It was a first. After nearly fifty years spent alongside the Skywalker dynasty, Star Wars abandoned this widely explored period to devote himself to new characters. Under the impetus of Leslie Headland, The Acolyte intended to tell the High Republic. The creator was inspired by the literary project “Luminous” launched in 2019 in an effort to diversify the Star Wars mythology. Lucasfilm is aware that the period between The Phantom Menace and The Rise of Skywalker has already been explored many times, that it has every interest in showing its galaxy in a new light. It is therefore several hundred years before the birth of Anakin that this new production evolves.
In a time of relative peace, the Jedi scour the galaxy for Force-sensitive beings. Members of this religious organization work alongside the Republic to maintain peace. But when a series of murders hits the Jedi Order, Master Sol has no choice but to commit to the trail of this assassinHe is confronted with a past that he would undoubtedly have preferred to forget. Young Osha, a former disciple, accompanies him on this perilous journey. that could shake up the future of the galaxy far, far away. The series was supposed to draw on thrillers and detective stories to create a major galactic investigation. For viewers, it was also the assurance of seeing a production break free from the Star Wars straitjacket and truly surprise its audience. Was it a successful bet?
Really a new world?
Since its launch in 2019, Disney+ has multiplied the projects evolving in the imagination of George Lucas. Long after the departure of its creator, the saga continues to tell the story of the fight between good and evil, between Sith and Jedi, alongside old and new characters. The film saga had already had three installments in theaters and two spin-offs, the arrival of the streaming service was a new opportunity to rely on the famous brand. Five years after the first steps of The Mandaloriana rare proposition to be unanimously approved by fans, we could be delighted to see The Acolyte add new colors to this universe that seemed to be going round in circles.
The change of scenery was ultimately less of a surprise than expected. If we can salute work on costumes and accessories, The Acolyte adopts a visual identity quite similar to that of its predecessors. This is particularly true concerning photography and editing, including the famous transitions which continue to be essential for all productions Star Wars. We would probably have preferred that Leslie Headland and his teams cut more to the quick. The staging nevertheless benefits from its Chinese inspirations, when it comes to looking into the imagery of Hong Kong cinema to immortalize the fight scenes. It must also be admitted that most of These clashes benefit from an energy that is rarely invited. within the saga Star Wars. But this beautiful setting is not enough, it was still necessary to construct a story as captivating as it is dense. The scriptwriters were not a priori hindered by the Bible Star Wars. What could surprise you and make you forget the previous mistakes?
A little (a lot) of filler
The first four episodes of The Acolyte formulated the promise of a story quite different from what Star Wars has offered so far. To the grandiloquent adventures that oscillate between comedy and drama, the latest one preferred the mystery of a murderous puzzle. While the “whodunit” are experiencing a surge in popularity in cinema and on the small screen, Disney+ bet on the right horse. If the first episodes had somewhat rushed the important revelation about Mae and her sister/half Osha, it quickly became apparent that the objective was less to find a person responsible for these murders than to explore the motivations of the young woman and her close connection with a mysterious Sith.
The story is punctuated by beautiful ideas, such as the shift from an (almost) police investigation to a more visceral fight between good and evil, it must be admitted that The Acolyte has not always shone with the finesse of his writing. Its cutting — it would be time for Disney+ to abandon its division into eight 30-minute episodes— has above all makes the series lose its intensity. For six weeks, The Acolyte was distinguished by a certain mastery of the cliffhanger, but also a tendency to stretch out its plot more than is reasonable. A feeling reinforced by the rereading of the events of the third episode a few weeks later. We would undoubtedly have preferred that Leslye Headland’s creation more frankly embrace its inspirations for become a giant cluedoa “whodunit” in the strict sense.
A big revelation that wasn’t one
From these first minutes, The Acolyte promised to shake up audience expectations with the revelations of the charismatic Master Sol. The Jedi is crushed under the weight of a past he would rather forget and which will only be revealed as the end approaches. All the dramatic tension is built around this information.which all the worshipers of the George Lucas universe have not didn’t have much trouble anticipating. It seemed obvious that the fall of the Brendok community was the work of the Jedi, that their “rescue” operation had turned into a nightmare.
Leslye Headland’s series also ventured into territory that ultimately left it not much room for maneuver. In the main saga, the return of the Sith is not known until Anakin’s switch in Episode III. With the new Disney+ series taking place over a hundred years before these events, it seemed impossible for the characters to survive this encounter and reveal the survival of the manipulators of the dark side of the Force. Unless Sol was condemned to exile, or made to take a darker path, the outcome promised to be fatal.
Some captivating characters
The Acolyte has not always paid tribute to its heroines. This is particularly true of the Bonds that unite Osha and Mae. The two sisters are sometimes in opposition, sometimes in collusion, without the series immortalizing the importance of these reversals of situation. It will only be through dialogue their relationship will be addressedeven though it is the unspeakable that should have united and divided them.
This summary treatment still allowed Maître Sol to stand out, thanks to Jung-jae Lee’s impeccable acting and a nuanced score. Luminous then tortured, the protagonist attracts all the attention and will not let go until it is time for the dark side of the Force to come into play. Qimir, played by Manny Jacintois the perfect counterpoint to Sol’s sunny personality. The inversion of their roles is particularly successful. The spectators, like the characters, are seduced by his darkness as much as his apparent fragility. It appears very clearly, in the last moments of the series, that his journey is undoubtedly what will drive a possible season 2.
Not enough politics
Leslye Headland had the good taste to scratch the image of the Jedi to tell how their blind trust in the Force and the precepts of the Order led them to their downfall. To the characteristic Manicheism of the main saga, the scriptwriters preferred a reversal of trends to better illustrate this new era of the galaxy far, far away. The concerns of the Republic are mentioned on many occasions, concerning the opacity of the Jedi Order and its omnipotence. But this rich idea – that of explaining Vernestra Rwoh’s lies by the fear of an overthrow of her group – lacks density to be completely convincing. The switch is hastywith the series never giving these issues the space they needed to fully flourish.
For now, season 2 of The Acolyte has not been announced. The series nevertheless leaves room for a continuation of the adventures of Osha, Mae and Qimir. It is the audiences that will determine the merits of such a project. The fact remains that many spectators were not won over by this proposal. If the press was rather convinced (four episodes were shown in advance), the public was much less tender. On Rotten Tomatoes, 16% of the ratings on the American aggregator are positive compared to 80% for the press. The Acolyte is not Andor or the first two seasons of The Mandalorianbut has less merit in trying to break free from the Star Wars mold to write a new chapter in the galaxy far, far away. Did it really need it? Probably not.
Source: www.journaldugeek.com
