Star Wars: Skeleton Crewhas finally convinced me it’s time forStar Warsto move on from the Jedi. What words and ideas spring to mind when you think ofStar Wars? The franchise’s most famous symbol is, of course, the sight of a lightsaber held aloft - a modern-day Excalibur rallying heroes to the battle for justice, or a blood-red blade held in the hands of aLord of the Sith.
Star Warshas always been more than just the Jedi, of course.Mark Hamill describedStar Warsas a fairy taledressed up as science-fiction, pointing to the fact the first movie basically has a princess, a pirate, and a wizard; we’ve tended to focus on the wizards (in part because of the Rule of Cool), but all those other elements are an essential part of the mix too. Now, at last, I’m ready forStar Warsto shift its focus.
Star Wars Has Been Focused On The Jedi For The Last 48 Years
“From The Adventures Of Luke Skywalker”
Luke Skywalker may not be the only important character in the firstStar Warsmovie (later retitledA New Hope), but he’s undoubtedly the most important. These stories were originally billed as “From the adventures of Luke Skywalker,” after all; he starts out as the everyman hero, the one through whom young viewers can imagine themselves changing the fate of a galaxy, blowing down a Death Star, and even wielding a lightsaber. It’s true thatStar Warsmoved away from the everyman themes, but the focus remained on Luke.
TheStar WarsExpanded Universemaintained that relentless focus on the wonders of the Force. Kevin J. Anderson’s “Jedi Academy Trilogy” saw Luke establish a new Jedi Order, which would become the centerpiece of the evolvingStar Warstimeline. Books and comics would go on to explore the founding of the Jedi Order 25,000 years ago, and its future a century after the Skywalker saga. Even Mike Stackpole’s wonderful X-Wing books featured a Force-sensitive pilot who became a Jedi.
For 48 years,Star Warshas been all about the Jedi.
That focus has remained, even when those stories have ceased to be canon. Although Lucas' prequel trilogy made Anakin Skywalker the star rather than Luke,the Jedi Order was still at the center. The Disney era began withStar Wars Rebelsand the introduction of anOrder 66 survivorwho took on a Padawan, and the sequels saw Rey prove herself a true Jedi in the end - one now destined to create her own “New Jedi Order.” For 48 years,Star Warshas been all about the Jedi.
The Last Year Has Proved The Point
To be fair to Disney, there have been exceptions. 2016’sRogue One: A Star Wars Storyis generally seen as thebestStar Warsmoviemade by the House of Mouse, andnoStar WarsTV show has received the kind of acclaim we’ve seen withAndor. Tony Gilroy’s phenomenal show has seen its reputation improve as the years have passed, and excitement levels forAndorseason 2couldn’t be higher. Meanwhile, Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin is a massively important Disney character, and he’s no Jedi (even if he is accompanied by another Order 66 survivor).
But it’s taken the last year to make me realize I’m ready for the focus to shift.The Acolytewas the most Jedi-centric story under Disney; it was far from perfect, but there’s no way it was as poor as its Rotten Tomatoes audience score suggests. Lucasfilm seem to have hoped that would be the next big thing, but its storytelling and character work paled in comparison to non-Jedi stories such asStar Wars: The Bad BatchandStar Wars: Skeleton Crew.Maybe it’s time for a change?
The Bad BatchandSkeleton Crewhave reminded me that there’s so much more to this galaxy than the Force.
Don’t get me wrong, I still care so much about the Jedi. I lovedAhsoka, and I’m eager to watchAhsokaseason 2(and more than a little frustrated that it’s likely going to be 2027 before I get to see it). ButThe Bad BatchandSkeleton Crewhave reminded me thatthere’s so much more to this galaxy than the Force, and their characters are compelling precisely because they’re not constrained by the boundaries of Jedi doctrine. I’m ready for more.
Skeleton Crew Honored The Jedi In The Best Possible Way
Skeleton Crew Offers A New Vision Of The Jedi Too
And here’s the remarkable thing;Skeleton Crewmay not be about Jedi, but there’s a weird sense in whichit’s shown the best vision of Jedi I’ve ever seen in the franchise. Wim hero-worships the Jedi; the story opens with him engaging his friend Neel in a playful mock lightsaber fight. But when he finally gets his hands on a lightsaber in episode 5, he does what any one of us would (really) do: he messes up. And yet, the very next episode, he’s praised for being a true Jedi: why?
Stripped down to their most basic elements, the Jedi are not wizards or warriors.
Becausebeing a Jedi isn’t about lightsabers or the Force. Stripped down to their most basic elements, the Jedi are not wizards or warriors. They are simply the ones who try to help, the ones who inspire hope in others. Wim saves his friend KB inSkeleton Crewepisode 6, and in doing so, he proves he’s a Jedi at heart. He honors the true core idea of the Jedi, shunning all the baggage about Jedi Codes andForce powers. It’s so wonderful to see.
Skeleton Crewproves there’s another way to focus on the Jedi: not as an ancient order of mystics, but as simply the ones who inspire others to be like them in doing good. I’ve been a fan ofStar Warssince 1991, as a child who watchedA New Hopeand swiftly got hooked on… well, everything. But there’s something so wonderful aboutStar Wars: Skeleton Crew’s vision of the Jedi, something more compelling than anything I’ve seen since Lucas' original trilogy. By moving on from the Jedi at last,Star Warsis honoring them more than ever before.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Cast
Skeleton Crew follows four ordinary children who become lost in the expansive Star Wars galaxy. As they navigate unfamiliar worlds and the challenges they present, the group endeavors to find their way back to their home planet, undertaking a journey across the iconic Star Wars universe.
