Since the moment that Jod Na Nawood stepped onto the screen, he has not hidden at all how much of a scoundrel he is. As the Long John Silver archetype, anyone who has seen any rendition of Treasure Island would have seen his betrayal coming. However, Skeleton Crew episode 5, "You Have A Lot To Learn About Pirates," showcased that just because you can see a twist doesn't make it bad. A good twist is all about execution, even when the audience knows it's there. And this episode executed it so well.
Episode fives of the eight-episode Star Wars series are often the big turn for the end of the season, and this one was no exception. Each kid got a moment to shine, while SM-33 has never been funnier. This was Jod's episode, though, as the mystery around him deepens. His conversation to comfort Wim is particularly fascinating. Listening to him throw out very notable Jedi platitudes while bastardizing the meaning behind them lays more clues about who he might have been in the past. Jod feels like many nods from well-known Jedi, reminding me particularly of Kanan Jarrus. He's like a version of Kanan who never met Hera Syndulla in the novel A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller to put him back on his heroic path. Jod feels like an alternate universe, Kanan, who is driven by fear and never wants to get close to people again.
While he's comforted Wim and KB on different occasions, Jod has not truly bonded with the kids. He might not let them die, making sure they're fed, but he's been very direct in keeping them at an emotional distance. Sitting with Wim is really the first moment he's offered any emotional support. While the groundwork is there for him to have a change of heart, which is very much the path of the Lonh John Silver character, I do agree with our writer Mehwish, who expressed that unless something drastic happens, Jod's turn would be fast. Still, this is TV, and a lot can happen in the last three episodes that could justify Jod's change.
If they wanted to wait on Jod's redemptions for a potential Season 2, I'd be worried about that sort of ending. After the cancelation of The Acolyte, which clearly set up and banked for later seasons that wouldn't come, I'm nervous about any Star Wars series leaving dangling threads. The current TV model is so broken that there is no guarantee for later seasons.
The entire episode (which was my personal favorite so far) was fun. This entire series continues to be a delight. I come out each week with the biggest smile on my face. From introducing a nice Eldritch Horror monster to Neel (bless him) asking what a concubine is, each moment feels so precious. This is why the execution of Jod's turn is such a gut punch.
After protecting the kids in last week's episode from a rampaging SM-33, the Star Wars Fun air gets sucked out when Jod kills the other pirates with acid. The horror on the kids' faces as they hear their screams turn to silence sets the tone. Then, Jod challenges Fern to a duel. He's scary despite clearly not wanting to hurt these children. The image of Fern crying while Jod holds a blade to her throat ramps up the tension. Every person warned the children. Even Jod hinted they have much to learn about pirates earlier in the episode. There was probably a childlike belief that while they didn't fully trust Jod, the kids never thought he would turn on them so potentially violently (though I stand by Jod would not have actually hurt Fern. He knew she would yield).
Then precious Wim, fumbling with the lightsaber and his hero moment. It's heartbreaking as it is hilarious. The entire ending of the episode was perfect.
I also like the look into what their parents have been up to. Granted, I think we should have gotten another check in the last episode. There's a step missing that we, as the audience, can fill in. But it would have been nice to see the connection between episode 3 when they're screaming at the Security Droid because the Supervisor isn't helping them to the group breaking laws in episode 5. That little piece is missing.
I do appreciate that Wim's father, Wendle, is just as bad at heroics as his son. He shouldn't be good at this kind of thing, and that was an excellent detail.
Skeleton Crew keeps on giving greatness, and episode 5, "You Have A Lot To Learn About Pirates," was no exception. This is how you execute a twist, even one you see coming. This episode was by far the best of the bunch, leaving me wanting more.