There’s something splendidly meta about seeing kids pretend to have a lightsaber battle, in a galaxy where there actually are Jedi and lightsabers. That’s what came to mind while watching the premiere of the newest Star Wars live-action series, Skeleton Crew, where a group of kids come across an abandoned starship and accidentally launch themselves into space.

Two episodes in, and Skeleton Crew is already an enjoyable ride. As discussed with actor Ravi Cabot-Conyers in an interview last month for The Nerds of Color, this show is a rarity in that it’s a Star Wars production with kids as the central characters, and for a franchise that was initially geared towards said demographic, it is so refreshing to finally see them take the wheel. From Wim’s craving for adventure, to Fern and KB snickering about their superiority over their reluctant comrades, it really makes a difference when the perspective is shifted to those whose viewpoint isn’t always seen.

It’s a simple beginning of a story, from a place as grounded as the suburbs of At Attin. While I’ve heard complaints online about how it’s too Earth-like, I don’t mind it as much. Star Wars has portrayed planets with the most extreme conditions; the hot deserts of Tatooine, the constantly stormy environment of Kamino, and the busyness of Coruscant, just to name a few. Not to mention that, depending on what part of the timeline it is, may or may not be dealing with the repercussions of the Galactic Empire’s ruling. If one were to try to convince me that there isn’t a single planet in the galaxy far, far away that is actually a safe place to live on, I find that very hard to believe.

Though maybe it is a little too good to be true, as the episodes advance, as small details like Old Republic credits as the currency and big reveals like At Attin being the exact opposite of a paper town to the rest of the galaxy unfold. Add Wim’s fascination with Jedi and the fact that the entire planet is engulfed in some sort of barrier, it has me wondering now if anyone on the planet knows at all that it’s been a hard minute since the Old Republic was even a thing. Could it be that we have a “there’s no war in Ba Sing Se” situation on our hands?

But at the same time, it’s a combination of kids coming from a clearly out-of-touch planet that positions Skeleton Crew in having a unique advantage in being both a catalyst for experiencing this otherwise familiar galaxy in a whole new way, but also in defying expectations of shows that came before this one.

When The Acolyte came out over the summer, the freedom to really play in this galaxy was established in that it’s set really far in the past. While Skeleton Crew is set in the same era as The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka, I don’t expect for there to be as many major run-ins from characters and plot lines from those shows. It has a specific story and tone firmly rooted in the direction it’s going in that, much like its predecessor, I think this show too has an advantage in making for a good entryway into Star Wars. Besides, how often to you hear passengers of a starship scream when going into hyperspace?

Skeleton Crew is set to be a “wizard” time of rollicking adventure. The two-episode premiere is now streaming on Disney+, with new episodes out every Tuesday.