The action ramped up on the most recent Skeleton Crew adventure as the kids discover in episode 5, "You Have A Lot To Learn About Pirates." From shocking reveals to some fun kid-friendly Eldritch monsters, it was a big one.
Let’s discuss the 5 standout moments from Skeleton Crew episode 5, "You have a Lot to Learn About Pirates."
1. Tick for Tak (Rennod)
At the start of the episode, SM-33 is bound due to their attack on the crew at the end of the previous episode. When they switch SM-33 on, it is confirmed that their ship is the legendary Onyx Cinder and that it was Captain Tak Rennod headed for At Attin’s treasure only to crash the ship, killing all its crew when he was feeling the pressures of mutiny. Jod Na Nawood appears very intrigued as he regales the tales of this old pirate as if he is as as notorious as Captain Jack Sparrow or Blackbeard. Recall that Jod had used the expression ‘Rennod’s ghost’ when he thought the crew had landed on At Attin, so clearly, this Captain Rennod is a big deal in the world of space piracy. SM-33 sets a course for Skull Ridge Mountain, where the pirate’s hidden lair is supposed to be.
2. Pick Pokkit
The Cinder arrives at their destination, which is also known as Lanupa, much to Jod’s surprise. The Skull Ridge Mountain lair that is supposed to contain the coordinates to At Attin has since been converted into a relaxing spa resort for adults only. When Jod works to charm his way into a reservation using any fake identity he can muster, he encounters a familiar bounty hunter named Pokkit played by Kelly MacDonald, who is the voice of Merida in Brave. Clearly scorned by Jod as many seem to have been, Pokkit accuses ‘Dash Zentin’ (a.k.a. Captain Silvo and Crimson Jack) of stealing her bounty and leaving her to drown in a pit of leeches. Pokkit calls in the bounty on Jod to the pirate Captain Brutus, and the pressure’s on.
3. Surprises pack a Cthallops
The children stumble upon an ancient treasure trove complete with booby traps not unlike the adventures of Indiana Jones or Aladdin, but they do so with the help of a giant octopus-like alien named Cthallops. There are many different visitors at the Lanupa spa, including a Hutt who attempts to eat its server, and the kids encounter what looks like a Cthulhu on their way to Rennod’s secret lair. They are described in Lovecraft’s stories to drive anyone who looks at it insane, and I’m sure given the often polarizing nature of the Star Wars fandom, this character will have the same effect on the show’s critics. Given the ‘gentle giant’ nature of Cthallops, we shall see if he continues to aid in the kids' efforts to obtain At Attin’s coordinates and get off-planet.
4. I am the Captain now
While the moment is a dark turning point in the story of Skeleton Crew, it is pivotal to the show’s plot that Jod inevitably turns on the kids that he has used up to this point to get closer to At Attin’s ‘eternal treasure.' Once the coordinates were obtained, Jod seized his moment and challenged Fern for the position of Captain. Because Jod is a Force-wielding adult, there is little to no contest, and this strategic play brings with it the added benefit of controlling SM-33. Jod wastes no time with his newfound power, ordering SM-33 to imprison the children for charges of conspiracy to commit mutiny. Though the audience would likely rather see Jod helping the kids, it’s not so shocking that his true nature is betraying his crew to get a one-up on the pursuit of treasure – a classic pirate trope.
5. Heroes Ignite!
Probably the most surprising moment of the episode is when Wim steps up to try and stop Jod from threatening Fern, grabbing a lightsaber from the treasure room. This is a big moment for Wim, as he has a fascination with the Jedi, and he wants to use their weapon, the lightsaber, to defend his friends from Jod. In one of the funnier shots of the series, Wim ignites the lightsaber upside down, and it sparks against the floor. Wim and the other kids can escape through a trap door. However, the closing shot of the episode is of Jod Na Nawood picking up the lightsaber. A terrifying thought of a Force-wielding pirate with a lightsaber potentially attacking the Skeleton Crew. We shall have to see how it plays out in episode 6.