User Reviews

It is the cheapest plot and botched one-liners you can afford. I've always complained about scripts having to go through too many levels approval, maybe this one didn't have enough. I would give 1 star, but Lee Jung-jae carried.

It's seriously a shame to see such a massive opportunity be thrown to the dogs. Viewers, not just fans, have been curious about this period since the prequels.

As far as the political bend, the main issue is just that it seems to be the only point. Because there's nothing of tangible value in the show, the only thing left standing is a big virtue signal which is just not entertaining in the least.

I'll keep it short because it's pretty much all in the title. Slogged my way through the first two episodes, but I'm going to let this one go. It just wasn't engaging me at all. Too many things felt amateurish, and something about the tone of the whole production is way off and feels genuinely like a CW show...and not one of the few good ones. It just doesn't have that Star Wars flavor or spirit or something.

Well, I guess I'm required to write more to submit so I'll do that. Costumes look cheap and strange, the world felt too bright, writing was often juvenile and/or poorly phrased, cast is all very young which reveals their target audience for this one, which does seem to be the CW demographic, so there ya have it.

Quite literally the worst Star Wars project since the Holiday Special. It actively changes the Star Wars universe, the nature of the Force, and all of the canon that has come before. It's straight garbage, written by people with no respect for the franchise, and directed by people with no capability of creating a TV show. It's profoundly senseless.

Poorly written, poorly acted, poorly edited, and poorly paced. The entire show appears to be little more than a vanity project full of self-inserts rather than real characters. The decisions made by the characters don't make sense and break immersion constantly. The concepts introduced seem to be little more than whims, with no reasoning behind them and no explanation as to why they don't line up with franchise canon.

The idea behind the story may be decent, but the writer/showrunner is far too vain and inept to give it a proper attempt.

So this is the first entry into the Disney Star Wars Universe from L. Headland. I have not seen her prior Russian Dolls show but have heard good things. I am an original series kid so I was around for the prequels which were panned, however enjoyed some of the recent series (Andor, The Mandalorian). Unfortunately, this is a rather large step down, in both story and acting. Something about this show feels rushed, be it the laughable dialogue from the main antagonist, to the monotone characters of the "High Republic", which leads to an uninteresting final product. The sound design is always top notch with Star Wars and this series is no exception. I don't enjoy the path this I. P. is taking, and maybe that is the point from the creators: deconstruction. Though I agree with a recent interview from the writer of Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin, which to roughly paraphrase, states that changing the story/lore is never the benefit the showrunners think it will be, and almost always a negative. I believe that holds true in this case as well.

Episode 1 was hard to watch. Writing on this series so far is at the CW level, and toward the low end of that. The casting, or miscasting perhaps, is baffling. The lead looks too young for the character she portrays, and lacks seriously in presence. The character isn't interesting to boot. What was the thinking behind assigning her this acting task? Other characters suffer from the same mismatch problems. It's as if the characters and their actors were drawn out of a hat.

Onto other issues. Dialog is clunky. As an example during a fight, one character asks another why they are there. Answer: to kill you. If killing with excess cringe were STAR WARS canon, this would be a dangerous weapon for THE ACOLYTE.

Kung-fu action is another main theme for this series. Why? It doesn't look like STAR WARS. Could we get some explanation why the fighting style is suddenly front and center?

In sum, THE ACOLYTE is a poorly written mess out the gate, and it suffers from an apparent general lack of understanding in regard to the STAR WARS universe. Overall showrunning on this one is poor.

What have you done Disney??!!

The lack of diversity in this show is abundant to see, you have clearly targeted a community who have no interest in the show and your loyal followers have not been engaged whatsoever.

Disney really needs to rethink the direction in which Star Wars is going here before it becomes too late. Star Wars fans are slowly starting to turn their back on the enterprise as a whole!

The show demonstrates the visual affects can be achieved to a high standard, which is a shame because a decent director could have made something special here! Please please go back to the drawing board Disney and have a long hard look in the mirror.

I'm a huge star wars fan and I can already tell whoever created this has no respect for the Star Wars Universe. Who said the Jedi only pull their weapons when ready to kill ? And if this girl is Sith than she is dumb to just approach one on a bar. This director us obviously misinformed and doesn't know anything about Star Wars. This show will ruin everything if it continues. It needs to be canceled. I have to write so many words to explain my distaste for this show so I will provide more. The characters are weak and none of them show Jedi traits. Let's just bring back the cartoons so we can see how Star Wars is supposed to be done.

Star Wars fans are the worst. These reviews are a great example.

