I'm always hesitant to claim that a show -- especially a Star Wars show -- is near-perfect. All creative endeavors are both open to and worthy of criticism because constructive feedback is how stories and their creators continue to shift and evolve. It surprises me, but is hardly disappointing, that I have found it extremely difficult to critique Skeleton Crew's flaws. It barely has any.
From the acting to the pacing to the way everything comes full circle at the end -- and so many elements in between -- this show simply did not miss. It couldn't have even if it'd tried. It's really, really hard to get audiences to fall in love with four characters in just eight episodes, yet here I am, needing each and every one of them to live long and happy lives in futures we will likely never see.
Star Wars has a lot to learn from a show like Skeleton Crew. Such as how to emulate the tension and bravery of sacrifice without the need to kill off a beloved character. Or the fact that it's possible to understand the roots of a villain's origin story without casting aside their terrible deeds. Star Wars is no longer the black-and-white galaxy it once was. Modern storytelling requires that characters are understandable yet complex, that the bad guys aren't always bad nor the good guys always good. Star Wars stories are best when they don't rely on nostalgia to draw audiences in.
Skeleton Crew exhibits none of the failures recent Star Wars Disney+ shows have suffered. It tells a complete story without relying on fans' prior knowledge of the franchise to carry it along. It is completely disconnected from other events that may be occurring elsewhere in the galaxy at the same time. It has a clear vision, but it isn't afraid to explore planets and cultures, feature dynamic characters, or subvert expectations. It doesn't care about what its audience might like. It simply tells the best story it can set in a universe much of its audience loves already.
And that is exactly what we need more of in Star Wars, especially on the small screen. Stories set in a galaxy far, far away that trust their audiences, know the sandbox they're playing in, and expand the universe in such a way that enriches, rather than stretches, its lore.