Star Wars finally returns to the screens with The Acolyte. The first series about the High Republic lands on Disney+ with the intention of making the public forget the Skywalker Saga. For the first time in audiovisuals, the galactic franchise moves away for more than a century in time from the history of Anakin, Luke, Leia, Rey and company. It does so by becoming a prequel that also aims to open its own path. New characters, new themes and a big change in tone that has not been seen until now.
The series of The Acolyte focuses on two twin sisters, Osha y Mae. The first was a padawan of the Jedi Order who decided to abandon her training. The second was presumably dead, but she has returned with some not-so-good intentions. Both find themselves at the center of an investigation into the mysterious deaths of several Jedi at a time when the Sith were supposed to be extinct. And, in an era of light, darkness arises.
The dark side
Without a doubt, the main strong point that draws the most attention in The Acolyte is its tone. Star Wars has always been a classic space adventure story that has entertained several generations. Now, as they did with Andor, the company delves headfirst into something very different, the mystery thriller. The Jedi murders are the leitmotiv that drives the project. There is no longer a war, no enemies to openly confront. Peace reigns in the galaxy, but someone is disturbing it.
La showrunner, Leslye Headlandis a big fan of Star Wars and has plagued the series with hidden references. Iconic phrases from the saga, some recognizable characters, even elements born from comics and novels and even from the expanded universe of Star Wars Legends. That is to say, above all, it is a series that is born from the heart of the franchise. But from that base, the creative has wanted to find her own voice without falling into crude nostalgia. That is why she approaches a genre with which she transforms The Acolyte into something different.
The Acolyte is the new Star Wars series
A ex padawan He reunites with his Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but discovers that the forces they face are more sinister than they ever anticipated.
The balance focuses on mystical reflections on the Force and who can use it, with the radical third episode as a banner, and the story patterns of police investigations, revenge, murders and family dramas. The Acolyte It thus becomes something much darker and more serious. Not at the level of Andor but following in his wake. An idiosyncrasy that, however, does not always come to fruition.
Question of expectations
And it is that, although The Acolyte It starts off fast, once the story settles, the pace begins to slow down. They want to put so much emphasis on building characters and establishing well the universe in which they move, that the plot moves forward in fits and starts. For long periods of time, the protagonists talk without anything relevant really happening, offering a feeling of eternal introduction where the climax has never quite arrived. And there is also a lot of repetition with certain themes and subplots that involve Osha and Mae's past.
Thus, The Acolyte falls below expectations. Especially after the enormous expectations generated by its first glimpses in the last Star Wars Celebration and the promotional previews of these months. An enormous responsibility had been placed on the series, that of offering something groundbreaking and brutal. To focus on the villains and the suggestive darkness that surrounds them. To be the first stone that shapes that new Star Wars of the High Republic that little by little must gain ground.
And although it fulfills some of those promises, in others it remains half-hearted, at least in its first four episodes. Of course, as happened with Andorit is also understood that The Acolyte will grow enormously in the second part of the season. For now, however, we must continue to trust in that promise and try to lower expectations that, as always in Star Wars, end up distorting the real objectives.
Given by high on Disney Plus now and save thanks to the annual subscriptionwith which you can enjoy its entire catalog of series and movies. Access to the latest releasesto the catalog of Star and to the best National Geographic documentaries.
New signings
It is very necessary to also talk about the new faces of Star Wars. Being an original story in a very little explored era, Headland He has had to create a large number of characters. It is very interesting to be able to discover the dynamics between them for the first time. Their relationships will play a key role in the plot of The Acolyte. In the style of Ben Kenobi or Yoda, behind many of these characters an entire story is suggested that does not have time to develop but would be perfect for an audiovisual spin-off or even for books and graphic novels.
Among the best are Jecki and Yord. The first is Master Sol's padawan and is played by the Spanish Daphne Keen. The actress is well known to the public for having given life to Laura/X-23 in Loganas well as Lyra in dark matter. This young warrior stands out for her great intelligence and sense of duty that will enchant fans who feel a special attachment to the classic values of the Jedi. As for Yord, played by Charlie Barnettgives comic relief to the constant seriousness of The Acolytealthough he also demonstrates a lot of courage as a Jedi knight.
After all, Manny Jacinto He also shines with his comedic outlook and his attitude of apparent indifference towards the themes of the Force. Carrie-Anne Moss He dazzles, although he barely has any screen time for now. The others are correct, although some errors in the direction of actors must be pointed out. Especially striking is the contrast of Lee Jung-jae (The squid game), who gives life to the aforementioned Maestro Sol. On many occasions his solemn tone intoxicates the screen and makes the audience grow. The Acolyte at its highest level. But in other scenes she gives the impression of reciting lines of dialogue in an overly theatrical and unnatural manner.
Exquisite production design
In what he does triumph without palliatives The Acolyte It's in its production design. Each of the planets seen in the series transmits a lot of life. Headland She has acted as a veteran fan, conceiving very rich and particular environments. And, despite her individualities, she is always very much within that spirit. Star Wars. There is a lot of money invested in this project and it is being used perfectly.
And hand in hand with those places, the filmmaker has opted for a decision that is as risky as it is accurate. The Acolyte It has much more action than other projects in the saga. And, above all, it has a very different action. There are lightsaber fights, but the most striking thing is the use of Force-fu. Headlandas he did Dave Filoni in Ahsoka con Ezra Bridger, has chosen to combine the Force skills of the Jedi with impressive martial arts skills. The result is overwhelming, spectacular.
Each fight is a true enjoyment for fans of action and martial arts movies. Long shots, quick punches, kicks and punches combined with the Force… The choreography work is sensational. Yes, as expected, The Acolyte It goes further, the outcome of the season can be glorious.
In short, The Acolyteapart from being very different, is a good series that, despite everything, at the beginning does not reach the level of excellence of the best of Star Wars. There are elements to polish, especially in its irregular narrative rhythm. The project is full of good ideas and shows that its creator is an absolute fan of the worlds of George Lucas and all the creatives who have followed him. There are countless details that confirm the love for the saga. And the best news is that it promises a second half of the growing season. Just for the action and getting to know its new characters and the rich worlds in which they move, it is worth embarking on this very different and dark adventure.
Star Wars turns to the Dark Side