The Acolyte was anticipated by some as the next big chapter in the ever-expanding Disney Star Wars universe. Set 100 years before the prequels, the series promised to explore the darker side of the Force, delve into the High Republic era, and introduce a new set of characters to a galaxy far, far away.
However, from the outset, the series failed to deliver on these promises, leading to its recent cancellation. The entire series, from its poorly conceived beginning to its lackluster finale, exemplifies why The Acolyte missed the mark so spectacularly.
Prioritizing Diversity Over Storytelling
One of the most glaring issues with The Acolyte is its prioritization of diversity over quality storytelling.
The casting of diverse characters seemed to be the primary focus for Leslye Headland and Kathleen Kennedy, with the narrative built around this checklist rather than organically developing a compelling story. This approach led to a disjointed and confusing narrative where characters and plotlines felt secondary to meeting representation quotas.
Boring and Drawn-Out
By the time Episode 3 rolled around, it became clear that The Acolyte was floundering.
Instead of advancing the story, the episode dedicated an entire hour to the backstory of Mae and Osha, a subplot that could have easily been condensed into a brief flashback. With only eight episodes in the season, wasting a full episode on a slow-paced, uneventful narrative was a misstep that only exacerbated the series’ pacing issues.
The show’s handling of the Jedi was another major flaw. Despite being set in the Star Wars universe, the Jedi in The Acolyte are depicted as weak, ineffective, and lacking the gravitas of their predecessors like Anakin Skywalker or Obi-Wan Kenobi. The lack of lightsaber action, especially by Episode 3, was a glaring omission in a series that should have been rich with the iconic elements that make Star Wars what it is.
Additionally, the episode’s revelation that the two lesbian witches used the Force to create Mae and Osha further strayed from George Lucas’ original vision, sparking controversy and further alienating longtime fans.
Downward spiral
Episode 4 of The Acolyte continued the downward spiral, offering more of the same drawn-out, nonsensical storytelling that had plagued the series from the beginning. While there were finally a couple of lightsaber scenes, they did little to redeem the overall lackluster quality of the episode.
The dialogue, particularly between Amandla Stenberg’s Osha and Dafne Keen’s Jecki Lon, became increasingly tiresome, with repetitive exchanges that failed to develop the characters or advance the plot meaningfully. The introduction of pronouns, a modern-day political injection into a galaxy far, far away, felt out of place and further distanced the series from the Star Wars universe as envisioned by George Lucas.
The much-anticipated character Kelnacca, a Wookiee Jedi who had been built up leading to the fourth episode, was ultimately wasted in Episode 4. Instead of showcasing the character’s strength and abilities, Kelnacca was unceremoniously killed while sitting in front of a “computer,” a moment that was wasted, both anticlimactic and disappointing.
The episode also mishandled the character of Ki-Adi-Mundi, a Jedi Master from the prequels. His portrayal in The Acolyte clashed with his established character in the Star Wars prequels, creating inconsistencies that only served to frustrate fans further. The fact that his species is known to have a shorter lifespan added to the confusion, making his appearance feel forced and poorly thought out by Headland and the creatives.
While Episode 4 ended with a potentially interesting development involving the series’ villain using a Force Push to overpower the Jedi, the moment was overshadowed by the overall lack of quality storytelling. The series continued to feel like fan fiction gone awry, with little regard for the established lore or the expectations of the Star Wars fanbase.
Glorified Star Wars Fan-Fic
Episode 5 of The Acolyte does little to redeem the series from its previous missteps. Instead, it continues to exemplify the inconsistency and lack of direction that has plagued the show from the beginning. While there were a few cool moments, such as well-executed lightsaber battles and shocking death scenes, they were not enough to salvage the overall narrative.
The episode’s pacing issues persisted, with little to no progression in the overarching story. With only three episodes left, much of the plot remains unresolved, leaving the series with a significant amount of ground to cover in its remaining runtime.
The portrayal of characters like Dafne Keen’s Jecki Lon continued to raise questions, with her seemingly overpowered abilities contrasting sharply with Carrie-Anne Moss’ Master Indara who died by daggers in the first episode. Similarly, the scenes between Mae and Osha came off as unconvincing, as the two switch without users of the Force realizing what happened.
