A major Easter egg in Star Wars' movies and TV shows, and it has already proven itself as a unique story in the franchise. Unlike the story of the Jedi and the Sith seen in so many Star Wars stories, particularly Star Wars movies, Skeleton Crew focuses primarily on pirates.
However, the most recent episode of the new show suggested that the Sith could have some role to play in Skeleton Crew after all, and it could have major implications for the Star Wars galaxy. Skeleton Crew is set during the New Republic Era of the Star Wars timeline, between Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. With Skeleton Crew being closer to Return of the Jedi, this should be a period of relative inactivity for the Sith, even as Palpatine's return is imminent. Could this key Skeleton Crew Easter egg mean otherwise?
Skeleton Crew’s New Planet Seems To Have A Sith History
Lanupa Held A Number Of Secrets
In Skeleton Crew episode 5, a brand-new planet was added to the growing list of planets in Skeleton Crew. This new addition, Lanupa, has evidently been turned into a spa resort, but it's clear something much more insidious is lurking beneath the surface. SM-33 indicates that Lanupa was previously a much more terrifying place, also called Demon’s Rest or Battle World. That underbelly apparently still exists, even if it's covered over by a beautiful spa, as the infamous pirate, Captain Tak Rennod, has his lair concealed on the planet.
A much more subtle indication of this side of Lanupa are the runes Jod sees carved into a wall. These runes are written in the Sith language ur-Kittat. The exact implications of these runes are currently unknown, but they heavily imply that this planet has an ancient history connected to the Sith themselves. This may mean that those on the planet are still in some way linked to the history of the Sith, perhaps even following their teachings. Given how rich and powerful many of the people on Lanupa clearly are, this could be a very grave update indeed.
These runes are written in the Sith language ur-Kittat.
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The Sith Have Always Worked Among The Galaxy’s Movers & Shakers
Darth Sidious Is Just One Example
While it may seem jarring to see the Sith language in a place like Lanupa (at least as it is in Skeleton Crew), this isn't exactly a new revelation about the Sith. The Sith have long moved among the upper echelons of society in the Star Wars galaxy, be it the fabulously wealthy, as seen on Lanupa, or politicians at the highest level. On the Star Wars screen, the most obvious example would be Darth Sidious/Palpatine. Even predating his power grab in the Republic Senate that led to him becoming the Supreme Chancellor, Palpatine was a highly regarded senator.
Presumably, the fact that Palpatine was from Naboo made this even easier. Naboo was known for peace as well as the arts, and it was therefore an unassuming but also lush, if not a bit luxurious, planet. It's easy to imagine that Palpatine began brushing elbows with the major players in the galaxy well before he had really initiated his plot to take control of the Senate.
It's easy to imagine that Palpatine began brushing elbows with the major players in the galaxy well before he had really initiated his plot to take control of the Senate.
Palpatine also used his affiliation with the Banking Clan to aid in his Sith plot, which was shown most clearly in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, when Rush Clovis was drawn somewhat unwittingly into Palpatine's overarching plan. Curiously, the Banking Clan was also revealed to be on Lanupa in episode 5 of Skeleton Crew. While that may be coincidental, it would be odd for Star Wars to draw that connection for no reason, particularly in light of the Sith runes also present.
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Palpatine is also far from the first Sith to play such a role in the galaxy. In fact, the Banking Clan was also known to have connections dating back to Darth Plagueis, Palpatine's Sith master, and Darth Tenebrous, Plagueis' master in Legends. This connection to the Banking Clan was even a key aspect of the Sith's "Grand Plan," which was a centuries-long effort to destroy the Jedi and the Republic and ensure the Sith would rule the galaxy—obviously a direct connection to Palpatine's ultimate plan. While it isn't clear whether Star Wars canon will mirror this arc, this is notable.
Is Skeleton Crew Setting Up A Sith Resurgence?
These Runes Could Be A Sign Of Much Graver Things To Come
Now, the question remains: what does the appearance of Sith runes on Lanupa mean not only for Skeleton Crew but also for the larger Star Wars galaxy? As mentioned, at this time, Palpatine's inevitable return was already in the works, meaning the Sith Eternal were already at work on Exegol. Theoretically, these runes could have some link to the Sith Eternal and the plot to resurrect Palpatine.
Theoretically, these runes could have some link to the Sith Eternal and the plot to resurrect Palpatine.
Given how ancient the planet of Lanupa is, though, it seems much more likely that there is some other Sith connection happening on Lanupa. This is also the much more exciting possibility of the two options. Especially with Lanupa being both a retreat for the wealthy and a planet so tied to the galaxy's major pirates, Captain Rennod in particular, there may be something much more insidious lurking beneath the beautiful surface of the planet. Namely, this could mean a Sith resurgence.
This could prove particularly interesting in light of the Sith Rule of Two at that point. Moreover, although they adopted a master and apprentice dynamic, Snoke and Kylo Ren weren't really Sith.
Perhaps Lanupa is the key to another Sith plot entirely, which Skeleton Crew could either reveal or lay the foundation for. Of course, at this stage, this is entirely speculative. Nevertheless, it's clear that there is some Sith connection on Lanupa, and that could have very interesting implications not only for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew but also for the future of the Star Wars galaxy.
The first five episodes of Skeleton Crew are now streaming on Disney+.
Skeleton Crew Release Date Schedule |
||
|---|---|---|
Episode |
Director |
Release Date |
Episode 1 |
Jon Watts |
December 2 |
Episode 2 |
David Lowery |
December 2 |
Episode 3 |
David Lowery |
December 10 |
Episode 4 |
The Daniels |
December 17 |
Episode 5 |
Jake Schreier |
December 24 |
Episode 6 |
Bryce Dallas Howard |
December 31 |
Episode 7 |
Lee Isaac Chung |
January 7 |
Episode 8 |
Jon Watts |
January 14 |
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- Disney+
- Showrunner
- Jon Watts, Christopher Ford
WHERE TO WATCH
Skeleton Crew follows four ordinary children who become lost in the expansive Star Wars galaxy. As they navigate unfamiliar worlds and the challenges they present, the group endeavors to find their way back to their home planet, undertaking a journey across the iconic Star Wars universe.
- Directors
- David Lowery, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jake Schreier, Lee Isaac Chung, Daniel Scheinert
- Writers
- Jon Watts, Christopher Ford
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Dis
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