Lucasfilm has delivered a varied quality of output with Star Wars TV shows in the past couple of years, from the underwhelming efforts of The Mandalorian Season 3 to Andor being one of the most critically acclaimed recent franchise television ventures to Ahsoka landing right in the middle of this scale as “Eh, it’s good but not great.” Overall, though, it’s safe to say that there has been a little something for every type of Star Wars fan in Lucasfilm’s catalog. Now, Star Wars: The Acolyte aims to fill another gap by satisfying audiences who have been craving two huge things: a massive departure away from the Skywalker Saga and a stronger focus on older tales of the Jedi and Sith.
Star Wars: The Acolyte wraps its Jedi and Sith lore with the neat bow of a mystery thriller plot. Created by Leslye Headland (Netflix’s Russian Doll), The Acolyte follows former Padawan Ochoa (Amandla Stenberg) as she reunites with her old Jedi master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) to investigate a series of crimes that are beginning to form a sinister pattern across the galaxy. As the truth begins to unravel, both Ochoa and Sol encounter more wicked and powerful forces than they could have ever imagined. What is most captivating about this series, and what sets it apart from other major Star Wars media, is how it successfully approaches its mystery thriller angle. Creator/showrunner Leslye Headland makes a fantastic effort at weaving together multiple layers of this story, so much so that once a layer of the mystery is unfolded, another 3 layers of fascinating questions appear.
In regard to the mystery thriller angle, the first 4 episodes of The Acolyte excel at not only introducing that genre on a large scale within the Star Wars universe but also allowing it to flourish. Leslye Headland and her writer’s room use every trick in the book to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Ultimately, it’s hard to predict the final outcome of how this series will culminate as a new exciting revelation comes to light at every corner. Additionally, each of the first 4 episodes of The Acolyte will leave viewers satisfied regardless of their runtime. The show manages to be near-perfectly paced as it unravels new layers of the plot while stacking more questions on top. In an era where it seems like more television shows are having issues with pacing, resulting in rushed endings (like HBO’s The Last of Us), The Acolyte feels refreshing.
These first four episodes of Star Wars: the Acolyte reach what appears to be a clear mid-point, with a strong finale being visible on the horizon. What could be seen as a barrier for many viewers wanting to approach this series, though, is its place within the High Republic era. The time period was formulated specifically within Star Wars novels and comic books to explore an era hundreds of years before The Phantom Menace. Since its launch in 2021, there has been a bountiful amount of High Republic material to dive into, which could prove daunting to some audiences. It might also seem intimidating when other Lucasfilm projects, like Ahsoka and even Mando now with the upcoming release of The Mandalorian & Grogu movie, require seasons’ worth of knowledge to get total fulfillment.
Courtesy of Disney
Rest assured, The Acolyte is perhaps the easiest Star Wars series to watch without any prior knowledge. High Republic fans will get a lot of enjoyment from certain Easter eggs here and there, but series creator Leslye Headland does a brilliant job of making this story as accessible as possible. Furthermore, as much as the writing quality has varied within Lucasfilm’s efforts in Star Wars television, what has arguably varied more has been the production quality. While Industrial Light & Magic’s StageCraft tech, otherwise known as “The Volume,” has proven to be innovative with its visual prowess in productions like The Batman and earlier seasons of The Mandalorian, other projects have shown its diminishing features in the wrong hands. This is what makes The Acolyte’s return to visuals more akin to the Sequel Trilogy even more gratifying.
Regardless of one’s opinion on the Sequel Trilogy, it’s indisputable how unmatched the visual quality of those films is in comparison to many blockbusters released as of late. Now, Star Wars: The Acolyte might not always hit those same high-quality benchmarks, but the visuals that this series possesses are truly no joke. Fans should seek out the best screens at home possible to get the most enriching experience. Another highlight in the show’s visual department is the thrilling fight choreography. The Acolyte holds back on the lightsaber action in its first four episodes, instead putting some stellar martial arts action sequences on display. Even for how cool they can be, however, some of these fight scenes admittedly leave a tiny bit to be desired.
Star Wars: The Acolyte has all the ingredients to be a standout from Lucasfilm’s Disney+ original series lineup. But what really pushes The Acolyte over the edge to become a great piece of Star Wars media is the character writing and performances behind them. Each player in the ensemble cast manages to deliver a remarkable performance in their own right. Dafne Keen (Logan, His Dark Materials) as Sol’s current Padawan Jecki Lon and Charlie Bartnett (Chicago Fire, Russian Doll) as the strict Jedi Knight/Temple Guardian Yord Fandar bring a much-beloved light-heartedness to The Acolyte. And, to no surprise, Carrie Ann-Moss (The Matrix, Jessica Jones) as Jedi Master Indara steals the screen upon showing off her “Force-Fu” fighting style in the show’s opening sequence.
Courtesy of Disney
However, the true beating hearts of Star Wars: The Acolyte are Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give, Bodies Bodies Bodies) and Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game, Hunt). Amandla Stenberg balances a strong likability in their first scenes but is then able to dig deep into the darkest dramatic moments of the entire show. Stenberg has already had their fair share of acting roles in notable projects, yet their turnout in The Acolyte feels like it could be on track to be a star-making moment. It’s already obvious that Stenberg will manage to make this protagonist a new fan-favorite across all of Star Wars. Lee Jung-jae, on the other hand, has already shown millions around the world that he is a very capable and versatile actor.
Sure, the concept and writing of Netflix’s Squid Game played a big role in making it a global phenomenon, but Lee Jung-jae being such a powerhouse actor at the center of it certainly helped a lot as well. That’s the same case here with The Acolyte. Lee Jung-jae takes the personalities of more noble Jedi like Qui-Gon Jinn and forms something entirely fresh — a Jedi Master who wears his heart on his sleeves and acts as a guiding light of the Jedi’s principles to see the good in people. Jedi Master Sol serves as the perfect definition of the era that The Acolyte takes place in, a time when the Jedi were keepers of the peace and maintained that good resided in all. It’s difficult to manage such a Jedi would be allowed to exist in the times of the Prequel Trilogy.
The first 4 episodes of Star Wars: The Acolyte are an awesome first half to a fascinating mystery thriller that will keep audiences hooked every week, awaiting each new episode. From the excellent work of Leslye Headland and her writer’s room to the rich cast, there’s very little to complain about here. Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae give what could turn out to be career-defining performances, making this series as a whole an undeniable success. Some might say that it’s too early to call this a full home run for Lucasfilm right now. Whether or not that’s true, the first 4 episodes of The Acolyte set the stage for this to become an amazing entry point for any Star Wars fan, old or new.
The first two episodes of Star Wars: The Acolyte premiere June 4 on Disney+!
Premiere Date: June 4, 2024.
Created by Leslye Headland.
Showrunner: Leslye Headland.
Executive Produced by Leslye Headland, Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Jason Micallef, & Jeff F. King.
Produced by Rayne Roberts, Damian Anderson, Rob Bredow, & Eileen Shim.
Series Directors: Leslye Headland, Kogonada, Alex Garcia Lopez, & Hanelle Culpepper.
Main Cast: Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, Carrie-Anne Moss, Margarita Levieva, Abigail Thorn, Amy Tsang, & David Harewood.
Cinematographers: James Friend & Chris Teague.
Composer: Michael Abels.
Production Company: Lucasfilm.
Episode Count: 8.
