REVIEW: Skeleton Crew – Season 1, Episode 7, “We’re Gonna Be in So Much Trouble”

Television Reviews

***SPOILERS***

“We’re Gonna Be in So Much Trouble” opens on At Attin with the kids’ parents desperately trying to contact them. They’re all caught and stunned except for Fara, who gets the message past the barrier. Meanwhile, the kids have mixed feelings about going home. The pirates arrive at At Attin and can’t pass the barrier. However, when the kids arrive on the Onyx Cinder, Jod realizes that the ship is the key to passing the barrier. As such, the pirates take the Cinder into its tractor beam. Jod kills Brutus once the kids take him captive, then orders his old crew to take the kids and their ship. Jod claims captaincy of the Cinder, but SM-33 takes Fern’s side, to everyone’s shock. He knocks Jod out and fights the crew off. Just as the Cinder passes through the barrier, Jod shows himself and beheads 33 with the lightsaber he got in “You Have a Lot to Learn About Pirates.” Using the threat of violence against their families, Jod brings the kids to the vault with him, posing as an Emissary. While the kids wait on the Cinder, their parents meet them outside the vault. However, this sweet reunion is cut short when Jod emerges, lightsaber drawn. 

We all know Jude Law is great, and I’ve spent the whole season praising his performance, but he’s particularly great in “We’re Gonna be in So Much Trouble,” now wholly a pirate. He’s not bargaining with the kids or rescuing them anymore, merely using them and the Cinder as pawns to please his crew. I really enjoy all of Jod’s scenes with the pirate crew, sparring with Brutus and using all his charm to get his way with the crew. It’s all very fun and adventurous on the surface, but then Jod will murder an incapacitated Brutus in cold blood without a second thought. Then, there’s the scene in the vault where Jod realizes just how many credits there are on At Attin. This is a truly excellent acting moment, a standout scene in an already outstanding performance. You can tell Jod has never seen this much money before, and I’m reminded of his speech about being hungry and never having enough. I’m not saying he’s a good guy or even a decent one, but I love this character. He’s immensely entertaining no matter what “mode” he’s in, and you never know what he’s going to do! I was initially pretty sure he would end up having a heart of gold and saving the kids, but you know what? I don’t know anymore. Jod has willfully put the kids in mortal peril more than once, and now, he’s threatening them and their families with his lightsaber. How will they wrap this thing up in one episode, especially given how short these tend to be? But now, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jod simply ends up scampering off or even dying in the end. If they do intend to make more seasons, I don’t see how they could kill him; he’s a great character, and Law is indispensable to the show. 

Speaking of indispensability, Jod killed SM-33! I know droids can be repaired, but I was legitimately shocked when he beheaded him. I audibly gasped, which I don’t often do when watching TV. SM-33 has become a favorite of mine, too, despite my initially finding him annoying and distracting. His and Jod’s repartee has been among the season’s highlights, contributing to the surprisingly effective humor. In every episode, I’m surprised by how funny Skeleton Crew is. This isn’t something I would say Disney has generally done well with Star Wars, so it’s very noticeable. Even though 33 is a droid, I’m genuinely worried about him and hope he ends up getting repaired. I felt the same way when he was shot by pirates last week. The tension and danger in this show are very convincing, so it actually feels real when the characters are threatened. This is another thing Disney Star Wars hasn’t excelled at most of the time. 

This is a smaller thing, but I liked it when Neel’s mom started to say, “I have a bad feeling about this,” but got stunned before she could finish. This was funny in a different way. I’m really excited to see what’s really up with At Attin after we get more context here. Namely, the Barrier is essentially a vast storm designed to dissuade potential At Attin visitors. Jod also observes that the Onyx Cinder is from At Attin, which is what allows it to enter the planet’s atmosphere. I fully expect to see the Supervisor and learn more about Jod and what the kids’ parents are really hiding from them next week. I think the Supervisor is either a droid, somehow connected to Tak Rennod, or both. I had already been wondering if he’s a droid, but in “We’re Gonna Be in So Much Trouble,” Jod even says he wants to see someone who’s not a droid. That feels like a setup for a big surprise, like the Supervisor being a droid himself. I still think this will have something to do with Rennod because I don’t see why else Rennod’s face would be distorted. Also, what’s up with the security on At Attin? They made it so challenging to get there, but then the attendant droid just takes Jod right to the mint and, next week, the Supervisor. I guess the point is that the droids simply lack the intuition to question Jod’s appearance, intentions, etc. And the show doesn’t have time to waste on Jod being questioned anyway; it’s just crazy to have all these obstacles leading to At Attin only to usher whoever arrives right to the bank. 

“We’re Gonna Be in So Much Trouble” is a great episode. It has a perfectly balanced tone, with plenty of action, humor, and quieter character moments. I love Fern and Wim’s talk about their adventure ending and the kids’ parents’ message. I can’t believe how much I’ve enjoyed this show, and I’ll be sorry when it ends. But I also can’t wait to see how they tie it all up.

Let us know what you thought of “We’re Gonna Be in So Much Trouble” in the comments!

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