Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

[Buttmunch]

Yeah, it was a strange episode, certainly the weakest of the series so far. It was nearly filler but learning more but At Attin’s sister worlds and 33 having been there previously did add to the mystery a bit. Makes me think their next move is to find a droid smith that can dig into 33’s memory, not unlike tRoS. We did see those little guys last season of Mando so it’s not out of the question we could see them again here too.

 

[Asta]

A Skeleton Crew music video... sung in Huttese...

 

[Hellion]

Definitely a bad episode. I don’t understand why the kids were made to lead the group after firing guns for a few minutes or what the leader of that groups whole deal was or the build up to some conflict only to have Jod solve it all with a simple purchase…or why the other group didn’t just kill him, take his credits AND keep the eopies? I feel like there’s always a dud with every series so hopefully this is it and the rest is gold because I’ve really been enjoying it otherwise.

 

[Asta]

Definitely a bad episode. I don’t understand why the kids were made to lead the group after firing guns for a few minutes or what the leader of that groups whole deal was or the build up to some conflict only to have Jod solve it all with a simple purchase…or why the other group didn’t just kill him, take his credits AND keep the eopies? I feel like there’s always a dud with every series so hopefully this is it and the rest is gold because I’ve really been enjoying it otherwise.

From watching a few reviews of the episode it was concluded that the answer was to make them into child soldiers: cannon fodder to take the risk instead of their own people.

It was that dark. Which doesn't make this episode feel any less strange.


There needed to be another half hour to make all the events slot into place, so it didn't feel so much like a bad dream. It's as though the writers ran out of time, or were having a bad day and couldn't put their minds to the task.

Meanwhile the kids were doing the best they could with what they were given. The beginning and end were strong, it's just that whole middle section between arrival and reaching the tower that needed a complete rewrite.

 

[The Buffinator]

There was a LOT that went unexplained/made little sense in that middle section, like (a) why neither of these clans fighting over scraps on a world seemingly decimated by war were interested in confiscating a functional spaceship that landed in their midst, or (b) how Jod knew that buying the eopies would avert the conflict and lead him back to the kids. Regarding the latter, I suppose the Hattan could have told Jod about their theft of the eopies and that it was likely the Troiks had the kids. But I guess the budget didn't allow for the development of any actual Hattan characters to interact with Jod so we're left to fill in the blanks lol.

 

[Hellion]

From watching a few reviews of the episode it was concluded that the answer was to make them into child soldiers: cannon fodder to take the risk instead of their own people.

It was that dark. Which doesn't make this episode feel any less strange.


There needed to be another half hour to make all the events slot into place, so it didn't feel so much like a bad dream. It's as though the writers ran out of time, or were having a bad day and couldn't put their minds to the task.

Meanwhile the kids were doing the best they could with what they were given. The beginning and end were strong, it's just that whole middle section between arrival and reaching the tower that needed a complete rewrite.

See that’s what I was thinking, it seemed pretty straightforward but then they were only like 3 feet behind them. I dunno it was just weak reasoning, there really could have been a much cooler scenario going on down on that planet other than a completely generic Hatfields and McCoys situation

 

[Buttmunch]

A Skeleton Crew music video... sung in Huttese...

I’m actually really loving this! This just goes to show they came to have fun with this series.

 

[Khev]

Jod knew that buying the eopies would avert the conflict and lead him back to the kids.

Sounds like a riveting Star Wars adventure!

 

[Wor-Gar]

Pee-you-sa

 

[Asta]

Episode 5 is back on track.

And this one's laced with some adult themes. One theme in particular seems to dominate...

Fern: "What's a concubine?"

Jod: "That's enough story time for now."


When Jod startles Wim, and Wim hurriedly puts his data pad face down on the deck, Jod asks what he's doing.

"Nothing."

Jod immediately assumes he was looking at porn.

Then they arrive at the pleasure planet, Lanupa: "Our facilities are intended for adult guests only. Children are not permitted." "Luxury served by indulging each guest's unique proclivities."


