Disney Plus has launched its latest Star Wars series, Skeleton Crew, which marks a significant shift in the franchise's focus towards a younger audience. The show, set after the events of Return of the Jedi and concurrently with other Disney Plus series like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, follows a group of precocious kids who stumble upon a dilapidated ship and blast off into space.

The series, created by Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, is reminiscent of classic adventure films like The Goonies and E.T., with a strong emphasis on kid-friendly fun. This approach is a deliberate departure from the franchise's recent focus on appealing to aging fans of the original trilogy. Instead, Skeleton Crew is more concerned with exploring what it means to be a kid shaped by stories about the Jedi and Sith.

The show centers around a quartet of younglings, including Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) and his elephantine buddy Neel (Robert Timothy Smith), who dream of becoming heroes like the ones they've read about in storybooks. Their adventures are set against the backdrop of a planet that resembles a hyper-manicured suburbia, where droids drive hovering school buses and kids are expected to become productive members of society.

As the series progresses, the kids' relatable charm and sense of wonder are balanced by the harsh realities of being lost in space with no idea how to get home safely. The show's creative team seems to understand the potential of the crew's more personal stories to resonate with kids, and it's clear that the younglings are meant to be the driving force behind the series.

While big-name crossovers and cameos are inevitable given Disney Plus' track record, Skeleton Crew's focus on its young heroes is a refreshing change of pace for the franchise. The show's first two episodes are now streaming on Disney Plus, with new episodes dropping every Tuesday until January 14th.

The launch of Skeleton Crew marks an important moment for the Star Wars franchise, which has sometimes lost sight of its target audience in its pursuit of appealing to aging fans. By refocusing on a younger generation, Disney Plus is reminding us who the franchise is truly for – and the results are charming, whimsical, and full of wonder.

As the franchise continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Skeleton Crew fits into the larger Star Wars universe. For now, the show is a delightful addition to the Disney Plus lineup, offering a kid-friendly take on the classic space opera that's sure to captivate a new generation of fans.