A Blast From The Past: Why Bad Wookiee and Ewok Specials Are The Ultimate Holiday Gift

Every now and then, a new TV show or movie comes along that captures the essence of our childhood memories, bringing them flooding back in a tidal wave of nostalgia. Disney's latest foray into the Star Wars universe, Skeleton Crew, might be an attempt to revive the past and remind us of the holiday specials of yesteryear in more ways than one. Perhaps you're among the select few whose holiday season isn't complete without an annual viewing of the lamentable, confusing, yet endearingly horrific 'Star Wars Holiday Special.'

Made in 1978, the special was part of a push to create more Star Wars content considering the unpredicted rise to fame in the later parts of the decade. What resulted, however, was something altogether different. Gone were the sweeping space battles, intricate lightsaber duels, and camaraderie that made the original such an unmitigated triumph – replaced instead by Bea Arthur as a Mos Eisley cantina bartender, an abomination akin to inserting an extraneous non-sequtor.

Fast forward to modern times with Skeleton Crew, another venture by Disney delving into a time when the Mandalorian first stepped into that role, taking what we know about the character and then applying it in a unique way. Rather than attempting something new, however, the producers hit the holiday season a notch down with perhaps the spirit of those infamous holiday shows seeping through. Nostalgia loams over - perhaps we were given more than a lightsaber duel of honor for Christmas - a return into our memories. Also, they wanted the spirit which lingered. Where bad Wookiee fangs are endearing still. After all - that is what counts on Holidays. Each makes holiday movies and looks to see the essence of this holiday viewing.