Arrr, “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” be a wild ride across the stars, matey! For the past six weeks, we’ve been sailin’ through thrilling tales o’ adventure, with young scallywags Wim, Neel, Fern, and KB caught in a grand ol’ storm of mystery.
Alright, enough with the pirate talk—let’s get to the heart of it! We’re sure you’re here after that intense final episode of the adventure. It’s been a wild ride for our four main heroes (and one clever grey scoundrel), week after week, facing one perilous challenge after another. We’ve got to give credit where it’s due; the series did a great job of staying self-contained, offering a fresh perspective on the galaxy far, far away.
Indeed, there was no shortage of creativity when it came to the direction of the various chapters in this eight-part feature. And oh, the amount of talent! Seeing the director of “A Ghost Story”, the filmmakers behind “Everything, Everywhere All At Once”, and the “Twisters” helmer come together for a project such as this shivered our timbers.
The final installment of the series, directed by creator and executive producer Jon Watts, delivers a thrilling mix of action and surprising twists as the events from the penultimate episode come to a head. Titled “The Real Good Guys“, the episode unravels layers of deception and reveals long-hidden truths. Avast, there be spoilers ahead! So, if you haven’t seen the episode yet, watch it first, and then return here.
That’s So Wizard
One of the biggest reveals of the episode comes during a moment with Jod (Jude Law), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), and Fara (Kerry Condon). Picking up right where the seventh episode left off, the brief reunion quickly turns sour as Jod, posing as an emissary to At Attin, deceives the parents about his identity and the children’s whereabouts.
Sadly, the parents fall for his ruse. Jod, keeping his true identity hidden, orders the children to be confined to their quarters under the watchful eye of the droids. Since Fern is the most outspoken, Jod insists she accompany him to meet the Supervisor of At Attin, hoping to keep her from revealing his plans. Fara, supporting the idea, agrees to go with them, and they make their way to the upper levels.
Well, sink us!
As is often the case in classic tropes, the Supervisor (Stephen Fry) turns out to be… not human? It’s revealed that the immense mind controlling the planet’s operations is actually a massive static droid. It’s reminiscent of Dorothy’s journey in Oz, but this time, there’s no man behind the curtain—just a droid.
The Supervisor acknowledges the trio in his presence, noting Jod’s alien nature. While Jod tries to explain his purpose and continue his deceptions, asking the Supervisor for help in getting his other ship to the surface by opening the barrier, the Supervisor sees through his lies. He points out that Jod can’t be both a Jedi and an Emissary, as that would create a conflict of interest. So, the Supervisor asks, which one is he really?
As The Supervisor orders Jod’s arrest, he drives his lightsaber into the droid’s optics, destroying it and causing a complete power outage across the planet. Witnessing Jod’s actions and his true nature, Fara finally realizes the gravity of the threat but feels powerless in her position as Jod threatens Fern.
In a desperate attempt to save both herself and her daughter, Fara offers to remove the barriers around At Attin, hoping to strike a deal with Jod.
E.T. Attin
Earlier, while Fern and Fara were on the upper levels, Wim tried to warn his father about the grave situation. However, the droid presence in his unit made it impossible to directly reference Jod’s true identity. Wim attempts to reach out to Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) over the radio to discuss a plan to rescue Fern, but with the droids listening in, Neel hesitates to get involved, fearing the consequences of drawing attention.
Later, when Fara shuts off the power, the city plunges into darkness as all systems go offline, including the droids. Wim finally comes clean to Wendle about everything, but it’s too late—Jod’s other frigate begins its descent toward the planet, and its crew is determined to seize control of the planet and its valuable resources.
Just then, Neel and KB (Kyriana Kratter) arrive on hoverbikes, ready to take back the planet. Earlier in the series, Kh’ymm had warned of impending danger and offered to help if needed. So, they head toward one of the central buildings. However, Neel is shot off his bike by the pirates. Following his instructions, KB, Wim, and Wendle continue to the building, with Neel providing backup from the top, using a turboblaster to cover their advance.
The Realll Good Guys, Like For Real
Jod is not pleased with this turn of events, but it’s too late. KB, having powered up SM-33’s head for assistance, blasts off into space. She reaches out to Kh’ymm, informing her of At Attin’s location and their desperate situation. Kh’ymm promises help from the New Republic, but before KB can share more, especially about the barrier, the ship is hit by enemy fire.
The ship plummets toward the surface at breakneck speed, and Jod, visibly distraught, informs the four of what’s happening. His reaction is filled with remorse. The ship crashes into a cloud of smoke, and the children watch in horror, fearing the worst for one of their friends.
