By George & Josh Bate
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew – Episode 3
The reaction to the first two episodes of the latest Star Wars series Skeleton Crew was extremely positive, with fans and critics alike praising the light-hearted adventure tale of children lost in a galaxy far, far away. In a way that a select group of Star Wars projects have been able to do in the past 10 years, Skeleton Crew seems to have the unique quality of uniting all kinds of Star Wars fans, who typically gravitate to different types of stories. With such a strong start, hopes were high heading into the third episode of the series, which similarly compels and continues to intrigue with all sorts of mysterious elements.
The third episode kicks off where the second episode left off, as the group of kids find themselves locked away in a jail cell. As shown at the end of episode 2, the kids are able to escape the cell with the help of a mysterious hooded figure, revealed to be Jude Law. Given Law’s entrance into the show was the two-episode premiere’s cliffhanger-esque moment, episode 3 is the first time Law’s character gets to step into the spotlight.
Law’s character (who introduces himself as Jod Na Nawood) accepts Wim’s label of him as a Jedi, seemingly using the Force to allow him and his fellow prisoners to escape captivity. The kids, in particular Wim, are starry-eyed at the sight of a Jedi, as is the audience of the show. Skeleton Crew takes place during a time in the galaxy in which the number of Jedi are limited to say the least. Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Grogu, and now Sabine Wren are four of the only known Jedi operating at this time, meaning any new addition to the Jedi ranks inevitably stands out. But right from the get-go, something is off about Law’s character. And, as the episode progresses, it becomes increasingly evident that he isn’t quite a Jedi.
Nawood quickly plots a plan to escape Port Borgo (which, as we noted in last week’s easter eggs breakdown, is a great wink to Legends) and uses some very non-Jedi like tactics, including deception, to execute this plot. Fern and the other kids are skeptical of Nawood’s intentions, but they can’t help but put their faith in him. He is an adult in a very scary situation and, so far, he hasn’t given them a reason not to trust him.
The crew make their way back to the Onyx Cinder when they note that their new droid companion SM-33 is still captured. As Law’s character goes to retrieve the droid (voiced by the brilliant Nick Frost), he runs into an old pirate acquaintance, who he informs that he has found the score of a lifetime…
Law shines in all of these early scenes, as he perfectly balances a man who is clearly concealing something while still remaining likable with great chemistry with his young co-stars. It is not long into Law’s first appearance in the Star Wars universe that it becomes clear that Nawood emerges as a fresh and unique Star Wars character, which is exactly what co-creator Jon Watts described him as. He’s very much an anti-hero of sorts, and the fact that the kids are teaming up with him makes the episode even more anxiety-provoking. On the surface, we are getting the sense that he could be a con man-type figure (like Kumail Nanjani’s character Haja Estree in Obi-Wan Kenobi), although that hypothesis doesn’t seem like it will entirely capture what’s going on with Nawood.
With SM-33 reunited with the gang, the mismatched team tries to launch an escape. Unfortunately, they are halted by a familiar group of threatening pirates. This is the same group of pirates who put Captain Silvo (aka Jude Law) in prison at the beginning of the first episode. In certain recent Star Wars shows, the writers have excelled in giving real stakes to stories even if the audience knows the fate of the characters, like in 2022’s Obi-Wan Kenobi. In Skeleton Crew, however, these are brand new characters whose futures are completely unknown, adding immensely to the jeopardy of it all. It is certainly refreshing to see a new crop of heroes emerge, which is one of the reasons why Skeleton Crew feels reminiscent of the first season of The Mandalorian. Like the first season of Jon Favreau’s Disney+ series, the proceedings are more low level and grounded, yet the writing is such that the audience feels an immediate attachment to the characters, just like Din Djarin and Grogu, and feels the weight of the situation they are in the middle of.
What ensues is an intense battle to escape the planet. The group make their way back onto the Onyx Cinder, but find that it has been grounded by cables in order to avoid anyone trying to flee. Law employs his streetwise skills to help them escape the situation in a thrilling action sequence. Skeleton Crew hasn’t had much in the way of action so far, which makes this escape sequence standout. The lack of action in the series until this point isn’t a criticism, however, as the story has organically built up to the point where the kids are now, arguably at a slower pace than expected (highlighted by the star of the show not truly entering until this episode). Approaching the story in this manner allows the audience to spend more time with the kids and prepare for the journey ahead of them, rather than plummeting us into peril from the very beginning.
