The first season of The Acolyte has just ended and it has proven to be the most divisive piece of the Star Wars puzzle yet! And yes I'm calling this season 1 because the showrunner has stated that the series was created with the intent of having multiple seasons, so until we get confirmation season 2 is NOT happening, I'm assuming the stories told here will continue.
One of this film's greatest strengths is its relentless pacing.
So, let's wrap about how this first season came together.
This was probably the most uneven of the live action Star Wars shows.
We are introduced to twins Osha and Mae. They were raised in a witch coven on the planet Brendok that is not dissimilar to the Nightsisters seen on Dathomir. One took the path of a Jedi but has since failed her training, while the other has been planning revenge on those who wronged her when she was little. The show revelas the events of their childhood, the involvement of the Jedi, and the rise of a new Sith. Season 1 is filled with twists and turns and ends with the promise of even more Sith shenanigans.
The first half of the season suffers from some weak character writing, poor directing, and uneven acting. It feels like they weren't sure exactly how to present some of the concepts on display. However, once episode 4 hits, the trajectory can be seen. And with that focus in view, the entire show steps up its game. Everything from the writing, to the acting, to the directing is better in the back half of this season. And now that we can see where this is leading (sort of) and who will be involved (!!!) and I am incredibly excited.
If you know, you know.
Episode 7 is a fascinating pairing to episode 3, with a deep focus on a classic Star Wars concept "from a certain point of view".
By re-examining the events on Brendok, we can see how the Jedi felt they were in the right, and how the warnings were all around that this would come back to haunt them. If this episode had been the first representation of the events, it would have felt like any other Star Wars show with us rooting for the Jedi unconditionally. But by simply holding off and showing a different perspective first, it makes us question things. And while the acting and dialogue is still hit or miss in this back half, the storytelling is so much stronger that it feels much more in line with a typical Star Wars show.
Another plus is the lightsaber fights, which honestly are stellar. All of the action is. And it's all highly influence by Wuxia films from China. The choreography (and even the melodramatic storyline) pay loving homage to films like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Kill Bill, Lady Snowblood, and a bunch of martial arts films from the 70s.
The biggest issue with the show is its main characters Mae and Osha. Of the characters populating the series, they are the most bland and uninteresting. But this does change by the end, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the writers have learned from their mistakes for season 2. They have set a really interesting path for both of these characters, so I hope they do them justice.
Bottom Line:
Overall, The Acolyte is an uneven, but still worthy addition to the Star Wars series simply because of how it plays around with the ideas of "light side" and "dark side". Acting can be hit or miss, and some of the dialogue can get pretty rough (especially in the first half of the season). That being said, none of that is anything new to Star Wars (looking at you Attack of the Clones) and the show finally found its footing, and ended the first season on a strong note. I am very interested to see how it will continue, and how you know who (!!!!!) is going to play a part in all this! Hopefully we will be able to witness some very famous events from Star Wars
6.8/10
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