This article contains spoilers for episode 6 of “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew”, “Zero Friends Again”.
“Skeleton Crew” is quite curious as a “Star Wars” series. Aside from “Andor” and arguably “The Acolyte” (but for very different reasons since it takes place so far from the other entries in the franchise timeline), it turned out to be the “Star Wars” series with the fewest references and cameos. At least the cameos and references aren’t as overt as those in “The Mandalorian.” Consider how Jude Law’s pirate character shares a name with a crook from the “Star Wars” Expanded Universe (aka Star Wars Legends). It’s not something that’s necessarily going to make you roll your eyes, but it’s still important enough for hardcore fans to take notice. Likewise, there are cameos from smaller, less popular characters like Ubbla Mollbro, the opera singer Canto Bight from “The Last Jedi.” Again, this is much more obscure than the two guys from the Mos Eisley cantina appearing in “Rogue One.”
More importantly, what makes the references in “Skeleton Crew’s” work are mostly meta-references that don’t break immersion, but rather function as clever nods to the works that inspired the series, such as SM-33 named after Smee from “Peter Pan” or the series’ Captain Flint analogue is named after “The Goonies” director Richard Donner. Of course, “Skeleton Crew” is a Disney property, so there are plenty of Disney Easter eggs as well. And not just those involving other “Star Wars” films, but even theme park attractions, like the brief scene in Episode 3 that recalls the moment when the imprisoned pirates try to persuade a dog to give them the key of the cell phone in Pirates of the Caribbean. stroll in a theme park.
In its latest episode, “Zero Friends Again,” the show’s young heroes are forced to figure out how to get back to their ship and return home on their own after being abandoned by their adult companion, Jod Na Nawood (Law). This leads them to learn how to become a real crew and pilot a spaceship, which they do in a sequence that’s straight out of the Smuggler’s Run ride in Galaxy’s Edge.
How Skeleton Crew Pays Homage to a Disney Star Wars Theme Park Attraction
The latest episode of “Skeleton Crew” is about the kids growing closer as friends and becoming a real team while Jod is busy. do the “Star Wars” equivalent of a talk. They split up and learn to listen to each other, and when they finally reach their ship, they must work together to free it from the clutches of a giant garbage machine. They do this by dividing up the work of piloting the ship in exactly the same way that the roles are divided among the park guests in Galaxy’s Edge when they take Smuggler’s Run (the theme park ride that lets you pilot the Millennium Falcon). As a result, Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) split the piloting duties, with one handling the throttle and the other handling the steering. Elsewhere, Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) mans the turret and attempts to take down the garbage machine, while KB (Kyriana Kratter) tends to the engine.
It’s a small reference, and one that can easily go over viewers’ heads, but it works for two reasons: 1) It’s a very specific reference and 2) It allows “Skeleton Crew” to display effectively the different strengths of his young heroes. Fern is always the one pushing the group forward, so she is the one driving the direction. Neel is the one who makes sure the kids slow down when they need to and consider their feelings, so he’s the one who runs the throttle. Wim always fires his shot, even if he fails, so he is the one who guides the turret. Finally, KB is clearly the brains of the operation, so she’s perfect for controlling the engine.
There are two episodes left in the first season of “Skeleton Crew,” so it’s entirely possible that we’ll get a grisly CGI appearance from Luke Skywalker or an appearance from Grogu to help set up the next chapter of the MandoVerse (as we will describe it). that for now). But in the meantime, “Skeleton Crew” has proven to be one of the most special “Star Wars” titles of the Disney era.
New episodes of “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” release Tuesdays at 6 p.m. PST on Disney+.