The route to Captain Tak Rennod's lair goes back to Star Wars' cliffhanger origins with the series of Indiana Jones style traps, and takes a darker turn when Jod's actions really do show that he's no Jedi. "Refill that chamber with acid."

Then holding a knife to Fern's neck until she yields captaincy of the Onyx Cinder.

The latter is another good example that the kids in this series are written as kids, rather than being preciously smart or courageous.


There are some silly moments played for laughs, and some simplifications such as the data port being in plain sight as an object that stands out.


It's a fun series, but you constantly have to accept that so much is clearly and directly based on real world pirates. I only noticed in this episode that the room at the back of the Onyx Cinder's cockpit is modelled on a captain's cabin at the stern of a sailing ship:

 

[Asta]

In the first episode Fara told the class:

"...At Attin's contribution to the Great Work, keeping the Republic peaceful and strong."

"...we need all the analysts we can get."


In the fifth when we see Wim's dad, Wendle, at work overseen by the security droid...

...it gave me Severance vibes.


That's assuming that they don't know what the 'Great Work' really is, and that what they're analysing is only known by the 'Supervisor'.

 

[Otomofan]

Much better after that stinker episode.

I got major "White Lotus" vibes from the spa planet, probably intentional.

Nice to see a heel turn from Jude Law....I'm sure he'll end up having a heart of gold by the end though.

Was that Diane from Trainspotting in the creepy conctact lenses? It was! Unmistakable voice.

When Wim had his big hero moment, I just KNEW he was gonna have that saber upside down. It sucks being right all the time. I wish Hollywood had a way to surprise me.

 

[Asta]

When Wim had his big hero moment, I just KNEW he was gonna have that saber upside down. It sucks being right all the time. I wish Hollywood had a way to surprise me.

I was expecting it as well, and had a flashback to the Luke with his father's lightsaber meme.

From the angle it looked like he was holding it, Wim got lucky.

 

[davejames]

Well the show is managing to hold my attention so far, and is even mildly amusing at times, so I guess that's progress at least.

The show definitely looks expensive as hell and I've been impressed with all the design work and world building.

And yeah the pirate stuff is a little too on the nose, but it doesn't feel that inconsistent to me with what's already been established in the SW universe.

Not sure I bought Jude's sudden sinister turn at the end, but oh well. I wasn't overly invested in the story anyway. Lol

 

[davejames]

When Wim had his big hero moment, I just KNEW he was gonna have that saber upside down. It sucks being right all the time. I wish Hollywood had a way to surprise me.

True, but I'm at least glad they avoided the cheesy "kid saving the day" thing and remembered that these are still dumb, klutzy little kids in the end who never had a chance against Jude.

 

[Otomofan]

I kept expecting a Jack Sparrow reference.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Great episode. Last week's felt like a different show.

Jude turning like that was very cool.

 

[e30ernest]

I only started watching this show and came into it with low expectations. It turned out to be a nice surprise. Episode 4 was indeed the weakest one so far. Having binged 5 episodes so far though, I was a bit disappointed to having caught up and now having to wait a week for the next episode to drop.

I'm leaning towards Jod being more like Jack Sparrow in the end - trying to serve his own greed but ultimately folding and giving in to be good, at least for a bit before reverting to his old greedy self.

 

[Asta]

The clearest frames of Tak Rennod's face:

The biggest clue may be the skull behind the throne with its Weequay like eyes and spikes:

The spikes are as exaggerated as they became in the animations:

Especially in the case of Hondo Ohnaka:

I wanted him to be Xim the Despot, since he's been made canon by the Solo film and books such as Solo: A Star Wars Story: Tales from Vandor.

However, Xim was human. There were also clues from an interview with the writers that indicated they were creating something new based on their knowledge of the OT, rather than drawing on any older stories.

While that may have been deliberate misdirection I doubt Xim's empire, Dellalt or the Queen of Ranroon will have anything to do with Skeleton Crew, and At Attin's legend as a treasure planet will be as mundane as its existence as the last Old Republic mint.