Way, Way Out Past the Barrier

The adventure stories of the 1980s - films like "The Goonies" and "E. T." - captured the imaginations of young audiences with their mix of discovery, camaraderie, and the thrill of stepping into the unknown. These stories not only entertained but also inspired generations of filmmakers who grew up dreaming of creating their own magic onscreen. Just as "Star Wars" revolutionized science fiction, these classics created a timeless blueprint for tales of youthful adventure. In "Skeleton Crew"'s second episode, "Way, Way Out Past the Barrier," the show leans heavily into this heritage, delivering an episode that feels like a nostalgic treasure hunt while expanding the universe.

Directed by David Lowery, this chapter continues the series' blend of childlike wonder and galaxy-spanning stakes with flair. Lowery proves a versatile addition to the directorial roster, seamlessly adopting the show's adventurous tone while infusing the episode with his trademark ethereal visuals and moments of quiet introspection. The story kicks off with a surprising new location: the pirate-controlled spaceport Port Borgo. This new setting is a hive of scum and villainy, with enough peculiar characters and shadowy corners to intrigue fans of the galaxy far, far away. While some elements of its design feel a bit derivative - drawing comparisons to places like Maz Kanata's castle or Jabba's palace - the sheer energy of the location makes it a compelling backdrop for the crew's first stop on their journey. A standout element in this episode is the improved visual effects. Moving away from an over-reliance on the Volume technology that occasionally made earlier scenes feel constrained, "Way, Way Out Past the Barrier" opts for grandeur, more textured environments. Whether it's the bustling chaos of Port Borgo or the infinite horizon of deep space, the episode feels bigger, bolder, and more immersive. At its core, this installment retains the series' charm, balancing humor, suspense, and heart. The young cast continues to impress, their camaraderie growing more natural with every scene. The 25-minute runtime, however, is a double-edged sword. While the pace never falters, the brevity of the episode limits its depth, leaving some plot threads feeling rushed and keeping it from achieving the emotional resonance of "Star Wars"' finest chapters.

"Way, Way Out Past the Barrier" is a fun and engaging episode that delivers what fans of the series have come to expect: a charming spacefaring adventure with plenty of surprises. David Lowery's direction and the show's visual strides makes this a standout chapter, even if its short runtime keeps it from being truly essential.

I was sceptical of this one when I had seen the trailer as I thought oh great it's a silly kids show which is going to be like the ewoks movies lol.. but the first 2 episodes seem pretty good.

My daughter who is 8 is really enjoying this as well after she just binge watched the mandolorian and is now totally into Star Wars which is awesome!

This kind of reminds me of a goonies in space kinda thing.

Acting seems good and seems to be a lot better at Start than the Acolyte was.

Looking forward to this and where they willl take it and what cameos they might have in store later down the road.

Good start let's hope it gets better and better.

A shorter second episode and it is now the Goonies meets the Pirates of the Caribbean.

The kids have gone to hyperspace, luckily there is a droid onboard. SM-33 mistakes Fern for the ship's new captain.

Only SM-33 cannot get them back to their home planet of At Attin. The droid has no knowledge of it.

At a spaceport, the kids attract the interest of the pirates with an attempt to pay with an Old Republic credit. Now regarded as rare, but it is not rare where Wim and his pals come from.

The real mystery is what exactly is At Attin. That is where the intrigue seems to be for me at the moment.

Pirates of the Caribbean, treasure planet, the goonies and ET all wrapped into one. So far this show is very refreshing and very entertaining. The story is fun and there's lots of action and a little bit of drama. It keeps your interest. This show has action, adventure , chase scenes fights, gun battles, outer space, pirates, good guys, bad guys you name it. I like the fact that they took a scene right out of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney and made fun of it. You can kind of see where it is going and it's just going to get better. Getting ready to watch episode three and have high hopes. Even if it is only half as good it is still going to be great.

The children grapple with their new reality, and it's compelling to watch them step into roles they're wholly unprepared for.

This episode also introduces two new characters: a droid and potentially a mysterious Force user. The droid is a standout, serving as a key part of the team's journey by helping them uncover pieces of their situation. However, the children's attempts to piece things together often happen at the most inconvenient moments, adding tension and unpredictability.

It's particularly intriguing to see how these previously sheltered children, who grew up in a bubble where everything worked and real danger was nonexistent, attempt to navigate the challenges of their perilous new adventure. Sheltered characters are a rarity in the Star Wars universe, making it refreshing to watch them confront a harsh, dangerous world that's eager to exploit their naivety.

The playful dialogue, humorous interactions with new characters, and unexpected surprises make this episode an enjoyable and engaging watch.