FN'F Reviews: The Acolyte

Bold Moves For a Dull Story

Expectations:

I didn’t know much about Star Wars Acolyte. Most of this was by choice. I saw the cast, which I was excited about, and heard tidbits about how this would be an intriguing plot of twists akin to Game of Thrones. To be honest, it is Star Wars, and I cannot leave anything unfinished. Hell, I watched the Young Jedi Adventures for Feats N’ Faults, so I knew I would watch it. Why risk spoiling anything for me? There was a Wookie Jedi and a fun murder plot. That was all I needed to know. Then … I forgot about it until I heard all the hubbub online about episode three. I still don’t understand what got into everyone’s britches in that episode, but I watched weekly from that point. And boy, what a weird mix of emotions I got after every episode.

The Good:

Let’s start off with everything I liked in this series. You know me, I really want to like everything because that means there are more things in the world that I like. While I do have my issues with the series, there were some really cool ideas and action sequences. The first concept that is worth exploring is that the Jedi do not have the only right to explore the force. The series tries to paint their holy crusade as a negative. Not many series have this outlook on the Jedi. The only one that comes to mind would be the Bendu from Rebels. Also, a tiny bit of it in Ahsoka/Mandalorian. I think it is a great concept to explore deeper. Show us their faults and what others might be capable of if they are left to explore this force that combines us all. Plus, if it really is a part of all of us, then why does one group seem to want to keep that knowledge to themselves? Why don’t they spread it and share it with everyone? Show us why they fear it and why they have the age limit. Does everyone turn to the dark side if not trained according to their dogma? Is there a gray side like the Bendu? Or is there an entire Green Lanturn-like color spectrum of the force that has not been explored? A pink side devoted to love, A blue devoted to hope, etc etc. It would be a great way to expand the world of the force and give us a different view from what we have been given since the beginning. I wish they buckled down and went further into this concept, but It really feels like they will continue with this never-ending battle of the Dark vs Light side.

The other idea that I liked was Osha switching sides. It’s reminiscent of what people wanted to see in the Force Awakens trilogy. People contemplated that Rey and Kylo would switch sides in the end and subvert our expectations by completely changing the protagonist and antagonist. In the end, we got something a lot less satisfying, but that is for a different review. In this, I was shocked that they actually had the gull to show that shift. To have a light character change to the dark. Whoever really fought for the decision to kill Sol deserves a raise. It lifts the stakes to a point where anything can happen. While I would never compare this series to Game of Thrones, it is the only other show that left me with that feeling at the end of season one. Main characters can and will die. Actions have consequences, and we do not follow perfect or idealized characters. In that sense, this show succeeds.