Welcome, My Movievaures. Today, we delve into The Acolyte, Disney’s latest addition to the Star Wars universe. Set in the intriguing period of the High Republic, this series promised to explore new territory, taking us back to a time before the Skywalker Saga. With high expectations and a plethora of intriguing characters, did it live up to the hype? Let’s break it down.

The Acolyte is set at the end of the High Republic era, around 100 years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. The series follows a respected Jedi Master investigating a series of mysterious crimes. His quest leads him to cross paths with a former Padawan and unveils sinister forces at play. The narrative is rich with political intrigue, ancient Jedi lore, and the ever-present struggle between light and dark.

The show delves into the High Republic period, a time of relative peace and prosperity, yet shadows loom as dark forces begin to rise. The series was filmed in London and at Shinfield Studios in Berkshire, with additional location filming in Wales and Portugal. The narrative is built around a Jedi investigation that slowly unravels a deeper, more sinister plot involving former Padawans, sinister Sith influences, and political machinations within the Republic.

The reception to The Acolyte has been mixed, to say the least. While critics have generally praised the series for its ambition and the performances of the cast, audience reactions have been more polarized. Unfortunately, the show became a target for review bombing campaigns, with many criticisms focusing on perceived “woke” elements and the portrayal of Jedi characters.

Despite these challenges, there are aspects of the series that have been lauded. The character development, some of the plot twists, and the exploration of new Star Wars lore have been appreciated by a segment of the fanbase. The cinematography and action sequences also received praise, particularly for their creativity and execution.

I understand why this show displeased so many people. As usual, it received too much hate for reasons that are not valid, hence the “wokeness” previously discussed. But focusing on the show itself, it is truly disappointing. We were finally going to explore the universe before the prequels, but unfortunately, the writing fell into the usual simplicity that we are getting used to with Disney. We know the problem is not the budget. Nevertheless, even some makeup and costumes seemed to come from a low-budget show.

Indeed, there were pretty good scenery ideas, a couple of good twists, and really nice combats. But as soon as it gets good, the usual bad stuff, the illogical character actions, or just bad writing get in the way. I just hope that someday we will get the show we deserve when there are Jedi involved. And absolutely, they should have set this story much earlier than just 100 years before The Phantom Menace. It’s too close to the existing saga, limiting the creative freedom and historical depth we could explore.

The Acolyte is a mixed bag. While it shows flashes of brilliance and introduces intriguing new elements to the Star Wars lore, it ultimately stumbles due to simplistic writing and inconsistent quality. What did you think of the new series? Share your thoughts with me on the Movievaures Instagram page, and don’t forget to follow me for more reviews and updates on the latest in film and television!