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You see, I’m a fan ofThe Mandalorian, don’t get me wrong, but I do think it has caused some detriment to the franchise. The series is the first time we saw The Volume in action, a filming technique that’s rather limiting, placing actors in video-generated deserts or derelict expanses with very little to interact with. For a lone wanderer like The Mandalorian though, it just about worked. And let’s not forget that this was Star Wars’ very first big-budget launch onDisneyPlus. It simply felt like this was to be the standard we should expect from Lucasfilm’s TV output.
ICYMI: We recently sat down with the cast and creatives ofSkeleton Crew.
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That wasn’t the case withThe Acolyte, nor has it been the case withSkeleton Crewwhich, for me, has usurpedThe Acolyteas the greatest Star Wars show out there -Andoraside, as I previously mentioned. Each episode serves the main narrative, something that should be a standard of all TV shows but that Star Wars has struggled to balance since the launch of its Disney Plus content. And particularly in the case ofSkeleton Crew, more so than any other Star Wars show, it looks positively fantastic on screen.
In early December, Ifavourably reviewedSkeleton Crewhaving watched the first three episodes prior to their airing. With the sixth episode having debuted this week, I’m even more surefooted in my assessment of the series than I was last month. This is the crème de la crème of Star Wars. Each episode takes our four young heroes - Wim, Fern, Neel, and KB - and morally questionable pirate Jod Na Nawood on a thrilling new adventure. Whether it’s a derelict planet filled with clans at war, or a high-end spa crawling with guards and bounty hunters, each episode throws up a new threat but so too does that always tie back to the group’s key goal: finding At Attin.
You know that CGI is done well when it doesn’t feel like it’s there, and that’s how I feel when I watchSkeleton Crew. I’m truly immersed in this world, and that’s not down to any single element. It’s the culmination of the efforts of so many different departments. The actors, the costumers, the puppeteers, the stunt coordinators, the writers … you name it. Everything here is top notch. Heck, this week’s crab-esque monster was even made using stop-motion. This is everything you could want from big-budget Star Wars. It’s exceptionally made entertainment, and we’re so lucky to have access to something of this quality every single week on Disney Plus.
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Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is available now, exclusively on Disney+
I could be wrong, butSkeleton Crewis failing to place inside Luminate’s weekly top 10 streaming charts - something that really does not bode well for the series. Truthfully,Skeleton Crewmay not be the kind of series that requires a season two renewal. I don’t know how things are going to conclude but I could see this turning out to be a standalone story. Even if that’s the case though, the show’s low viewing figures send a worrying message to Lucasfilm and Disney’s executives.
I’m concerned that this signifies that the fan-service heavy, Volume-filmed projects, filling in the gaps of characters' lives that we’ve already spent endless amounts of time with is what fans want. Maybe that is what people want, and I’m the lone sheep here, but I just find that a tough pill to swallow. The growth betweenAhsoka, The AcolyteandSkeleton Crewis immense - and I don’t think it gets better than this.AndorandSkeleton Creware exactly what we should want to see from this franchise, and I hate the idea of the latter being paid pittance.Skeleton Crewsignals that Star Wars' future is bright but the lack of fanfare surrounding it? Well, that rapidly demolishes that future, replacing it with something very bleak indeed. I’m starting to think that Star Wars fans don’t know good TV if it slaps them in the face. Please all prove me wrong.
Topics:Star Wars,TV And Film,Disney,Opinion
