The new Disney+ series 'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew' has an excellent cast of child actors and offers the unusual promise of different coming-of-age tales.
The leads of the production, which premiered this week, are a fairly typical bunch for your average coming-of-age adventure story. Led by a plucky protagonist who seeks adventure along a comic relief best friend, a rebellious girl who the lead is sure to fall in love with, and a tech-savvy partner, who stumbles upon a mystery that leads them across the galaxy, 'Skeleton Crew' follows the archetypes of the genre almost to a tee.
However, one of the things that differentiates this coming-of-age story from others in the same vein is that this one is set in the universe of the 'Star Wars' franchise. 'Skeleton Crew' is set approximately nine years after the fall of the Empire and the deaths of its leaders, the villainous Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine.
The protagonist, Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), is a child growing up on the American suburb-esque planet of At Attin, with a single father. Wim and his best friend Neel (Robert Turner Smith), an alien of an unnamed species that resembles an elephant, idolize the Jedi, and Wim spends his school days reading up on the history of the ancient organization.
Cabot-Conyers is a perfect choice for the role. He brings charm and vulnerability to his character while managing to show how ambitious Wim is. It's quite a feat to present a child in such strong contrasts.
Wim and Neel, along with the rebellious Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) and her techie best friend KB (Kyriana Kratter), stumble upon and accidentally activate a buried starship that sends them across the galaxy, crossing paths with Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law, the series' star power), a mysterious former pirate who is willing to help them get home.
The first two episodes, however, barely feature Law, as the show's real protagonists are the children thrust into adventure. Finding good child actors is difficult, but creators Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, seem to have found the perfect kids to play, not only Wim, but the core four of the series, with each giving a charming and believable performance as each of their characters.
New worlds in a galaxy far far away
The worlds they explore, whether it be the suburb-esque planet of At Atten or the seedy pirate den of Borgo Prime, each world feels lived-in and detailed, even if at times it boasts the sickly grey color palette that seems to be a trend of Hollywood productions these days.
While the writing in the initial offerings could have been stretched to present the kid's stories in a more creative and challenging way to the audience, as each of the characters still feels like coming-of-age clichés without much to set them apart from other young fictional adventurers, it hints to more and better material.
The mystery that is revealed in the second episode shows promise as no one seems to recognize the planet they are from.
Another aspect of the show that seems promising is the talent that Watts and Ford have hired to direct episodes of the series. The list includes 'The Green Knight' director David Lowery and the directors of the 2022 Academy Award Winner for Best Picture 'Everything Everywhere All at Once,' Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (collectively known as "Daniels").
Watts and Ford have directly cited the beloved 1985 film 'The Goonies,' as inspirations while reiterating that the series is "the story of [the kids'] journey trying to find their way home. It stars four kids, but it is not a kids show." However, while the show shows promise, whether the series will live up to its inspirations and not remain a show that only children can enjoy remains to be seen.
The first two episodes of 'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew' are available now on Disney+.
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