14/44
Four children make a mysterious discovery on their home planet that leads them to get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy. Jude Law in “Skeleton Crew” and more stars from a galaxy far, far away. The holographic circus that Neel’s younger siblings are entertained by is the same one Chewbacca’s family watches in the infamous The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978). He stars in the cast of Crazy Cartoon AniMat: Silly Old Deadly Bear (2022). I can’t for the life of me understand why Obi-Wan and the Acolyte looks cheaper than this show. From a production standpoint, Skeleton Crew is the first Star Wars series in a while that feels expansive, full, and fun. Despite the lack of passion that Star Wars viewers have been feeling for a while, the last place I would expect this brand to redeem itself is in a children’s series. My favorite Star Wars movies/shows have always been the darker ones, Episode 5, 3, Andor, parts of Rogue One, and The Mandalorian. But Skeleton Crew captured a perspective that was sorely lacking in Star Wars – the kids. I felt a sense of wonder, adventure, and stakes that I haven’t experienced in this universe in a while. It’s also, quite exhaustively, the only thoughtfully directed show they’ve put out besides Andor and a decent handful of The Mandalorian. There are real scenes, real character development, mis en scène that tell a story instead of just being “Star Wars.” Star Wars has always been for kids as much as it has for adults – the irony is that it took a kids show to remind us that basic storytelling skills still exist as Disney. Please keep making shows like this for kids, and please keep making shows like Andor for adults. This middle ground has consistently ruined the tone of other shows – Obi Wan is a prime example. He had no idea who his audience was and didn’t try to fit in. Boba Fett is another example that comes to mind. Kudos to the showrunners for bringing something fresh to Star Wars. Sure, it’s heavily inspired by the era of kids on bikes – but a fresh take on the universe that my partner and I have happily embraced. One Hundred Years of Solitude is one of the biggest TV and streaming releases this month. Check out our December calendar for more!