SPOILER: The Acolyte -- Disney+ Star Wars -- begins June 5, 2024

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Ok, but that seems consistent with what we knew from the original trilogy (I elaborate below)

Were they really wise/powerful space wizards though? Sure they were stoic and they had some great new age philosophy one liners…but they were hunted to extinction— which to me has always suggested that they were either not so bright or not so great at strategy. We were exposed to the crafty remnant that somehow survived, not the replacement level Jedi— easy to imagine how a bunch of Yords, Dookus, et al. were able to be defeated by a handful of cunning Sith (who are also a bit keystone coppy, TBH).

I think most SW fans enjoy at least some of the recent stuff (Andor, Mando, BoBF, Ashoka, Acolyte) and many of us really like some of it but don’t care for other recent stuff at all. I think the SW universe is big enough to offer different things to different fan bases and I’d rather get some good, some decent, some garbage than nothing at all or only stuff that’s so safe it doesn’t risk offending anyone ever. Do you have any evidence for the claim that “that merch didn’t really do all that well” for the Mandalorian series? I see Grogu/Mando stuff everywhere in the U.S. parks (being worn/carried more than I see it being sold) and a decent smattering of Ashoka stuff as well. I think I’ve seen more merch for both shows individually than I have for anything from the prequels collectively…though Darth Vader appears to be the king of merch based on prevalence in the parks, followed by a combination of Leia/Han/Chewbacca/Yoda/Rey/KyloRen (specific order seems to vary by day/season/event).

I think the hunt to extinction needed to be far more intelligent than what they portrayed to be true to the mythos

That’s George’s fault…to try to keep everything in some 1980 misguided focus on merchandising

Disney has unfortunately run with that.

Jedi shows up, flash of light, dead. Over and over again. They just killed the most interesting one of the new show with some bizarre “hidden knife trick”.

It’s so low mental rent.


As far as product goes. I’ve said a few times that I have some longterm buds who work for a major…probably the major…producer of licensed LFL product.

The old stuff sells…the Disney stuff has almost ZERO demand in comparison. The prequel stuff has very little draw.

The material just was never that compelling.

 

[C33Mom]

I think the hunt to extinction needed to be far more intelligent than what they portrayed to be true to the mythos

That’s George’s fault…to try to keep everything in some 1980 misguided focus on merchandising

Disney has unfortunately run with that.

Jedi shows up, flash of light, dead. Over and over again. They just killed the most interesting one of the new show with some bizarre “hidden knife trick”.

It’s so low mental rent.

For the record, I completely agree with you that the “hunt to extinction” and a lot of specifics of the downfall of the Jedi order should have been done much better and I really don’t have much positive to say for the prequels, though I think Lucas nailed the politics of the rise of totalitarian fascism (even if he screwed up the acting and dialogue).

It seems that with most of the TV series they put even less effort into making us want to connect with the main characters before randomly killing them off….and when they do spend time on character development (Obi Wan, Boba Fett, Sabine), it often made me like them less.

On a lighter note, I absolutely love watching most of the Lego Star Wars stuff with my kids.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

For the record, I completely agree with you that the “hunt to extinction” and a lot of specifics of the downfall of the Jedi order should have been done much better and I really don’t have much positive to say for the prequels, though I think Lucas nailed the politics of the rise of totalitarian fascism (even if he screwed up the acting and dialogue).

It seems that with most of the TV series they put even less effort into making us want to connect with the main characters before randomly killing them off….and when they do spend time on character development (Obi Wan, Boba Fett, Sabine), it often made me like them less.

On a lighter note, I absolutely love watching most of the Lego Star Wars stuff with my kids.

The problem with limited series is that they have no time for character development

Combine that with the game of thrones driven “shock and awe” moments and this is what you get.

You don’t care…they do death designed to get talk on tiktok or muskchat…
It has no soul.

Star Wars really belongs in theaters. That’s my takeaway

 

[Phroobar]

The problem with limited series is that they have no time for character development

Combine that with the game of thrones driven “shock and awe” moments and this is what you get.

You don’t care…they do death designed to get talk on tiktok or muskchat…
It has no soul.

