TV Review — It’s A Jude Law World In ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ Episode 3. We’re Just Living In It

It took Star Wars: Skeleton Crew nearly the entirety of its two episode premiere to get to the character alternately known as Captain Silvo, Crimson Jack, and Ja Na Nawood (Jude Law). But having introduced the main adult cast member of the series in the closing minutes of episode 2, the show hands over “Very Interesting, As an Astrogation Problem” for Law to establish how his character fits into the dynamic of the cast. In the process, the episode also introduces one of the most delightful new Star Wars characters we’ve had in ages, the cat-owl librarian, astronomer, and narc Kh’ymm (voice of Alia Shawkat). Together, the duo makes this installment’s tale fun and memorable, even as it makes sure not to leave behind its core cast of kid characters nor its simmering mysteries. 

To that end, the episode opens with a brief check-in on the kids’ parents. It’s fun how each of the different adults’ personalities reflect their respective children — Neel’s (Robert Timothy Smith) mom, Nooma (Geneva Carr), is there to offer soothing drinks even though she’s in the same situation as the rest; the rebellious Fern’s (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) mother, Fara (Kerry Condon), falls back on her belief in authority for comfort. KB’s (Kyriana Kratter) parents — Maree (Cass Buggé) and Garree (MJ Kang) — are concerned for her health, even as KB has functioned as the most fearless of the four; and Wim’s (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) dad, Wendle (Tunde Adebimpe), has simply shut down in the face of his son’s absence, while Wim remains the most enthusiastic of the four kids despite the danger they’re in. This sequence also offers some sinister undertones about the state of At Attin — the only authority figures the adults converse with are security droids, and it’s established that the barrier around the planet is intended to keep people both out and in. Together, it suggests that Fara’s desire to bring this to the mysterious Supervisor’s attention will not end as well as she hopes. 

 

Back in Port Borgo, Law’s Jod immediately works to insinuate himself into the kids’ dynamic, helping them escape the brig, get back to their ship, and re-enter the port city in order to reclaim SM-33 (voiced by Nick Frost). For the audience, it’s clear we’re watching an excellent con man do his thing, but the kids’ reaction to having Jack — er, Jod — in their midst speaks volumes about them. Sweet, earnest Wim, the sight of a wobbly key floating into Jod’s hand being all the evidence he needs, immediately pegs the prisoner as a Jedi (which Jod very carefully neither confirms nor denies). Neel, understandably, goes along with Wim. The girls, meanwhile, side with each other, and remain suspicious, though it’s telling that Fern’s suspicions rest more on the threat Jod represents to her leadership role, while KB is more logical in laying out her reasons to distrust Jod. He, meanwhile, is equally adept at reading the room. He goes back for SM-33, recognizing the need to maintain some pretense of heroism to keep Wim on his side, while being careful not to push back against Fern too hard. At the same time, he expresses admiration for KB’s insight and skills. 

Promising to help them get home (and hoping to find a bit of that lost At Attin treasure), Jod proceeds to bring the kids to an old friend, Kh’ymm (whose name, in true Star Wars fashion, looks complicated but is just “Kim”). She is a wonderful new character. Part owl, part cat, all versed in arcane lore and galactic cartography, she hits the same satisfying notes as Yoda (Frank Oz) did back in the day; that combination of phenomenal puppetry and distinctive voice acting. Clearly a one-off character meant to move the story along, she doesn’t offer the same kind of opportunities for thematic or character development as Jod, but is nevertheless an appreciated addition to the episode and is someone we’ll hopefully see again. 

Kh’ymm’s rocky past with Jod also serves to both further his status as shifty con man type and offer up justification for her calling in the New Republic and warning the kids away from Jod (that the X-wing pilot who stops in to check with Kh’ymm wasn’t Paul Sun-Hyung Lee‘s Carson Teva from The Mandalorian — the only X-wing pilot in the entire Outer Rim, apparently — shows a remarkable bit of restraint on the show’s part). But of course, Jod has done enough by now to ingratiate himself into the crew, and after a brief negotiation of the terms of their arrangement which establishes Jod as, essentially, an employee of the kids, they race off for the coordinates provided by Kh’ymm, believing they’re heading home. 

By the end of “Very Interesting, As an Astrogation Problem”, Jod has fully adopted the Long John Silver mantle from SM-33. Just as Silver was the cook on the Hispaniola, Jod is now a mere hired hand to the kids. Like Silver, Wim and the rest are constantly being warned not to trust Jod by outsiders, yet find it difficult to escape his pull. And like Silver, despite his shifty nature, Jod does seem to have some genuine affection for his young companions. All in all, it makes this a successful introduction for the final member of the show’s core cast, one which both does a lot of work to establish the character, but further develops the rest of the ensemble in the process. 

New episodes of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew air Tuesdays on Disney+.