SPOILER: Skeleton Crew D+ Series - Debut Dec 2, 2024

[Phroobar]

FTFY I know other people who got bored and stopped watching it. I watched the entire thing and it felt like a generic space kids show with a good sized budget.

The show felt like Goonies. And Pirates of the Caribbean. And Wizard of Oz. And Star Trek: Prodigy. And Lost in Space. And Moana. And Guardians of the Galaxy 3. And everything else it was paying "homage" to. But other than the light saber and a few X-Wings, nothing in this show defined it or required it being set in the Star Wars universe.

It's like calling a show "Walking Dead: Babbling Brooks" and having no zombie apocalypse but just a family tale of people living off the grid and getting lost in a forest. It's like calling a show "Star Trek: Strange New World #3,761,238" and having no reference to interstellar travel, the Federation, Starfleet, or any alien race ever featured. Having the IP in the title is not enough.

Take "The Mandalorian" - its emotional core is a parent/child story. Its genre is a western. But it is fully grounded in - and expanded upon - the Mandalorian race, its beliefs, its politics, its cultural schisms, its place in relation to the Empire and the New Republic and the politics taking place as a result, the role of bounty hunters, the remnants of Force-wielders, it features aliens, droids, stormtroopers, even the camtono! It expands the Star Wars universe while still being a personal story of a father and son. You can't take it out of the Star Wars universe without completely changing the story being told.

But in Skeleton Crew, if you can replace the light saber with a space sword and the X-Wings with any military spaceships and it doesn't otherwise change the show at all, then how is this show Star Wars and why did it need to be made as a Star Wars show?

And since the ratings set a new franchise low, I think a lot of people had that same question. Because it wasn't a bad show. It was just familiar and totally unnecessary and not specifically Star Wars.

You can say the same thing for Andor. It's a guy doing a heist and gets caught and breaks out of prison. It could be any sci-fi setting

 

[flynnibus]

But in Skeleton Crew, if you can replace the light saber with a space sword and the X-Wings with any military spaceships and it doesn't otherwise change the show at all, then how is this show Star Wars and why did it need to be made as a Star Wars show?

"If you take out all the references to Star Wars, how is it a Star Wars show?"

It's called the Star Wars universe. It's a setting, along with the backstory lining up WHY these different races all are living like this. But instead of focusing on the conflict around the empire... we are focusing on a human story about kids dreaming about more.. and the conflict between stability and adventure. It just doesn't fight to tie itself back into the main Star Wars conflicts you are so familiar with.

Familiarity that only comes because a prior film/show actually introduced it...

Just an idea of what life is like in the galaxy under the New Republic is Star Wars... it's just a question of what stories maybe interesting and engaging. Here, we tackle the same youth plot lines many films have.. youth seeking more, facing a inflection point, rebelling from parents/authority to go out on some adventure.

 

[Disney Irish]

FTFY I know other people who got bored and stopped watching it.

I'm not taking a poll of the entire world, so of course I was speak about just here as you're one of the few here who have this stance. So there was not reason to "fix" anything. Unless otherwise stated lets just assume we're talking about people here on this site, and not the entire world. Because I can counter and say everyone I know think it fits perfectly and feels very Star Wars.

I watched the entire thing and it felt like a generic space kids show with a good sized budget.

The show felt like Goonies. And Pirates of the Caribbean. And Wizard of Oz. And Star Trek: Prodigy. And Lost in Space. And Moana. And Guardians of the Galaxy 3. And everything else it was paying "homage" to. But other than the light saber and a few X-Wings, nothing in this show defined it or required it being set in the Star Wars universe.

It's like calling a show "Walking Dead: Babbling Brooks" and having no zombie apocalypse but just a family tale of people living off the grid and getting lost in a forest. It's like calling a show "Star Trek: Strange New World #3,761,238" and having no reference to interstellar travel, the Federation, Starfleet, or any alien race ever featured. Having the IP in the title is not enough.

Take "The Mandalorian" - its emotional core is a parent/child story. Its genre is a western. But it is fully grounded in - and expanded upon - the Mandalorian race, its beliefs, its politics, its cultural schisms, its place in relation to the Empire and the New Republic and the politics taking place as a result, the role of bounty hunters, the remnants of Force-wielders, it features aliens, droids, stormtroopers, even the camtono! It expands the Star Wars universe while still being a personal story of a father and son. You can't take it out of the Star Wars universe without completely changing the story being told.

But in Skeleton Crew, if you can replace the light saber with a space sword and the X-Wings with any military spaceships and it doesn't otherwise change the show at all, then how is this show Star Wars and why did it need to be made as a Star Wars show?

And since the ratings set a new franchise low, I think a lot of people had that same question. Because it wasn't a bad show. It was just familiar and totally unnecessary and not specifically Star Wars.

