‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ Episode 5 Review - An Eyesore of an Experience

Another week, another mediocre episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. The characters are once again taken to a different planet, where someone ends up recognizing Jod and warns the kids not to trust this person. Things initially seem calm, and then the tension is raised through an approaching threat. Finally, the episodes take a turn towards kiddish violence, followed by a cliffhanger teasing that the kids might have found the coordinates of their home planet. There is a scene in Episode 4 where Neel and the other kids prepare themselves for a face-off, only to come across Jod (he appears from behind the smoke). Something similar occurs in this episode, with the difference that it's SM-33 who reveals himself from behind the smoke. The beats of Skeleton Crew are monotonous. Its tone suggests a childlike sense of wonder, but the magic is spoiled by utterly dull visual effects - it's an eyesore of an experience.

The crew, this time, is taken to Lanupa, a planet where luxury is prioritized over everything else. Upon arrival, the ships inform Captain Fern and her team that this is a peaceful planet as long as they refrain from using their weapons. SM-33 expresses his disgust at the opulence of the Skull Ridge Mountain Hotel, and I share the same sentiment because the visuals look cheap and unpleasant. It's Jude Law who once again adds some juice to this bland material. You smile when Fern and Jod accuse one another of being selfish and scared because Law looks like a kid in the body of an adult. The children he hangs out with, however, have become more uninteresting since his introduction. Wim confesses that he no longer desires adventure; it doesn't seem as exciting as the stories he has read. This revelation feels jarring - it comes out of nowhere. We don't see this boredom developing in Wim's head step by step. Instead, it is presented abruptly, leaving little room for empathy for the boy.

If given the choice between reviewing Dune: Prophecy and Skeleton Crew, I would have chosen to stay wrapped in my warm blanket. It's not worth sacrificing your sleep or time for shows that want to be disposable. And yet, here I am, desperately trying to increase my word count. I genuinely think I have had enough of this new Star Wars product. There comes a moment in this episode where Wim picks up a lightsaber to confront Jod, but his heroic deed is converted into a joke. I didn't laugh. In fact, everything about this moment felt off. I grew frustrated and started cursing George Lucas for creating Star Wars in 1977. While he inspired many filmmakers, what's the point of such inspiration if it leads to an endless stream of mediocre productions? It seems as if the creators of some recent Star Wars shows picked up the lightsaber to kill their imagination.

Final Score – [4/10]