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

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I guess we'll find out shortly if it gets a renewal or not...

If it doesn't make a mention at D23, at the very latest, I think that will be affirmation on its fate. I guess it can be pruned without huge harm in the sense that the Felloni-verse is sort of all they have going.

Just more failure

It’s almost intentional at this point

 

[BrianLo]

For the record, I'd be fine if it got renewed. Especially in light of the remaining cast at this juncture. Manny Jacinto did a solid job and I'd like to see the scaffolding of him versus Venestra's fallout.

Not to say a second season needs a bit more quality to it, if they pursue it. But D+ lacks a lot of continuity of seasons. Plus, for all intents and purposes the cast next season would be mostly renewed.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Well they did it, there he is, Darth Pandemic in the flesh... Found a brightened image to get a better look too.

Spoiler

This will probably get a season 2 despite the negativity. They ended on a lot of obvious cliffhangers. Then again, maybe they'll relegate it to something cheaper like an animated show like the Tales series. Or even a comic book, they did that in an attempt (albeit a poor one) to flesh out the backstories for Kylo Ren and Snoke.

Though part of me just thinks they should go ahead and do a proper season 2, but have a stern discussion with the showrunner about where priorities should be focused on and that she should make sure they wrap it up by the finale with no more cliffhanger BS. Or better yet, replace the showrunner entirely.

Qimir and his actor is keeping this show from being a total train wreck. He and the mysteries of his backstory (plus his fight scenes) are much more interesting and satisfying than anyone else.

 

[mf1972]

overall, i thought the show had potential, but ultimately it made me feel boba fett was better. i don’t think i even cared for any of these characters. i did like the “little” cameo at the end.

 

[C33Mom]

I did not find the ending especially satisfying (I won’t elaborate on the particulars here just yet) but I did appreciate the peek at the Sith Master more or less confirming that SmileoRen is the current Sith apprentice.

There were a few twists that didn’t make sense (including a major theme) but a few great scenes as well. I will watch a second season if it’s made…but I might wait to watch it until the season is finished.

 

[MisterPenguin]

This is the SPOILER thread. No need to hold back.

===

Under Filoni, all Star Wars TV shows have been crafted to support the canonical movies, especially how Palpatine somehow came back.

The High Republic books give a prequel prequel leading up to Episode One of the prequel trilogy. The Acolyte comes in between those High Republic books and Episode One. This means, they'll be telling the tragic story of Darth Plagueis and how his pupil killed him. And they'll also be telling the story of how Anakin was born of The Force and how the Jedi wound up believing in the prophecy of The One who will restore balance to the Force.

And over and over again ("it's like poetry, it rhymes") they'll show that under the Rule of Two, the pupil will always secretly train their own pupil so that, together, they can kill the Sith Master.

The witches were able to use The Force to create life. And the life they created was a Dyad. And Dyads have especially strong connection to The Force (which the Palpatine clone was draining in order to heal in Ep 9).

On social media, some have been decrying how this takes away Anakin's specialness. I see it as explaining why he was special.

Funny how some on social media hate that Anakin's creation is now being explained. I remember when in Ep 1, it was revealed Anakin was a 'virgin birth,' how people hated that coming out of the blue and not being explained.

 

[erasure fan1]

Yep. Same old plan.

It played out as many of us thought. A lot of us were hoping they could stick the landing, but a zebra doesn't change its stripes I guess. Aside from not satisfactorily ending the questions of this season, they go and introduce 4 or 5 significant new ones.

I thought the Sol/Qimer fight was pretty good. The show needed more of that. Trying to portray Sol as wrong for killing the witch just didn't work for me. There's a very good argument to be made as to why Sol was right.

Unfortunately this played out very similar to the sequels for me. The first two episodes I had hope, just like force awakens. But by the time it all ended, it just made what I liked retroactively worse. I really don't have a desire for a second season. Just leave it and release a book or a 4 part comic to give the people who want to see how it really ends the chance.

 

[Jedijax719]

Pretty good finale despite a meh series. To me, the finale itself warrants a season 2 even if I didn't see the need coming. With Yoda and Plagueis teased, there becomes a need to continue, but they can flash forward if they wanted to a bit.

