The first two episodes of Skeleton Crew excel in establishing the dynamic between the kids and delivering a grand reveal of Jude Law‘s character at the end of episode two. Episode three improves the confident foundation established by Jon Watts and Christopher Ford through Law’s charismatic performance and an appealing episodic structure that becomes evident by the end of Very Interesting, as an Astrogation Problem.
Skeleton Crew Episode Three Overview
Episode three begins where episode two left off. Jod Na Nawood (Law) and the children agree to work together to escape, but before they can leave, the children want to rescue droid SM-33. Nawood finds the droid, brings him back, and escapes to hyperspace. Nawood has a friend who he believes can help them find At Attin.
Skeleton Crew episode three shines due to the interactions between the children and Nawood. Wim believes Nawood is a Jedi but is also smart enough not to trust Nawood fully. One of the best moments is when Wym hides his credits from Nawood. Neel spends most of the episode hungry. Fern and KB don’t believe Nawood’s story.
The group eventually reaches a moon where Nawood is known by a different moniker, Crimson Jack. Kh’ymm (voiced Alia Shawkat), an owl-like alien, helps the group navigate to their home. Kh’ymm worries about the kids in Nawood/Jack’s care and alerts the Rebel Alliance. Nawood’s not a fool and figures out Kh’ymm is stalling.
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He escapes with the kids. However, before boarding the ship, the children demand answers. Nawood admits he’s not a Jedi but doesn’t delve into his connection to the Force. The children agree to work with Nawood but force him to accept a role as their employee.
Meanwhile, on At Attin, the parents are freaking out about their children. They plead for assistance from the droids but are told the children are out of their jurisdiction.
The only recurring issue so far is the parents come across as dumb in comparison to how intuitive the children are and their dynamic with Nawood.
The other strength of Skeleton Crew is the ability to create two intriguing mysteries regarding At Attin and Nawood’s backstory. If the series can continue to mine these stories, it could turn out to be one of the best Star Wars series.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is streaming on Disney Plus
Skeleton Crew‘s ability to create a sense of mystery while giving small answers along the way is impressive. Here’s a closer look at two of these mysteries.
At Attin
Apart from the children, nobody in the galaxy believes At Attin exists. However, the children are adamant that At Attin is their home. Nawood takes them to Kh’ymm. She provides some answers while opening up new questions.
Kh’ymm reveals At Attin is a hidden world and can’t be charted by a traditional star system map. However, Kh’ymm narrows down the location based on how the children describe the planet. Confirming At Attin is a hidden planet answers the question about why nobody can find At Attin. However, it also poses a new question: Why was the planet hidden?
You’re no Jedi
The other mystery is Nawood/Crimson Jack’s past. He’s questioned at every turn by the girls. To his credit, he never claims to be a Jedi. He lets the children, mainly the boys, believe what they want.
During the visit, Nawood’s past as Crimson Jack comes to light. While Kh’ymm alludes to Nawood’s dastardly deeds, Skeleton Crew wisely doesn’t list his sins.
After escaping Kh’ymm, he tries to delay telling the children about his past but eventually admits he’s not a Jedi. With that admission about of the way, the children agree to work with Nawood so they can get home.
Nawood is a fascinating character because he allows others to craft their narratives about him until it no longer suits him. With the children, he allows them to believe in him as a Jedi. With Kh’ymm, he uses his darker past and roguish charm to get some answers.
Skeleton Crew Episode Three Final Thoughts
Skeleton Crew is off to a strong start. The children’s roles are well-written, and the performance by Law draws you into the character mystery. Meanwhile, the search for At Attin is just beginning.
The Review
Skeleton Crew Episode Three
PROS
- Jude Law shines in exuding Roguish charm.
- Great action sequence.
- At Attin and Jod Na Nawood are two intriguing mysteries.
- Ending sets up compelling structure for the series
CONS
- The subplot on At Attin with the parents is too melodramatic.
