The state of Star Wars feels off-kilter. For every Andor, there’s been an Obi-Wan Kenobi series that underwhelms. That does not mean Star Wars shows cannot rise to the mountaintop, but the overreliance on landmark characters seems to run audiences on an endless treadmill of mediocrity. Enter The Acolyte, the first series to take a hundred-year gap from the Skywalker saga. The resulting series from Leslye Headland sparks to life with brilliant storytelling. Perhaps most eye-catching is the unbelievable combat sequences, combining the fighting styles of The Matrix with The Force.
After leaving the Jedi Order, Osha (Amandla Stenberg) is arrested for murdering a Jedi Master. However, the young mechanic had nothing to do with the killing, despite eyewitnesses accusing her. Her former master, Sol (Lee Jung-Jae), investigates Osha and the evidence. As they work together, Osha and her former master revisit their failures. They ultimately find a shadow figure pulling the strings and seeking revenge. The identity of the figure will shock both of them.
Headland sets up The Acolyte with some of the most exciting storytelling we’ve ever seen in a Star Wars series. With the budget and an open sandbox, The Acolyte digs into the guts of Star Wars and identifies a sin that will shape generations. For every action in the show, there are reactions that generate the plot. It’s simple storytelling and still forces audiences to question our concept of good and evil in the franchise.
It’s such an integral piece of understanding the franchise it seems destined to be hated by half the fandom. Despite this, the swing is massive. It gets at the heart of who can and should hold power in this galaxy. How The Acolyte approaches the question about who can and should hold power is an integral address to colonialism and the destruction of culture. Even characters and groups we’ve grown to love show incredible shortcomings.
To help the very philosophical idea at its heart, The Acolyte loads up an incredible cast. Sternberg delivers one of the most nuanced performances in the Star Wars universe. As events unravel the mystery of the series, the performance gets better. To take in all of the series, we watched the four episodes provided at least twice each. With subsequent viewings, the ticks and mannerisms in her performance become even more precise. Sternberg has shown incredible talent in her roles to date, and for most audiences, the performance here will expand her impact. It’s interesting to see such a unique performance within the context of the franchise.
Meanwhile, Lee brings immense gravitas to his role. He easily fits into the style of Jedi popularized by Alec Guinness and Liam Neeson. He’s both wise and empathetic to a fault. At the same time, he seems genuinely bothered by events we did not witness. We do get glimpses of these past mistakes. With flashbacks, we see nearly two decades of growth. Lee crafts a character burdened with guilt and regret etched into his face. He also proving the most capable fighter on screen. It’s easy to see Sol become a fan favorite overnight.
Jodie Turner-Smith, Dafne Keen, Manny Jacinto, and Charlie Barnett all get showcase moments as well. Jacinto brings a devilish charm to his role. He’s a bad man who lulls you into a false sense of security. Keen and Barnett are solid additions to fill out the cast. They both bring the devotion of a younger Jedi, still driven by the belief in something greater. However, the real star is Jodie Turner-Smith’s portrayal of a “force witch.” She not only brings gravitas and intensity but wrestles the camera’s attention from other movie stars. Her performance feels gravitational, and her charisma dominates the screen. It’s another brilliant performance to add to her impressive resume.
With the cast and the philosophy in place, The Acolyte takes one more step up. The action, specifically pulling from Wuxia and Matrix-wire work, stuns. Combining these hand-to-hand combat sequences with the force power creates an intimacy between the fighters. While saber duels have always been cool, The Acolyte makes it clear how inept many have been (outside of Ray Park-driven duels).
When shows can mix philosophical, emotional, and resonate characters, they will connect with audiences. The jump in quality is stunning and instantly makes the case for The Acolyte as one of Disney’s best projects since taking over Star Wars. Even if you just stay for the fights, you’ll get a lot out of The Acolyte. However, like the very best stories, there’s a nugget of something grander below the surface. With an eye on tackling colonial power and its enforcement, The Acolyte delivers a brilliant new and very different chapter in the iconic franchise.