 

[flynnibus]

And over and over again ("it's like poetry, it rhymes") they'll show that under the Rule of Two, the pupil will always secretly train their own pupil so that, together, they can kill the Sith Master.

This is the part that I wish the show had hinted on in some way... when we see yet ANOTHER sith hiding... it threw me for a loop because of the rule of two.. that and without more external references the hint of this guy is completely 'huh?' for a show watcher.

Trying to portray Sol as wrong for killing the witch just didn't work for me. There's a very good argument to be made as to why Sol was right.

Because you've been rejecting the show's story the entire time. The Senator's role in this episode solidifies what we've been trying to tell you the last weeks in this thread. The story here is the fallibility of the Jedi as individuals.

That the image of the Jedi as this pure, selfless, white knight of the galaxy isn't as true as they would leave you to believe and there are factions in the republic that see it as a front... Believing the Jedi are "a massive system of unchecked power, posing as a religion, a delusional cult that claims to control the uncontrollable. Your emotions. You project an image of goodness and restraint, but it's only a matter of time before one of you snaps."

The dialog pretty much confirms the premise we've been pointing out here about Sol's character. Additionally, we get the plot twist now that with Vernestra's actions that we see the concern about the Jedi are not just smoke.. but there is corruption and self-preservation going on deep in the leadership too.

Sowing ideas in the audience of how the Jedi are perceived from different POV in the republic and the era. Ideas that help support the agenda that Palpatine uses to support his overthrow of the Jedi and painting them as traitors in RoTS. A notion that never could be accepted by the governed if there isn't distrust of the Jedi's intentions.

That is the exposition in this season. A reveal that unwinds around the Jedi's investigation and handling of the vergence and the twins.

 

[erasure fan1]

Because you've been rejecting the show's story the entire time.

No, I've been rejecting how the story has been told. You just don't want to hear legitimate criticism of the show. I've said numerous times, there's a good story in there. It's just been told poorly in my opinion.

That the image of the Jedi as this pure, selfless, white knight of the galaxy isn't as true as they would leave you to believe and there are factions in the republic that see it as a front...

That's fine, but again, they haven't done a good job telling it. If it's worked for you, great. But this show has landed with a fairly unanimous thud. You can defend it, that's fine. I defended prince of Persia and Solo, heck, I even stick up for the prequels.But I'm not going to pretend the problems people have with them aren't real. At least I can say I liked something while admitting the problems.

The lack of engagement in this thread should tell you all you need to know about how people feel about the show. I've been extremely open minded with it. I've watched every episode at release. I stuck with it untill the end. It has had a lot of questionable choices in my opinion and a whole lot of others opinion as well.

 

[flynnibus]

That's fine, but again, they haven't done a good job telling it. If it's worked for you, great. But this show has landed with a fairly unanimous thud. You can defend it, that's fine. I defended prince of Persia and Solo, heck, I even stick up for the prequels.But I'm not going to pretend the problems people have with them aren't real. At least I can say I liked something while admitting the problems.

I'm not defending it.. I'm countering your critique that basically is calling it failing to be the show YOU think it should be.. instead of the show it was trying to be. You think it should have been the action hunt we saw in ep1 and 2... that's not the show or story they were telling. It's like complaining that a love story movie isn't more of an action film. You don't have to like a love story... but critique that it's a bad action movie when it never tried to be one is dumb.

The lack of engagement in this thread should tell you all you need to know about how people feel about the show.

Largely I see an echo chamber of about 3-4 posters beating the same drum. Repetition doesn't mean its convincing.

If you were actually critical of the story choices or character choices... I'd be more convinced. Instead we get non-sense like arguing that the main movers of the plot should be thrown away because you wanting more of something else... not even central to advancing the story being told. Sorry... not convinced.

 

[flynnibus]

My comments about the finale...

What on earth is the stupid tracker doing and why do people tolerate his randomness. They act like he's some free spirit that shows up and you take advantage of if you can.. instead of an actual asset you keep or a team member. They don't make clear if it's like a dog... or team member. Why does he randomly stick up for mae in the pursuit?

