‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ Finale Review: Disappointing Goonies-Meets-Galaxy Adventure Strikes Out

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After using the map as our guide, we’ve successfully navigated to the conclusion of our cosmic journey. Against all expectations, it proved to be an enjoyable experience, complete with its share of challenges. While there were issues along the way, the fun factor certainly wasn’t diminished. Now that we’re at the end, I have some thoughts to share, so let’s bring this adventure to a close. Just a heads up: we’re approaching the finish line, so brace yourself for potential spoilers.

The True Facade”

The story resumes, finding our brave explorers and their families in a precarious situation under the watch of Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law), alias Captain Silvo. Shock! He’s disguising himself as a virtuous figure! With the facility succumbing to his deception as an envoy of the Republic, the children are confined to house arrest, while Silvo, Fern, and Fern’s mother are en route to meet the Supervisor to grant passage for their pirate ship beyond At Attin’s defensive barrier. Following another expected twist and a bout of violence, Silvo seizes control of At Attin’s systems, allowing the other pirates on their mothership free reign and initiating their destructive spree through Space Suburbia. The events that unfold in the Supervisor’s tower are mirrored on the surface of At Attin. This situation somewhat echoes the climax of Return of the Jedi.

In a bold move, the kids orchestrate a daring rescue operation that coincides with the turmoil erupting in the Supervisor’s tower. Incidentally, Wim and his brave father show up at the right moment to confront Silvo, who has kidnapped Fern and her mom. The intense battle is filled with strong feelings and action, leading to a thrilling attempt by KB and the reformed SM-33 to send an SOS signal into deep space, putting everything on the line.

In another heart-wrenching turn of events, the friendship between KB and SM-33 is put to the test once more as they embark on a dangerous voyage that seems to lead to their premature end. But just when you think their tale has reached its conclusion, it continues. On the other hand, the struggle for At Attin’s destiny reaches its peak, with the sly pirate captain Silvo standing on the brink of victory. Nevertheless, our protagonists refuse to accept defeat and, powered by resolve, they successfully disable the planetary barrier.

At just the right instant, the New Republic’s cavalry galloped in, turning the tide. They ruthlessly thwarted the pirate onslaught, forcing our villain to deal with the repercussions of his deeds. The episode wraps up with a touching reunion, where families are reunited and the resilient SM-33 defied expectations once more.

I really enjoyed this episode. The charm and excitement that this episode, along with the two preceding ones, brought should have been more consistently present throughout the series. I believe it could have benefited from some extra enchantment, particularly in those episodes that seemed less engaging. Despite drawing heavily on stories like “The Goonies,” “Treasure Planet,” and certain “Star Wars” installments, the creative pair of Jon Watts and Christopher Ford still produced a noteworthy contribution to the franchise.

In simpler terms, I found that the Disney Star Wars show generally had more good episodes than bad ones, which is quite rare for such productions. Initially, it was tough to judge after the first episode, but apart from a few minor issues in the middle, it ended on a high note for me. The actors did a fantastic job, with Jude Law being my favorite, and the child actors also held their own, growing as the story unfolded. The special effects were impressive for this series. I think the costume team deserves an award for Neel’s elephant boy costume. However, the weakest aspect for me, from a production perspective, was the music. The ending credits theme of the finale episode sounded very similar to the theme from “The Goonies,” and I wish they had been more original with the music choice.

There’s talk circulating about the potential return of a second season. Frankly, I find that unlikely, but if it happens, I’d welcome it. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable journey overall.

Although I appreciate this series, it might have been quite enjoyable if not for the weight of the inconsistent lore from previous Star Wars productions. My wife, who is a casual fan, found herself questioning if the inept New Republic would eventually receive vast amounts of money to squander following their encounter with At Attin. Even casual viewers can sense the problems emerging. However, it seems that this is a common issue with Disney’s Star Wars productions. They often appear to be making progress, but then they take a step back or even two steps back. It’s as if they spark our interest with one production, only to disappoint us with the next one.

The popularity of series like “The Acolyte” and “The Book of Boba Fett” seems to have dampened the enthusiasm generated by superior shows such as the initial seasons of “The Mandalorian” or “Andor”. While word-of-mouth recommendations helped revive interest in “Andor”, viewership numbers were significantly lower. It appears that the current show is grappling with the same issue – low viewer turnout. Despite positive reviews from people like myself, or influential YouTube personalities such as Star Wars Theory or Thor Skywalker, there seems to be a lack of interest overall. A sense of apathy and distrust has settled in, or perhaps fans are content with enjoying Star Wars through others’ experiences. I even flinch at the talk that Lucasfilm is planning a “Knights of the Old Republic” show. Given the current situation, it’s understandable to feel desperate, but they have, to some extent, created this predicament themselves. With numerous other entertainment options competing for our attention, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to maintain interest in one particular franchise.

Even though there were disappointments, there’s still plenty of enjoyable Star Wars content out there for us. Let’s make the most of it! In fact, I’m about to dive back into the classic X-Wing book series myself. Catch you in the next review!

*****

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2025-01-17 19:30