The reviews for Star Wars: The Acolyte are now up, and many lauded the series for its bold move to take the franchise in a different direction. Set in the unexplored timeline of the High Republic Era, showrunner Leslye Headland bravely makes new additions to the canon that take fans to the familiar galaxy with a different setting. For that, early critic reviews give Headland's series a positive reception, with a high Rotten Tomatoes score.
On Rotten Tomatoes, critics have given The Acolyte a fresh rating of 83 percent, with an average audience score of 48 percent. Mind you, the series hasn’t been released on Disney+ yet, so there’s a possibility that will change over time.
Critics have praised its intriguing story and stellar cast. Elliott Collins from Movie Files calls it a welcoming addition to the Star Wars universe for giving viewers new and complex characters to explore. With its new, fresh take on the franchise’s lore, fans now have a different look at the Jedi outside of the Skywalker era. He also praises Lee Jung-jae and Amandla Stenberg for their great performances.
Alan French from Sunshine State Cineplex dubs it one of the best projects Disney has ever made since acquiring Lucasfilm in 2012, with its epic jump in quality and stunning visuals. Grace Randolph from Beyond the Trailer adds that with its theme of murder mystery with a hint of horror vibes, it gives a refreshing change of pace for Star Wars, though still giving the classic feels.
“Great fight scenes, but also a lot of thought has clearly gone into telling this story,” she says. “Strong work.”
Though the basic themes of The Acolyte originated from the Star Wars world, Allison Rose from FlickDirect reveals it is its own entity. “This makes the show both familiar and unique at the same time, which helps keep the audience interested,” she continues.
For Laura Sirikul from The Nerds of Color, the show is a wonderful addition to the Star Wars universe because it gives a newer and more in-depth look at the Jedi than ever before. “This is a newly marked territory that Headland plays with, creating a new refreshing path and mythos for Star Wars,” she adds.
What is Star Wars: The Acolyte about?
Warning: Mild spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
The Acolyte takes fans back to the familiar galaxy far, far away. It is set at the end of the High Republic Era, about a hundred years before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. At a time when the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic are at the height of their power and influence, everything is about to change. Institutions’ foundations are about to crack, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation that will lead to their eventual falls.
The series centers on Stenberg’s dual roles as the twin sisters, Osha and Mae, who a traumatic event has separated. Osha becomes the Jedi Padawan of Jedi Master Sol (Jung-jae) but leaves the Jedi Order after being unable to express her feelings after that fateful event.
When many believe that her twin sister, Mae, is dead, she comes out alive and battles Jedi Master Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss) in a cantina. This starts an investigation in the galaxy that reunites Sol with Osha alongside her old friend, Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett). Presuming Mae is dead, Osha becomes the suspect, but everything has been figured out, and the investigation reveals that the killing is fueled by revenge.
The Acolyte is now living up to the hype, promising to take fans on a different journey and giving them a breath of fresh air. As it tries to stand on its own with its new timeline, fans must see how everything will pan out as the series continues until July.
The Acolyte is set to release on Disney+ on Tuesday, June 4, at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET.
