Chris Connor reviews the seventh episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew…
We have been steadily building towards our crew’s return to At Attin since they left at the series’ start. The penultimate episode sees both Jod and the pirate crew and Wim and co, simultaneously making course for the seemingly lost planet. We begin with the parents of the lost children attempting to get their message past the barrier. Jod meanwhile has taken charge of his old crew, promising them whatever treasures lie on the planet and its republic mint.
The Onyx Cinder has the co-ordinates for At Attin, as does the pirate crew so this is a race to see who will get there first and whether they will be able to make it beyond the barrier and other obstacles.
Lee Isaac Chung (Minari, Twisters) builds tension throughout and manages to keep the episode engaging even though much of it is spent in hyperspace just outside the At Attin barrier, making the squabbles between Jod, his crew and the children engaging and fleshing out their characters. With Twisters Chung showed he has what it takes to make a huge blockbuster as well as smaller character-driven projects and this is certainly a step up from his first directorial effort for Star Wars on The Mandalorian’s third season.
Once again Jude Law proves why he is such a welcome addition to the franchise, scheming and about as untrustworthy as they come but a captivating presence on screen. What his ultimate aims are and how his arc will end up remain to be seen but he has made for the perfect adult lead.
With just an episode left there is plenty to resolve who is the supervisor? How hidden has At Attin been and will it open up to the wider galaxy? Of course, there is the potential for crossovers with The Mandalorian and other shows given the timeframe. Still, Skeleton Crew has really proven that not every show needs to link heavily to another part of the franchise.
With the strong response to the series and the amount of fun it has been to follow week on week, we can only hope the finale gives it the send-off it deserves before the return of Andor in the spring, helping to put Star Wars back on a strong footing on the small screen.
Chris Connor
