It has been nearly six years since a new Star Wars movie has been released on the big screen. During its absence, the Galaxy Far, Far Away has made a temporary shift to streaming television – a move that has resulted in several highs and a few unfortunate lows. Arguably its biggest misfire was last year’s “The Acolyte”, a mess of a series surrounded by outside noise but with significant flaws that stood out despite the ongoing drama.

For reasons that are completely unfair, following right behind “The Acolyte” was an unenviable spot for any new series. Such was the scenario for “Skeleton Crew”, a new Star Wars installment from the creative minds of Jon Watts and Christopher Ford. Sadly it seems “Skeleton Crew” felt the effects of its streaming predecessor, falling below the viewership numbers of every previous Star Wars series. That’s unfortunate because there’s a lot to like about this charming and spirited adventure.

“Skeleton Crew” is every bit a coming-of-age tale that takes its inspiration from such classic kid-driven 80s movies as “The Goonies”, “E.T.”, and “Explorers”. It’s also very much a Star Wars adventure, albeit one that is very comfortable existing as a self-contained story. That’s not to say there aren’t things introduced that will explored in future Star Wars projects. “Skeleton Crew” features many things familiar to franchise fans and it expands established lore in some interesting ways. But it can also stand on its own with no trouble whatsoever.

Set roughly five years after the fall of the Galactic Empire, “Skeleton Crew” shares a point on the Star Wars timeline with other streaming series, most notably “The Mandalorian”. The story begins on the intentionally hidden planet of At Attin. Considered to be a myth by most in the galaxy, At Attin is shrouded by a huge gaseous cloud that gives it the appearance of a toxic and uninhabitable world.

But underneath is a peaceful and domesticated society with all the markings of a highly developed utopia. Its people live in comfortable, well-manicured subdivisions. The adults all contribute to something they call “The Great Work” while their children attend school until graduation after which they join their parents in their planetary duties. In reality, the people of At Attin have lived under a technocracy for generations. They are essentially a brain-washed workforce who believe their perceived safety and security is worth being cut off from the galaxy.

But it’s all disrupted by four curious kids, Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), KB (Kyriana Kratter), and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith). They discover a buried hatch which Wim is convinced leads to a Jedi temple like the ones in his storybooks. But after opening the hatch the foursome quickly learn they’re in an old starship. And after some very kid-like antics, they accidentally trigger the auto-launch which rips the ship from the ground, sends it soaring through the defensive orbit, and racing through hyperspace.

From there the show turns into the kids trying to find their way back home. In the process, Watts and Ford whisks them (and us) away to under-explored reaches of the vast Star Wars galaxy. And in vintage Star Wars fashion, we’re introduced to a number of characters, none more compelling than a mysterious force-sensitive pirate named Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law). He takes the kids under his wing, agreeing to help them get home. But does his real interest lie in helping the kids or in discovering the secrets of At Attin?

The eight episodes are helmed by an interesting collection of directors. The strongest installments come from Star Wars regular Bryce Dallas Howard and Watts. The weakest come from the Oscar-winning duo the Daniels and also Watts. Filling out the group is David Lowery, Lee Isaac Chung, and Jake Schreier. Even with the slow-moving setup of the opener and a lone filler episode later on, the series builds a strong story arc and surrounds it with some solid worldbuilding.

Even better is the evolution of the characters. The four kids fit into some pretty familiar archetypes. There’s the starry-eyed dreamer, the assertive tough-talker, the all-business tech guru, and the timid but loyal best fried. But the performances are delightful and each character is a very different person by the story’s end. It also helps to have Jude Law – a stabilizing anchor who immediately feels right at home in the Galaxy Far, Far Away. “Skeleton Crew” is now streaming on Disney+.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS