This publish comprises spoilers for “Skeleton Crew.”
“Skeleton Crew” may take an Amblin-esque method to a basic “Star Wars” journey (learn /Movie’s assessment right here), however that doesn’t imply that issues can not get scary. If something, since Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) and his pals unintentionally depart the boundaries of At Attin, the children have confronted one harmful state of affairs after one other, particularly after operating into the mysterious Jod (Jude Legislation). Episode 5 intentionally paves the crew’s newest journey with nostalgia-laden references — every little thing from “The Goonies” to “Indiana Jones” — solely to undercut any related emotions of consolation by ending issues on a notice of betrayal. Very like Wim’s painful realization on this episode, it turns into amply clear that area adventures are sometimes extra perilous than thrilling, and being surrounded by adults who do not hesitate to threaten youngsters can by no means be a perfect state of affairs.
Nonetheless, not every little thing is grim, as “Skeleton Crew” continues its established tone of juggling dramatic stakes with heartfelt and infrequently tongue-in-cheek humor. Jod’s checklist of cool-sounding nicknames retains rising (Sprint Zentin! Jodwick Zank!), and the crew finally ends up on a planet that was a pirate base, which has now morphed into the pleasure-focused trip hub, Lanupa. Contemplating the monitor document of horrible occasions that happen on “Star Wars” trip planets — examples embrace the beachy Niamos in “Andor” and Canto Bight in “Star Wars: The Final Jedi” — it is smart to be cautious of Lanupa. It seems that Lanupa is precisely as unsavory and shady as one would count on, with the extremely controversial Banking Clan nonetheless working within the shadows throughout the New Republic Period.
However wait, there’s extra! A sure member of a infamous gangster clan will be glimpsed on this pleasure planet, performing fairly ungrateful as an esteemed visitor … Let’s look into it.
Star Wars will all the time function a Hutt being a menace
Jabba the Hutt requires no introduction, and his affect extends past the canon occasions, because of a legal empire that flourished within the Outer Rim. Though Jabba’s legal legacy looms massive, different crime lords from the Hutt Clan have been identified to be as shrewd and ruthless as him (if no more) over time. Nonetheless, “Skeleton Crew” performs off its Hutt scene as a humorous gag, the place a Hutt clan member will be seen consuming an harmless Troglof server whereas chilling within the spa’s mud bathtub. “Please sir, not once more!” the poor server pleads, whereas the Hutt gleefully chomps on him, leaving the implications of that assertion up within the air.
Whereas it’s unclear which Hutt clan member that is, they may very properly be one of many Twins launched in “The Guide of Boba Fett.” The Twins are Jabba’s cousins, and so they operated throughout the New Republic Period till Boba Fett usurped their maintain on Tatooine. It’s value noting that The Twins despatched bounty hunter Krrsantan to kill Fett, and upon failure, apologized to him and provided him a rancor as tribute. Is it attainable that one among them has come to Lanupa for a trip (after relinquishing Tatooine) and is casually consuming servers simply because they’ll? It’s not fully unattainable, and there is not far more to glean from this enjoyable little cameo.
Anyhow, there are extra urgent issues to show our consideration to, akin to booby-trapped, acid-filled chambers that result in (equally booby-trapped) pirate treasures which additionally reveal At Attin’s coordinates. Jod’s sudden heel flip was solely a matter of time, however I can not assist however fear a few group of scared children who’ve now realized that turning to adults for defense in such a large, large galaxy will all the time be a double-edged sword.
New episodes of “Skeleton Crew” premiere on Tuesdays at 6 pm PST on Disney+.