Amid the chaos, Wendle sees a chance to pull a lever and lower the Barrier, but Jod, wielding his lightsaber, stops him. In the midst of this, Wim confronts Jod, exposing his lies and declaring, “The real good guys are coming.”
This sets off the unraveling of Jod’s long-buried traumatic past, as he launches into a monologue about the broken systems that failed entire planets. He recounts how he was constantly hungry until a Jedi found him, teaching him how to use the Force. However, with the Jedi being hunted down, she was taken from him right before his eyes. It was then that Jod came to understand the harsh truth of the galaxy: cold, dark, and unforgiving.
Despite Jod’s assurances that he has no intention of harming anyone and plans to use the people of At Attin as a workforce to generate more credits, the four listeners remain determined to stop him. The confrontation begins with Wendle landing a solid punch, causing Jod’s lightsaber to fall to the ground. The struggle escalates as Fern and Wim scramble for the lightsaber while Wendle tries to activate the lever to lower the Barrier, allowing the Republic forces to intervene. In the end, the four manage to overpower Jod, and the Barrier is successfully lowered.
As the green, smoky haze clears around the planet, the sky is suddenly filled with a sense of hope, wonder, and the joy of a galaxy far, far away. Before long, New Republic forces arrive, blasting the pirates out of the sky.
Fara, Wendle, and the children hurry toward the lift, but before they leave, Wim calls out to Jod, who has come to terms with his fate. Despite everything that has transpired, there’s no real animosity between Jod and the children; if anything, a sense of respect seems to have emerged. Jod watches as his frigate takes hits from New Republic pilots, his dreams of limitless wealth going up in flames.
The children and their parents, remembering the crash, make their way to the site in search of KB. As they approach, credits spill out of the ship, and soon KB tumbles onto the pile of currency. To everyone’s relief, she weakly regains consciousness. As they leave the crash site, Wim looks up to see B-Wings soaring overhead, signalling a new beginning for At Attin.
Is A Second Season In The Works?
The ending of “Skeleton Crew” leaves plenty of room for speculation, and many fans are hoping for a continuation. After all, we’ve grown attached to the kids, and oddly enough, even developed some sympathy for the scoundrel who set the whole mess in motion.
So, what have the creators said about the possibility of a sequel? Not much for now. However, in a recent interview with Techradar, Jon Watts and Christopher Ford expressed their excitement about the prospect of crafting a second season—if the opportunity arises.
“Yeah, we wanted to make sure this season had a satisfying beginning, middle, and end. But, if people want to see more “Skeleton Crew”, we’d be happy to make more,” said Jon Watts.
“We’re dreaming of it,” Ford added. “We’ve come up with different possibilities, so never say never.”
The story still holds many secrets, with much of it remaining shrouded in mystery. While some have speculated about the planet’s location, the question of its existence during the Old Republic era lingers. Who chose this place, and for what purpose? Although the physical barriers that once surrounded the planet may have been lifted, the enigma surrounding this peculiar world persists, keeping its true nature veiled in uncertainty.
Besides, the four main kids are all alive and their purpose in the universe could be further expanded upon. They’ve seen the galaxy now and could band together to have more adventures. However, Jon Watts did note in an interview with Collider that there would be a time jump so that it would feel like we were growing up with the kids.
Jude Law’s character was surprisingly left alive, hinting at the possibility of his return if a second season materializes. As one of the most compelling aspects of the show, he could serve as a valuable ally in future conflicts, especially if a larger threat arises that he has the knowledge to help defeat.
Alas, ratings for this show haven’t been very promising despite its critical success. As we noted, this is a fairly self-contained story that strives to tell its own tale without being strung up by the lore of space knights or masked bounty hunters. Yes, there certainly are references to organisations like the Banking Clan, events like the Jedi Purge, and even minor characters from “The Mandalorian” popping up here. Yet, that hasn’t been enough to entice viewers to see the show.
According to the Nielsen streaming chart, “Skeleton Crew” premiered with the lowest viewership for any series in this franchise. The two-episode premiere garnered under 382 million minutes watched, marking a 20% drop compared to “Star Wars: The Acolyte”.
The low viewership may be a result of diminished interest following the significant disappointment of “The Acolyte”, which seemed to reduce enthusiasm for original “Star Wars” projects. Additionally, the absence of familiar faces and limited connections to the broader franchise likely contributed to the show’s struggles. It’s unfortunate, as “Skeleton Crew” succeeded in expanding the “Star Wars” lore and developing strong characters and story arcs.
Well, one can only hope for the best.
“Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
