The Star Wars franchise has upset the fans yet again. Just a few days ago, Leslye Headland’s The Acolyte dropped on Disney+ as fans waited eagerly to see where the franchise was heading next. However, what was waiting for them was nothing but disappointment.
While the critics seem to be thoroughly enjoying the new series, the same cannot be said for the fans who have stayed with the franchise for years and years. There is a clear difference in opinion when it comes to critics and fans and this is quite evident if you take a look at the scores given to The Acolyte on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Acolyte Impresses Critics but Disappoints Fans
Upon its release, The Acolyte had 4.8 million views just on the first day of its release and 11.1 million across the first five days, as announced by Disney. This means that Leslye Headland’s series gave Disney+ its biggest series premiere of 2024 (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Clearly, the people were excited. Unfortunately, many fans ended up not liking the show at all, at least the three episodes that have been released so far.
On the other hand, critics seem to appreciate the work that has gone into The Acolyte and the product it yielded. If you take a look at the Star Wars show’s page on Rotten Tomatoes, you’ll see that it has received a high rating of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The critical consensus reads,
Taking fresh risks with Star Wars lore while having infectious fun playing with the stylistic trappings of a galaxy far, far away, The Acolyte is a Padawan series with the potential to become a Master.
But if you turn your eyes just a little to the website’s right, you’ll notice that the fans have given the series a rating of just 21%. That’s just not good.
What the Fans Have to Say About The Acolyte
After many fans were disappointed with how The Acolyte has turned out so far, they took to social media to voice their true opinions about the show and certainly did not hold back their thoughts.
From asking “where did it all go wrong” to considering Headland’s show as the reason behind Star Wars’ death, fans clearly have a strong judgment on the matter.
Take a look at what they had to say about it all below:
Where did it all go wrong with #StarWars ? What cues did we not give as fans to show what was needed for them to make money? Who in their right mind would greenlight #theacolyte or any show LIKE the #acolyte to EVER air in front of Star Wars fans? #Disney has LOST THEIR MINDS pic.twitter.com/5cfqca010O
— Xwing (@XwingsHangar) June 12, 2024
It's hard to watch man.
— KrazIIvan (@KrazIIvan_) June 12, 2024
Thank you for the memories.
Thank you for adding hope to my childhood. Thank you for everything. Rest in peace #starwars. It was so hard to see you die. #acolyte #theacolyte pic.twitter.com/0MgLIoY1Ls— D E L M A R (@delmar25232) June 13, 2024
ngl the hate on The Acolyte is fully warranted, wtf is this shit
— dhruv (@ffsdhruv) June 13, 2024
Am I the only one who thinks the Star Wars franchise died? Just started watching #theacolyte and it does not relate to the Star Wars that we knew. #starwarsfans #starwars
— Jordan Rodriquez (@Jrodriquez16) June 13, 2024
The Acolyte episode 3 was… one of the episodes ever made. The dialogue was written. The actors were acting. Of all the Star Wars media that I've seen, this is definitely one of them.
— Matt (@ragelmatt) June 13, 2024
Just during production and marketing, The Acolyte had received a polarized response from fans of the franchise. While no project out there is immune to criticism, it is obvious that Headland’s show got the shortest end of the stick. The show was criticized by many for being too ‘woke.’
Speaking to The New York Times about the show, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy stated,
Operating within these giant franchises now, with social media and the level of expectation — it’s terrifying. I think Leslye has struggled a little bit with it. I think a lot of the women who step into ‘Star Wars’ struggle with this a bit more. Because of the fan base being so male dominated, they sometimes get attacked in ways that can be quite personal.
And while Headland knows the frustration of the fans, she stated,
I stand by my empathy for Star Wars fans. But I want to be clear. Anyone who engages in bigotry, racism or hate speech … I don’t consider a fan.
The Acolyte made history by being the first show in the franchise to be created by a woman. Unfortunately, the show has been subjected to a lot of hate online and a lot of it seems to be for all the wrong reasons. Since there are still a few episodes to go before season one comes to an end, perhaps fans will change their opinion about the show soon.
You can stream The Acolyte on Disney+