I wish they were more clear on what Vernestra's role really is... earlier it was setup she's more like some Division head.. even like Internal Affairs... yet her she gets to claim shes speaking on behalf of the HC... and we never see any internal tit for tat between her and the HC itself. Is she completely rogue? Where is the HC in this mess? (and no, the final scene with yoda doesn't conclude this for me)

I did't like Osha choke holding Sol to the end. Too abrupt a shift.. while Mae went to mercy... I mean I know the trope they were playing here, but felt contrived and unnatural.

The helmet seems to really focus a force user... yet the stranger voluntarily takes it off mid-fight? meh

Why are all the secondary Jedi Knights played as pretty dorky? Immature, inexperienced even. The hair bobs don't help with that either...

The saber fight sequences certainly take the genre into new places and heights. Tho it probably was a bit too much Matrix'ry at times.

The story line of the self-preservation going on in the Jedi ranks is a side we've not seen in the SW films before so it's cool they are taking further and exploring. I see it like some of the lines in the Bad Batch series... it takes the stories into more grit and realism of humans... instead of pure fantasy.

It was good to finally see a space chase sequence... tho I wasn't all that into it.

I'm not a fan at all of the 'wipe the memory' gimmick.

 

[erasure fan1]

I'm not defending it.. I'm countering your critique that basically is calling it failing to be the show YOU think it should be.. instead of the show it was trying to be. You think it should have been the action hunt we saw in ep1 and 2... that's not the show or story they were telling. It's like complaining that a love story movie isn't more of an action film. You don't have to like a love story... but critique that it's a bad action movie when it never tried to be one is dumb.


Largely I see an echo chamber of about 3-4 posters beating the same drum. Repetition doesn't mean it's convincing.

Sorry but you are 100% defending it. Obviously you think I have some hidden agenda, that's fine, you're in good company on this site. But since what I've said is so wrong, what are these amazing storytelling points? Since of course you wouldn't answer last time. And saying it could use more action like the Sol/Qimere fight in no way means I want a pure action show.

Yea, it wasn't the show I hoped it would be. What I see is a lot of people giving valid issues with the show and the same group trying to deny the issues.

If you were actually critical of the story choices or character choices... I'd be more convinced. Instead we get non-sense like arguing that the main movers of the plot should be thrown away because you wanting more of something else...

Lol, that's exactly what I've done. How is saying that making Sol the bad guy when they clearly show he did what he did because, dark side force witch turns into smoke monster and starts to disintegrate kid. Or ep7 would have been better if they relegated the flashback to the new information that we didn't see in ep3 and focus the rest of the episode on moving some of the other things forward. Instead of giving us half an episode that we've already seen? Or how with extremely short episodes they spent too much time with exposition that didn't really move the here and now story along.

 

[flynnibus]

Sorry but you are 100% defending it. Obviously you think I have some hidden agenda, that's fine, you're in good company on this site. But since what I've said is so wrong, what are these amazing storytelling points?

I do not need to provide any 'amazing storytelling points' of my own to counter your critique. Dunno what logic you get that from - but that's not now it works. This is not you saying 'bad' and me saying 'good'.

Yea, it wasn't the show I hoped it would be. What I see is a lot of people giving valid issues with the show and the same group trying to deny the issues.

and I'll say it for the last time.. most of the 'issues' you bring up are not valid issues. They are complaints that the show isn't something else the show isn't trying to be.

Lol, that's exactly what I've done. How is saying that making Sol the bad guy when they clearly show he did what he did because, dark side force witch turns into smoke monster and starts to disintegrate kid.

What they showed was he made a rash, fatal decision, without really knowing her motives or even what she was doing. A decision that is conflicted and right or wrong is debatable... but one that was fatal and unreversible all the same. Which is why deadly force is not rush into in the first place.

It's also a decision that is decisively anti-Jedi. Is he the 'bad guy'? I don't know.. but clearly he and others made rushed decisions that had fatal and disruptive consequences. I think the whole sequence is setup to be shown as rushed and a mistake. By Sol's insistence on action now, disregarding the patience path, and by their use of force.

