Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Episode 5.

Although it’s been five years since the Star Wars franchise graced audiences with a holiday-themed blockbuster, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is ushering in the festive spirit with an incredibly entertaining episode. Episode 5, skillfully directed by Jake Schreier, who is also at the helm of the upcoming Thunderbolts, marks a new chapter as it is the first episode written by Myung Joh Wesner, diverging from the creative duo of Christopher Ford and Jon Watts. This episode, titled “You Have a Lot to Learn About Pirates,” artfully blends elements reminiscent of The Goonies, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Pirates of the Caribbean, while also resolving several plot threads that have been building in previous episodes.

In the previous episode, the main group, consisting of Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Neel (Robert Timothy Smith), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), and KB (Kyriana Kratter), along with Jod (Jude Law) and SM-33 (Nick Frost), stumbled upon a planet strikingly similar to their own homeworld, adding layers to the mystery surrounding At Attin. The episode kicks off with Neel’s mother, Nooma, desperately searching for Wim’s father, Wendle (Tunde Adebimpe), at his job. She insists that to send a message off-world regarding their missing children, they require a Barrier access code, which Wendle will have to illicitly obtain. Despite his concerns about facing consequences, Wendle attempts to gather the necessary information from his terminal, but an unexpected energy surge raises the alarm with one of the droids, prompting it to report him to Fara (Kerry Condon). Fortunately, Fara, exhibiting intelligence similar to her daughter, instructs the droid to erase all evidence of Wendle’s terminal tampering. While she empathizes with Nooma’s plight, Fara expresses skepticism about the Supervisor’s willingness to assist.

After uncovering that SM-33 was programmed by his former captain to eliminate anyone seeking the coordinates to At Attin, Jod makes the decision to restrain the droid, understanding that conventional ropes may not hold a droid effectively. Meanwhile, in the days since the last episode, KB has ingeniously rerouted SM-33’s memory chip to bypass lethal protocols. Jod challenges the children to reactivate SM-33 if KB is confident in her modifications, but Fern harbors doubts. Their conversation escalates into a heated exchange, with Fern accusing Jod of fear, which he retaliates with, accusing her of the same, before they both delve into the deeper motivations behind their actions.

As SM-33 is powered back on, he reveals details about his former captain, Captain Tak Rennod. Although the children are unfamiliar with the name, Jod is exhilarated by this discovery. Captain Rennod is famed as the most notorious pirate in the galaxy, known for the disappearance of himself and his ship, the Onyx Cinder, during a quest for treasure on At Attin. Jod is frustrated that the children show little interest in this significant history, yet all that truly matters to them is SM-33’s revelation that the coordinates to At Attin are concealed in Rennod’s secret lair located beneath Skull Ridge Mountain.

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‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ Just Gave Us Its Darkest Storyline Yet

Will no one think of the children?

As the crew journeys toward the coordinates of Skull Ridge Mountain, SM-33 entertains them with his harrowing tales of the mutiny that plagued Captain Rennod aboard the Onyx Cinder in his relentless pursuit of treasure. The dialogue feels nostalgic, reminiscent of classic 1980s cinema, particularly when Fern curiously inquires about the meaning of a concubine after SM-33 casually mentions one selling out Rennod. This episode is rich with such moments, especially concerning the planet where Skull Ridge Mountain is located. While SM-33 recounts his story, Wim, feeling increasingly unsettled, separates from the group, prompting Jod to follow him. Unsurprisingly, following Fern’s dramatic exit in the previous episode, Wim grapples with similar feelings. His desire for a genuine adventure clashes with the stark reality he faces — it’s far from what he envisioned. Overwhelmed by fear and confusion, he longs for his father. Jod’s advice lacks the reassurance one might hope for from a supposed mentor; he urges Wim to cast aside his worries, fears, and even familial attachments, asserting that such connections hinder him. While Jod may not identify as a Jedi, he certainly embodies some of their teachings. Wim presses Jod about how he can harness the Force despite not being an actual Jedi, but Jod deftly sidesteps that inquiry once again.

Exploring the Transformation of Skull Ridge Mountain in ‘Skeleton Crew’ Episode 5

Skull Ridge Mountain, situated on the planet Lanupa, has undergone significant changes since SM-33’s last visit with Captain Rennod. Jod is thrilled to learn that they are stopping on a planet renowned for its luxurious pleasure yachts and opulent spas, while SM-33 is aghast at the sight of Hutts indulging in mud baths where prisoners were once tortured. The spas at Skull Ridge Mountain enforce a strict no-children policy, leading the kids to concoct an amusing disguise as the Elders of the Bratric System, relying on Jod as their translator since they are not fluent in Basic. Given the planet’s focus on wellness and tranquility, weapons are strictly prohibited. Jod’s cutlass is confiscated, but he cleverly uses the Force to retrieve it. Currently, the spas are hosting an economic summit for the Banking Clan, so security is heightened, creating additional challenges for the crew.

While Skeleton Crew may not delve deeply into complex themes, the changes on Lanupa beckon a more profound inquiry akin to what viewers experienced in Andor. Has Skull Ridge Mountain undergone gentrification, or are there darker secrets lurking beneath the surface, tied to the mountain’s original purpose? As the saying goes: follow the money. If the Banking Clan is conducting business on the same planet where Hutts waste their time, it suggests there’s much more happening under the surface. And speaking of hidden depths, Jod presents a challenge for the group. To access Rennod’s concealed lair, they must adopt the guise of spa guests, but they face one significant hurdle: they lack a reservation. Fortunately, Jod utilizes the Republic credits the children brought along to bribe the receptionist into granting him check-in under the name Professor Gorelox. However, during this process, his past catches up with him.

