I have said for a long time that as far as Star Wars TV episodes go, "Trials of the Darksaber" from Star Wars Rebels holds the top spot as one of the greatest stories ever told on the small screen in a galaxy far, far away. I am shocked but not at all disappointed to say that this week's episode of Skeleton Crew, "Zero Friends Again," might tie for that number one spot for me.
The brilliance of this episode lies in its determination to discomfort the audience. Our main characters are paired off in unexpected couples because of a disagreement. KB's life literally depends on the help of someone she barely knows. Every moment leaves the viewer questioning whether or not they'll really make it back to the ship, who will make it there first, or what they might find when they return to it.
It simultaneously forces viewers to address their internalized ableism whether they were prepared to do so while sitting down to watch a Star Wars show or not. Always remember that feelings of discomfort while consuming a story are usually intentional. You are feeling this way because the story wants you to feel this way, not because it's bad or unnecessary or "not what you wanted."
Jod's storyline also brings the audience to the ultimate understanding that there is truth in his performance. He clearly suffered earlier in his life, and while those feelings may be real and valid and partially drive him forward, he is also using them to get what he wants. He twists his innocent truth into a tool with which he can have all the money and freedom he has always wanted.
Skeleton Crew is fun and heartwarming and a classic Star Wars adventure. But it is also a story meant to stir up complex emotions within its audience. It is a deep, philosophical narrative disguised as a space opera. If it makes you think, it's doing its job and doing it well. Star Wars is at its best when it is not strictly black and white, and "Zero Friends Again" is proof that Star Wars can be both enjoyable and profound as its stories unfold.