After a brief skirmish between Nawood and SM-33, the team decide to head towards an old friend of Nawood’s who may know how to locate the children’s homeworld At-Attin. The mystery surrounding this planet was one of the most interesting elements about the first two episodes, and it continues to intrigue in this third outing. On the surface, the Earth-like planet is an idyllic location, although there is something more sinister underlying its picturesque exterior. For starters, the planet has some kind of ‘barrier’ that prevents people from entering and leaving the planet. Why is there a need for a barrier of this kind? There’s also the career assessment test and the entire work ethos of the planet, which all feels a little cult-ish. Then, there’s everyone’s fascination with At-Attin when they hear this is where the kids are from. Nawood and the pirates clearly view At-Attin as some kind of mythical planet, housing an incredible treasure as it once was the Jewel of the Old Republic. Skeleton Crew would be a really entertaining series so far without any of this mystery surrounding At-Attin, but the inclusion of these elements adds a real fascination and intrigue to the show.
The planet that the team journey to next is visually extraordinary. The shot of Nawood and the kids walking amidst the backdrop of a giant shining moon is akin to the famous still in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. Star Wars shows have received some criticism recently for what some perceive to be bland or uninteresting visuals. While there were a few shots of Skeleton Crew episode 1 that had more spotty or lifeless cinematography, so far the show has been aesthetically impressive, and this shot from the third episode is the best of the series to date.
Nawood guides them to the home of Kh’ymm, an owl-like creature who refers to Law as Crimson Jack, which fans of Legends will recognize as a terrific and unexpected hidden detail. Crimson Jack was a pirate who first appeared in the original Marvel Star Wars comic series all the way back in 1977. Crimson Jack made his canon debut in the comic book miniseries Halcyon Legacy. The character brandishes a distinct beard and ginger mullet in the comics, quite different from how Law presents in Skeleton Crew. Nonetheless, Law being referred to as Crimson Jack can’t be a coincidence. Is it possible that the creators of Skeleton Crew have purposefully ignored how Crimson Jack has appeared in canon so far in order to make Law play this character? Or is Law’s character merely using Crimson Jack as a pseudonym? Between Jod Na Nawood, Crimson Jack and Captain Silvo, Law’s character has now been referred to be by three names. ‘Crimson’ may also have Star Wars fans thinking of the crime syndicate Crimson Dawn, which was started by Maul and eventually taken over by Qi’ra. ‘Jack,’ meanwhile, could be a slight nod to Captain Jack Sparrow, one of the most well-known fictional pirates. Again, there are a lot of question marks surrounding Law’s character and, so far, we are completely invested in uncovering what his character is all about.
The owl creature Kh’ymm is beautifully realized, seemingly with a combination of practical effects and CGI. Kim almost immediately stands out from other adult characters in the show so far, as she takes an immediate, almost maternal care for the children. She is arguably the only truly trustworthy character the kids have met since leaving their home world, and she provides them with a clue to get back home. Kim also ensures the kids that she is always there to help them if they need it, and warns them about Nawood. It is a heartwarming moment that highlights the good in the galaxy amidst the evil of the underworld. The owl is adept at reading maps, both old and new, a skill which she uses to help track down At-Attin. Map reading and interpretation have been plot fixtures of various Star Wars stories of late, including The Force Awakens, The Rise of Skywalker, and, most recently, Ahsoka. Skeleton Crew joins the list with a story point about a map, but doesn’t do so in a way that feels like it is repeating beats from other stories.
Nawood and the kids then must briskly depart Kim. The team retreat to the ship just in time and flee, leading to a tense confrontation between Nawood and the kids. Here, Nawood essentially admits that he is not a Jedi when he remarks that he never explicitly told the kids he was Jedi. The kids, Wim especially, feel betrayed by this deceit, but also understand that he is still their best chance of getting home. Many things are still to be explained, however, mainly how Nawood was able to use the Force several times to aid them in their escape (and why didn’t he do it before they arrived?). Even when questioned about his Force abilities, he shows them off again by turning the lights on and off, leading one to wonder if he is truly Force sensitive or if he’s performing some type of elaborate magic trick (like Haja Estree, as we mentioned previously). Between the mystery of Jod Na Nawood and the question marks surrounding At-Attin, Skeleton Crew becomes more than an adventure series – it becomes a mystery we can’t wait to unravel.
VERDICT: 8/10
Skeleton Crew’s third episode sees Jude Law’s mysterious ‘Jedi’ take the spotlight as the mystery of the planet At-Attin unfolds. Retaining the freshness and joyfulness that made episodes 1-2 so great, episode 3 builds out the new series in further delving into the mystery of the children’s home world and introducing a whole host of new questions regarding Law’s character. In addition to featuring more action than the first two episodes, this latest installment also offers lots of fun exchanges between the four kids as they continue to navigate a perilous situation. Neel Nation will certainly be happy (as everyone’s favorite new Star Wars character flies a ship by himself in this episode!), while the Amblin influences continue to shine brightly in this Goonies-esque adventure tale. Intriguing and immensely fun, the third episode will likely once again unite different kinds of Star Wars fans with a sense of universal enjoyment as Skeleton Crew continues to exceed expectations.