Here at FandomWire, we review the new Disney+ Star Wars saga The Acolyte. This article does not contain significant spoilers.
While many have openly complained that Disney has ruined Star Wars and Marvel franchises with event-streaming series, I’m not one of them as of late. In fact, with the magnetic and compelling Ahsoka that came out last year, they are on a roll with The Acolyte, a stunning and captivating new chapter in the Star Wars saga.
By the time the fourth episode brings the rising action that wrenches up the tension and suspense to new levels, you have numerous badass lightsaber battles, galactic battlefields, a jaw-dropping introduction to one of the series’ best new villains, and, of course, who doesn’t love a Jedi Wookiee who wields the Force like the back of their scruffy hands?
Not to mention the birth of female action heroines for which Disney does not get enough credit. These characters have begun to redefine the genre’s strength and resilience with a spectacle of unyielding courage and skill on the streaming screen that is unmatched. The Acolyte is the best Star Wars streaming television event since The Mandalorian.
Disney+’s The Acolyte Season 1 Review and Synopsis
The story of The Acolyte follows a young woman named Osha (Amandla Stenberg), who has been accused of murdering a Jedi in one of the dusty galactic dive bars in a galaxy far, far away. Osha, who was once a thriving student at the Jedi Academy, was working as a mechanic (pronounced “mech-nic” on the show) on a cargo ship at the time.
Her friend and former fellow student, Yord (Charlie Barnett), is sent to bring her home. She is put on a transport ship to Coruscant. However, her former master, Sol (Squid Game’s Lee Jung-jae), who remains a Jedi instructor at the Jedi Academy, doesn’t believe it. Why would a former Padawan learner take a vengeful wrath against the Jedi teachers who molded her?
Sol convinces his Mirialan Jedi Master, Vern (Rebecca Henderson), to let him gather a team to investigate the matter. This team includes Yord and his Padawan, Jecki Jon (Logan’s Dafne Keen, terrific here), to investigate the interstellar crime spree that has the Jedi community on edge. As Sol investigates further, he knows far more than he lets on, and a sinister force is revealed.
Disney+’s The Acolyte is the Best Star Wars Saga Since The Mandalorian!
The next serialized chapter in the Star Wars saga occurs sometime around the High Republic era, about a century before Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace. The series is the creation of Netflix’s Russian Doll’s Leslye Headland, which explains the presence of several key players from Russian Doll in the cast.
Headland wrote the pilot and directed the first two episodes, of which four were made available for critics. The series is expertly plotted and paced, with some built-in natural intrigue that I won’t spoil here. I will say that the series builds to a fourth-episode finale that leaves you on the edge of your seat. It’s cinematic and breathtaking. If Headland knows one thing, it is how to build to a reveal.
The cast is exceptional, with Squid Game’s Lee being the calming, moral center. Headland and her writing team do an excellent job layering flashbacks, revealing the mystery behind why the Acolytes are hunting Jedi. Even though it’s another chapter from a different showrunner, it features trademark stoicism, adorable creatures, breathtaking visuals, and epic lightsaber battles.
Is Disney+’s The Acolyte Worth Watching?
The Acolyte is worth watching because the story builds to a must-see climax each week, which is gripping and leads to a more significant emotional impact than other Star Wars streaming chapters. Additionally, the series boasts a captivating star turn by Amandla Stenberg in a dual role—she delivers a knockout, action-packed performance that is dynamic on screen.
Another reason is the excellent cast, including a deep actors bench. For instance, the opening sequence with Stenberg and The Matrix’s Carrie-Anne Moss sets the tone for the series. Lee Jung-jae also contributes by bringing a raw vulnerability that balances the series. However, any concerns about pacing and tone will be forgotten with the enthralling end to episode four, which is breathtaking.
The first four episodes of The Acolyte are engaging because of the mystery behind the Osha character and the fantastic layered flashbacks that unveil the backstory of Stenberg’s character. The first batch leaves the viewer wanting more, which is a rare quality these days. Along with compelling characters and subplots, this new Star Wars chapter is an exciting addition to the Disney+ catalog.
You can stream the new Disney+ series The Acolyte only on Disney+ Tuesday, June 4th.
8/10
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