Star Wars: The Acolyte : Season
1
‘The Acolyte’ Review: ‘Star Wars’ an Even
Longer Time Ago.
When Star Wars: The Acolyte : Season 1 was
released
“The Acolyte,” the
latest product off the Lucasfilm assembly line (it premieres Tuesday night on
Disney+)“.
WARNING: The following review contains spoilers from the
first two episodes of Disney+/Lucasfilm’s
One of The Acolyte's most enticing
selling points is that it’s the first live-action Star Wars show that
exists outside of the Skywalker Saga, set 100 years before The
phantom menace. This might lead one to believe that the show would
be a refreshing change of pace or tone for the franchise, but unfortunately, it
actually looks, sounds, and feels a lot like the other Star war shows,
at least in its first two episodes.
This isn’t an inherently bad thing, of course, as most of the
other Star
Wars live-action shows have been quite good. The
Acolyte has a lot going for it, with a great premise, an
intriguing central mystery that reveals itself in captivating fashion, and some
rock-solid performances. But it feels like there was a missed opportunity here
to lean into the aspects of the story that lend themselves to more
tone-specific genre storytelling.
It’s 100 years before the reign of the Galactic Empire.
The galaxy is at peace thanks partly to the Jedi Order…but someone is killing
Jedi. The show opens with an assassin who openly challenges Jedi Master Indara
to attack her. As the Jedi live by a code of defensive combat, Indara is not
taking the bait. When the assassin attacks, she is able to kill Indara, but not
before she is able to recognize the now unmasked assassin.
Meanwhile, in another part of the galaxy is failed
Padawan Osha (Amandla Stenberg), who works as a Metnik, a human starship mechanic
on a Nemoidian starship. When a team of Jedi investigators board the ship, they
suspect that Osha is the assassin, as she fits the assassin’s description to a
tee!
“The Acolyte” is propelled by plentiful
action, much of it hand-to-hand combat heavily inflected with martial arts.
(When Moss elegantly bounds up a railing in the opening scene, presumably
assisted by wires, you could easily be watching a film.) But the action itself
is rooted in conflict with stakes both large and small for characters we
quickly come to care about. Whether Osha and Mae can come to some form of
understanding is tied up in existential questions about whether the Jedi can be
trusted, or trust themselves, as arbiters of justice. In giving itself
permission to poke at “Star Wars” mythology, “The Acolyte” cultivates the same
sense of curiosity it exhibits about its own universe. Too often, franchise
series feel like a perfunctory exercise in expansion. When my screeners for
“The Acolyte” ran out, I wanted to learn what happened next, even if we already
know where the Republic is heading.
But the storytelling force is not strong.
Putting more female characters, and a stronger female point of view (even if it
is sometimes redolent of 1960s earth mother), into an otherwise traditional “Star
Wars” framework is worth the attempt. “The Acolyte” doesn’t bring enough energy
or invention to the task, though.
It
goes through its space-opera
paces, offering some blandly pretty forest planets and the occasional
impressive landscape. (Location shooting was done in Wales and Portugal.) The
“Star Wars” penchant for paying homage to the backlot bazaars and gin joints of
classic Hollywood is frequently indulged.
Beneath the familiar trappings, the
visceral pull that “Star Wars” can summon in its best moments — “The Empire
Strikes Back,” “The Last Jedi,” parts of “Andor” and “The Mandalorian” —
doesn’t manifest itself. Characters speak in platitudes about loss, grief,
loyalty and revenge, and the cast mostly works down to the level of the
dialogue.
Stenberg is capable and charming but can’t make either twin very interesting of “Squid Game,” who plays a sympathetic Jedi, doesn’t make much of an impact in his first English-language role. The most winning performances of the early episodes are given by Lauren and Leah Brady as the 8-year-old Osha and Mae — the most winning performances by humans, anyway. In the “Star Wars” universe, robots tend to have as much personality as their flesh-and-blood co-stars, if not more, and Osha’s pocket-size droid, Pip, is a trouper. With proper maintenance, he might outlast the High Republic.
Is Acolyte a good Star Wars movie?
Yes it's good ,,, but sometimes it's depend on
your thoughts. This series is focusing on the darker aspects of Star wars lore
so if you like this type of series' than yes you will enjoy it.
How many episodes in Star Wars: The Acolyte : Season 1?
8 episode in Star Wars: The Acolyte : Season 1.
Fans reviews
"Star Wars: The
Acolyte" has received a variety of responses from both critics and fans,
with many praising its fresh take on the Star Wars universe while others have
mixed feelings about its execution.
The series is set during
the final days of the High Republic era, focusing on the darker aspects of the
Star Wars lore. Critics have highlighted the show's unique blend of mystery and
martial arts, often referred to as "Force-fu," which sets it apart
from other entries in the franchise. The Acolyte delves into a detective-style
narrative, with characters tracking down clues and unraveling sinister plots,
which has been described as a blend of "Twin Peaks" and "The
Batman"
Fans have also
appreciated the mature tone of the series, likening it to "Andor" but
with a more force-sensitive and mysterious twist. The inclusion of practical
sets, compelling fight scenes, and a strong emotional core have been positively
noted
However, some reviews
have pointed out that the show takes time to build momentum, with the first few
episodes serving more as a setup before the plot fully kicks in
If you're interested
in a Star Wars story that explores the darker side of the Force with a
mystery-driven plot, "The Acolyte" is worth watching. However, if you
prefer the more traditional space opera elements of Star Wars, you might find
it a bit different from what you're used to.
