Skeleton Crew receives praise – but critics are split over one detail

21 hour ago

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Skeleton Crew - Figure 1 — Photo The Independent

Critics have shared their thoughts on the first two episodes of the recently launched Disney+ series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.

Taking place at the same time as The Mandalorian, Skeleton Crew tells the story of four kids who get lost in a sprawling galaxy and must navigate their way back to their home world.

The series is helmed by John Watts, known for Spider-Man: Homecoming, and David Lowery, recognized for The Green Knight. Jude Law takes on the role of the enigmatic and rugged character Jod Na Narwood.

Nick Frost lends his voice to SM-33, a robotic pirate, while emerging talents Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, and Robert Timothy Smith portray the missing youngsters.

The show marks the first release in the Star Wars franchise following the cancellation of The Acolyte, and it’s been mostly well-received. However, some critics are pointing out that it resembles another popular streaming series in terms of its tone.

Rolling Stone described Skeleton Crew as a well-made work suitable for all audiences, presenting a genuine narrative.

The series evokes a sense of nostalgia that many have likened to the popular Netflix show Stranger Things. It's been pointed out that the neighborhood shown at the beginning of the series is clearly inspired by the one seen in E.T.

Ali Griffiths from Digital Spy wrote, "The themes used in this work are among the most familiar in contemporary pop culture. For over ten years, we've been inundated with references and styles reminiscent of the 1980s."

Sam Barsanti from IGN scored the first episodes a respectable seven out of ten. He noted that the characters are a bit one-dimensional in terms of their personalities and performances, but found them to be enjoyable—something that can't always be counted on in the Star Wars universe.

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Alison Herman from Variety mentioned that while the series might come across as excessively nostalgic and appealing to sentimentality, it is still an enjoyable, adventurous, and action-packed sci-fi adventure.

Herman's review noted, "While Skeleton Crew might occasionally seem like it was created through a calculated process, the charisma of its actors and their contagious enthusiasm really help make the project appealing."

Fans are in sync with the mostly positive reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes shows that critics have rated the show at an impressive 81 percent, while audience ratings for the first two episodes are even higher, standing at an outstanding 93 percent.

It's important to mention that these ratings come from a small number of reviews, and they may change as more viewers watch the new series.

There are six additional episodes of Skeleton Crew scheduled to be released, making a total of eight episodes for the series. New episodes will be available for streaming every Tuesday until January 14, 2025.