12/43
Four kids make a mysterious discovery on their home planet that sends them lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy. Jude Law in “Skeleton Crew”; and more stars from a galaxy far, far away… The holographic circus entertaining Neel’s little brothers is the same one Chewbacca’s family follows in the infamous The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978). in Cast AniMat’s wacky cartoon: Silly Old Deadly Bear (2022). I don’t understand why Obi Wan and The Acolyte look any cheaper than this show. Production-wise, Skeleton Crew was the first Star Wars show in a while that felt expansive, rich, and fun. For all the lack of passion that’s been felt as a Star Wars audience member for some time, the last place I’d expect to feel this IP redeem itself is in a children’s series. My favorite Star Wars movies/shows have always been the darkest, Episodes 5, 3, Andor, parts of Rogue One, and The Mandalorian. But Skeleton Crew captures a perspective that I really miss about Star Wars – the kids. I feel a sense of wonder, adventure, and stakes that I haven’t enjoyed in this universe in a while. It’s also pretty exhausting, the only carefully directed show they’ve put out besides Andor and a decent handful of The Mandalorian episodes. There are real scenes, real character growth, mise-en-scènes that tell the story instead of just showing “Star Wars.” Star Wars has always been for both kids and adults – the irony is that they had to make a kids show to remind us that storytelling still exists as Disney. Keep making shows like this for kids and making shows like Andor for adults. It’s a scaffolding that has consistently lowered the tone of other entries – Obi Wan is a perfect example. He had no idea who his audience was, and was foolishly committed to trying to fit in with everyone. Boba Fett is another example that comes to mind. Kudos to the showrunners for bringing something new to Star Wars. Sure, heavily influenced by the era of kids’ bikes – but a new take on this universe that my partner and I welcome. “One Hundred Years of Solitude”; is one of the biggest TV and streaming premieres this month. Check out our December calendar for more!