Or ep7 would have been better if they relegated the flashback to the new information that we didn't see in ep3 and focus the rest of the episode on moving some of the other things forward. Instead of giving us half an episode that we've already seen? Or how with extremely short episodes they spent too much time with exposition that didn't really move the here and now story along.

That's your complaint, but your reasoning is because you don't care about losing that part of the story... because you wanted a different story than what the show was focusing on. And that's my point... you yearn for a different story focus... not that you are in fact critiquing the story or directing of the story they actually told.

 

[erasure fan1]

I do not need to provide any 'amazing storytelling points' of my own to counter your critique. Dunno what logic you get that from - but that's not now it works. This is not you saying 'bad' and me saying 'good'.

Of course not. That's one of the weakest responses you can give.

and I'll say it for the last time.. most of the 'issues' you bring up are not valid issues. They are complaints that the show isn't something else the show isn't trying to be

It's not trying to be a good show? Than what's it trying to be? It seems to be trying to set up the next season at the expense of the one we were in.

What they showed was he made a rash, fatal decision, without really knowing her motives or even what she was doing. A decision that is conflicted and right or wrong is debatable.

You realize that's your opinion, just like what I said is mine right? What they showed was an evil witch threatening the jedi and a child. He didn't know her motives? We agree! She didn't give them till after the fact. How about you lead with with your intent. It's lazy writing in my opinion to try and frame the Jedi as bad. Just a question, what happens if you get pulled over and threaten the officer with violence? Answer, you're probably getting shot.

That's your complaint, but your reasoning is because you don't care about losing that part of the story...

Ok, how am I losing anything? They literally reused the footage from the earlier episode. It's not lost because, wait for it.......... I've already seen it! I'm not really sure where the hot take is. Wait, is it because I wanted more information on questions already out there instead of information we have already seen? Nah, that'd be ridiculous. They have plenty of time to stretch things out with the huge run time of 25/27min an episode.

 

[BrianLo]

The lack of engagement in this thread

This thread (and the other one) has more engagement than almost all other D+ series.

Maybe not positive engagement, but there is a heck of a lot of engagement.

 

[erasure fan1]

This thread (and the other one) has more engagement than almost all other D+ series.

Maybe not positive engagement, but there is a heck of a lot of engagement.

Congratulations Acolyte, you're the fastest sloth? I mean that's really not a very high bar. That was sort of the point. This show had much bigger expectations in my opinion. Of all the D+ shows outside of Mando, this was the one I had the most hope for.

 

[Disney Irish]

You realize that's your opinion, just like what I said is mine right? What they showed was an evil witch threatening the jedi and a child. He didn't know her motives? We agree! She didn't give them till after the fact. How about you lead with with your intent. It's lazy writing in my opinion to try and frame the Jedi as bad. Just a question, what happens if you get pulled over and threaten the officer with violence? Answer, you're probably getting shot.

How is that lazy writing if the idea is to show a more humanistic side to both the witches and the Jedi? Intentions aren't always known at the time of conflict, not in real life and certainly not in storytelling. And yes you're right if you threaten an officer with violence you're likely to get shot, this is pretty much known the world over and yet it happens all the time. And certainly has happened in SW before.

Ok, how am I losing anything? They literally reused the footage from the earlier episode. It's not lost because, wait for it.......... I've already seen it! I'm not really sure where the hot take is. Wait, is it because I wanted more information on questions already out there instead of information we have already seen? Nah, that'd be ridiculous. They have plenty of time to stretch things out with the huge run time of 25/27min an episode.

The idea is not that you've seen it before, its that you haven't seen it from this perspective. So there is newer details being given even if you've seen parts of it before. But I get it, you don't think this was a good use of that storytelling device. I think it worked for what they were trying to do, tell a multi-view-point story.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

The conclusion solidified that creepy possessive impression of Sol as a bad guy, so that didn't change my opinion.

And I don't think the show is great, but I'd tune into a second season just for Manny Jacinto because he's been compelling in all his scenes at least.

 

[Tha Realest]

I don’t think there’s going to be a second season.

Even some of the staunchest defenders are scratching their heads at that finale, and the haters seem pretty ambivalent about the whole thing by now.