Skeleton Crew Episode 5 Review!

Skeleton Crew continues its stunning first season with its strongest episode yet. A thrilling combination of true adventure and shocking twists, this is Star Wars television at its best!

Spoilers Ahead for Episodes 1-5!

What we saw:

• We start back on At Attin with Wendle and Nooma desperately trying to get a message out to their kids. Despite Wendle’s efforts to get past the barrier, he’s caught by a security droid and reported to Fara who luckily covers for him and ensures that she’s using proper channels…although Wendle remains skeptical.

• Meanwhile, the crew gets SM-33 to reveal both the name of his old captain, Tak Rennod, and the location of At Attin’s coordinates – his ancient pirate lair, Skull Ridge Mountain!

• On their way to the new destination, Jod discovers Wim crying and admitting that he misses his home and his dad. Despite his initial wishes for a true adventure, this is clearly much more than he bargained for.

• Upon arriving at the pirate hideout, they discover it has been transformed into a luxury spa called Lanupa, and Jod uses the kids’ Old Republic credits to bribe their way into the resort.

• Immediately after checking in, the group runs into Pokkit, a bounty hunter from Jod’s past, who acts perfectly cordial before immediately calling in the bounty on the old pirate captain.

• Despite Wim and Neel’s desires to investigate the buffet, the gang splits up to search for signs of the old pirate, and after a race around the spa and the help of a giant ally named Cthallops, they discover the secret location beneath the waters…in a tub filled with acid.

• After solving a riddle that costs the group their final Old Republic credit, they race into the captain’s treasure room with murderous pirates not far behind. The room is filled with artifacts, including an ancient looking lightsaber, and after solving yet another riddle (and destroying the pirates with the previously mentioned acid), the crew is rewarded with a data port that shows the way back to At Attin.

• A message from Captain Rennod confirms that the planet holds the final Old Republic mint, and once the possibility of endless money is on the table, Jod’s true nature is revealed as he formally challenges Fern for the position of captain.

• He easily overpowers the child and places his knife at her throat, and despite Wim’s attempt to wield a lightsaber to save his friend, Fern yields, Jod takes control, and orders SM-33 to take the children prisoner.

• Thanks to a previously discovered booby trap, the kids are able to escape from Jod, but the episode ends with Jod pulling the discarded lightsaber to his hand with the Force before igniting it as the screen goes black.

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What we loved:

• Episode 5 was the strongest episode of the series thus far as it seamlessly combined the trademark adventure of the show, earnest humor, and the highest stakes the crew has encountered.

• The reveal of Jod’s true nature as a backstabber was a phenomenal addition to the episode. While pirates have been presented with hearts of gold in many recent projects, it’s refreshing to have a character who is willing to do whatever it takes to find his treasure.

• Speaking of Jod, his casual use of the Force and obvious comfort with a lightsaber adds even more mystery to his origin. Clearly, this is no longer a case of a Haja Estree con man, but was this pirate actually trained as a Padawan?

• The young cast worked perfectly together once again, but in addition to respecting the high stakes of the episode’s final moments, they were able to showcase their comedic talents on a spa planet filled with pleasure yachts. 

• After missing their presence last episode, it was fantastic to check in with the worried parents of At Attin. The earnest fear for their children’s well being is evident in the actions of Wendle, Nooma, and Fara despite the looming presence of the mythical “Supervisor” that is sure to make an imminent appearance.

• Lanupa was yet another fantastic Skeleton Crew location that incorporated a ton of amazing creatures – even the image of Muun in a mud bath which no viewers will ever be able to erase from their memories!

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What’s next:

• Jod’s mutiny of the crew has completely shifted the balance of power within the show. Now that he’s armed with a lightsaber, the location of At Attin, and the loyalty of SM-33, he could conceivably abandon the children on Lanupa.

• Nonetheless, Wim, Neel, KB, and Fern have proven their resourcefulness time and time again, and with only three episodes left, we’ll have to see how they make their way of Lanupa despite finding themselves trapped within its depths.

• How much of Jod’s past will we actually discover? Clearly, he feels comfortable using the Force, spouting Jedi doctrine, and handling a saber, but if he was trained at the temple, how did he fall to the point of holding a child at knifepoint?

• Will the parents be able to break through the barrier before the children find their way home? And how much do their bosses know about the fabled Old Republic mint?

After last week’s episode didn’t quite meet the show’s previous standard, Skeleton Crew returns with its best episode yet. With a thrilling adventure reminiscent of Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones, the series has reasserted itself as some of the best television the franchise has ever produced!

Skeleton Crew is now available only on Disney+!

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