The introduction of cortosis, a mineral that can short out lightsabers, was an interesting addition to the Star Wars canon, but it was poorly integrated into the narrative, feeling more like a gimmick than a meaningful plot device. The reveal of Qimir as the villain was equally underwhelming, raising more questions than answers and leaving viewers puzzled about his motivations and role in the larger story.
Ultimately, Episode 5 continued the trend of inconsistent storytelling and missed opportunities, further solidifying The Acolyte as a glorified fan fiction that fails to live up to the legacy of Star Wars. The episode’s scattered moments of excitement were overshadowed by the series’ lack of coherent narrative and character development.
The Acolyte drags
As The Acolyte drags into its sixth episode, it’s clear that the series has lost all momentum. Episode 6 is nothing short of a slog, with a plot that seems to go nowhere, filled with tedious dialogue and underdeveloped characters. The episode is so uneventful that it feels like watching paint dry—a far cry from the excitement and adventure that Star Wars is known for.
The episode’s lack of significant plot progression is another major issue. With only two episodes left to wrap up the story, it’s astonishing that The Acolyte has spent so much time on scenes and subplots that add nothing to the overall narrative. The decision to waste an entire episode on setup, rather than advancing the story, is emblematic of the show’s larger issues with pacing and direction.
Fails to advance the story
Episode 7 of The Acolyte is arguably the worst of the series, offering nothing more than a rehash of earlier material and further wasting the show’s budget. The episode is essentially a continuation of Episode 3, offering little new content and failing to advance the story in any meaningful way.
The decision to dedicate yet another episode to backstory, rather than focusing on the present-day narrative, is a baffling one. With only one episode left, The Acolyte has left itself with a monumental task: wrapping up a story that has barely progressed over seven episodes. The lack of direction and cohesion in the storytelling has left viewers frustrated and questioning the competence of the showrunner and writers.
The characters continue to act in ways that are contrary to established Star Wars lore, further alienating longtime fans. Sol, in particular, is portrayed as an ineffective Jedi, a far cry from the noble and disciplined warriors seen in George Lucas’ original trilogy. The episode’s attempts to create tension and drama fall flat, with poorly executed scenes and dialogue that does little to endear the characters to the audience.
The episode and the show’s budgetary issues are also glaringly apparent. With a reported budget nearing $200 million, viewers are left wondering where the money went. The special effects are lackluster, the action is minimal and sparse, and the use of recycled footage from previous episodes only serves to underscore the show’s lack of originality and effort. Most of the runtime is consumed by characters standing around and talking. The high cost seems unjustified.
As the series hurtles towards its finale, The Acolyte has proven to be a colossal disappointment, failing to live up to the expectations of fans and squandering the potential of the Star Wars universe. With only one episode left, it seems unlikely that the show will be able to redeem itself from the trash heap it has become.
Too little, too late
The Acolyte concluded with Episode 8, which only served to highlight the series’ failures. While the final episode offered some cool moments, great action, and a few answers, it was ultimately too little, too late. The writing remained underdeveloped, leaving viewers frustrated with what could have been.
The episode showcased the same issues that plagued the entire series: a lack of coherent storytelling, underdeveloped characters, and missed opportunities. While various episodes featured minor redeeming qualities, a majority of the season was a waste of potential, dragging down the overall narrative and failing to deliver on the series’ promise.
Showrunner Leslye Headland’s decision to save the best elements for the final episode, without weaving them throughout the season, was a critical mistake. Instead of building up to an epic conclusion, the series meandered through boring and drawn-out episodes, leaving the finale feeling rushed and underdeveloped.
The final episode’s moments of excitement, such as the Sol vs. Qimir fight and the brief teases of Darth Plagueis and Yoda, were overshadowed by the series’ overall lack of direction and coherence. These moments felt like last-minute additions, rather than integral parts of the story, further highlighting the series’ disjointed nature.
The lack of a greenlit second season only adds to the disappointment, as the series ends on a note that suggests more story to come, but with zero chance of continuation.
The Acolyte ends not with a bang, but with a whimper, leaving fans to wonder what could have been if the series had been better planned and executed.
