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Who the Heck Is Jude Law's Character in 'Skeleton Crew' Episode 3?

By Mike Redmond | TV | December 11, 2024 |

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Header Image Source: Lucasfilm

As everyone saw last week, I was not blown away by the Skeleton Crew two-episode premiere. Would I go so far to say I hated it? No, because that’s not entirely fair. I am not the target audience, and I get that. That said, I do have kids, and just because something is all ages, that doesn’t mean it has to be a predictable slog. (The Netflix takes on She-Ra and Voltron being prime examples off the top of my head.) However, where The Mandalorian benefitted from the hand-waving of, “Oh, this is a children’s show” — arguably way more than it should have — Skeleton Crew is taking that generosity a little too far.

Fortunately, Jude Law’s character has entered the mix, and while I wouldn’t say he’s a game-changer, this was the strongest episode by far because there was literally nowhere else to go but up. In the opening moments, Law’s prisoner helps the kids escape from the pirate spaceport where they were captured at the end of Episdoe 2. Along the way, he lets them believe he’s a Jedi and says his name is Jod Na Nawood. However, we soon learn that Law is absolutely the captain from the first episode, whom the pirates know by a different name: Silvo. Our boy is clearly a slippery fellow, and that does not go unnoticed by Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong). Speaking of, please, do not ever come into our comments and refer to a child actor’s character as a “b*tch.” Are you out of your mind?

Anyway, after some predictable hijinks, Jod/Silvo pulls off a daring escape as he and the kids make tracks to an old friend who can help them get back home to at At Attin, the clunkiest Star Wars planet name ever made. Did no one hear how painful it sounds in the mouth of every single character? Jesus. While en route, KB (Kyriana Kratter) is also onto Jod’s game, and she tells him straight to his face that the odds of him being a Jedi aren’t great. However, he does put to bed Fern’s doubts that he can use the Force. That is not a trick.

After landing at their destination, Jod warns the kids that Kh’ymm (Alia Shawkat) is a friend, but she may also stab them in the back, which would be adorable because she’s a tiny owl alien. Obviously, this situation is going to go sideways, starting with Kh’ymm referring to Jod as Crimson Jack. Turns out, he has yet another name because apparently Disney can’t do anything pirate-related without using the word Jack. Walt was very specific before they froze his head, I guess.

Here’s where we get into the mystery of At Attin. Turns out the kids’ planet is very well-hidden and has a deep connection to the Old Republic, a term that no doubt made Star Wars geeks’ heads explode because it sure looked like that time period was being paved over with The High Republic. Dorks are eating good, and that is entirely self-deprecating. (If you haven’t noticed, I know what’s going on. Me = dork.) In fact, the kids’ planet is so well-hidden, they have absolutely no clue about the war between the Empire and the Rebellion.

Before we get too many answers, Jod/Silvo/Crimson Jack is correct. Kh’ymm makes a play to collect the bounty on his head. Although, after learning about the kids’ planet, she becomes much more concerned about their safety that is not guaranteed with Jack. Against their better judgment, the kids flee with him, but first, they demand some answers. He promises to deliver on that front once they get back on the ship, but they are not budging. Eventually, a hasty agreement is reached: They’ll let him onboard if he agrees that he works for them, not the other way around. Deal reached, predictable escape scene, and roll credits.

The big question: Who the heck is Jude Law’s character?

The fact that his final name in this episode is Crimson Jack is already churning a whole lot of dork fodder, like this article you’re reading now. For the record, Crimson Jack is the name of a character from the old Marvel comics, so let me save you a whole bunch of time by telling you the significance of that: None. Absolutely zero. The late ’70s Marvel Star Wars comics were weird as sh*t, had no connection to anything, and Crimson Jack was shot dead by Han Solo after appearing in exactly one issue.

With that in mind, we’re probably going to hear more names for Law’s character. The most likely explanation is that he has a lonely back story of trying to survive in the galaxy however he could with his Force-sensitivity being both a blessing and a curse.

Is he Force-sensitive because he’s a clone of the Emperor like I predicted back in August? That is, sadly, on the table and exactly the kind of infuriating move that Star Wars would pull these days. Although, I’m leaning more toward Law’s character not becoming the reborn Emperor we saw in The Rise of Skywalker, but instead, an escaped clone from the several batches ol’ Palps had laying around.

However, that’s just a theory, and for the moment, I would probably put my money on an original character with the lonely backstory stuff I mentioned earlier. Until next week!