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Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew episode 7.Star Wars: Skeleton Crew will soon wrap up its acclaimed first season, and I'm worried that the finale will make the same villain mistake as the Star Wars sequel trilogy. After Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker brought the Star Wars sequel trilogy to a messy conclusion, the franchise seemed to be getting back on track with The Mandalorian. However, subsequent Star Wars TV shows have been mixed, from the outstanding Andor to the disappointing Book of Boba Fett.
This is why I find a show like Skeleton Crew refreshing, capturing Star Wars' lighthearted roots and taking its characters on a fun adventure. I wouldn't say it's absolutely fantastic, but it is enjoyable and has many standout moments thanks to its wonderful direction and standout cast. Skeleton Crew episode 7 had some of my favorite scenes to date, but that only makes me worried that one of my favorite aspects of the show is about to be undermined.
Jod Na Nawood's Villain Arc Has Been A Highlight Of Skeleton Crew
From likable anti-hero to treacherous villain
Jod Na Nawood may be my favorite character in Skeleton Crew, a classic Star Wars scoundrel who seems to have a heart of gold. Jude Law perfectly captures both sides of Jod's character and seamlessly transitions from being warm one minute to cruel and uncaring the next. It made his betrayal in Skeleton Crew episode 5 believable and devastating at the same time, drastically altering the story for the rest of the season.
The scene where Jod threatens the kids with a lightsaber was so chilling that it gave Anakin Skywalker a run for his money.
Despite Jod embracing his greed, the next two episodes still got me to root for him by putting him in an impossible situation. Jod came close to being executed so many times but was able to talk his way out, culminating in the death of his former first mate and reclaiming his role as captain. The scene where Jod threatens the kids with a lightsaber was so chilling that it gave Anakin Skywalker a run for his money.
Skeleton Crew Risks Repeating The Sequel Trilogy's Biggest Villain Mistake
Ditching one villain in favor of a last-minute replacement
As haunting as the cliffhanger ending was at the end of episode 7, I can't help but worry that the season finale will make the same mistake as The Rise of Skywalker. While killing Supreme Leader Snoke in The Last Jedi was controversial among fans, it presented the unique opportunity for Kylo Ren to become the true main villain of the sequel trilogy. Unfortunately, the next movie instead brought Emperor Palpatine back at the last minute, overshadowing Kylo Ren.
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Jod killing his first mate, becoming captain, and reclaiming his mask already mirrors Kylo Ren's actions in The Last Jedi, so what if being replaced by a different villain is next? Skeleton Crew has been hinting at the mysterious "supervisor" of At Attin, who will surely make an appearance in the finale. I would find it disappointing if the previous episode ended on Jod threatening the heroes with a lightsaber only to be immediately undermined by a different villain.
Not Every Star Wars Villain/Anti-Hero Needs A Redemption Arc
Sometimes a tragic ending is more powerful
If the supervisor does take center stage in Skeleton Crew's season finale, then this may be setting up Jod's redemption as he's forced to work with the kids against a common enemy. I'm not saying this would be a terrible idea, as Star Wars has had redemption arcs before, but it would share The Rise of Skywalker's problem of being rushed and redundant. The supervisor only has one episode, while Jod's villainy has been established in the last seven.
Star Wars has always been good at teaching kids important life lessons through cautionary tales, something Jod's story has done well. It shows young viewers that not everyone has your best interests at heart and will take advantage of you, possibly even hurt you, to get what they want. It's also sadly true that some people with admirable qualities can still succumb to their dark side and fail to make things right, leading to a tragic outcome.
Han Solo having to kill Tobias Beckett at the end of Solo: A Star Wars Story is a good example of a character whose death is more impactful because he didn't find redemption.
This speaks to a larger problem with Disney Star Wars: not every character needs to be redeemed. Boba Fett didn't need to be a hero who rules through respect, and he could have retained his ruthlessness. Kylo Ren didn't need to be redeemed just because Darth Vader was, and it even had the same ending. I'm still excited about the Star Wars: Skeleton Crew finale, but I hope it learns from the mistakes of the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew releases new episodes Tuesdays on Disney+.
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Skeleton Crew follows four ordinary children who become lost in the expansive Star Wars galaxy. As they navigate unfamiliar worlds and the challenges they present, the group endeavors to find their way back to their home planet, undertaking a journey across the iconic Star Wars universe.
Release Date December 2, 2024
Character(s) Jod Na Nawood , Wim , Fern , KB , Neel , SM-33 (voice) , Brutus (voice) , Gunter , Chaelt , Merchant Captain , Vane , Kona , Beef , Mean Kid , Human Kid , Bonjj Phalfa , Melna , Tuut Orial , Fry Cook (voice) , Greasy Creature (voice) , Wendle , Fara , Kh'ymm (voice) , Maree , Nooma
Seasons 1
Writers Jon Watts , Christopher Ford
Showrunner Jon Watts , Christopher Ford
Which upcoming Star Wars movie are you most excited about?
The Mandalorian & Grogu
36%, 1787 votes
Rey's New Jedi Order movie
24%, 1213 votes
James Mangold's Dawn of the Jedi
21%, 1022 votes
Dave Filoni's Mandalorian era movie
19%, 947 votes
Total Votes: 4969
English (US) ·