This ‘Skeleton Crew’ Star Wars Callback Was Totally Subtle — and That’s Why It Works (2025)

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for the finale of Skeleton Crew.Star Wars: Skeleton Crew took its time in explaining Jod's (Jude Law) past. From his introduction, it was clear that there was more to him than appeared as he used the Force to escape his cell, yet Jod is not a Jedi, as Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) was disappointed to learn. The series built up this mystery until the finale when it referenced Order 66 and established how Jod fit in with the overarching story of the Jedi. Order 66 has appeared in several Star Wars stories, depicting the fall of the Jedi Order as the Empire takes power. It is a staple of the Star Wars saga because of its drastic impact on the galaxy. This connection brings Skeleton Crew that much closer to the other stories, but it is not forced.

Over the years, more and more characters have been added to the list of Order 66 survivors to the point that it is getting ridiculous. Fortunately, Jod's backstory has little bearing on that. Jod's connection is subtle, making it fit with the series that is already slightly removed from the rest of the franchise, but even so, without the violent destruction of the Jedi, Jod would not be where he is now, and Skeleton Crew would look very different. By walking this thin line, the series ties everything together without making too much of the connection.

'Skeleton Crew' Wouldn't Happen Without Order 66

This ‘Skeleton Crew’ Star Wars Callback Was Totally Subtle — and That’s Why It Works (3)

Skeleton Crew is many years removed from Order 66, taking place during the time of the New Republic, which begins two decades after the Jedi are killed. And yet, because of how deeply it affected Jod, much of the series wouldn't have happened without Order 66. The Skeleton Crew finale reveals that Jod was not a Jedi or Padawan targeted by the rising Empire. Instead, he was a force-sensitive child found by a nameless Jedi survivor who recognized his potential with the force. Still a target, the Jedi was hunted down (assumedly by the Inquisitors), causing young Jod to resort to a life of piracy. This story takes the larger events, whose fallout has shaped the galaxy, and shows the devastation on a personal level, making Jod a tragic figure. Throughout the show, Jod manipulates and lies to the lost children for personal gain, and his selfishness and ruthlessness are a direct result of his childhood. Not only does tying in Order 66 make sense for Jod's backstory, but it creates a window into the larger franchise because, without the tragedy, Skeleton Crew would be drastically different.

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'Skeleton Crew' Doesn't Make Too Much of the Connection

Skeleton Crew is not as overly connected as most Star Wars shows. There are no major characters who appear or even get a substantial reference, which is, in part, because of the nature of At Attin. That makes tying it into the rest of the galaxy slightly more difficult, but the Order 66 reference works because the show doesn't make too much of it. Jod did not experience the actual slaughter, nor did he ever say "Order 66" directly. In the finale, he revealed that before he could learn much about the force, the Jedi who found him was hunted down and killed, like all Jedi during the Empire's takeover. It's a quick line of dialogue that explains his situation without revisiting the tragedy.

Skeleton Crew is far from the first show to incorporate Order 66 because it was a galaxy-changing event. However, in most cases, it becomes almost fanservice rather than a simple reference. The Mandalorian included an entire sequence of Grogu's escape in a flashback, as did Obi-Wan Kenobi for Reva (Moses Ingram). While these characters had direct ties to the Jedi Order, making them more involved in the event, the series both occur years later and don't necessarily need the extended exploration they get. Thankfully, Skeleton Crew resisted the urge to make Jod a surviving Padawan and show how he lived through the slaughter. As a result, his allusion to it is more natural to the story, allowing the series to show the far-reaching implications of Order 66.

All episodes of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew are streaming on Disney+.

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This ‘Skeleton Crew’ Star Wars Callback Was Totally Subtle — and That’s Why It Works (5)

8 10

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

TV-PG

Action

Adventure

Science Fiction

Four kids make a mysterious discovery on their home planet that leads them to get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy.

Release Date
December 2, 2024
Cast
Jude Law, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, Nick Frost, Fred Tatasciore, Jaleel White, Dale Soules, Geoffrey Lower, Marti Matulis, Sisa Grey, Dominic Burgess, Vivienne Sachs, Esai Daniel Cross, Shane Almagor, Paloma Garcia-Lee, Alan Resnick, Anthony Atamanuik, John Gemberling, Tunde Adebimpe, Kerry Condon, Alia Shawkat, Cass Buggé, Geneva Carr

Seasons
1

Network
Disney+
This ‘Skeleton Crew’ Star Wars Callback Was Totally Subtle — and That’s Why It Works (2025)
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