“Star Wars,” it’s one of the greatest sci-fi franchises of all time. If one were to make a Mount Rushmore of sci-fi movies, both it and “Star Trek” would have to be up there, no question and no debate about it. It’s just that iconic and that beloved. As a result of this the franchise has had numerous movies, TV shows, video games and what have you based around the universe though most of them take place either during the time of the so-called galactic empire, a couple of decades before or a couple of decades focusing on the Skywalker family. With a few exceptions almost every work of “Star Wars” takes place around these three eras. That is beginning to change. From “Star Wars: The Old Republic” still going strong too “The Mandalorian” taking the focus off the Jedi and Sith for a bit. And now we have a entry into the franchise also taking a chance on an untested formula … Enter “The Acolyte.”
“The Acolyte” which dropped on Disney+ on June 4 takes place during the so-called High Republic, a would-be golden age of the galaxy, there is no Galactic Empire to oppress the population and no great war between droids and clones. Rather, things are more or less quiet and peaceful overseen by the knights of the Jedi Order. That is until a mysterious force-sensitive assassin murders a Jedi master in a bar. Fearing that this is only the beginning, Jedi master Sol is tasked with investigating the quickly expanding body count. In order to do so he recruits his former Padawan Osha, a young woman almost as mysterious as the assassin who she calls sister, having been saved by Sol when she was a little girl only to drop out of the Jedi Order as she came of age. Now, the former master and apprentice will have to look into the past in order to save the future as unknown to anyone in the Order. Someone much more powerful than a simple assassin is watching from the shadows with sights set on vengeance and plunging the galaxy into darkness.
The series stars Amandla Stenberg known for roles in such projects as “The Hunger Games,” “Sleepy Hollow” and “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies.” She has been pulling double duty as both Osha as well as her twin sister Mae, the apparent titular Acolyte who blames the Jedi for the death of the Force witch coven that the girls were born into. Lee Jung-jae known best for his starring role in “Squid Games” stars as the Jedi master Sol, Osha’s former master who met the twins first when they were young girls and himself a young knight and is obsessed with saving and redeeming Mae. Charlie Barnett, known for roles in the likes of “Russian Doll” and “You,” stars as Yord Fandar, a by the books and somewhat air-headed Jedi knight and former friend of Osha. Dafnee Keen perhaps best known for playing Laurie in “Logan” plays the part of Jecki Lon the current apprentice of master Sol a skilled and logical young woman who assists Sol and the others in their mission. Rebecca Henderson, known for roles in the likes of “Mickey and the Bear” and “Russian Doll” appears as master Vernestra Rwoh, a senior member of the Jedi Order, Sol’s friend and almost mentor at times and a major character in the High Republic novels. Manny Jacinto, known for roles in works such as “Bad Times at the El Royale” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” stars as Qimir a seeming lowly smuggler and ally to Mae who is more than he lets on. Jodie Turner-Smith, known for roles in “The Last Ship” and “Nightflyers,” appears as Mother Aniseya, the leader of a coven of Force witches and the mother of Mae and Osha. Carrie Ann Moss, well known for playing Trinity in the “Matrix” series, plays the part of Master Indara, an experienced and incredibly skilled Jedi master who was there when Sol rescued Osha the night their mother died.
Now what to say of this show? It was good, far better than the internet would lead you to believe and trust me I have strong feelings on that. Regardless, the show is actually good, the fight scenes are phenomenal, the performances, namely from Jung-jae are great and the story is also pretty good. However, it is not without its issues. It starts off pretty darn slow and claims to be a murder mystery yet there isn’t much mystery to the murder as the audience knows from the beginning who did it. The writing of the characters is a bit wonky at times and the ending to the series doesn’t feel like an ending. Character arcs feel incomplete and it was just very odd. Much like with “Ahsoka” it seems like their teasing a season two despite the fact no one acted or talked like this was ever the plan. Regardless it was a good show, I give it six torches out of 10. I recommend it.