Pokkit (Kelly Macdonald) recognizes Jod as “Dash Zentin,” the man she claims to have left for dead long ago, though she insists that there’s no ill will between them. Fern overhears their tense exchange, and it becomes apparent that she is connecting the dots regarding Jod’s numerous aliases: Captain Silvo, Crimson Jack, Jod Na Nawood, and now Dash Zentin. Pokkit subtly suggests that there might be a bounty on Jod’s head, but reassures him that she is only interested in relaxing on Lanupa, which Jod finds hard to believe. Before she departs, she advises the children not to “trust this sleemo,” a warning that carries weight.

Discovering the Greatest Sacrifice a Pirate Can Make in ‘Skeleton Crew’ Episode 5

Upon their arrival at their suite, the children are eager to enjoy their surroundings. They gaze out the window, marveling at the view, and engage in a lighthearted pillow fight on the bed. However, Jod is under immense stress, acutely aware that Pokkit has likely taken up his bounty and that his former crew is on their way to Lanupa. Fern, noticing Jod’s anxiety, inquires about the history between him and Pokkit, but, similar to his earlier dismissals, he brushes her off. They have more pressing concerns, particularly the need to secure the coordinates to At Attin before they fall victim to pirates.

After a brief disagreement regarding how to split up to search the spa, they agree on Jod, Neel, and KB investigating the upper levels while Fern, SM-33, and Wim explore the lower levels. Jod and his team unwittingly attract the guards’ attention, prompting a hasty retreat. Meanwhile, Fern forms a friendship with a guest named Cthallops (Patrick Seitz), who unexpectedly becomes an ally in exchange for some entertainment. Fern and Wim entertain Cthallops by recounting their thrilling adventures since leaving their home, and when Jod arrives with KB and Neel, even Cthallops warns them against trusting him. As the crew descends into Rennod’s hidden lair, Jod’s former crew arrives on Lanupa, clearly uninterested in adhering to the planet’s peaceful regulations.

The path to Rennod’s secret lair is fraught with danger, featuring booby traps, magnetized spikes, and pools of deadly acid. One such room presents a puzzle with the inscription “All who enter sacrifice must make the greatest sacrifice.” The children initially assume this sacrifice pertains to their lives, but Jod, referencing the episode title, enlightens them that a pirate’s ultimate sacrifice is the relinquishment of their treasure. The children fret that Jod may have exhausted their credits by bribing the receptionist, only for Jod to reveal that he had cleverly concealed one in his pocket. He theatrically uses the Force to make the credit hover above his palm before tossing it into the acid. At first, nothing occurs… then the acid drains away, unveiling a doorway leading to a treasure-filled room. They rush inside, barricading the doors just as the pirates break in.

The crew scours the treasure room in search of Captain Rennod’s dataport. Wim spots a lightsaber resting on a pedestal, an item we will revisit later, while Neel observes that everything on a nearby table is rotten, except for an enticingly fresh roast. When Neel steps forward to examine it, he nearly plunges through a trapdoor, with Jod swooping in to save him. Using his size to his advantage, Jod leans over the trapdoor to lift the roast, which surprisingly activates the Captain’s Log, allowing SM-33 to access the dataport and discover the coordinates for At Attin. With SM-33 connected to the dataport, Jod instructs him to refill the acid pool to eliminate the pirates attempting to breach the room and queries him about the treasure on At Attin. Finally, the secret of At Attin is unveiled. This planet, known as the last remaining Old Republic Mint, is truly a land of endless treasure. From the moment Jod made his dramatic entrance in the first episode, it was apparent he was not to be trusted. Despite warnings from everyone about his character, there have been moments that hinted he might genuinely care for the children. While Wim may be oblivious to the significance of a mint, Fern understands its implications for a pirate like Jod.

Fern attempts to assert herself as the captain of the Onyx Cinder, reminding Jod of their prior agreement, but he swiftly invokes his right to challenge her to a duel. Though he is treacherous, he has no intention of harming children. He informs Fern that she need only yield to avoid conflict. However, Fern’s stubbornness shines through as she searches for a weapon to defend herself, ready to face him in a life-or-death battle, though she stands little chance against a grown man wielding the Force. In a moment reminiscent of Peter Pan, Jod captures Fern and presses his cutlass to her throat. Despite his reluctance to harm her, he feels obligated by the challenge. Wim, trying to be the hero yet again, seizes the lightsaber, eager to fight as he has seen in stories, but he lacks the knowledge to wield it properly! Jod warns him against igniting it, but Wim disobeys, igniting it incorrectly and causing it to slip from his grasp and roll away. With no further options, Fern ultimately concedes, uttering a reluctant “yield,” giving up her claim as captain of the Onyx Cinder.

Jod commands SM-33 to take the children as prisoners for their mutinous behavior, but before the droid can apprehend them, the children cleverly escape through the trapdoor. As the episode wraps up, Jod retrieves the abandoned lightsaber, igniting it just as the credits roll. Will he abandon the children to fend for themselves on Lanupa, or will the bond he has formed with them slow down his relentless pursuit of treasure on At Attin? While Episode 5 leaves viewers with numerous unresolved questions, one conclusion stands out: it is the standout episode of the season, largely due to Wesner’s exceptional writing.

The first five episodes of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew are currently available for streaming on Disney+. New episodes premiere every Tuesday at 9 PM ET.