The Star Wars universe has always been seen in extremes — from the desolate sand towns to the gritty, grimy streets and the extravagant and luxurious worlds. There is rarely a middle ground. What is most intriguing about Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is how suburban and ordinary a Star Wars world could be.

The planet where the characters are from looks like an ordinary suburban town where many kids want to grow up to become coordinators, analysts, and accountants. Seeing a new kind of living — one that is familiar to our society — in the Star Wars Universe is refreshing. Rather than fear pirates or Sith Lords, the kids’ biggest fear is a career exam. 

Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) is bored with his mundane life where his workaholic father is busy as an assistant coordinator. Wim dreams of adventures and even imagines himself as a Jedi. His best friend Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) is complacent with the life they live. But Wim is not alone in this feeling. Mean girl Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) is equally bored with her privileged life. As the daughter of a high-ranking official, she longs for adventure — challenging the older kids in motorbike racing. Her best friend KB (Kyriana Kratter) goes along with her misadventures. 

While late to his career exam, Wim gets lost in the forest, finding what he thinks is a buried Jedi temple. Fern overhears him talking about it and heads over there, claiming the found buried building for motorbike parts. As Wim, Neel, Fern, and KB open the latch to the hidden building, they find it happens to be a ship. Chaos ensues, and the ship launches — with the kids inside it. This is where the real adventure begins. Lost in space without direction, the four must work with the ship’s android and a mysterious Force-wielding pirate named Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law) to return to their home planet. 

Branded by many as The Goonies of Star Wars, the series definitely has the adventure feel to the story alongside the four very contrasting characters. Co-creators and showrunners Jon Watts and Christopher Ford are no strangers to creating coming-of-age stories, penning and directing Spiderman: Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home. With the Skeleton Crew, they do just that with four kids who long for adventure but, ultimately, yearn to return home. 

If readers expect the series to resemble The Mandalorian or Andor, then you may be expecting too much. While the production, music, costume, and makeup design are stunning and high value, Skeleton Crew is a family adventure series that everyone can enjoy. Kid shows deserve the same production value as all stories, no matter who the audience is. This certainly the case here. 

It does have odes to the adventure films of the ‘80s and ‘90s (‘90s icon Jaleel White plays a pirate) like The Goonies, The Navigator, and even Home Alone. A scene with worried parents reminded me of Catherine O’Hara’s iconic Kate McCallister. It’s evident from the script and direction that Watts and Ford had fun creating a wholesome story that is fun and heartwarming for both kids and adults.

Cabot-Conyers, Smith, Kratter, and Armstrong are strong performers. While Fern is initially annoying, she grows on you as her bullying nature is useful on the quest. Kratter’s KB initially feels like a pushover but proves herself to stand independently without Fern’s influence. The addition of Law as the enigmatic “is he or isn’t he a Jedi” Jod is what keeps the series from going “Disney Channel” mode. Sometimes, it does feel like that — with several tropey characteristics like the “too-busy-for-their-kids” parent or the rebellious teenager from an upstanding family. But, based on the three episodes provided, more layers will be peeled to reveal something deeper. 

Overall, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is exciting and exactly what George Lucas envisioned this universe to be — something for the adults but more so for the family. If people want their kids to adopt the love for Star Wars but are too young to comprehend (or handle) the trilogies, this series is a great gateway. Yes, it’s catered towards a younger audience, but kids are a lot smarter nowadays.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew releases its first two episodes tonight at 6pm PT/9pm ET and then weekly on Disney+.