I'm about 50 years old and grew up with Star Wars. Disney has done some great things with Star Wars (Mandalorian, Andor, Rogue One) and they have made complete abominations (entire sequel series). The sequel series was so bad, there's just no redeeming it. Perhaps they can make it a fever dream Luke had or something I don't know. But I can't even bring myself to watch them. That said, I am by no means a Disney apologizer, but when it comes to this series, these reviews are so far off the mark. Perhaps it's pent-up rage for the total misses Disney has made in the past. One of the arguments for example is that there hasn't been a single white male in the series so far. Really? You've got to be kidding me.

This Acolyte has promise. The production value is fantastic. I even noticed the cut scenes reminded me of the original trilogy. The story is different and interesting. The pacing might be a little slower, but so was the fantastic series Andor. It takes place 100 years before the rise of the Empire called the High Republic, so we get to see different Jedi Masters, costumes, ships, and droids.

My recommendation? Don't let others tell you how to feel about this new series. Give it a try. I'm enjoying it so far.

I found it boring I think the concept is cool. But honestly i think I'm just burnt out on Star Wars to many spin offs. Kind of reminds me of mando season three it looked good at first but it's not as great. I found the characters too fine but very forgettable. Assassin lad is pretty cool and the Jedi were also pretty cool but overall just boring. I don't hate Star Wars, but maybe it's time for me to start looking for new stuff to watch. Honestly, Star Wars has kind of become mid. It's not as good as it used to be. I think if you're a big Star Wars fan like this show but I can't force myself to like it.

I'll set the tone for this review: in the first ten minutes of episode 1, the lead character used an extinguisher to put out a fire... in the vacuum of space.

Yes, the writing is that imbecilic, and there's no signs of it improving by the end of episode 2. The problem with dumb writers is that you get dumb characters. That's how the story progresses, characters making bad assumptions and poor judgments which become devices to drive the plot forwards.

The series really doesn't feel as though it is part of the Star Wars franchise. The producers seem to smitten with the Matrix, not George Lucas' legacy.

If you have expectations of a low budget sci-fi king fu show that feels like fan fiction created by 13 year olds, you won't be disappointed.

The other notable observation I had was that all the characters feel so revoltingly weak. They exhude incompetence. They are soft, squishy, useless people with zero gravitas, authority or nobility. If it were a series about hairdressers, fine. But as Jedi knights and force wielding assassins, a hard "no".

The sole purpose of this series seems to be one giant DEI reach-around for the identity politics crowd. I've been a Star Wars fan since watching episode 4 in the cinema as a kid. I even thought Ashoka was okay. This is the end of the line for me.

I liked the first two available episodes very much. I'm a hardcore fan of Star Wars, am 56yrs old and grew up with the stories, the magic and the amazing universe around it. Of course Disney could not reproduce the incredible "surprise and innovation" effect of the late 70ies when this whole fantastic saga took off, but they're producing good entertainment.

Acolyte is a new product with fresh young faces, the story is set in a time we had not seen before and all in all it's entertaining and really well made. What is the problem with all the bad ratings ?? I think the SW fanbase is just getting more and more fundamentalist and purist, always moaning and always crying how bad whatever new Star Wars title is.

William Shatner from Star Trek once said to his fans: get a life ! Indeed ! Try to find the kid in you again, enjoy the franchise, embrace the new stories, give it room and space to grow. Jeeez, it's really annoying reading some of the comments here. Get real. Take it as it is. Entertainment. It's not life. I am amazed at the level of sometimes irrational rage here. May the Force, wisdom and rationale be with all of you, always.

Who is this for? This is not Star Wars! This looks like an AI generated script specifically made just to divide the fans and destroy the legacy of Star Wars.

Its like the South Park parody was not parody but what actually takes place at Disney when coming up with these series.

Andor was the only good series made in the Star Wars universe. Even Mandalorian which started off good the geniuses at Disney found a way to destroy it.

Well I am not watching any more. Lets see who lasts longer. The fans who have access to decades of good television or an out of touch corporation bleeding money left and right!

Well good luck with that!

There are a two positive traits here. The production value is (mostly) high, and as always with star wars the sound design and music score is great.

Sadly the money spent on making this (mostly) look and sound good is also the only positives.

From the very start the dialogue is so cringe inducing I was almost throwing up. This feels like it has been written by a 9yo fangirl of Darth Kennedy. Some tiny little girl, filled with hatred of star wars and loathing of Star Wars fans, became the acolyte of Kathleen Kennedy and was then given hundreds of millions to put her incoherent thoughts down as a TV show. That is what this feels like.

The story, as far is there is one, is likewise confusing and make little to no sense. The acting is so poor I can only deduce they found these "actors" (I use the term very loosely) in a parking lot at KFC.

And on this show we get a fire in space. Yes, so that happened...

This is so bad, so badly done, so badly acted, so cringe, that when you see this surrounded by high production value your brain goes tilt. There is a disconnect and weird feeling coming over you. How did this become made? And who green-lit throwing this much money at someones hateful school play?

