In the past three years alone we've had nine different Star Wars shows on Disney+. Only a couple are universally agreed to be exceptional (Andor and Visions) but for the most part, these series have been lacklustre at best and downright terrible at worst. Judging from the two-episode premiere, The Acolyte has the potential to buck the trend as a genuinely great Star Wars show.
Russian Doll co-creator Leslye Headland is a natural fit as the showrunner here. At its core, The Acolyte is a crime drama with a genuinely intriguing mystery. A group of Jedis investigate a series of murders, with a shadowy figure hunting members of their order one by one. The killer is seemingly Mae (Amandla Stenberg), a padawan who abandoned the Jedi ways and, in typical noir fashion, has a tragic past. Complicating matters is that her former master, Sol (Lee Jung-jae), is the one leading the investigation.
It's difficult talking about the narrative any further without spoiling things. A lot happens in these first two episodes, but rather than feeling overwhelming, the show has a propulsive pace that consistently adds drama and suspense. The strength of the writing from Headland and her writers is brought to the forefront: just when you think an annoying trope is about to be deployed, the show shuts it down in a satisfying manner that develops the story and character arcs. And like any good opening to a new show, the themes are laid bare. Star Wars fans will know of the hubris that brought the downfall of the Jedi order, and that hubris is on display here, and resonant themes of sisterhood and institutional issues are teased.
Another standout element of The Acolyte is the action. Intimate, deadly duels are nothing new in Star Wars, but Force-fu certainly is. Clearly taking inspiration from wuxia films, there's less lightsaber action and more flying fists and swinging kicks, elegantly interspersed with force pushes and pulls. Competently shot and terrifically choreographed, these fights are exciting but most impressively they directly tie into a key plot thread. We daren't spoil why, but there is a specific reason for the way each character approaches their duels; fighting in specific styles and utilising different methods.
Bridging the storytelling and the set pieces are the impressive cast. Russian Doll alum Charlie Barnett nails the proud and overly serious Jedi Knight Yord, and Dafne Keen delights as the plucky but smart padawan Jecki. Even with limited screen time thus far, Manny Jacinto makes an impression as sketchy smuggler Qimir who brings comic relief whilst hiding a darker side. But of course the standouts are Stenberg and Jung-jae. It quickly becomes apparent that Mae is an extremely complicated character as hidden truths get brought to light, and Stenberg juggles Mae's light and dark side effortlessly. Jung-jae brings gravitas to his Jedi master, but there's a sadness in his eyes as he questions whether he failed as a master and strives for redemption.
Being laser-focused on character and story should've made The Acolyte a home run but it does have one negative effect. This is the first time audiences see the High Republic era in live action, but from a visual standpoint you couldn't tell. The Jedi might have flashy white and gold robes to signify their power at this time, but all the locations and background storytelling are nothing new. It's all the same temple designs and dusty towns we've seen a hundred times before. Fans hoping to get an insight into what life was like in the High Republic will be disappointed. Perhaps we'll see exciting new visual concepts and ideas as the series goes forward, and a sense of day-to-day life in this era, but so far it seems nothing changes in this galaxy far, far away.
All in all, The Acolyte is off to a promising start. An intriguing mystery, strong characters and exciting duels will entice fans and those not so familiar with Star Wars. With a lot of key questions answered this early on, more exciting questions are raised, and with six episodes still to go who knows what directions the show will take. It's a thrilling thought, and so is the fact this could end up being one of the best Star Wars shows to date.
The Acolyte debuts on Disney+ June 5.
