Is That Why Jod’s Lightsaber Didn’t Turn Red In Star Wars: Skeleton Crew?

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Major spoilers for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew lie ahead.

Following several exciting weeks of storytelling, the season of “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” ended on the 2025 TV schedule, and the finale was both explosive and relieving. The narrative reached a satisfying conclusion, but it’s likely that some viewers may still have unanswered questions. If you’re like me, then you probably want to know more about the mysterious character Jod Na Nawood, portrayed by Jude Law. Now, the producers have addressed at least one question I’ve had about Jod for a few weeks now, and it involves another show – “The Acolyte”.

What Did I Want To Know About Jod?

In the show, the team called “Skeleton Crew” left viewers curious about Jod’s enigmatic background, particularly questioning if he was genuinely a Jedi, as he led on the lively gang of four young inhabitants from At Attin. The fifth episode unveiled their discovery of a treasure staff, containing a lightsaber that Jod later utilized in the last few moments. Suspicious pirates, too, employed this weapon during the season’s closing episodes. (It was during the final episode when it was revealed that Jod possessed Force-sensitivity, as he had received brief Jedi training as a child.)

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but ponder about something that’s been bugging me. Since Jod doesn’t exactly come across as a paragon of virtue, it leaves me wondering why his blue lightsaber never transitioned to red during combat. I mean, after all, we’ve seen it happen in shows like The Acolyte, where Amandla Stenberg’s character, Osha, corrupted her saber’s kyber crystal with her dark-side emotions. I was half expecting the same thing to happen to Jod, considering the creators of our show, Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, are well-versed in Star Wars lore. But it seems they had a different plan in mind.

How Did Skeleton Crew’s Creators Explain Their Approach To Lightsabers?

Similar to numerous other individuals, Christopher Ford and Jon Watts share a fondness for the Star Wars cosmos. As such, they comprehend that under certain circumstances, intense feelings can “permeate” into a kyber crystal, which inherently connect to the Light Side of the Force. In response to Variety’s query regarding whether Jod’s lightsaber not changing color to red might imply he isn’t completely wicked, Ford offered the following perspective:

In ‘The Acolyte,’ the red activation of the lightsaber is explained by having the crystal be visible, as it’s connected to a ritual or ceremony. However, we chose not to delve into that detail since the character isn’t a Sith.

As someone deeply immersed in the Star Wars universe, it’s not hard to see why Jod’s brief Jedi training might not have given him a comprehensive understanding of the Force’s intricacies. After all, he’d primarily be familiar with the Light side. Given this, it seems highly unlikely that he’d ever tread the path towards Sithhood.

During our chat about the lightsaber scene in The Acolyte, we both agreed that his limited Jedi background would probably keep him far from the realm of the Dark side. The Skeleton Crew EPs and I shared this perspective, reinforcing the idea that Jod’s character wouldn’t be venturing down the dark path any time soon.

Jon Watts: When I saw that in ‘Acolyte,’ I was texting Ford, ‘Is that how that works?’ [Laughs]

As a movie enthusiast, I couldn’t help but nod in agreement when I saw the portrayal of Jod as a Force-user. To be honest, what really got me pumped up about this character was his relatively humble status – he wasn’t some all-powerful Jedi.

Watts: Yeah, he wouldn’t be able to change anything to any color.

Essentially, the main point here seems to be that a person’s familiarity or background with the force is crucial. Jon Watts and Christopher Ford even joked about Joe’s absence of formal training in this regard.

Ford: He has a knack for minor tasks. It’s fascinating how some online viewers noted that his handling of the lightsaber suggests he may not have received formal training. I can’t help but wonder if Jude might take offense to that remark, yet it seems that was the implication.

Watts: He’s similar to someone who had a few piano lessons as a child, enabling him to play only the single tune he mastered back then.

More on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

After wrapping up “Skeleton Crew,” an idea that has long intrigued me for Star Wars is beautifully encapsulated in it. Here’s hoping the next series will delve into this concept as well!

As a movie critic, I found myself in an interesting predicament when it came to the use of lightsabers in the two recent Star Wars shows – Acolyte and Skeleton Crew. While I thoroughly enjoyed the abundance of lightsaber action in the former, what truly captivated me was the scarcity of them in the latter. However, when they did make an appearance, it was nothing short of spectacular.

For instance, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, who played Wim in Skeleton Crew, had a pivotal moment with the lightsaber that he described as “pivotal and important” to TopMob. It’s no easy task to seamlessly incorporate such a significant and historically rich item into a narrative. Yet, the producers of Skeleton Crew managed to do so effectively, making the few instances of lightsaber usage truly impactful.

Could one ponder if another chapter could be in store? In terms of the plot, it’s clear that the revelation of At Attin’s whereabouts is a key point, but I’m equally curious about Jod’s fate. If he reappears in a potential second season, it wouldn’t shock me if he finds himself needing to wield his lightsaber once more. However, if such an event occurs, we likely won’t see his kyber crystal changing colors again.

With a Disney+ subscription, you’re all set to stream both “Skeleton Crew” and “The Acolyte”. Additionally, don’t forget to stay updated about the latest Star Wars TV series that are on the horizon.

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2025-01-19 02:08