I give an extra point for the production value and sound design, plus I could not help myself laughing at the bad acting and cringe dialogue. And laughter is always nice. But 2/10 do feel like a too high score.

This is really bad TV, with the worst acting ever seen on this level. If you like star wars, stay away from this disaster. And if you do watch leave your cringe-o-meter at home because it will explode.

To keep the review simple, the characters' behavior and the story they try to tell in these first two episodes feel bland. It feels as if it would be a sketch done by a pre-teen redrawn together by great visual artists.

The show does look and feel great. The environment is well put together as is the CGI.

Events seem to happen somewhat randomly only to forcefully push the story forward or to trigger some sort of emotion without any particular setup or explanation.

The characters feel like they would be part of the Jedi world, but they behave so poorly as trained Jedi masters.

On the other hand, it could be a story about how the Jedi order has been slacking and degrading due to them having taken over the galaxy and being in control for so long at the point in time where the show takes place.

But I doubt they thought so far considering what we've seen in these first two episodes. Let's see the rest of the show.

Leslye Headland is absolutely spot on. Our whole perception of Star Wars has been incredibly off-mark. To think we cherished it as a saga that masterfully wove together elements of myth, complex morality, and the timeless struggle of light against darkness, within an expansive, meticulously crafted universe. How utterly quaint of us! It seems we've been utterly blind to its true essence: an intergalactic teenage fanfiction, brimming with self-insert characters who gallivant across the stars, unburdened by depth or growth.

Why bother with the intricate dance of politics, the philosophical ponderings on the nature of power and responsibility, or the nuanced portrayal of humanity (and alien-ity) in all its complexity? Why invest in crafting a story that explores the delicate balances of the Force, when it's much simpler to pen down a universe that caters to the whims of adolescent fantasy? Forget the painstakingly constructed lore, the epic narratives that span generations, and the careful character development that has inspired millions across the globe. No, no, let's just reduce it all to a cosmic-scale teenage diary entry. After all, what value do themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the enduring hope in the face of overwhelming darkness have, when you can have your very own cosmic soap opera? Bravo, Leslye. Bravo.

While "Star Wars: The Acolyte" has been a highly anticipated addition to the Star Wars universe, the first two episodes have unfortunately fallen short of expectations for some viewers. Here's a critical take on the series thus far:

The Acolyte: A Missed Opportunity in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

From the onset, "The Acolyte" promised a fresh perspective, set a century before the events of "The Phantom Menace" and delving into the unexplored High Republic era. However, the series has so far delivered a narrative that feels all too familiar, echoing the same beats and tropes that have been well-trodden by its predecessors.

The opening episodes introduce us to a galaxy in turmoil, with a mysterious figure targeting Jedi masters. While the premise is intriguing, the execution lacks the innovation and depth that could have set "The Acolyte" apart. The series, created and written by Leslye Headland, who also directed the first two episodes, stars a diverse and talented cast including Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae. Yet, their performances are hindered by a script that struggles to find its unique voice within the Star Wars canon.

Critics have pointed out that the show's cinematography and dialogue often feel uneven, failing to match the initial excitement generated by its action-packed opening scene3. The fight choreography, while impressive, doesn't compensate for the lack of tension and stakes that are essential for a darker Star Wars tale.

Looking ahead to the third episode, there is a promise of deepening the mystery with Mae's vendetta against the Jedi and the introduction of a Wookiee Jedi named Kelnacca4. However, there's a growing concern that "The Acolyte" may continue to rely on familiar storytelling patterns, potentially leading to a predictable and uninspiring continuation of the saga.

In conclusion, while "The Acolyte" boasts an excellent cast and a premise ripe for exploration, it needs to break free from the shadow of the Skywalker saga and chart its own course. Otherwise, it risks being remembered as a mere echo of the stories that came before, rather than a standout chapter in the expansive Star Wars narrative.

Production values closer to Andor than Obi-Wan this series works a good standalone project that doesn't require a load of fan service connections to enjoy. This is first live action attempt in the Disney era that is removed from the Skywalker Era and it's a refreshing to watch a Star Wars story that doesn't need a "I remember him" moment to cary the story.

The first two episodes are a slow burn, so I'll reserve final judgment when the entire series is over, but it's excellent start and something different from the normal Star Wars fair. I suspect Star Wars who aren't obsessed with politics will enjoy it.

If you saw South Park's Joining the Panderverse episode, then there's really nothing else that I can add here. They already pretty much nailed it months before The Acolyte even aired. And if you haven't, then watch that instead of The Acolyte. Trust me, you'll miss none of the main hook of The Acolyte and have way more fun at the same time.

