The universe of Star Wars It doesn’t always have to be fun, as demonstrated”“Andor”considered by many to be the best television spin-off of the franchise, but which lacks lightness. However, the least successful productions are often the bleakest, as the core of Star Wars It lies in being a simple intergalactic adventure, designed for children, parents and teenagers, but with an inner child. Fun should be the norm, and ““Skeleton Crew”the new series, seems to have captured that essence that the saga should have explored years ago. As many fans pointed out after the trailer premiered, this youth series is basically ““The Goonies” in space: pure fun.
An unusual start
Since its inception, ““Skeleton Crew” It stands out for being a rarity within the saga: it presents an urban environment. Instead of the typical deserts, exotic markets, bustling ports or shiny space stations, the story takes place on a planet called Wim, reminiscent of a comfortable, modern Earth. Trains, skyscrapers and bridges over rivers dominate the landscape. There lives Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), a pre-teen boy whose daily life combines familiar and fantastical elements: breakfast cereal with blue milkhis teachers are droids, and he dreams of becoming a Jedi.
Wim’s life is a mix of realism and fantasy: his home has a design inspired by the atomic age, his best friend Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) is a shy boy shaped like a blue elephant, and the cool girl Fern ( Ryan Kiera Armstrong) drives a hoverbike at breakneck speeds, accompanied by KB (Kyriana Kratter), a tech expert who wears a futuristic visor. This group of friends, united by their differences, discover something mysterious in the forestwhich accidentally leads them to embark on an adventure millions of miles from home.
a journey
The series is set in the same timeline as ““The Mandalorian”in a chaotic galaxy after the fall of the Empire. In this context, the group of children finds Crimson Jack (Jude Law), a failed thief who becomes his guide, half mentor and half older brother. Along their journey, the boys face challenges in fantastical worlds, from noodle restaurants where the special ingredient is the inside of a giant crustacean, to an owl-like astronomer and a C-3PO-like droid who works as a tattoo artist. highly strung.
The series balances the tone well between danger and adventure. Children must learn to defend themselves in a complex and adult universe, but the threat level never exceeds the limit of what can be considered exciting for its target audience. When engaging in dogfights firing laser cannons, It seems like they are immersed in a video game.
A young cast
The young actors have great chemistry, which underpins much of the series’ charm. For his part, Jude Law knows how to play his role with precision: his character has a threatening air but He’s too charismatic to be a real villainand at the same time too unreliable to be a safe ally. The girls in the group view him with suspicion from the beginning, while the more naive boys are willing to give him a chance.
Of course not everything is perfect in ““Skeleton Crew”. Although it is funny, it rarely reaches a truly comedic level.; Even Nick Frost, who voices a droid who figures to be the comic relief, has few lines that generate laughs. Furthermore, the format of the series is not episodic enough, giving the sensation of being a long film divided into 40-minute fragments.
The best way to enjoy Skeleton Crew It is without exaggerated expectations, watching it with family during the holidays and end-of-year parties, accompanied by a box of chocolates. This Star Wars Less serious is a perfect escape to a happy place, remembering the essence of the space adventures that made the franchise famous.
by RN
