We’ll never get tired of stories that take us across the galaxy. That’s the case with the latest installment from the Star Wars franchise that hits the small screen tonight. But is it worth your time to check out? Let’s dive in and explore!
Series: Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Where to Find It: The first two episodes are now streaming on Disney+. New episodes drop Tuesdays on the streamer.
What’s It About: The latest Star Wars series comes from Christopher Ford and Jon Watts, who teamed on Spider-Man: Homecoming. This one is a more childlike series, taking place after the events of Return of the Jedi in a remote part of the galaxy where pirates still hold sway. In fact, this is a pirate story.
It also feels like more of a story aimed at younger viewers. It focuses on a quartet of kids on a nice, well-managed planet that make a discovery. It’s a discovery that shakes up their world and sends them on a wild adventure through the galaxy.
You Should Try It If: You’re a fan of adventure tales, a fan of family-friendly entertainment, or a fan of Star Wars stories.
One Man’s Opinion of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
The plot details here are being kept under wraps, and so I won’t spoil that here. The first two episodes are about introducing the characters and the world and taking you on an adventure. If you’re the kind of viewer who enjoys stories like The Goonies, this new Star Wars tale will likely hold some appeal for you. It’s set in the same time period as The Mandalorian, but it’s detached from the rest of the existing Star Wars stories. This shares the same galaxy, but it doesn’t require you to know anything about the existing stories to be able to jump into this new adventure.
The bulk of the early episodes is spent with a quartet of kids. Among them is Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Wim, who wants to have adventure. He’s not excited about the buttoned-up life of his father and others on his world. He wants to be a Jedi. He finds something of a kindred spirit in Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), who despite her position and family wants more adventure and excitement. They are the catalysts that push their friends on this journey.
The adult cast includes Jude Law and Kerry Condon, among others. But in the early going these stars feel like more of supporting players in a story that skews younger. I liked the look and feel of the early episodes, with Watts directing the pilot and David Lowry taking the second episode. The episodes hover between 30-40 minutes, making it a reasonable time commitment. The adventure, characters, and look of the series works well to draw you into this journey and make you curious about where it’s all heading. I had fun with this and if you’re a fan of these type of adventure series, you’ll have fun with it too.