Skeleton Crew Episode 8 recycles the Wizard of Oz twist

This article contains Spoilers For Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Episode VIII, “The Real Good Guys”.

“Skeleton Crew” is one of the most updated “Star Wars” titles in a long time. It’s a show that appeals to viewers of all ages thanks to its young cast, wide-eyed people who question the franchise, and… Using horrific images to sell the danger to which the characters are exposed. It’s also a series that features a wide array of strange little alien creatures, which also helps make the “Skeleton Crew” feel like a truly unique installment living in a galaxy far, far away.

Most importantly, “Skeleton Crew” understands this Space pirates aren’t just a cool addition to any Star Wars show.but they also deserve an entire series revolving around them. This is the corner of the galaxy where Skeleton Crews live, and the show excels at taking pirate tropes and translating them into Star Wars, whether it’s most of the Treasure Island plot, the Peter Pan-derived character names, or simply (and finally… ) Introducing satellite sea huts to the property.

In fact, “Skeleton Crew” is big on paying homage to other titles, and in the season 1 finale, “The Real Good Guys,” we got another tribute to classic literature and cinema. It comes when Force-sensitive criminal Jude Na Nawood takes Fern (Ryan Keira Armstrong) and her mother Fara (Kerry Condon) hostage and forces them to accompany him to meet the mysterious Superintendent – also known as the individual (presumed to be a person) in Jude Law’s film. In charge of the entire Attin operation – in order to allow his pirate ship to land safely on the planet. We’ve heard a lot about the Overseer throughout Season 1, but when it comes time to actually meet him, “Skeleton Crew” ends up borrowing a page straight out of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Who or what the Superintendent is doesn’t seem like much of a mystery in “Skeleton Crew” — at least not at first. It wasn’t until we learned about Captain Renaud and his legendary adventure to find the Eternal Treasure Planet that the idea surfaced among fans who maybe, just maybe, The pirate managed to usurp Aten’s hierarchy and make himself overseer.

Of course, this is not what we see. Instead, the moment we reach the supervisor’s office, we encounter a giant robot with a rotating head reminiscent of a Dalek. Not a robot with a Renaud voice, nor a robot head that reveals the little Renaud inside. No, just a regular old robot taking over the entire planet. It’s basically a “Skeleton Crew” that pulls its “Wizard of Oz” twist, revealing that the organization’s leader is just a sad little machine that you can kill by simply sticking a lightsaber through its eye.

Still, it’s a clever turn of events and a testament to the overall quality of the first season, which focuses less on providing answers to the show’s previous mysteries and more on being a fun adventure. After all, if the Overseer turns out to be Renaud, it wouldn’t be a meaningful development for Fern or her mother, since the adults at Attin have already met the Overseer and know he’s a robot — a reasonable, non-hacker at that. Perhaps a potential second season could expand on the history of the Overseer and Attin’s other robots… though, unfortunately, If initial reviews for “Skeleton Crew” are anything to go byMaybe we shouldn’t get our hopes up.

The entire first season of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is now streaming on Disney+.