The problem here is that as others mentioned I think you're looking for something that ties the show into the larger "known", you basically say that in your Mandalorian example. And while I personally think they had enough nods to do that, I can see that point even if I disagree with it. However as also stated how can you expand a universe beyond the "known" (without repeating stories) if you don't tell unknown stories? Its easy to just fall back to the "known" in an already established universe, in fact many consider that cheap and lazy writing. Its a lot harder to try to tell a new story that expands that same established universe. And I think that is what they've done while still keeping it grounded in the lore of the established franchise.

As for the ratings, that I don't think has anything to do with this specific show and if it "felt" like Star Wars or not, that is a larger issue about the current state of the franchise.

 

[doctornick]

I'll just also add that there have been some significant storylines in Star Wars already featuring pirates (and a sort of seedy underworld in general) so some additional storylines in the vein make perfect sense. Han Solo was a smuggler after all.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

You can say the same thing for Andor. It's a guy doing a heist and gets caught and breaks out of prison. It could be any sci-fi setting

Andor is specifically set within the politics of the Empire and the Rebellion. It is integral to the set up of Rogue One and the OT. It is 100% Star Wars universe.

As for the rest of the replies above, honestly, I've stated my opinion in my last post and don't feel like repeating myself.

 

[Disney Irish]

Andor is specifically set within the politics of the Empire and the Rebellion. It is integral to the set up of Rogue One and the OT. It is 100% Star Wars universe.

As for the rest of the replies above, honestly, I've stated my opinion in my last post and don't feel like repeating myself.

I think the point still stands though, remove that setting and its just a generic Sci-Fi prison escape show.

So I think its just a matter of perspective here, how much of the "tie-in" to the established lore is needed for it to still be "Star Wars" while still being a new unique story. And I think they found the balance of that in this show, there was enough to establish its connection to the wider "Star Wars universe" while still being a new unique story. You obviously disagree and that is fine.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

I think the point still stands though, remove that setting and its just a generic Sci-Fi prison escape show.

So I think its just a matter of perspective here, how much of the "tie-in" to the established lore is needed for it to still be "Star Wars" while still being a new unique story. And I think they found the balance of that in this show, there was enough to establish its connection to the wider "Star Wars universe" while still being a new unique story. You obviously disagree and that is fine.

Lol Andor is the Mon Mothma & Luthen show as far as I'm concerned - they're brilliant and it's fascinating and nerve wracking to watch them attempt to pull off the Rebellion right under the watchful eyes of the Empire, especially knowing it's all leading to the hand off of the Death Star plans! It's SO good and I can't wait for season 2!

Removing an entire setting, backstory and future story removes the show itself. Unlike removing one light saber and a couple of spaceships which doesn't change Skeleton Crew at all. But again, I'm repeating myself so I'll leave it at that.

 

[Disney Irish]

Lol Andor is the Mon Mothma & Luthen show as far as I'm concerned - they're brilliant and it's fascinating and nerve wracking to watch them attempt to pull off the Rebellion right under the watchful eyes of the Empire, especially knowing it's all leading to the hand off of the Death Star plans! It's SO good and I can't wait for season 2!

Removing an entire setting, backstory and future story removes the show itself. Unlike removing one light saber and a couple of spaceships which doesn't change Skeleton Crew at all. But again, I'm repeating myself so I'll leave it at that.

Maybe we watched different shows, because I found more tie-ins to the greater Star Wars universe than a light saber and a couple ships. Jod's whole backstory about being trained by a Jedi before they were killed by what I would guess were the Inquisitors itself is enough to tie it back to "Star Wars" on its own.

And nothing against Andor, but really I think you're drawing a real fine line between what you know about the future outcome versus the story they are actually telling in the show. I think if you knew that Skeleton Crew was leading to some future outcome you'd feel the same way about it as you do Andor.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I really enjoyed this series, fun characters, fun story and ended strong, not a really deep show but very entertaining, which is more important to me than a message anyway.

Go watch the Goonies.

One of my all time favorites. I’ve watched it countless times.

Since I loved the show, I would enjoy seeing that too but at the same time it was a solid self contained story. I don't really "need" to have the minimal plot holes explained and I'm just satisfied with knowing the kids are back safely with their families.

I actually think the relatively limited direct connections to established Star Wars stories really worked in its favor as it didn't feel burdened by having to not contradict cannon or have fan service appearances. This was a great stand alone story and I'd love to see more of that for D+.

I think they tied up the At Attin storyline well so probably not much to add to that but I wouldn’t mind seeing Wim join the republic, learn to fly, etc. Also wouldn’t mind if Jod escaped and we followed him being a pirate.

Solo is still one of my favorite Star Wars movies though so I’ve always kind of liked the backstories and side stories.

 

[BrianLo]

Removing an entire setting, backstory and future story removes the show itself. Unlike removing one light saber and a couple of spaceships which doesn't change Skeleton Crew at all. But again, I'm repeating myself so I'll leave it at that.

I think you are minimizing SM-33. A fairly involved character that really I'd have a hard time pinning to another franchise beyond Star Wars.

