Episodes 6 and 7 of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew have led us back to At Attin and it showed us Jod Na Nawood’s true colors. Maybe?

In Episode 6, ‘Zero Friends Again,’ we finally got the kids to work together. It was so sad to see KB so upset with Fern’s stubbornness, not listening to her friend when she said she couldn’t make the climb.

We learned in this episode that KB’s augments were installed after she had some kind of terrible accident. It seems that the augments are what is helping her move. When parts of the augments begin to fail because of the moisture or lack of regular maintenance, she begins to shut down. Luckily for her, the group’s “Jedi” was there to help her make a new part, getting her back on her feet.

In this moment, Wim learned that being a Jedi isn’t always about adventure or lightsaber fighting. Sometimes it’s about being there and helping in the smallest way.

Meanwhile, on the climb up to the Onyx Cinder, Neel struggled to keep up with Fern because of his different body style. His short arms and legs made it very difficult for him to climb the ladder. Fern finally began to listen and found a simple solution by tying a rope around both of them, taking some of the burden off of Neel.

Fern and Neel had to ditch their climb when the ship was being towed off to the trash fields. Bravely jumping off the ladder onto one of the tow ships, they steered it to KB and Wim who had followed the crab-like creatures they thought were there to help them but were leading them to the Mother Crab, a stop animation creature from Phil Tippet and Tippet Studios.

After a rough landing, KB and Fern each apologized to the other for being so hard-headed and not listening to each other. It was so good to see Fern learn how to be a better friend and KB learn that she needs to speak up when she’s unable to keep up with her more physically able friends.

When they went to find the Onyx Cinder, it was in the path of a trash-eating monster machine. Each of them took up the places they had learned from previous episodes. KB did the start-up sequence for the ship after watching Jod and SM-33 and then went to fix the engines. Neel piloted the ship, while Fern helped with the controls out of his reach. Wim tried his best to fire the guns to stop the monster, but as he said “It’s too invincible!”

Out of options, Fern decided to go against what the adults had told her and pushed the big red button. A series of explosions peeled back the outer skin like a butterfly escaping its cocoon. What was left was a slick, if not older silver hull, giving us the image of the true Onyx Cinder.

Jod, meanwhile got caught by the remainder of Brutus’s pirates. Back on Brutus’s ship, Jod was sentenced to “walk the plank”… I mean, thrown out of the airlock. He then shows us that he is the charming leader and convinces the pirates that At Attin is the big score they are all looking for.

Now the race home is on!

In episode 7 of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, ‘We’re Gonna Be in So Much Trouble’, we have returned to At Attin.

The episode begins with Wim coming to the realization that their adventure is coming to an end. We can all feel this. How many of us go on our own adventures/vacations, and on the way home the real world comes flying back at us?

It was Fern this time coming to console Wim. Flipping from episode 4 ‘Can’t Say I Remember No At Attin’ when Fern had her moment of self-doubt, Wim tried to be there for her. It was the moment of leadership showing how much Fern, and the rest of the kids, have grown in this series.

The pirates get to At Attin first. Brutus, being the complete skeptic, has had enough of Jod’s lies, throwing him into the airlock. But when the Onyx Cinder arrives, Jod figures out that it is the key to get through the barrier around the planet.

After their ship is trapped by a tracker beam and pulled into the pirate ship, the kids bravely take a stand, using the claw from the cargo bay, and grab Brutus. Jod took this chance to show his true colors, shooting Brutus and taking back his ship. It was the first major example that Jod, now back in his Captain Silvo costume, might not be the good guy we hoped he was.

Throughout the series, it has felt that he might be a pirate but under that rough exterior, he was the Jedi padawan. But when he finally unleashes his anger on the kids, threatening to torture their parents, it becomes apparent that he is in it for one person and one person only, himself.

The parents at the beginning of the episode made a small device to get out past the barrier after the supervisor refused to help them contact the New Republic for help to find the kids. It was funny to watch the rally race through the forest as each of the parents was stunned by the security droids. Fara, Fern’s mother, was the one to get it released but of course, it was Jod who found the message first.

I laughed out loud when Fern started making a plan to take back their ship and Wim “Leeroy Jenkins” right at Captian Silvo and the other two pirates. Of course, it didn’t work but Fern challenged Jod for captainship. Calling back to episode one’s claimzies exchange, she got SM-33 back on the kid’s side, knocking Jod and the others out, and tossing them out into the cargo bay.

The Onyx Cinder was able to pass through the barrier because as Wim figured out it was from At Attin. The pursuing pirate ships were destroyed but there was a stowaway, Jod. Pulling out his lightsaber, this is when he threatens the kids and their families. Seeing him attack Wim verbally was so heartbreaking. Wim even shed a tear. Wim had thought of Jod as a Jedi most of the series, and connected with him more than any of the other kids. So, when Jod went after him, it was hard to watch.

The Onyx Cinder was greeted by security droids, who asked if they were there for their regular pickup and I shot up in my seat. “What does that mean?” Watching the ship descend into the center of the planet, past the mint, and seeing the kid’s complete disbelief that this was all under their planet, was a direction I didn’t think the series was going.

Of course, when they said the planet was an Old Republic mint, I knew they were going to find some gold, but not 1139 vaults so large you can’t see the other end. Jod’s uncontrollable laughing with joy as he was showered with gold Old Republic credits does make up for him being mean to the kids. But only a small bit.

Heartfelt reunions with the kids and their parents were great. But the last shot of Jod igniting his lightsaber in front of them after his threat, and cut to black, I screamed out, “What?”

This episode was short and I selfishly wanted more. The rumor is the last episode of the series will be the longest. Run times don’t bother me, as long as we have good a story.

Judd Law’s performance in this series has been award-winning. He had brought a level of emotional depth and seriousness that was needed against the kid’s playfulness and wonder as they went out into the galaxy for the first time. Judd has given us everything from a charming leader, to complete joy, to a coldhearted villain throughout the series. I want more!

Now Speculation Corner.

First: Jod is a bad guy? Good guy? Captain Jack Sparrow and on his own side? I feel like there is some larger story behind him. We still don’t know his back story. But I feel he is working for some bigger cause.

Second: Now the outside galaxy knows about At Attin, they are going to have to do something to keep themselves safe. I wouldn’t be surprised if the barrier attacks the pirates after the supervisor meets Jod.

Third: My current theory is Captain Rennod is Neel’s great-grandfather but he is long pasted and At Attin is running on autopilot.

Fourth: This one is way out on a limb but…. Jod is working for Senator Leia Organa to build an army to go against the rising threat of the First Order. I know this probably won’t happen but I’m hoping that there is some connection to the larger Star Wars story.

I’m not ready for this series to be over. I want to spend so much more time with the kids on their adventures on the Onyx Cinder, and maybe not so much time with Mr. Meanie Face, Jod.

The finale of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew season one will debut on Tuesday, January 14th, at 6 pm PT.

Author: Sean Miley

I’d rather find the things that I like about a story, movie, or tv show, than lead with negativity. I love Star Wars, Doctor Who, MCU, comic book and conventions.

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