Skeleton Crew: Hoping for a return of those classic 80s themes

It seems that every time I look for Star Wars news, there is something exciting to discuss about Skeleton Crew. Whether we're looking forward to Jude Law's foray into another mentor role or listening to Mick Giacchino's other scores, we think we will follow this show with great interest.

Let's dive into what we hope to see in the story of Skeleton Crew.

It was recently observed by Dork Side of the Force contributor Mehwish Mahmood that this coming-of-age story that "The show borrows from Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment tales...set in the 80s." It is appropriate that the official trailer hits some of us in the same way as films such as E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial and The Goonies.

I once heard that a sign of becoming an adult is that you start understanding where the parents in every kids' adventure media are coming from. I, myself, saw the truth of this when I watched E.T. and understood the mother's helplessness and the doctors' good intentions. When I watched Obi-Wan Kenobi, I could not stop thinking about the fears expressed in Leia's upbringing because, of course, her parents worried about her bearing too strong a resemblance to a Queen of Naboo.

The coming-of-age adventures that we've already cited have in common the fact that the line between child and adult is not always clear. We have already seen in the previews for this upcoming show that the children have roles to play just as much as those raising or mentoring them. Neither demographic can succeed without the other. It bears some resemblance to the beloved BBC program Doctor Who, in which a centuries-old alien time traveler joins forces with inhabitants of Earth and somehow always finds that these mere mortals are the X factor in saving the day.

I hope that the thematic callbacks to 1980s adventures mean we can look forward to a tale of astonishment. I don't mean just what happens when sheltered kids see the wonders of the universe. I mean that adults in the best stories learn to see the strength of children in times of trial, and children learn something about their need to grow up. This is a prime opportunity for a story in which growth happens for every character's arc, and I am encouraged by what I've seen so far.

Skeleton Crew will release on Disney+ on December 3.