Star Wars really belongs in theaters. That’s my takeaway

They have four to eight hours to come up with character development in these types of shows. Movies are only two hours or so. Movies make character development in ten to twenty minutes. Why do these things have to drudge on?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

They have four to eight hours to come up with character development in these types of shows. Movies are only two hours or so. Movies make character development in ten to twenty minutes. Why do these things have to drudge on?

Movies follow a set structure that has been proven over a 100 years

Now granted Hollywood sucks at it now…but I digress

 

[sedati]

Just found out the professional knicker-twisters took issue with the saber haircut. My own reaction to that scene was glee at the fact that they finally found a way to fit a tried-and-true fantasy trope and make it Star Wars.

Is it a good disguise, probably not. So many of the complainers about SUbvErTinG EXpecTatiONs take everything so literally and lack the patience to see how things pan out. Also, didn't they have an actual FUNERAL FOR STAR WARS? Why are they not only still watching, but watching so fast and posting so immediately that after my viewing YouTube was already smeared with dozens of their excretions (granted, most are just immediately posting a live reaction with chat (and super-chats) but it seems too fast to have made their goofy little thumbnails in time (unless they were made before hand)

I try to avoid spoilers and avoid any reactions until I can watch the show. Mentally, I always sort of tell myself, "I'm about to watch a new Star Wars" which, as someone who remembers all the dark times when there was no new Star Wars, gets me excited and puts me into the headspace of the child who first saw the original film on its original release (I was four- it's literally my oldest memory). This is why I like the little opening fanfare they created for the shows as it gives us a moment to prepare by recognizing the old, the new, and what's to come.

If watching alone, I'll try first to talk with friends and there are a few reactors I'll watch during the week and yes, they are mostly positive. Easter-egg videos are the best as they will round out the experience with details and deep lore (it's also fun when I know something they didn't or even catch a mistake.) Sites like this and other social media is where the negativity eventually seeps in.

I've watched all the live-action shows two or more times and consistently enjoy them more and more each time. What surprises me is that while I'll recognize the weaknesses, I often find that the negative discourse has successfully affected my own perception and I'm shocked at how overblown the issues are- usually just a fraction of the overall content and never enough to spoil the whole. What I usually gain is a better appreciation for the craft, little details, world-building, and long-form storytelling.

That's how I watch. How about you?

 

[HoustonHorn]

Did this look cooler in show?

No - it looked just as stupid in the show as it did in the clip.

 

[sedati]

The problem with limited series is that they have no time for character development

Combine that with the game of thrones driven “shock and awe” moments and this is what you get.

You don’t care…they do death designed to get talk on tiktok or muskchat…
It has no soul.

Star Wars really belongs in theaters. That’s my takeaway

YES! A limited series between four and six hours is no time to develop character, but a two hour movie- chefs kiss!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Just found out the professional knicker-twisters took issue with the saber haircut. My own reaction to that scene was glee at the fact that they finally found a way to fit a tried-and-true fantasy trope and make it Star Wars.

Is it a good disguise, probably not. So many of the complainers about SUbvErTinG EXpecTatiONs take everything so literally and lack the patience to see how things pan out. Also, didn't they have an actual FUNERAL FOR STAR WARS? Why are they not only still watching, but watching so fast and posting so immediately that after my viewing YouTube was already smeared with dozens of their excretions (granted, most are just immediately posting a live reaction with chat (and super-chats) but it seems too fast to have made their goofy little thumbnails in time (unless they were made before hand)

I try to avoid spoilers and avoid any reactions until I can watch the show. Mentally, I always sort of tell myself, "I'm about to watch a new Star Wars" which, as someone who remembers all the dark times when there was no new Star Wars, gets me excited and puts me into the headspace of the child who first saw the original film on its original release (I was four- it's literally my oldest memory). This is why I like the little opening fanfare they created for the shows as it gives us a moment to prepare by recognizing the old, the new, and what's to come.

If watching alone, I'll try first to talk with friends and there are a few reactors I'll watch during the week and yes, they are mostly positive. Easter-egg videos are the best as they will round out the experience with details and deep lore (it's also fun when I know something they didn't or even catch a mistake.) Sites like this and other social media is where the negativity eventually seeps in.

