TV Series Review: Star Wars: The Acolyte (Disney+, 2024) *No Spoilers*

TV Series Review: Star Wars: The Acolyte (Disney+, 2024) No Spoilers

I can't say I was particularly excited for Disney+'s Star Wars series, The Acolyte. Not because I haven't enjoyed previous Star Wars based series - most have been fine - mostly because it's a Jedi focused story.

For me the Star Wars prequels dulled the specialness of Jedi characters in the universe. Suddenly every character was, or could be, a Jedi. They were no longer mysterious beings, you just needed a better than average Midi-chlorian count and you could be a Jedi too.

Even worse was that Jedi were supposed to be formidable fighters, yet so many Jedi characters were there to be 'red shirts', no more formidable than anyone with a sword.

So, a show where everyone's a Jedi, wasn't really doing anything much for me in the lead up to it.

The Acolyte is set about 100 years before the prequels, and begins with an assassin, hunting down Jedi who were all part of some great tragedy, many years earlier.

Investigations into who the assassin is uncovers more than anyone could have imagined.

It's fair to say, this show has its fair share of Jedi 'red shirts' too. That aside at least the key fight sequences are levelled up with more than just lightsaber duels. Finally we get to see Jedi's incorporating their powers into fights a lot more as well.

That pretty much sets the tone for what this show becomes. It doesn't seem like it contributes anything to Star Wars lore but it is filled with interesting ideas, moments, and even a couple of characters, by the end, that I, at least, would love to see turn up in another show or movie, just not a season 2 of this.

Which is not to suggest it's a bad show. All the acting performances are fine (don't let anyone tell you the acting is bad, it isn't). For me the stand out performance is by Manny Jacinto as the Stranger.

I say that because, once I realized it was the same actor who plays Jason in The Good Place, I was like wow! That's quite a one eighty turn for actor roles for him - and he's great in this new role.

Amandla Stenberg is also a stand out as Mae. In fact it is Mae and the Stranger I'd love to see turn up in something else. Again, just not a season 2 of this. Any other Star Wars movie, or series, would be great. Either of them just randomly show up out of left field. That would get my attention.

I feel The Acolyte starts out strong and then just peters out with its story. The big, tragic event, that eventually is retold and played out over the course of the show, doesn't quite live up to the weight of it being felt by the characters in the present.

It's not entirely clear if the assassin is going after Jedi for revenge or to level up as an acolyte, and everyone has a different interpretation of the tragic event based upon where they were in relation to it when it happened.

Despite this, I did mostly enjoy the series when it wasn't doing flashbacks. I don't mind flashbacks, but I think one episode is nothing but flashback, in a show that is already a 100 years in the past flashback.

The Acolyte is as good as any of the other Star Wars series (except maybe Andor - and that had some frustratingly slow episodes too). If Jedi are your thing, you'll see some great use of Jedi powers during some fight scenes. Ultimately you're likely to finish up wondering what was this for?

Except for the final few moments of the last episode it doesn't seem like it's a prequel to anything. It could easily be a stand alone story that doesn't require a second season at all.

Which is why I'd rather see the two best characters just turn up in something else. I can't see anyone really praying for a season 2 of The Acolyte.

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