Skeleton Crew’ Is an Adventure Kids Will Love

When it comes to finding good entertainment these days, vibes are half the battle. If a show feels “right”, you can at least get on board for the ride. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, the latest Lucasfilm entry streaming now on Disney+, definitely gives a welcoming invitation to a ride that feels both fresh and familiar.

This new series spotlights four kids from the same neighborhood (instead of the usual adult heroes from different worlds) as they’re unexpectedly whisked off on an adventure across the galaxy. The vibes are indeed there at the start–from the coming-of-age wonder that made ’80s Amblin movies a hit, to the witty banter and tech savviness of today’s tween. After watching the first three episodes of the show with my kids, I think the Force might just be with this one.

About ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is an original live-action series about four kids who get lost in a strange galaxy after making a mysterious discovery on their home planet. Though they may have longed for something more than what their seemingly safe world had to offer, all they want now is to find their way back home. But doing so means they’ll have to trust each other as well as a few unexpected allies to brave the dangers and return to their parents.

The episodes are directed by Jon Watts, David Lowery, the Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Lee Isaac Chung. Watts and Lowery also serve as the show’s head writers and executive producers alongside Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy, and Colin Wilson.

The main cast features Jude Law (Jod), Nick Frost, (SM-33), Ravi Cabot-Conyers (Wim), Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Fern), Kyriana Krater (KB), and Robert Timothy Smith (Neel).

Kids Should Get a Kick Out of This Crew

One thing I appreciated right away about this show is that it doesn’t spend time leaning heavily into the weeds of Star Wars lore itself, but instead opens a corner of the galaxy that feels untouched by details viewing experts might know. In an immediate departure from the normal stage setting of a Star Wars story, there is no traditional opening crawl. Some text gives the viewer an idea of the setting, but we don’t hear about any of the classic names, or an empire, or rebellion, etc. This proves to be purposeful in establishing the broader mystery of the kids’ home world and the role it plays (or doesn’t play) in the greater conflict.

And speaking of the kids, they each bring great presence and energy clearly inspired by some of the more famous ragtag groups of pop-culture suburbia. It’s not an accident that you’ll likely be able to fill a mental bingo card of titles with shared vibes within the first ten minutes: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Goonies, Explorers, and Stand by Me, to name a few. Why they’re referred to as the “Skeleton Crew” is also a bit of a fun discovery. Though my kids didn’t have the same reference points when watching the episodes, it was a nice nostalgic treat for me.

But what’s relatable for kids of every generation is the desire to escape the world they’re in–to leave the safe and familiar behind for a more adventurous road. I spoke with the four young members of the Skeleton Crew to get their perspectives on what their characters might be searching for and learning.

Space parents just don’t understand

When asked why their characters are so driven to leave their space suburbia, the kids describe the individual “stakes” involved and how they’ve grown due to the relationship dynamics with their on-screen parents.

“Wim, deep down, just wants an adventure,” Ravi Cabot-Conyers tells Parents. “His mom isn’t around, and he’s upset with his dad right now. That, along with all the intensity [in his life] that builds and builds…It’s what motivates [Wim] to go off-world.”

“Fern is in a strict environment with a lot of expectations,” says Ryan Kiera Armstrong of her character. Fern’s mother (played by Kerry Condon) puts pressure on her to be at the top of her class and wear a badge of honor to prove it. “That would be hard on anyone,” Armstrong adds. “She’s desperate for something freeing.”

Kyriana Krater describes KB’s parents as being very hands-on and overly-protective, due to her having what appears to be a vision impairment. She says KB is excited for the adventure for this reason. But as it goes on, “she begins to miss her family and her planet.”

Robert Timothy Smith reveals that Neel likely doesn’t want to leave his loving family of delightful anthropomorphized elephant creatures, but he also doesn’t want to disappoint his best friend, Wim. “I think he ends up just going along for the ride, but he probably does want to stay home,” Smith says.

The kids do add that being thrust into an unfamiliar and unfriendly environment has a way of showing you how much you take home for granted.

Trust is a necessity, but it’s not easy

As the crew find themselves far from home for the first time, they’re forced to decide who to trust. They’re also faced with not being trusted right away. They come across some seedy adults and a quirky droid called SM-33 (a wink at “Smee” from Peter Pan) who each offer some assistance but seem to have their own agendas. The kids talk about how trusting and being trusted doesn’t come so easily.

“Wim believes with all of his heart that the adults know what they’re doing,” says Cabot-Coyers.

Jude Law’s character Jod is one who takes on the role of guide for the group early on, but he clearly has secrets. But he’s also not without skills. Upon meeting the kids, he reveals that he’s Force-sensitive, which endears him to Wim especially, who’s a fan of the Jedi.

“Wim really looks up to Jod because he believes he’s a Jedi,” Cabot-Conyers explains. “He feels so connected to him. It’s sweet.”

Armstrong mentions all of the unknowns that come about so quickly for the crew, which makes it hard to really feel confident in trusting anyone. “The idea of exploring the universe is so exciting. And then when it becomes real, you’re like ‘well what do I do now?'” she says.

An adventure is a great way to learn

With this being the first Star Wars live action show targeted primarily toward kids, the young actors are hopeful kids can feel a part of this galaxy while having fun and taking away some valuable nuggets.

“I would say be careful what you wish for,” Smith warns, referencing some things Neel goes through in particular. “You may think you really want something, but then when you get it, you might not be too into it.”

He adds the old adage that teamwork makes the dream work–as there are plenty of examples of team building opportunities in the first three episodes of the show alone.

Armstrong chimes in with, “You can do the impossible. Even when things seem [grim], don’t give up, because there’s always hope.”

Cabot-Conyers rounds things out with, “Friendship is key.”

He goes on to say how the show is packed with great themes amidst the adventure.

“It’s Star Wars. It’s fun and action-packed, but there’s still something relatable for everyone.”

These Are The Good Times Parents are Looking For

In addition to some of the nostalgic vibes of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, the show does offer some interesting threads to pull on regarding the parents. Since I’ve only watched the first three episodes, many questions are still to be answered, but there are definitely some mysteries at play back home. We also see some of the relatable struggles of a parent who’s doing their best but falling short in connecting with their kid to another who thinks they have everything under control but really have no idea what’s happening.

The performances and dialogue are relatable, and they feel authentic to the situation of finding out your child is suddenly far away from you on a star-hopping adventure. I liked the diversity represented in the families as well, with single-parent homes to having multiple siblings to living with a disability.

There are a few darker, more violent scenes in the show, particularly dealing with pirate characters, that you might want to be prepared for if you’re watching with younger kids. But overall, this is a pretty clean family watch with enough of the old school ingredients families should enjoy together.