A new TV series is arriving on Disney+, and this one is set a really long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. The Acolyte is the latest show set in the Star Wars universe and has something quite new to offer. While every live-action Star Wars movie and show has been set in the same general time period (all surrounding the Skywalkers), this show is set 100 years before the rise of the Galactic Empire. It is a time of peace during the High Republic era, and the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic have coexisted without war for centuries. But a series of crimes threatens to unravel it all in this perfectly watchable series.
The first four episodes of The Acolyte generally provide what we are expecting from this show. It’s nice to have a show that’s set so far away from the Skywalker Saga that it can’t rely too heavily on familiar faces. All this show can do is provide a decent story. Leslye Headland, director of films like Bachelorette and Sleeping with Other People and the TV show Russian Doll, makes her Star Wars debut here. She brings a unique perspective to this galaxy, taking a somewhat familiar idea and bringing it into this world.
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The show begins with a crime that kicks off the events of the rest of the episodes. The fight scene at the beginning is well-choreographed. It’s clear that there was a lot of care that went into crafting engaging fights, which was occasionally missing from Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka. It’s filmed in wides and there are elements of martial arts in it, while also drilling home Yoda’s lesson: “A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.” From there, we follow Osha (Amandla Stenberg), a former Padawan who left the Jedi Order. She is the prime suspect for the crime and finds herself on a prison transport.
Afterwards, we have an entertaining prison break sequence that feels somewhat more fresh for Star Wars. There are a few elements that work well, like the occasional psychological thriller elements that may remind one of the cave sequence in The Empire Strikes Back. The ending of the first episode features a strong hook and sets up an excellent premise for the rest of the show. Even though there is an element that we have seen before in other films and shows, it’s an idea that fits very well into this galaxy. The Acolyte is more of a mystery crime drama than any other Star Wars show.
At the beginning of the show, it can feel a bit like The Fugitive set in the Star Wars galaxy. However, as revelations are made, some of those elements get lost a bit too early. We are also introduced to Sol, a Jedi Master who used to train Osha. Sol is portrayed by Lee Jung-jae, a South Korean actor who recently gained international recognition for his lead role in Squid Game. He fits into the galaxy very well and he portrays a tenderness that is necessary for the character. Each of the first four episodes are fine, but none reach a level of greatness that can be expected from one of the most well-known media franchises of all time.
There are several crimes committed and we know they are all driven by revenge. But the weight of these crimes can ring hollow because we don’t see what led to the revenge first. Episode 3 is crucial to developing the backstory of the characters we see on screen, with the majority of the runtime being a flashback. There’s a sequence surrounding witches that feels a little bit wacky for this universe, but it’s not a bad idea. Furthermore, the visuals can be a bit bland and desaturated at times. Some of the character relationships don’t feel as lived in as they could, and some of that lies with the writing and direction.
The Acolyte works least when it’s going for comedy. It’s not a comedy show, of course, but all Star Wars has its moments of levity. This one doesn’t work. One episode features possibly the least funny execution of a Gilligan cut I’ve ever seen. To define the term, this is when a character says, “there is no way I’m doing this!” and then we cut to them doing it with the occasional accompaniment of “I can’t believe I’m doing this!” It doesn’t work because it’s such a comedic cliché that the punchline is predictable, and rather than a hard cut, there’s an establishing shot between setup and punchline. Another moment nearby isn’t very funny, but the light music seems to be signaling the audience to laugh.
There’s a bit of a compelling mystery surrounding who the big bad is. We have a few antagonists that we follow, but much like the Emperor, there is a looming villain in charge of everything behind the scenes. My only guess is that the villain is Darth Plagueis, but that’s the mystery that will get Star Wars fans like me to keep watching. This is not the worst we’ve seen from Star Wars TV, nor is it the best. There are some practical sets, but a few of the character relationships and backgrounds are not as compelling as they could be. It’s not the most impressive thing we’ve seen in this galaxy, but it’s got something going.
SCORE: 6/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 6 equates to “Decent.” It fails to reach its full potential and is a run-of-the-mill experience.
Disclosure: ComingSoon received screeners for our The Acolyte Episodes 1-4 review.