This is just every lazy, over used, cliché, put a chick in it and make her lame diversity box ticking exercise you can think of, all at the cost of anything close to half competent writing, or heaven's forbid, some decent plot and character development. It is that blatant, it's actually the stereotype of the stereotype. If it weren't so tragically mundane and predictable, that would actually be quite an achievement in itself.

Disney's latest foray into the Star Wars saga, "The Acolyte," is a disappointing addition that fails to live up to its potential. Despite its ambitious premise, the series stumbles in almost every aspect, making it a frustrating watch as a Star wars fan.

First and foremost, the storytelling in "The Acolyte" is a mess. The plot feels disjointed and poorly paced, with episodes dragging on without meaningful progression. Instead of building a cohesive narrative, the series opts for a convoluted storyline that leaves you more confused than intrigued. The characters, who should be the heart of any Star Wars story, are underdeveloped and lack depth. Their motivations while clear, however their actions often seem inexplicable, making it hard to care about their fates. Just aweful.

The dialogue is another major issue. It's riddled with clichés and uninspired lines that fail to capture the epic feel of the Star Wars universe. Moments that should be filled with tension and drama instead come across as flat and lifeless. The series also tries to inject humor inappropriately, breaking any semblance of immersion.

Visually, "The Acolyte" is a mixed bag. While some of the special effects are impressive, they can't compensate for the lackluster set designs and uninspired cinematography. The series does little to explore new and exciting worlds, instead rehashing familiar settings without adding anything fresh or innovative. Worse still, the entire production feels like a low-budget endeavor. The costumes look cheap, the practical effects are lackluster, and many scenes lack the polish one would expect from a major franchise like Star Wars.

The cast, despite their best efforts, struggle with the material they are given. Talented actors are wasted on poorly written characters and uninspired dialogue, resulting in performances that feel wooden and unengaging. The chemistry between the leads is virtually nonexistent, further diminishing the series' emotional impact.

In conclusion, "The Acolyte" is a missed opportunity for Disney and the Star Wars franchise. It lacks the compelling narrative, strong characters, and captivating visuals that fans have come to expect. Instead of expanding the Star Wars universe in meaningful ways, it feels like a hollow, forgettable addition. The low-budget feel only exacerbates its shortcomings, making it hard to recommend "The Acolyte." Save your time and look elsewhere for your sci-fi fix.

I read the user reviews. I read the critics. I knew what i was getting myself into, and i still watched the first two episodes of the Acolyte. Sigh.

So much potential, terribly executed. I read so many comments comparing it to "fan films", and honestly, that's the best description. It was amateurish at best. Stale.

The writing is bad. The directing is bad. The acting is flat. What is the obsession with flat, emotionless Jedi?!? Being in control of your emotions doesn't mean you're emotionless!

I'll probably try to finish the series. But it will take effort. The Acolyte is marginally better than BoBF. Marginally. But that's not a high bar.

But i haven't been this frustrated with a Disney production since they butchered Willow.

With all the great stories and all the great storytellers who LOVE Star Wars and its lore, why in the world would they entrust it to a talentless hack like Leslye Headland?!

I can find the good in almost any series. I even enjoyed She-Hulk (i think most people just didn't get the joke). But i have yet to see anything engaging, compelling, or competent in The Acolyte.

This is by far the most juvenile and boring Star Wars show ever. The story felt like it was written by a teenager for kids. Disney really should have stopped at Obi Wan and quit. The acting and casting are just obviously amateurish. And the showed started with Kung fu fighting like in the matrix and that is just a new low for Star Wars stories. The casting of the lead actress felt really forced. The story is made up of old and tired cliches. It is nothing more than a murder show involving Jedi and space stuff. It is hard to finish the first episode and I will pass on the subsequent episodes as I got better things to do such as talking to my cat.

1-2 episodes are absolutely boring and not fun to watch.

I wanted to give The Acolyte a chance because I'm interested in the high republic. After I saw the 1-2 episodes, I couldn't believe what I was watching... A fan film? Probably. And this is supposed to be one of the most expensive Star Wars series? I just don't know why Disney has to destroy everything. I don't know what else is supposed to happen that the series will pick me up, it's just not fun. I just hope it gets better, otherwise it will be the worst Star Wars series of all time... unfortunately. The only good character was Master Sol, the others are incredibly uninteresting.

2/10.

It's not perfect, but, y'know, not everything is. There's a lot of really cool work going on; love the characters (though Vernestra feels.. off). Gorgeous show, entertaining mystery, wonderful vibes. There's some editing weirdness. Some really cool EU pulls. Really great costuming and set work, and some real cool ships. Really interested in Sol, and I'm really interested to see where they go with the Sith in this stuff. There's a bit of stilted dialogue, but overall it comes together and works really well, at least for me.

I literally have no idea what some of these reviewers are talking about.