Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is a thrilling galactic misadventure that reminds Star Wars that it's still okay to be fun

Light spoilers follow for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.

The year 2024 has been another mixed bag for Star Wars. Ever since Lucasfilm temporarily pivoted away from movies to tell stories on Disney Plus, the legendary sci-fi franchise has experienced critical and commercial turbulence with its expanding TV lineup. Indeed, for every acclaimed series like The Mandalorian, a less successful or unpopular one like The Book of Boba Fett has subsequently followed.

This year has been no different. While animated projects like Visions season 2 and Tales of the Empire have earned acclaim, The Acolyte, Star Wars' only live-action show of 2024, failed to capture viewers' imagination. The Acolyte's cancellation just one month after The Acolyte's season 1 finale, then, was announced to little surprise.

The inconsistent reception that have accompanied Star Wars shows since 2019 means Skeleton Crew should be another dud, right? Not so. In fact, I ...