Season 1, Episode 3, titled “Very Interesting, As An Astrogation Problem,” directed by David Lowery and written by Christopher Ford and Jon Watts, continues the Disney Plus series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. This episode continues with an escape and an acquisition of a map with the probable estimated coordinates of At Attin. 

The central theme of this episode revolves around deception, particularly the hidden identities and ulterior motives of key characters. Jod Na Nawood, revealed to be the infamous Captain Silvo also known as Crimson Jack, epitomizes this theme. As a selfish pirate, Jod is willing to murder, steal, and manipulate to survive in a galaxy plagued by endless wars, classism, and rampant crime, even during the so-called peace of the New Republic.

Jod deceives the children by pretending to be a humble Jedi willing to help them. However, his true motive is greed, as he seeks to steal the hidden treasure of At Attin. Deception also extends to At Attin itself, where the “Great Work” of the planet might involve analyzing the treasure, likely gold, to make the world economically self-sufficient. This notion hints at layers of secrets within At Attin’s society and history.

The Parents Meet

Meanwhile, on At Attin, the parents of the missing children, including Wendle (Tunde Adebimpe) and Fara (Kerry Condon), convene to discuss their situation. The droids inform them that the children boarded an illegal starship and crossed the planetary barrier, but the droids cannot assist. Due to their programming, it is illegal for droids to help anyone leave At Attin, underscoring the planet’s extreme isolation.

This isolation appears intentional, as At Attin’s detachment from galactic politics has spared it from the endless wars that plague worlds allied with the Republic or the Empire. However, the parents’ frustration highlights the cost of such seclusion.

The Escape

On Port Borgo, Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law), secretly Captain Silvo, aids the children in escaping imprisonment. His apparent affinity with the Force makes Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) believe he is a Jedi, though Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) and KB (Kyriana Kratter) remain skeptical, recalling SM-33’s (Nick Frost) warning not to trust anyone at the port. When the children refuse to leave without SM-33, Jod orchestrates a heist to rescue the droid, further cementing his role in their journey.

The group, soon to become the Skeleton Crew, successfully outwits the pirates and escapes Port Borgo. As they travel to their next destination, the children speculate about the treasure. Clues lead them to believe their parents, who work as analysts, were studying the economic potential of a vast gold repository on At Attin. The Old Republic golden credits, highly valued by the pirates but insignificant on At Attin, hint at a literal gold mine hidden on the planet—a classic treasure motif reminiscent of pirate lore.

Searching for At Attin

The crew’s next stop is a moon where they meet Kh’ymm (Alia Shawkat), an owl-cat-like alien and map expert. Kh’ymm, familiar with Jod as “Crimson Jack,” is wary of him and preemptively informs the New Republic of his presence, stalling during their meeting.

Kh’ymm reveals to the children that At Attin is one of the legendary “Jewels of the Old Republic” planets intentionally hidden to protect their unique wonders. At Attin is the sole survivor of these worlds, with the others destroyed by invasions from the Sith Empire, pirates, or criminal organizations. Using the children’s descriptions of the planetary barrier, Kh’ymm deduces that At Attin is shielded by nebular gases, visible as cloudy swirls at night.

Realizing he is being stalled, Jod knocks Kh’ymm unconscious and steals her data, which likely contains the coordinates to At Attin. Before escaping the moon with the children, Jod is confronted about his true identity. Under threat from SM-33, Jod admits he is not a Jedi but a pirate. The droid ensures Jod works for the children as their subordinate, not as a partner, solidifying a shift in their dynamic.

Rating: 9/10