Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,Star Wars’newest TV show, has finally brought one in-universe curse word toStar Warsmovies and TV showsafter 27 years.SkeletonCrewhas released its first two episodes on Disney+, and already, the show has been full of surprises. In addition toSkeleton Crew’smany Easter eggsthus far,Skeleton Crewbrought back the catchphrase"wizard"fromStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
This isn’t the only wordSkeleton Crewjust brought to theStar Warssmall screen, though. Like many sci-fi and fantasy franchises,Star Warshas a number of substitute words for real-life curse words.Episode 2 ofSkeleton Crewshockingly brought one such word to theStar Warsscreen for the very first time, marking the term’s on-screen debut 27 years after it first appeared inStar Warsbooks.
“Kriffing” Is A 27-Year-Old Star Wars Swear Word, & It Finally Appears In Skeleton Crew
As the children inSkeleton Crewnavigatethe pirate empire Port Borgo, Neel and Wim make their way to a counter, where they order a bowl of food. Either because of their age or because of their upbringing on At Attin—which has proven to be entirely separate from the rest of the galaxy—the kids don’t immediately hand over credits. The short-tempered cook behind the counter then says,“What do you think this is, a kriffing charity?”
This use of kriffing is the very first on-screen usage of the swear word inStar Warshistory. Although the term has appeared in numerous books and video games, beginning with theStar WarsLegends bookVision of the Futurewritten by Timothy Zahn, shockingly, no otherStar Warsshow or movie has used it. This may have to do with the word’s meaning, which makes it all the funnier that it first appeared inSkeleton Crew, a show specifically focused on a group of children.
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Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Cast & Character Guide
Since Lucasfilm debuted the trailer for Skeleton Crew, it’s helpful to know who is in Disney’s latest Star Wars show - & who their characters are.
What Does “Kriffing” Mean?
“Kriff” Is A Stand-In For Real-Life Swear Words
Although there’s no direct translation for kriff or kriffing, it is certainly a swear word, andStar Warshas heavily hinted that the term is a stand-in for a certain four-letter F-word in English. This makes it all the more surprising thatSkeleton Crewis the firstStar Warsproject to use the word on screen. Many ofStar Wars’best charactersseem likely to use the word—Han Solo, for example—yet it was ultimately an unknown pirate using the swear in front of a couple of kids.
This moment revealedSkeleton Crew’swillingness to pull in terms and concepts that have been part ofStar Warsfor years but have yet to make their way on screen.
However, this could mean the floodgates are open on ‘kriffing,’ and it may make further appearances in upcomingStar Warsmovies and TV shows. Whether it does or doesn’t, though, this moment revealedSkeleton Crew’swillingness to pull in terms and concepts that have been part ofStar Warsfor years but have yet to make their way on screen, which is a particularly exciting prospect. With just two episodes released so far,Star Wars: Skeleton Crewis proving to be full of delightful surprises, big and small.
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.