I do think At Attin itself feels removed from the Star Wars Universe a bit... but that's also sort of the whole premise of the show. While the show definitely feels Amblin, Mando feels like a Western and that's also clearly permissible.

My criticism isn't so much that the show could remove the lightsaber and not be Star Wars, more that the lightsaber and force powers feel like a mandate that wasn't allowed to be let go. I agree with you on that front, those elements are pretty unnecessary to the story. But it still feels like a Star Wars story, generally speaking, whether they are there or not. The one real element it does allow is the hero worship and the unbridled acceptance of our foil as a good guy by one of the protagonists and a certain extent the audience. But the lightsaber is there strictly for the shows marketing purposes, other than the very end where it provides generally more tension than a gun.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

I think you are minimizing SM-33. A fairly involved character that really I'd have a hard time pinning to another franchise beyond Star Wars.

For me the SM-33 aka SMEE character is THE example of veering away from Star Wars with Pirate elements into a Star Wars Treasure Island adaptation.

The character talks and acts like a pirate, and even has a peg leg which makes zero sense for a droid to have.

Including a major character lifted from other popular culture is why it may not feel like Star Wars in parts. Thematic elements or an easter egg is one thing, but this was a bit blatant.

In Season 2 we'll find out they're all ghosts now because the Republic credits were cursed...

 

[flynnibus]

For me the SM-33 aka SMEE character is THE example of veering away from Star Wars with Pirate elements into a Star Wars Treasure Island adaptation.

The character talks and acts like a pirate, and even has a peg leg which makes zero sense for a droid to have.

Including a major character lifted from other popular culture is why it may not feel like Star Wars in parts. Thematic elements or an easter egg is one thing, but this was a bit blatant.

In Season 2 we'll find out they're all ghosts now because the Republic credits were cursed...

I see your SMEE and raise you...

Droids with mismatched or incomplete parts isn't a abnormal thing either

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

I see your SMEE and raise you...

Droids with mismatched or incomplete parts isn't a abnormal thing either

Mismatched parts isn't the point. Giving a character an illogical element in order to tie him to our popular culture is the issue.

Jabba is a gangster but they're not putting him in a tuxedo and giving him a wig so he looks exactly like the Godfather.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Mismatched parts isn't the point. Giving a character an illogical element in order to tie him to our popular culture is the issue.

I assumed his leg was broken just like his head.

 

[flynnibus]

Mismatched parts isn't the point. Giving a character an illogical element in order to tie him to our popular culture is the issue.

Jabba is a gangster but they're not putting him in a tuxedo and giving him a wig so he looks exactly like the Godfather.

What is illogical about a droid with broken and mismatched parts?

Illogical?


Illogical?


Illogical?


Droids with limb issues?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Mismatched parts isn't the point. Giving a character an illogical element in order to tie him to our popular culture is the issue.

Jabba is a gangster but they're not putting him in a tuxedo and giving him a wig so he looks exactly like the Godfather.

Upper class British Imperialists.

Jewish human traffickers.

Brooklynese deli short order cook.

But you draw the line at arrrgh-ye-matey pirates?

 

[sedati]

If a droid can be programmed for ettiquete and protocol, it can also be programmed for the opposite of that.

 

[sedati]

Jabba is a gangster but they're not putting him in a tuxedo and giving him a wig so he looks exactly like the Godfather.

Look up Marlo the Hutt

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

What is illogical about a droid with broken and mismatched parts?

Illogical?

You're missing the point.

Mismatched parts are good and typical in Star Wars. They help give it that lived in feel.

In this particular example they gave a droid a peg leg to make it look exactly like a pirate out of our current pop culture.

In the Star Wars universe there should be lots of spare parts lying around. They'd put a foot on that droid. The only reason to have him limp around on a peg leg is to explicitly have a pirate character.

The lack of subtlety is why some of us are saying this veers into being a pirate show with a Star Wars skin thrown over it, as opposed to a Star Wars show with piracy elements.

The Republic credits are a stand in for pirate treasure as well, but they didn't go so far as to make them rounded Republic doubloons.

As I said before it's fine, it's a good show, but a Star Wars show shouldn't necessarily cross the line into being an explicit adaptation of something else.

 

[flynnibus]

The lack of subtlety is why some of us are saying this veers into being a pirate show with a Star Wars skin thrown over it, as opposed to a Star Wars show with piracy elements.

The Republic credits are a stand in for pirate treasure as well, but they didn't go so far as to make them rounded Republic doubloons.

As I said before it's fine, it's a good show, but a Star Wars show shouldn't necessarily cross the line into being an explicit adaptation of something else.

Ehh... even that standard is easy to rip apart when one looks at the original film. It's full of adaptations and borrowed ideas.

I mean, the show is aimed at a younger audience.. I don't think we should disown it from Star Wars simply because it uses familiar tropes. Heck, if the larger world can accept TFA is an 'original movie'... the crimes here against Star Wars are trivial.