Violette Waters

The Acolyte is, in my opinion, a strong first season that could be extended into an extremely compelling and successful series given at least a season two (and better run times!). (Note: this is a spoiler-filled review, so, beware, or whatever.) The series tackles the complicated ideology of the Jedi at the very end of the High Republic, which is the era preceding the fall of the Republic into the Imperial era (as Emperor Palpatine takes power from within during the prequel movies). Doing so means that the show takes a pretty big gamble: for the first time, the Jedi aren't irreproachable and, in fact, create the exact kind of destruction that usually comes at the hand of the Sith. This is EXTREMELY compelling to me, since I actually really love space politics, and I was teased by my other Star Wars fan friends for always wanting to be a Jedi growing up when the "Sith are sooo much cooler" and "the Jedi have to follow that code that isn't actually good." Well, dear fans, in that sense, The Acolyte DELIVERS. It gives a nuanced view of the Jedi, showing the exact problems that come when a religious group has extreme and virtually unchecked power, believes that they have The Right Way of Doing Things and Everyone Else is Descending Into Evil, and comes across a culture that does not agree with its religious views. Sol embodies this "dream" of what the Jedi are: powerful, kind teachers and humanitarians who seek justice and peace over evil. This makes makes the reveal all the better, as it turns out that Sol is actually an antagonist who destroyed an entire community because of his own selfish desire to have a Padawan and take Osha away from what he believed was a dangerous entity. By contrast, the Stranger actually makes incredible points about the Jedi and, along with some of the sickest fight scenes I've ever seen, is set up to be one of the coolest dark side Force users the franchise has seen. However, the show is not without reproach. I believe that the main culprit behind its flaws is its running time. The twins's story arcs in particular sometimes feel confusing or choppy, but, with the exception of Mae disguising herself as Osha and leaving Osha behind, I really wouldn't chalk it up to bad writing. The Acolyte's story is ambitious, with four unique characters whose arcs span 16 years, and eight episodes (with two run times that rival Rebels episodes) isn't enough time to fully tell that story. Since Osha is the chief protagonist, Mae's arc often feels second-rate, and sometimes she does things out of character. I think that, given more time, these actions could've been more fleshed out so that her motivations didn't seem suddenly switched. Ultimately, The Acolyte is a nuanced story about the Jedi, and it's exactly what I've always wanted from Star Wars. Its first season isn't flawless, but what first season is?? The criticisms range from misogynistic to racist to willfully ignorant, as it's very clear the show was made by a genuine fan of the franchise who simply told a story about characters unlike traditional Star Wars protagonists. I have high hopes that Disney will give it a second season with a run time that will allow the story to be fully told. If so, I truly believe that it could be a masterpiece.