Star Wars and Disney+ will get ready to ring in the New Year with a new episode of Skeleton Crew!
After dropping the first two episodes of Skeleton Crew at once on December 2, Disney+ is dropping one episode per week at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays. The sixth episode will be directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, who is no stranger to the galaxy far, far away, having directed three episodes of The Mandalorian (including one of my personal favorites, season 2’s “The Heiress”) as well as one episode of The Book of Boba Fett. She also provided the voice of Jedi Master Yaddle in the anthology animated series Tales of the Jedi.
But before we look ahead, let’s take a look back at the fifth episode of this series, You Have A Lot To Learn About Pirates, which is a very fitting title as after saving the kids last week and perhaps indicating he was truly loyal to them the other shoe finally dropped.
Timing notes
You Have A Lot To Learn About Pirates clocked in at 45 minutes with credits, which is the second-longest run time of the series and the longest since the premiere. As we enter the series’ home stretch it will be interesting to see whether we’ll see more episodes run a little longer or if the longer run time is saved for the finale on January 14.
Notes
(Warning: Spoilers for episode five of Skeleton Crew ahead.)
- After the end of last week’s episode, the kids and Jod are faced with the conundrum of what to do with SM-33. He attacked once reminded of his prior captain’s orders to tear anyone who asked about At Attin limb from limb, so our heroes tied him down. After a brief standoff, the kids turn him back on, and thankfully there is no danger to be found since Fern is his captain now, negating past orders. He comically sits up immediately shedding the ropes tying him down to bring the kids and Jod to the hideout of his former captain, Tak Rennod, in order to find the coordinates to At Attin.
- This week was Wim’s turn to have a breakdown and struggle with the difficulty of the kids’ journey home. Jod attempts to console him and reminds him that he wanted an adventure, but like it is for many, it wasn’t what Wim thought it would be and now he just wants to go home and see his dad.
- In his attempt to console Wim, we see another interesting aspect of Jod. He appears to give Wim some very Jedi-like advice, telling him to forget his attachments. He even parrots Qui Gon Jinn’s line from The Phantom Menace that your focus determines your reality. It begs the question of Jod really was at one time a youngling/padawan at the Jedi Temple and is perhaps an Order-66 survivor. He once again used the Force, so perhaps he is not faking it a la Haja Estree.
- We eventually make our way to Rennod’s hideout-turned-luxury spa Lanupa, which much to SM-33’s disappointment has been gentrified and is no longer a pirate’s hangout so much as a place for the wealthy to unwind.
- Jod and the kids talk, or more accurately bribe, their way into the resort, where he runs into an old friend…erm, should I say foe, Pokkit. She claims not to hold a grudge against Jod, who she calls Dash Zentin (yet another alias for Jod). Despite claiming she holds no grudge, she quickly contacts Captain Brutus to claim the bounty on Jod and the kids’ heads.
- Pokkit is just the latest in a line of people telling the kids not to trust Jod, something that would prove prophetic later in the episode.
- Pokkit is played by Kelly MacDonald, the voice of Merida in the Pixar film, Brave. It will be interesting to see if this was a one-off for her character or if she plays a role down the homestretch of the series.
to us, she’s royalty
learn more trivia in the official #SkeletonCrew episode guide: https://t.co/hUlY3WkRdL pic.twitter.com/smhFHdtwz6
— Star Wars (@starwars) December 26, 2024
- After a moment of childish pillow fighting in their extravagant suite, the kids and Jod split up looking to find Rennod’s hideout and the coordinates to At Attin. After a few misadventures, nearly getting caught and running into a large obstacle in their way, the kids and Jod find their way to the hideout. A la the opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Rennod’s hideout is heavily booby-trapped, with everyone nearly getting beheaded. Wim has a fine moment where he realizes that to solve the riddle to drain the acid impeding their path that Rennod would consider treasure, not life, the most valuable thing that could be surrendered.
- Even after reaching Rennod’s hideout, more bobby traps lie ahead. And in order to find the data port they have to find something that looks out of place. Neel finds it and after avoiding one last booby trap they find the data port and the coordinates.
- Unfortunately, things then take a turn once Jod discovers the true nature of At Attin’s legacy as a planet of eternal treasure. Through Rennod’s captain’s log, it is discovered that At Attin is the home of a mint of the Old Republic, explaining why Wim’s Old Republic credits are still pristine. It, unfortunately, leads to Jod giving in to his nature, and finally betraying the kids as many in the show had wanted them against by breaking their deal in a lust for unlimited treasure and challenging Fern to a duel for the title of captain as outlined in the pirate’s code, which SM-33 must abide by.
- Jod tells Fern to just yield so he doesn’t have to hurt her, and eventually she tries to attack but he uses the Force to easily subdue her. As he holds a knife to her throat, Wim gathers all his courage as well as the lightsaber he found among Rennod’s plunder. Unfortunately for the kids, when Wim ignites the saber it’s pointed in the wrong direction. Fern is forced to yield and Jod is now the captain and seals his betrayal by telling SM-33 to take the kids prisoner. But before the deed can be done, Wim activates the booby trap and the kids drop from the hideout.
- Jod is seemingly unconcerned about the kids, telling SM-33 to find another way out since they had to reactivate the acid to stop the advance of the bounty hunters on their tail. The episode ends with Jod ominously using the Force to call the lightsaber to his hand.
So there you have it. The mysteries of At Attin have largely been revealed, we know of the true nature of its treasure and why it may have hidden itself from the galaxy. But no matter the plan the kids’ parents are hatching, which we see a bit of in this episode, trouble is on its way to At Attin and he’s carrying a lightsaber, the Force and greed with him. There have been some dots connected, leading some to wonder whether a Sith influence is at play. But, we’ll see if Wim’s adventure will see him emulate the Jedi heroes he admires and rise to save his friends, family and home.
May the Force be with you!
