Jude Law’s mysteriousStar Wars: Skeleton Crewcharacter, Jod Na Nawood, could beStar Wars’newest Jedi, but I think his backstory is more complicated than that. Jod is one of the keycharacters inSkeleton Crew, yet it’s challenging to get a clear read on him, especially given his many aliases and deceptive nature.Star Warshas also continued to be cagey about whether Jod is truly a Jedi, even with just two episodes left inSkeleton Crew.
Initially, it seemed Jod was a Jedi, as the show’s creators indicated they wanted to create a"new kind of Jedi,“and there was a reference to him being a Jedi inSkeleton Crew’strailer. While Jod is Force sensitive, though,there have been many hints inSkeleton Crew’sfirst six episodes that he isn’t a full-fledged Jedi, if he was ever a Jedi at all. Based on all the evidence, I think I may have figured out what Jod’s background really is—and it would have interesting implications forStar Wars’movies and TV shows.
Jod Na Nawood Clearly Knows The Basics Of The Jedi Teachings
…But He Doesn’t Really Understand Them
Skeleton Crewepisode 5provided some of the most convincing evidence so far that Jod may have previously had some sort of affiliation with the Jedi Order. Towards the beginning of the episode, Jod happens upon Wim, who is crying about missing his father, who is on At Attin, and his mother, who died some time ago. Jod clearly doesn’t have much experience comforting children, as he at first looks rather uncomfortable when he realizes Wim is crying. Interestingly,Jod then seems to fall back on Jedi teachings to help Wim.
The first example of this came when Jod explained the issues with attachment to Wim, harking back to the well-known rule of the Jedi Order that the Jedi should not have attachments, as they can lead one down a dark path. Jod then repeated a phrase once uttered by Qui-Gon Jinn inStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace,“your focus determines your reality.“Given how exact Jod’s verbiage was, it seems this was a Jedi tenet that both Jod and Qui-Gon were reiterating.
Star Wars Gives Qui-Gon Jinn The Most Surprising Legacy
One line from Star Wars: Skeleton Crew episode 5 was a perfect callback to Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace, cementing his legacy in Star Wars.
What is most interesting is that while Jod seems to understand the basics of these Jedi teachings, he consistently gets them wrong. The Jedi were against attachments, but that was because attachment is linked to feeling possession of or control over others.Jod’s explanation to Wim was more in line with selfish aims of looking out for oneself first (or only). Likewise, his use of the statement"your focus determines your reality"reinforces a focus on the self and one’s own desires rather than the need to find peace within oneself, as Qui-Gon and the Jedi intended it.
While Jod seems to understand the basics of these Jedi teachings, he consistently gets them wrong.
Jod’s Use Of The Force Has Been Inconsistent At Best
Jod Has Seemed More Like Haja Than A True Jedi
In addition to misunderstanding the Jedi teachings,Jod’s use of the Force hasn’t suggested he’s a Jedi. The earliest example of Jod’s Force sensitivity was when he lifted the keys and brought them into the cell where he and the kids were being held on Port Borgo. At the time, this rudimentary use of the Force seemed questionable. In fact, Jod’s use of the Force in that scene felt reminiscent of Haja, the fake Jedi from theObi-Wan Kenobishow.
He has since used the Force a handful of times inSkeleton Crew, but it has never been a major Force feat or an exceptional Force ability. More notably,when SM-33 was attacking the group of children, Jod didn’t use the Force. Instead, he ran at SM-33 and turned him off. Presumably, if Jod was a trained Jedi, his first move at that moment would have been to use the Force to stop the droid.
Jod Being A Child During Order 66 Would Explain So Much
If Jod’s Jedi Training Stopped When He Was A Child, These Clues Would Make Sense
Jod being raised in the Jedi Order only to have his training cut short by Order 66 when he was just a child would explain all these odditiesand the inconsistency regarding whether he is a Jedi. His knowledge of the Jedi teachings would be due to his time in the Jedi Order as a child, during which he would have learned these concepts and heard these adages. However, his young age and curtailed time there would have impacted his comprehension.
It makes sense that he would have taken the most basic notions away from his time with the Jedi but not fully grasped the meaning of what he’d been taught. Similarly, his limited use of the Force, and his failure to use the Force against SM-33, could be explained by his being one of thesurvivors of Order 66. If he was just a youngling when Order 66 happened, his Force abilities would be rudimentary, just as they seem to be inSkeleton Crew.
This would also explain why he has empathy and a soft spot for the kids but ultimately turns against them, as he has learned he must rely on himself.As a youngling survivor of this horrific event, he would understand what it’s like to be a scared child alone in the galaxy. In the end, though, bearing witness to these atrocities would likely have pushed Jod to prioritize his own survival above all else.
This would also explain why he has empathy and a soft spot for the kids but ultimately turns against them.
If this was indeed Jod’s backstory, it would be an interesting update to the legacy of the Jedi. Many survivors of Order 66 have emerged over the years, such as Grogu and Kanan Jarrus, but Jod becoming a pirate and using the Force only for selfish aims would be a new spin on a character who grew up in the Jedi Order and survived Order 66. With just two episodes ofStar Wars: Skeleton Crewleft, hopefullyStar Warswill soon reveal the truth about this ‘Jedi.’
The first six episodes ofStar Wars: Skeleton Creware now streaming on Disney+.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Cast
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.
