“The Acolyte” had every chance to bring something fresh, exciting, and original to the Star Wars franchise. It’s set 100 years before “Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace” in an era that has been unexplored in live action television and movies. It features all new characters, explores a new segment of the galaxy, and tells a brand new story – all ingredients for something special. Sadly, the first four episodes of “The Acolyte” fail to deliver on any of that potential.
The list of problems with “The Acolyte” is a pretty lengthy one with most of the issues finding their roots in the writing. Framed as a serialized mystery thriller set within the Star Wars universe, the show is built upon a genuinely interesting premise. But the stiff and almost mechanical storytelling, the bland and uninspired characters, and the overall lack of cinematic verve weigh the show down. But its biggest fault is as simple as this – very little about “The Acolyte” feels like Star Wars.
Showrunner Leslye Headland’s interests seem to be all over the map, and sadly she’s unable to corral them into something compelling or even cohesive. Instead the movie suffers from bad plotting, complete lapses in logic, drab characters speaking in platitudes, and a general lack of energy and excitement. That pains me to say as a die-hard Star Wars fan. But even the film’s most ardent defenders are speaking volumes with comments like “it’s perfectly fine” and “it’s not the worst Star Wars”.
The story kicks off with the murder of the show’s most intriguing character in the first ten minutes. Jedi Master Indara (a sadly disposed Carrie-Anne Moss) is killed by a mysterious assassin played by Amandla Stenberg. After former Jedi Padawan Osha Aniseya is named as the chief suspect, the Jedi Council sends Osha’s old master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) to track her down and bring her in. Accompanying him is Jedi Knight Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett) and Padawans Tasi Lowa (Thara Schöön) and Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen).
Master and apprentice are reunited and Osha is quickly proven innocent. It’s then revealed that the assassin is actually her twin sister, Mae who was believed to be dead following a family tragedy which we learn all about in the confounding episode three. Now Mae has a hit list that has her targeting a specific group of Jedi at the behest of her ominous Force-wielding master. Can they stop Mae, perhaps redeeming her in the process? And who is the dark lord she serves?
Stenberg deserves credit for tackling the roles of Osha and Mae. The problem is she plays both of them the same. Mae is (perhaps) a little moodier and their hair is different lengths. But the truth is neither are given enough of their own personality to distinguish themselves. None of the other performances stand out either. Lee Jung-jae is the most promising as Sol. But he’s shackled by painfully pedestrian dialogue. He does what he can with it, even making it seem smarter than it actually is on occasions. That’s not true for the rest of the cast.
Of the many issues with the script, the most glaring may be the handling of the Jedi. The story is set during the High Republic era when the Jedi were considerably more powerful and prominent. So it’s surprising to see that in “The Acolyte” they are so astonishingly dumb. My favorite example is when the Acolyte waltzes through the front door of a Jedi Temple with ease, attempts to kill a meditating Jedi Master, leaves three knives on the floor which no one ever notices, and escapes unsensed and undetected. One a different note, other things occur make you wonder if the Jedi are the bad guys in Headland’s world?
There are some good original creature designs and the mysterious evil master looks genuinely menacing. But aside from that (and a few ignitions of lightsabers), little about the first four episodes of “The Acolyte” resembles Star Wars. The show is said to have a $180 million budget but it’s hard to find it on screen (at least so far). But who knows, maybe that will change. Visually speaking, we do get glimmers of hope in episode four.
I’d like to think that “The Acolyte” can turn things around in the final four episodes. But it’s hard to imagine much will change, especially when so many of the problems are connected to its vision and execution (or lack of either). Headland has made something that doesn’t have the creative oomph to win new fans and is very likely to push away many old ones. And not for the pre-packaged reasons that Kathleen Kennedy and company preemptively threw out there. But more out of frustration for what “The Acolyte” could have been compared to the disappointment it ends up being.
VERDICT – 2 STARS
keithandthemovies.com 
Finally an honest, non-pandering review.
