The Acolyte - Spoiler Discussion

[Iko Iko]

Just watched the 7th episode. Like most of the prior episodes, there are aspects I like (the wookie fight in this one) but other aspects which are just confounding (Sol's character motivations and the weird dream sequence for Torbin).

It just feels like they could have made this whole thing into a more streamlined 2 hour movie.

[SONICobra]

Originally Posted by Iko Iko

It just feels like they could have made this whole thing into a more streamlined 2 hour movie.

same could be said for pretty much every disney+ series except for maybe mando season 1 and 2

[Dan_Lebou]

Never thought that I'd actually dislike the Jedi so much. They were absolutely the bad guys in this whole thing.

There was absolutely zero evidence that the coven were going to do anything bad to the twins at all. In fact, from everything that the Jedi saw, the opposite appeared to be true - i.e. that they were loved and cared for.

[IceDog]

Originally Posted by Dan_Lebou

There was absolutely zero evidence that the coven were going to do anything bad to the twins at all. In fact, from everything that the Jedi saw, the opposite appeared to be true - i.e. that they were loved and cared for.

Yeah, Sol definitely overreacted when Mother Aniseya went all black whispy smoke...c'mon man, gotta have more control than that. Then everything just went to sh!t. Oh, and the witches' home has some serious electrical issues...one panel begins sparking, leading to a massive cascading effect causing the whole damn place to fall apart

[jeremydmc]

Originally Posted by IcedDog

Yeah, Sol definitely overreacted when Mother Aniseya went all black whispy smoke...c'mon man, gotta have more control than that. Then everything just went to sh!t. Oh, and the witches' home has some serious electrical issues...one panel begins sparking, leading to a massive cascading effect causing the whole damn place falls apart

Not to mention all of the flammable stone the place is made out of.

[Augen]

I don't think the Witches are blameless, they were confrontational and not helpful. You use your best judgement and if someone looked at a kid, turned into black smoke creature and so did the child what do you do? Nothing and they potentially kill the kid or kill the threat? Hindsight makes a situation easier. If someone messes with my head I can't say I'd have the best impression either.

My question is, how did all the witches die? Indara save Kelnacca from being possessed (a pretty evil thing to do!) and they all...fall over dead? Did she intend to do that or was that the consequence of saving him?

Right now this shows seems set for "eh, some bright spots but overall lacking" given we have one episode left and the whole Mae/Osha bit doesn't appeal to me.

[IceDog]

Originally Posted by Augen

Did she intend to do that or was that the consequence of saving him?

It's a good question, and one that I don't think we'll get an answer to and is meant to be ambivalent.

[Augen]

Whelp, I finished it.

Of all the Star Wars shows announced long ago, the Acolyte was one I was most curious about. In part due to its setting in the High Republic, and the other its promise of showing a dark side master and apprentice.

In summation, I found it disappointing. Were there positives? I enjoyed most of the light saber fights for being creative and the choreography. I also liked some of the Jedi...who all die.

The biggest anchor around this shows neck for me is the protagonist of Mae/Osha and the the main story line. I don't care, I don't like these characters, and everything feel flat for me with them. To be blunt, the acting and directing over and over rang hollow. The music is telling me "FEEL SAD!" and I am indifferent, and even annoyed because screw these awful evil people.

Now let's move on to how they massacre Sol. Venestra reveals herself to be maybe the worst Jedi possible lying to everything and saying "Sol was the killer!" to which everyone simply nods???

Let me get this straight. Sol killed Kelnacca and all the Jedi such as Jecki and Yourde on that planet? Seems...unlikely, but okay. He killed Torbin despite not being there and having Jedi at that temple still alive to say so. The kicker though has to be that Sol killed Inara. How? There were witnesses that identified Mae/Osha as the assassin., he was on Coruscant with tons of witnesses!

All of this means I really don't care that Yoda and Plageius have brief cameos when the entire surviving cast is just the worst.

[Augen]

How Augen would have done the Acolyte.

Cut all of the witches and Mae/Osha stuff. Utter waste, we're focusing on dark and light side Jedi stuff here.

The show would follow The Stranger and his master, another new character, Darth Conniver, or whatever. The Stranger kills a Jedi and their padawan inciting the show and a response from the order. Venestra sends Inara and Sol to investigate. You get some interesting dynamics revealing character. Inara is cautious and says something like we're going to need reinforcements to take on such a foe. Introdduce us to Kelnacca, Inara's old friend, and Yourde, a young Jedi knight. Jecki is also shown as Sol's padawan, but he is reluctant to bring her along.

Much of this time is about getting to know these Jedi, and their interactions. Through their investigation they get a lead and arrive just after the Stranger has killed again. Yourde, being impatient and proud, pursues ahead alone only to find himself overwhelmed becoming the third victim. Jecki is Yourde's friend finding his death impactful insists on joining Sol, he relents on the terms she stay by his side.

We can contrast these heart warming scenes at the funeral with Darth Conniver berating The Stranger saying how he is weak and sloppy in his work and how he want earn the title and power he craves.

The next time the Jedi finally get one step ahead and are ready for the Stranger replacing his target with Kelnacca and an ambush. Despite this the Stranger is remarkable strong slipping through their grasp and killing Kelnacca. Jecki is rattled at the first time fighting someone who clearly bested her and Inara mourns as she brought Kelnacca into this and wa sunable to protect him in the end. The Jedi do not despair knowing their duty.

They come across another clue, but it seems too obvious this time. The Stranger is taunting them and luring them into trap himself. Pushed forward by a sense of justice the three go anyways. Being seperated in the trap Inara face the stranger alone. She shows herself to be among the elite standing toe to toe with this force of nature. Even so she too dies, but manages to wound the Stranger severely so he cannot kill Sol and Jecki.

The remaining two are in hot pursuit tracking the Stranger back to his lair in a final confrontation. He is weakened, but still goads them about the death of their comrades. Jecki fights well, but lets her emotions over ride and is killed. The totality of it all sends Sol into a fury and defeats him and cracks the Stranger's mask revealing the man beneath, now broken and beaten at the Jedi's mercy.

The Stranger smiles though as his Master steps from the shadow and Sol feels this dark presence emanate the room. Darth Conniver slowly walks to the scene and as The Stranger looks up he finds only resentment in his master's eye, "weak" he utters and takes his apprentice life.

Sol is backing up readying himself for this nigh impossible fight only to find a light saber ignite stabbing him in the back. Sol falls dead. Darth Conniver nods "this is merely a minor setback, I shall be found another apprentice. Won't I..." camera pans to Venestra smiling deviously "my Acolyte." credits.

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There, a fairly simple story of Jedi investigating a plot, uncovering it, only to fail, leaving the audience aware the Sith have infiltrated the Jedi Order setting the stage for what is to come in the prequels with their fall.

Can fill in a lot of characterization here, but have tons more time with the massive cut I made and allow your best actors in Inara and Sol to shine more.

[Dan_Lebou]

Just watched the last episode and I've never wanted order 66 to come sooner.

It's a sad state of affairs when you find yourself rooting for the bad guys...