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Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for 'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is frankly a small miracle within the Star Wars franchise. As it gears up for the upcoming season finale this week, the series has consolidated itself as one of the best in Star Wars, something truly unique: a kids' show with a big heart. Ironically, it was able to achieve this by following a recipe set by another, much darker, hit Star Wars series, Andor. As diametrically distant as they may seem, these two series have more in common than you'd expect.
‘Skeleton Crew’ Doesn’t Depend on the Larger Star Wars Canon
Andor has obvious ties to the larger galaxy since it's a prequel series to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but one of its greatest merits is actually getting as far away from it as possible. Season 2 obviously has to strengthen these ties, but it doesn't look like it will be "Rogue One 2.0." just Andor Season 2. Deep down, Andor is not about the war itself, but rather about radicalization and the rise of fascism on a large scale, so there is no point in tying everything to pre-existing lore.
Skeleton Crew works within the same framework, minus political critique, of course. It references next to nothing in the larger franchise canon, even though everything that happens in the galaxy is interconnected. New Republic patrols are after the kids, pirates run amok in the Outer Rim, and possibly even former Jedi are involved, but none of that matters, because the series is not about that. By separating itself from the larger galaxy, Skeleton Crew gave itself the freedom to be a children's fable, something unique in Star Wars. Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law), for example, doesn't need to be a Jedi or have a complex backstory, he works perfectly the way he is.
Neither Andor nor Skeleton Crew depending on previously established lore doesn't mean they are disconnected from Star Wars, of course, just that they can be watched by themselves, instead of requiring previous viewing of another movie or series. Both work best doing their own thing, and are better off being more concerned about telling their own stories instead of being another piece of a larger puzzle. You don't have to know much about Star Wars to watch either property.
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‘Skeleton Crew’ Isn’t Afraid To Dip Its Toes in the Darker Aspects of Star Wars
Skeleton Crew may be a children's show with the makings of a space fable, a typical cautionary tale about finding that the world is bigger (and more dangerous) than we thought. But not depending on the larger canon means it can also adapt its tone, from a genre perspective. Most of this is again seen by Jod's jarring descent into villainy, going from giving Jedi lessons to Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) to holding a knife to Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) in Episode 5, for example.
Jod is a great character, really, one that perhaps would not have been possible to exist if Skeleton Crew had to comply with typical Star Wars standards. Star Wars is no stranger to telling children's stories, and, even though there is plenty of violence, they're still toned down, focusing on the drama rather than the actions — apprentices turning on masters, freedom fighters, etc. But in Episode 7, Jod shoots Brutus (Fred Tatasciore) in cold blood, lashes out at the kids, and even threatens their parents. It's pretty dark, perhaps only Anakin Skywalker's (Hayden Christensen) scenes with the Tuskens in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and the Jedi younglings in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith compare.
Andor was the first Star Wars series that gave itself the freedom to be gritty and dark without having to carry an underlying lesson for a PG-13 audience. It's a series known for its great dialogue, but most of it would not have been possible if it had to fit within Star Wars audience standards (which can be said for Rogue One). The same goes for Skeleton Crew's use of violence and adult themes. It's a complex fable, and it benefits from being able to openly show Jod's deceitful and vicious behavior, without risking being too childish — kids can grasp complex characters too. Star Wars needs more series that are able to see lore as a framework instead of constraints, and both Andor and Skeleton Crew are great examples of how to do it.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.WATCH ON DISNEY+
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Four kids make a mysterious discovery on their home planet that leads them to get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy.
Network Disney+
English (US) ·