I really struggled with these first four episodes. Not feeling good about the trajectory of the other four.
That’s the second review I’ve read of this show and with the same points given, so that’s 2 strikes and out for me. (Not that I’d watch it anyway being a non-SW person 😀 )
As you probably know, I’m a huge Star Wars guy and have generally liked what many fellow critics haven’t. But this one has too many problems to look past.
I saw the first 2 episodes last Tuesday and yes, there’s flaws but I’m willing to give it a chance. I like Amandla Stenberg in this as well as Lee Jung-jae and Dafne Keen. I want to see where it goes. I just hope it doesn’t become <i>The Book of Boba Fett</i> which started off well but then kind went off the rails as it acted as a mini-sequel to <i>The Mandalorian</i>.
I’m so different than others. I enjoyed Boba Fett. You’re right, it has some structure issues but (for me) it’s so much fun. Quite different with Acolyte. So many headscratching choices and it only gets worse in episode 3.
When Indara went out, I went out on this show too. I’m a fan of Headland’s. Feels like she got spread thin with the lore, or got swallowed whole by Star Wars. I can forgive messy first episodes because of the table setting, but the first ep has like 5 transition wipes in the final minutes and it’s staggering how it miscommunicates people being in the same place at once.
These characters are supposed to be old pals, but the performances are so formal, and the dialogue so flat, that it feels like they’ve never spoken to human beings before. You’re right about Stenberg, I could hardly tell the twins apart that I thought the show was faking the twin reveal. And whoever that meditating Jedi was, that’s the most egregious beard I ever seen in one of these. They really couldn’t cast a guy with actual facial hair?
Really bummed because I was eager for The Acolyte with all the talent involved. Back to waiting for Andor S2.
I agree with pretty much everything you said. I was so excited for this but have been incredibly disappointed. Episode 4 picks up a bit, but not enough to boost my confidence.
Might check out the next episode. Big fan of Kogonada, I see he did eps 3 & 7 but boy I’m hoping this picks up too. By and large I’m right there with ya, sorely disappointed.
I like him too. But even he can’t make that mess work. It’s really sad to see his tremendous disappointment
Lucas films keeps getting worse. This is not the George Lucas Star wars Universe. Way too much DEI and bad story telling makes a very bad combination.
It’s garbage. Absolute trash. This does not look like, feel like, or sound like Star Wars. Ths folks that made this are hate spreading and divisive lunatics. This has to stop. Please.
It’s terrible.
Star Wars is going wrong in all ways. To much lesbianism. To much Harry Potter. Is sad that Katherine Kennedy with her director is falling us who like star wars because of its massages of hope. Now to me is a lot of garbage that kids don’t need to learn from this Acolyte story. Star Wars two thumbs down.
I completely agree with your review. I was very excited to see a show set in the Old Republic and so disappointed to find that it is so lifeless. I am stunned that the show is getting 85% “fresh” from professional reviewers. The fans are less forgiving with 25% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. I really feel like Disney is picking writers/showrunners who are not Star Wars fans. The past several shows, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan and now The Acolyte seem like they were created by people who do not understand and/or appreciate the Star Wars universe.
It sure seems like it, especially with The Acolyte. I had such high hopes for it. But everything from the writing to the execution to the acting has been a letdown.
This review perfectly sums up how I feel about the show so far after 3 episodes. I REALLY wish so many people weren’t focusing on DEI stuff because it is distracting from the real issues with this show that you perfectly described. And it means Lucasfilm will write off all the negative feedback as bigoted phobic fans and not pay attention to proper critiques like yours that if addressed could improve the show dramatically.
I hear you, and thanks for the kind words. The show has so many issues that are being brushed aside. It’s truly bad in a number of basic storytelling and directing ways. I’ll say this…it gets a little better in episode 4 but not enough to leave me encouraged.
This comment section is wild.
This show is complete garbage. How much do you critics get paid to write insane positive reviews about a complete disaster!
I didn’t write a positive review.