The Acolyte's Mystery Is Introduced Immediately & Is Incredibly Compelling

The Acolyte's pacing helps the central mystery feel incredibly important

As soon as The Acolyte's opening text fades away, the show drops us straight into the heart of its plot. Instantly, The Acolyte's script offers everything we need to know: Mae (Amandla Stenberg) is seeking revenge against the Jedi and will stop at nothing to kill those on her hit list. The Acolyte is careful about what it does and does not reveal, aided by showrunner Leslye Headland's experience with writing mysteries that slowly unravel, such as Netflix's Russian Doll.

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These teases help to make The Acolyte so compelling. Why Mae is killing Jedi, who she works for, and what her motivations are lie at the center of The Acolyte, and are stretched across the opening two episodes. As The Acolyte episode 2 came to a close, I was satisfied with what the show's mystery had presented thus far. Some hints about Mae's history with the Jedi are provided, though not too much to quell anticipation for the coming installments. Just as any good mystery box show should, The Acolyte's answers come with an equal number of intriguing questions.

The Acolyte's Action Sequences Are A Breath Of Fresh Air For Star Wars

Great choreography, long take, and storytelling weave perfectly to craft fantastic action scenes

Aside from the mystery at its center, The Acolyte's other shining highlight is its dedication to action sequences. With stunt coordinators like Chris Clark Cowan, formerly of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings fame, involved, I was sure The Acolyte's action sequences would live up to the hype. As of The Acolyte episode 2's ending, I was incredibly happy with how the show presented such moments. Not only are they expertly choreographed and shot, but they aid in storytelling by providing character beats, proving they are not only there for show.

One aspect I specifically loved about The Acolyte's fight scenes was the unwillingness of the Jedi to use lightsabers. Ironically, for a Star Wars show, the lightsabers are only used as a last resort, and this ties into the Disney+ series' storytelling. These Jedi are at the height of their powers, and the use of a lightsaber is reserved solely for the strongest of enemies. It is an even greater testament to The Acolyte then that, even without the iconic weapons, fight sequences still soar.

The Acolyte's ensemble cast is brilliant, as are their stunt doubles, in committing to the long takes of fluid choreography. The blending of martial arts, the Force, and storytelling works perfectly, summed up by The Acolyte's opening fight between Mae and Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss), and episode 2's clash between Mae and Sol (Lee Jung-jae). If these two confrontations are anything to go by — and I believe they are — The Acolyte’s action sequences will go down as some of Star Wars' best.

Amandla Stenberg & Lee Jung-jae Stand Out Among The Acolyte's Cast

Stenberg's dual role and Jung-jae's Jedi Master are highlights in a mixed bag of characters

Undoubtedly, the standouts of The Acolyte's cast are Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae. Stenberg's surprising dual role offers a greater depth of performance than I thought Stenberg would have to work with based on The Acolyte's trailers. Having to swap between Mae and her twin sister Osha, Stenberg offers subtle but believable differences that help the characters feel distinct. As Mae, Stenberg commands every scene she is part of, driven by revenge, anger, and fury.

Opposite her is Jung-jae as the steadfast Jedi Master Sol. Jung-jae imbues Sol with an undercurrent of grief, linked to his past with Osha and Mae. This makes Sol an incredibly compelling Jedi, one that stands tall above the other Jedi cast. Unfortunately, The Acolyte first two episodes do not balance every member of the cast efficiently. While Dafne Keen, Charlie Bennett, and Manny Jacinto do well in their roles as Jecki Lon, Yord Fandar, and Qimir, respectively, The Acolyte's focus on other characters makes them fall short, though there's promise for the future.

The Acolyte's Production & Lore Make It A Worthy Inclusion In Star Wars Canon

Everything that forms a good Star Wars story is present in The Acolyte

As someone who has no real preference over a Star Wars style — be it the CGI-laden vistas of the prequels or the practical-heavy visuals of the originals — I was hoping The Acolyte would employ a healthy mix of both. As was the case with the sequel trilogy, Disney thankfully answered my calls. The Acolyte's visuals are a perfect blend of practical and visual effects. The ships, landscapes, planets, and accompanying otherworldly elements are realized beautifully with unnoticeable CGI, while the aliens, props, sets, and costumes are tangible and practical in the best way.

While these elements help The Acolyte feel inherently like a show set in the Star Wars universe, I was pleased to experience how much the showrunners are including from the wider lore. Hints at the Sith ways, the Jedi Order's slow fall from grace, and High Republic designs are all part of The Acolyte's first two episodes. These elements allow the show to hold a worthy place in the vast pantheon of Star Wars canon.

Ultimately, these aspects work together to make The Acolyte episodes 1 and 2 an enticing beginning. The mystery at the show's center is intriguing and gives the series a welcome sinister tone. This mystery is elevated thematically and visually by brilliant action sequences and quieter moments, both of which are done well, despite the feeling that some characters are underserved. While episode 1 suffers from slower pacing and some wooden dialogue, episode 2 reveals more about the Sith mystery, and in an era of light and life, The Acolyte's darkness makes it a worthy installment in Star Wars canon.

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The Acolyte

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

7/10

126

6.3/10

Release Date

2024 - 2024-00-00

Showrunner

Leslye Headland

Directors

Leslye Headland, Alex Garcia Lopez

Cast

See All

• 
  Amandla Stenberg

  Mae
• 
  Lee Jung-jae

  Master Sol

• 

Where to watch

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WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

• 

The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.

Pros & Cons

• The Acolyte's first two episodes do a great job setting up the rest of the season
• Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae are excellent in their roles
• The series' action sequences are stunning and live up to the hype
• The mystery and sinister tone are exciting elements

• The first two episodes shortchange the rest of the cast, who are great but don't get much
• The first episode is slowly paced