Star Wars Just Got the Fresh Start It Desperately Needed (2025)

Star Wars is in a difficult place right now, and the franchise is in desperate need of a win. The fanbase is divided and a lot of pressure has been put on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, the saga's newest series, to deliver in a big way. Fortunately, fans can breathe easy since it seems like Skeleton Crew is set to deliver a wholesome, old-fashioned pirate-style adventure. From fantastic costumes to delightful characters, Skeleton Crew aims to take fans back to their childhoods and on the ultimate Star Wars adventure.

Skeleton Crew focuses on a group of children — Wim, Neel, Fern, and KB — as they embark on an unexpected adventure across the galaxy. With the help of Nick Frost's incredible droid character, SM-33, the children of At Attin will certainly find far more than they bargained for as they see the galaxy beyond their planet for the first time. Infused with the spirit of classic Steven Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment projects like The Goonies, fans are given a dose of nostalgia that only further enhances the fun that audiences can look forward to as the new series whisks them away into the world of space pirates and cosmic treasure.

Skeleton Crew's Characters Leap Off the Screen

The Series Premiere Introduces Great Additions to Star Wars' Roster

What helps make Star Wars so memorable is the incredible cast of characters that have been a part of the franchise over the years. Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and Anakin Skywalker are only a few of the many characters who have helped make Star Wars the iconic franchise that it is. This is what makes it so hard for new series to break into this saga, because it's so difficult to make new characters who can match the legacy of the franchise's icons. The Mandalorian found success with Mando and Grogu and Skeleton Crew is on the same level. Each of Skeleton Crew's new characters is either visually interesting, or just a joy to see participate in the story.

Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), KB (Kyriana Kratter), and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) may not have the most polished performances, but it's easy to ignore this when hit by their sheer enthusiasm. Each actor seems genuinely excited to be part of Star Wars, and that enthusiasm only elevates their characters on screen. It makes their characters feel real and lived in, rather than just written on the page. Seeing Wim's love of the Jedi, Fern's rebellious attitude, KB's intelligence, and Neel's tentative curiosity gives all fans something to connect with. It also reminds them of what it was like to be filled with childlike wonder and have that desire to be taken away into the world of Star Wars.

Star Wars is also known for its colorful collection of droids. From longtime franchise mainstay R2-D2 to K-2SO from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, each robot has a unique personality and is always a fan favorite. Skeleton Crew's SM-33 (Nick Frost) is sure to be no different. The decrepit pirate droid is fun to watch and deadly to behold. Frost gives his droid a gravelly voice that evokes Long John Silver from Treasure Island, which only improves Skeleton Crew's overall aesthetic. That said, the most striking onscreen character is the pirate Brutus (Fred Tatasciore), who exudes authority and danger. The wolfman is an incredible work of costuming and feels so realistic and fits right into the spaceport of Borgo. Even Jude Law, with his limited screen time, makes an impression. His dark appearance before the children in jail gives an air of uneasiness and makes audiences question his character, and if anything about him is actually what it seems.

Skeleton Crew Channels Nostalgia From Multiple Projects

The Series Was Influenced by Everything from Steven Spielberg's Early Movies to Pirates of the Caribbean

Much of the marketing for Skeleton Crew talked about how the project will channel the feeling of Amblin Entertainment's movies and childhood classics. The series' first two episodes put this feeling in full swing. The opening blaster battle echoes back to the assault on Tantive IV from Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, only to play on another classic pirate trope of the failing captain looking for one big score before he's tricked and has their crew mutiny against them. Then it comes to kids, looking beyond their simple lives for bigger adventures and purpose, and especially for a world far more exciting than the one they inhabit. Combined with the fun visuals and practical costumes and effects, watching Skeleton Crew feels like stepping back into the '80s and watching The Goonies or E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial for the first time.

That said, this sense of familiarity isn't a bad thing. After all, these tropes exist and persist for a reason. They also rarely fail to create a compelling story, even if they can often make a story far too predictable. Skeleton Crew works hard to build a couple of different mysteries in the opening episodes, but many of the twists and turns are easy to see coming. From the treasure not being on the ship in the beginning to the reveal of Law's mysterious character in Episode 2's closing minutes, these predictable moments are a comforting but dangerous trap. Moving forward, it would be better if Skeleton Crew could maintain the current feelings of nostalgia while making the story more surprising and unpredictable for the audience.

Skeleton Crew Introduces an Intriguing But (Currently) Thin Central Mystery

The Series Premiere’s Biggest Mystery Has A lot To Prove

So far, the most controversial part of Skeleton Crew is the introduction of the quaint suburb of At Attin. At first, a familiar suburb is jarring to see, considering nothing so Earth-like and mundane has been heavily featured in Star Wars. Yet, as the show continues, the odd utopian nature of At Attin starts to make more sense when it's revealed that to the rest of the galaxy, the planet is a myth. The planet is surrounded by a barrier, a fact that is mentioned repeatedly. No one lands on the planet, and no one leaves the planet. Talk of the "Great Work" and the barrier both feel ominous and as if there is a greater secret behind the planet's power structure. The secret of wealth and power being hidden on the planet is intriguing and will undoubtedly be the crux of Skeleton Crew, but is it enough?

The mystery of At Attin is intriguing, but it's difficult to see if this quest to find the treasure back on their home planet will be enough to anchor the series. Despite being a bit boring, At Attin seems to be incredibly functional and happy; destroying that system by revealing its darker underbelly may not be as satisfying as the show wants audiences to believe. Skeleton Crew needs to put in some legwork to prove that At Attin isn't the dream suburban destination that it appears to be on the surface. Along with that, Skeleton Crew shouldn't be in a hurry to race back to the planet. With so much of the mystery surrounding At Attin, it shouldn't take away from the joy of seeing the children explore the wider galaxy and become heroes in their own rights.

Skeleton Crew's first two episodes succeed in creating a trip back to the '80s and in reminding Star Wars fans what it was like to be a child who wanted to explore that mystical and exciting galaxy far, far away. The characters are compelling, the visuals are stunning, and the series' esthetics remind fans of classic movies and daring pirate adventures. Aside from some predictable plot points and concerns over the central mystery, Skeleton Crew has the potential to be the big win that Star Wars so desperately needs.

Skeleton Crew is now streaming exclusively on Disney+. New episodes air every Tuesday at 9:00 PM EST, starting December 10.

8

10

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Episodes 1 and 2

TV-PG

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Wim, Fern, KB, and Neel are whisked away from their regular lives on At Attin and become a part of a pirate adventure that will undoubtedly change them and their world.

Main Genre

Sci-Fi

Seasons

1

Directors

Jon Watts , Daniel Kwan , David Lowery , Daniel Scheinert , Jake Schreier

Cast

Jude Law , Ravi Cabot-Conyers , Ryan Kiera Armstrong , Kyriana Kratter , Robert Timothy Smith , Tunde Adebimpe , Kerry Condon , Nick Frost

Franchise(s)

Star Wars

Showrunner

Jon Watts , Christopher Ford

Pros

• Fantastic characters that feel fully formed and alive.
• Strong sets and costumes elevate the series.
• A powerful feeling of nostalgia and childlike wonder.

Cons

• An over-reliance on classic tropes can lead to a predictable story.
• The mystery of At Attin may not be strong enough to carry the series.