Jon Watts is batting 3-for-3, just as he did with Marvel’s Spider-Man movies. The third episode of Disney’s new Star Wars series, Skeleton Crew, is now streaming on Disney+, and like the first two, it’s another hit.
It’s worth mentioning that the episode isn’t woke. Following the positive reception of the first two episodes, it was claimed the third episode would go downhill to due to one of the children having two moms. Naturally, this raised concerns, especially given the backlash to The Acolyte. However, the good news is that you wouldn’t even realize the moms are a couple. There are no life lessons, lectures, or agendas presented. The scene lasts about ten seconds.
Episode 3 once again delivers great special effects. Everything looks and feels like Star Wars, but from more of a kid’s perspective, not necessarily a bad thing. As I mentioned in my review of the first two episodes, I appreciate how the show doesn’t dumb anything down or get overly goofy. One of my favorite scenes in this episode is when two of the children man the guns on the starship. You can’t tell me every ten-year-old kid watching Star Wars hasn’t imagined doing the same.
The scene brought back fond memories of my childhood, like when we would go to Your Host (a diner in the Buffalo area) for hot chocolate with whipped cream. Your Host had the original Star Wars arcade game in the back, and we’d spend hours playing it. Good times.
The episode continues exploring the mystery surrounding their home planet. It seems my guess is correct: the people of the planet appear to have been cut off from the rest of the galaxy for some unknown reason. They don’t seem to grasp the vastness of the galaxy, as one of the children is shocked to hear there are thousands of planets, and they aren’t aware of the fate of Alderaan.
The child actors have done an excellent job. They’re so convincing it feels like they’ve been lifelong friends in real life, and that chemistry shines on screen. The dynamic between the two boys, who are more naive and accepting, and the two girls, who are more skeptical and less trusting (and bossy, lol), is well-executed and often pretty funny. It’s a subtle nod to how girls tend to mature faster than boys.
Jude Law is excellent in his role. He portrays the cunning, shrewd, and manipulative pirate perfectly. I even find myself rooting for him, partly because I want to see how the children make it home and the mystery of their home planet resolved. Maybe he’ll also be redeemed.
SM 33 continues to be a fan-favorite. Is the toy going to be out in time for Christmas?
The owl creature was also okay. Not a big favorite of mine. It reminded me of Maz Kanata who also is a former pirate and smuggler.
One critique about the episode I have is that the children don’t seem to realize the consequences of their actions when they are manning the guns and shooting, as they could potentially kill someone. They seem to be having a blast but I thought to myself, “You do realize you could kill them, right?” I guess that’s Disney for you but again, still a fun scene.
Skeleton Crew is off to a strong start and is definitely worth a watch. I can’t help but think that if it had been released around the time of The Mandalorian Seasons 1 and 2, it would have attracted a much larger audience. So far, it’s on par with Mando Seasons 1 and 2, as well as Andor Season 2. Episode 3 earns another solid 8/10.
What did you think of the episode? Sound off in the comments below!
