This article contains spoilers for "Skeleton Crew" episode 5.

The fifth episode of "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew," Lucasfilm's latest offering on Disney+, brings kids and their alleged Jedi protector Jodh Navud (Jude Law) to the planet Lanupa in search of the coordinates of their home world of Athens. The title of the episode "You've Got a Lot to Learn About Pirates" is really appropriate, as the kids and their naivety get in the way and get them into trouble with valuable rock throughout the episode, but we get a little ahead of ourselves. Lanupa is an old world with many names according to SM-33 (Nick Frost) - World of Battle or even Demon Rest. It was the old secret underground hideout of the legendary pirate Tuck Renaud, and the ship the kids stole turned out to be Captain Renaud's, the Ash Onyx.. On Lanupa, if they can get into his secret underground lair, they should be able to bring the coordinates to Atin, but since so much time has passed between Renaud's time and the present, their search is essentially archaeological in nature. A health and beauty and hot springs resort has sprung up on top of where the lair was built and the Skeleton Crew must find clues to get under the resort to get what they're looking for. All the while, they're being chased by pirates, bounty hunters, local security, and anyone else who looks cross-eyed. If it sounds like a script from a Steven Spielberg movie, that's because it very much is.

The Indiana Jones franchise was the brainchild of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, so it's no wonder action/adventure series would share DNA with Star Wars, but Skeleton Crew is — arguably — the first unabashedly adventurous piece of Star Wars media we've had since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker. This episode takes the sense of adventure up a notch and adds the element of archeology and puts it firmly in the territory of everyone's favorite rogue archaeologist. As the kids search the modern spa for signs of Tuck Renaud's old base, it has the whole feel of Indiana Jones rummaging through the library in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in search of the Grail Knight's tomb, combining the modern use of the space while searching for its more ancient use. Star Wars' use of archeology and artifact hunting isn't a new method for paying homage to Indiana Jones, but it's certainly welcome.

Where things kick into high gear for the Indiana Jones homage — though it serves as a some reference to "The Goonies" as well as their underground journey to the One-Eyed Willy's galleon - is when they reach underground thanks to the help of Ctalops and begin to explore the pirate caves of Tak Renod. They feel like something out of Treasure Island at first blush before you realize they're tests like those guarding the holy grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The laser beam almost cuts off the children's heads, just like the buzz almost does to Indiana Jones. Other tests are reminiscent of other films. Instead of the spikes coming down from the ceiling, they have a Star Wars twist where you float up to them instead. There's a puzzle where they had to drop money into a pool of acid to get down the stairs in the treasure room instead of a leap of faith, it's all a pirate theme, not a disciple of Christ. It was all very clever and thoughtful towards Star Wars in a really great way. "The Bad Batch" took temple in a similar way in its second season and it's nice to see the live shows being billed as well.

However, the respect does not end there. As Jod and crew emerge from their final, deadly test, they come upon a room with a vast treasure, much like Indy and Ilsa do in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. There are fantastic gold trinkets everywhere, all kinds of pirate loot. Jodh warns the children much of it will be trapped. However, as they take their first steps inside, they are greeted by a giant sculpture of a face that immediately brings to mind the discovery of the Tugi ceremony in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. But the rest of the scene plays out like The Last Crusade, right down to having to pick the right item that will give them the information they need, knowing that picking the wrong item will lead to dire consequences. Neal, being the bright kid that he is, spots the right piece of treasure, but like Indiana Jones and the end of The Last Crusade, they too are betrayed.

Until now, Skeleton Crew has been a collection of references and homages to Steven Spielberg's work, particularly his work in the '80s Amblin era aimed at kids. From "ET: The Extra-Terrestrial" and "The Goonies" to the entire "Indiana Jones" saga, Steven Spielberg's work is the basis for the "Skeleton Crew" and this episode just happened to put on Indy's whip and fedora. the entirety of the episode.

New episodes of "Skeleton Crew" premiere Tuesdays at 6pm PST on Disney+.