I've watched all the live-action shows two or more times and consistently enjoy them more and more each time. What surprises me is that while I'll recognize the weaknesses, I often find that the negative discourse has successfully affected my own perception and I'm shocked at how overblown the issues are- usually just a fraction of the overall content and never enough to spoil the whole. What I usually gain is a better appreciation for the craft, little details, world-building, and long-form storytelling.

That's how I watch. How about you?

The haircut wasn’t the problem

The 101% STUPID parent trap switcheroo was.

Way to go for shiny object on the bottom of the tree

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

YES! A limited series between four and six hours is no time to develop character, but a two hour movie- chefs kiss!

Then why can’t they pull it off?

 

[Disney Irish]

The haircut wasn’t the problem

The 101% STUPID parent trap switcheroo was.

Way to go for shiny object on the bottom of the tree

Come on, they're twins, you knew there was going to be a Parent Trap type moment at some point.

My guess is that Sol saw through it and is just luring Mae into a trap.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Come on, they're twins, you knew there was going to be a Parent Trap type moment at some point.

My guess is that Sol saw through it and is just luring Mae into a trap.

Even if I did…I can’t condone it.

 

[Disney Irish]

Even if I did…I can’t condone it.

Its a twin trope, just like one twin being good while the other is evil, even if you don't condone it it was inevitable.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Its a twin trope, just like one twin being good while the other is evil, even if you don't condone it it was inevitable.

And still dumb…but common

Nobody honeslty ever mistakes a twin for another after about 2 seconds

If I have to suspend disbelief…I’d rather I’d be for something more consequential

 

[C33Mom]

Come on, they're twins, you knew there was going to be a Parent Trap type moment at some point.

My guess is that Sol saw through it and is just luring Mae into a trap.

I just don’t see Sol as being capable of leaving Osha behind on purpose.

I personally think it’s interesting that we’re not sure if Mae is deranged-stalker-twin evil, garden variety Sith evil, or maybe (unlikely?) just a devoted daughter and sister who got framed by Jedi. They have absolutely hinted at all three being possible, and my overall satisfaction with the series will be determined by whether or not they can resolve it coherently.

 

[erasure fan1]

I think most SW fans enjoy at least some of the recent stuff (Andor, Mando, BoBF, Ashoka, Acolyte) and many of us really like some of it but don’t care for other recent stuff at all. I think the SW universe is big enough to offer different things to different fan bases and I’d rather get some good, some decent, some garbage than nothing at all or only stuff that’s so safe it doesn’t risk offending anyone ever.

Oh I agree. My response was to the fans wouldn't want star wars to go on hiatus because of the merch aspect. My point was if star wars movies and tv stopped tomorrow, it really wouldn't affect the merch sales.

Do you have any evidence for the claim that “that merch didn’t really do all that well” for the Mandalorian series? I see Grogu/Mando stuff everywhere in the U.S. parks (being worn/carried more than I see it being sold) and a decent smattering of Ashoka stuff as well. I think I’ve seen more merch for both shows individually than I have for anything from the prequels collectively…though Darth Vader appears to be the king of merch based on prevalence in the parks, followed by a combination of Leia/Han/Chewbacca/Yoda/Rey/KyloRen (specific order seems to vary by day/season/event).

Yes I mentioned Mando as the one show that's had a big merchandise presence. I don't really have evidence, just going off what I see. I've collected toys since around 93', so I've spent more time in all types of stores than I care to admit. Lol

So my totally unscientific observation, the demand just isn't as high. I see lots of OT still demanded. But outside of Mando, nothing under Disney films and shows has been in the mainstream. You also mentioned Ashoka, but she's a hold over of the prequels. She was extremely popular well before Disney. Stores aren't really stocking much from Disney either. Sure you can go online and find it, but if it's really moving, store are going to have it at brick and mortar. See Grogu.

 

[Phroobar]

My family keeps buying me baby Yoda stuff since that is all there ever is in the stores. I'd never buy that myself.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

My family keeps buying me baby Yoda stuff since that is all there ever is in the stores. I'd never buy that myself.

…I snuggle with my Wicket Plushie

 

[erasure fan1]

…I snuggle with my Wicket Plushie

You might joke, but I have one on my star wars shelf in my bedroom. Lol

 

[Phroobar]

You might joke, but I have one on my star wars shelf in my bedroom. Lol

I was once given this