Right once the mystery of the Acolyte is revealed and is quite fascinating.
As soon as the opening text of the play disappears, The Acolyte plunges immediately into the middle of its narrative. The Acolyte's screenplay immediately provides all we need to know: Mae (Amandla Stenberg) will do whatever to kill anyone on her list and is on a quest to exact retribution against the Jedi. Showrunner Leslye Headland's experience penning mysteries that progressively reveal, such Netflix's Russian Doll, helps The Acolyte be cautious about what it presents and hides.
These cues contribute to make The Acolyte so interesting. The core of the Acolyte is empty; why Mae is killing Jedi, who she works for, and what her driving force is? These are looked at across the first two episodes. By the end of The Acolyte episode 2, what the mystery of the show had revealed pleased me. Mae's Jedi background is hinted at, but not too much to sour excitement for next episodes. Like any great mystery box series, the Acolyte's responses have the same level of interesting questions. The most fascinating aspect of the story is the mysterious Sith adversary of the Acolyte, who causes a continuous sensation of anxiety that penetrates the proceedings.
The Acolyte's Production and Lore Make It a Worthful Addition to Star Wars Canon
Though I don't particularly like one Star Wars style over the other—be it the CGI-laden prequels or the pragmatic-heavy originals—I was hoping The Acolyte would combine both in a decent balance. Disney, like with the sequel trilogy, kindly listened to my calls. The Acolyte's graphic design is the perfect fusion of visual effects with pragmatist elements. While aliens, props, settings, and costumes are tangible and practical in the best possible manner, ships, landscapes, planets, and otherworldly features are brilliantly portrayed with CGI nearly imperceptible.
Though these components enable The Acolyte to feel naturally like a show set in the Star Wars universe, I was happy to see how much the showrunners are including from the larger mythology. First two episodes of The Acolyte feature hints of the Sith ways, the creeping fall from favor of the Jedi Order, and High Republic designs. These elements let the program occupy a deserving place amid the vast pantheon of Star Wars history.
The Action Sequences of The Acolyte for Star Wars are like a breath of fresh air.
Apart from the mystery at its core, The Acolyte's attention to action scenes is its other brilliant shining point. Involved with stunt coordinators like Chris Clark Cowan, formerly of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings fame, I was convinced the action scenes of The Acolyte would live up to the expectations. By the end of The Acolyte episode 2, I found great satisfaction with how the show portrayed such sequences. They not only show they're not only for show but also help with storytelling by giving character beats, so expertly coordinated and recorded.
It is even more of a statement about The Acolyte than, that its fight scenes soar even without the well-known weapons. The fight sequences in The Acolyte appealed to me in part because of the Jedi's refusal to use lightsabers. Ironically, lightsabers are only employed as a last resort for a Star Wars production, which fits the narrative of Disney+ series. Lightsabers are reserved just for the toughest foes; these Jedi are at their peak of ability. It is even more evidence of The Acolyte then, because fight sequences still soar even without the legendary weaponry.
Among the Cast of The Acolyte, Amandla Stenberg & Lee Jung-jae Stand Out
Among the actors in The Acolyte, Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae really shine. Based on The Acolyte's trailers, Stenberg's unexpected dual role offers a performance level more than what I had anticipated. Having to alternate between Mae and her twin sister Osha, Stenberg deftly offers little but convincing variances that help the characters seem unique. Driven by wrath, bitterness, and revenge, Stenberg commands every scene she is in as Mae.
Sol is therefore a very interesting Jedi, unique among the others in The Acolyte. Sol, the unwavering Jedi Master, is opposite her. Related to his past with Osha and Mae, Jung-jae endows Sol with an underlying stream of sadness. Sol is thus a very interesting Jedi, far above the other Jedi characters. The first two episodes of The Acolyte sadly do not fairly balance every cast member. Though there is potential for the future, The Acolyte's emphasis on other characters causes Dafne Keen, Charlie Bennett, and Manny Jacinto to fall short in their roles as Jecki Lon, Yord Fandar, and Qimir respectively.
Dark High Republic Thriller Is a Captivating Combining of Star Wars' Best Traits: The Acolyte Premiere Review
Starting with a promising and dark mystery at its foundation, the Acolyte, Star Wars' newest live-action TV series The Acolyte takes us right away into the franchise chronology of the program. Especially as a reader of the literature set before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, the High Republic Era in Star Wars is delight to watch onscreen. The Acolyte episodes 1 and 2 start the series off really well with slick fight scenes, a fantastic cast, a compelling mystery, and a superb visual style.
On June 4, Disney+ hosts the first two episodes of The Acolyte starting at 9pm ET. The last six episodes will be available to stream Tuesday evenings going forward weekly. Set in the Star Wars world toward the conclusion of the High Republic Era, the Acolyte is a television series featuring both the Galactic Empire and the Jedi at their most powerful point. Investigating several crimes—all leading to darkness bursting from beneath the surface and ready to bring about the death of the High Republic—this sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reconcile with her former Jedi Master.
The Acolyte will expose viewers to a whole new aspect of the Star Wars chronology, but how well does this latest Disney+ TV drama fit with the Skywalker narrative?
