Star Wars™ history. During the New Republic era, ruthless pirates lay waste to every corner of hyperspace they can reach. And Skeleton Crew wastes no time in showing us that harsh reality.

Without any preamble, an aggressor ship crashes into a bulk freighter. This assault doesn’t spare any carnage as hulls explode and bodies are strewn about. The newest Star Wars TV series hits the ground running and even once the kids are brought in, none of that excitement is lost. Skeleton Crew stays true to classic Star Wars themes and offers a refreshing take on Star Wars lore. Here’s our review of the 2-episode premiere.

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A Unique Perspective for Skeleton Crew

For many Star Wars fans, their first foray into the galaxy far, far away happened as kids. That sense of wonder was unmatched when we watched mysterious warriors fight evil foes on strange planets with stranger creatures. Skeleton Crew reignites that same sense of wonder because it’s from the perspective of its main characters, the kids. Our first introduction to Wim, and even Neel, shows them both playing. They pretend to be Jedi in epic battles. We all did that as kids. Immediately, we’re drawn in.

We see the galaxy through these kids’ eyes, and the effect is genius. Since they’re not seasoned pilots by any means, traveling in hyperspace becomes a terrifying ordeal. The absolute vastness of space overwhelms them. Looking out at all the stars, Fern even says, “I didn’t know there’d be so many.” It’s like we’re right there with them, staring in awe at a galaxy too big to comprehend.

Over the course of two episodes, tension perfectly builds. Suburban peace gives way to hyperspace pirate madness as the kids realize their homeworld might have more secrets than they thought. The kid-sized stakes of tests at school and meddling parents quickly transform into life-or-death situations. Besides, anything titled “the Great Work” has to be a little sinister, right? Looking at you, Fern’s mom.

The Kids Create a Perfectly Balanced Crew

Every high-flying adventure through uncharted spacewaters requires the right mix of characters. The fledgling group of gremlins, as SM-33 first refers to the four kids, strikes that perfect balance of personalities.

You’ve got Wim, the spirit of the group who seeks adventure among the stars, just like young Anakin Skywalker. Fern brings that sense of bravado seen before with Han Solo. Both of these heroes in the making compete for the spot of group leader. Then there’s KB with her technical expertise, a loyal problem solver just like R2-D2. Finally, sweet worried Neel has a distinctly C-3PO energy. KB pushes their efforts along with her logic but Neel grounds them with reminders that they’re only kids at the end of the day.

Since they’re kids, the young Skeleton Crew also gets to make big mistakes. They try to scare each other, they compete with each other, and they even betray each other. It makes perfect sense for a conflicted child like Wim, who doesn’t want to endanger his friends but still yearns for something else, to push a dangerous button.

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Skeleton Crew Cinematography

As far as style goes, Skeleton Crew feels like an homage to past Star Wars stories. Practical effects outshine any use of CGI, especially with the eye-catching alien races. Brutus the wolfish pirate leader is just the type of scary-looking villain that a story like this needs. Mick Giacchino (son of composer Michael Giacchino) provides the perfect score for the series, with upbeat trills, sweeping horns, and even a familiar melody as Jod Na Nawood displays a Force trick.

Many are comparing the show to Stranger Things, and for good reason. The four kids embark on a big adventure and leave behind their semi-idyllic homes. However, behind that fascinating uncanny valley of suburbia, At Attin definitely has some secrets. It’s so much fun to explore what Star Wars suburbia would look like, with its municipal highways, green front lawns, and frogdogs on leashes. Also, their schoolwork? As someone who struggled to endure basic geometry, I can’t imagine having to learn liquidity modeling and shifting currency algorithms. But even this small insight into Star Wars school is a fun addition to galactic lore.

Plus, going from Wim staring up peacefully at the cosmos to a frantic “I overslept!” chasing-the-bus moment is maybe the funniest Star Wars transition ever.

Star Wars Easter Eggs

These first two episodes are absolutely full of Star Wars Easter eggs. From the use of “wizard” as slang for “cool,” a word heard in The Phantom Menace™ as well as The Mandalorian™, to the wide range of familiar alien species, there is a lot to catch. The holograms that Neel’s siblings watch are even based on segments from 1978’s infamous The Star Wars Holiday Special™.

As far as aliens go, Brutus the Shistavenen pirate is terrifying, and he’s joined by Vane, a Nikto pirate who first appeared in The Mandalorian season 3. The caged Fuzzball alien is a throwback to a species that appeared in Captain Eo™ and the spaceport ferryman is a Teek, which are from Ewoks: The Battle for Endor™.

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Staying True to Classic Star Wars Themes

Overall, Skeleton Crew stays true to the classic aspects of Star Wars. There are dashes of humor (“un-claimsies” is such a kid thing to say) and just the right balance of adventure and nostalgia. Practical effects help keep the show grounded while the kids’ personalities lift it up into hyperspace.

At their core, Star Wars heroes always dream of something bigger than themselves. They want to find their place among the stars above, defying their destinies to be legendary. It feels like these four are on their way. My only hope is that even more lore is explored throughout the series. As always, I wonder how these characters view the Jedi, especially in the New Republic era. A lot of questions have been raised and I hope they’re answered. But the choice to place Skeleton Crew into the kids’ perspective remains an underlying strength.

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What’s Next for the Skeleton Crew?

By the end of episode 2, the groundwork is laid for many mysteries. Probably the most intriguing matter is the mythology behind the kids’ homeworld. Everyone in Spaceport Borgo knows their planet as a myth. It’s said to be a place of “eternal treasure.” Pirates, bartenders, and bystanders all lose their minds when Wim uses his gold credits, which are apparently from the Old Republic. Is At Attin somehow a relic of the fallen Empire?

Fern was able to get in SM-33’s good graces, but how long will her deception last? The starship Onyx Cinder definitely has a shady history. And then there’s Jod Na. He saves the kids from pirate jail by using the Force, but what are his true motives? More importantly, we must know why was he in the brig in the first place.

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Do you trust Jod Na? And what’s the deal with At Attin?

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