The Acolyte Finale Review - Confirms this Star Wars show wasn’t for me & that’s ok!

We arrive at Episode 8 / The Season 1 Finale of The Acolyte where some more is revealed! And I found it, adequate? A bit Milquetoast? Not my cuppa? I dunno. I really wished I could have found more things to invest in, more characters to care about, more arcs that felt like they had weight, more decisions that felt like they were inspired BY the narrative vs to MOVE the narrative forward. A lot didn't work for me, but some did. Excited for another Star Wars show to be more my jam.

Having thought this was a 6 episode series I was ironically stoked when ep 5 and 6 were much more my cuppa Star Wars tea! Had begun very much hoping I would be into the 2nd half of the season and the series would finish strong for me. But the mystery and reveals just aren’t hitting and the characters I want to care about just aren’t working for me in this flashback based story telling style. I think a chronological movie, with these characters getting a chance to carry more emotional weight by sharing their journey and sacrifices early on; would have been more for me. And having the Jedi feel more multifaceted, or getting to know any of them in any meaningful way. Or maybe combining Osha and Mae into one character because I never seemed to care about both of them, only one or the other.

But more Qimir is exciting! And potential Osha dark side looms for future installments? And that Darth Plagueis fellow?! And yay Yoda! I guess? (I wanted that amongst MANY other moments to feel more impactful)

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No editing on this one/ no inserts etc, apologies, stream of consciousness thoughts about The Acolyte Episode 8 / The Finale

The Best Episode of the series so far for me was episode 6, which still had its flaws. Really enjoyed 5 for the most part as well. And episode 3 a few weeks back had me intrigued (largely thanks to Jodie Turner-Smith's perfomance but the show overall hadn't been for me. Now with my investment in more characters than just Sol I am feeling this tale of a Galaxy Far Far Away! (Osha has grown on me with the help of that backstory ep 3, ironically Mae... also played by Amandla Sternberg... did not haha) This episode in particular feeling like it explored new stakes and new ideas and our ever growing understanding of what makes Qimir/ The Stranger/ This particular Sith tick so much more interesting. (And wise of them to lean into Manny Jacinto's hotness.

Star Wars is a fandom that I haven't really dabbled into for years. I've kept up with the shows for the most part. (I've seen them all but haven't been day one must watch with the majority of them.) I've seen every movie opening night since Episode One (somewhere I have a picture of me dressed as Darth Maul waiting for that midnight line).

But with a few exceptions (Andor, The Last Jedi, Bill Burr's episodes of Mandolorian) it's been a galaxy far far away that I've felt pretty casually towards. There's absolutely a rush hearing a lightsaber ignite, or the wail or a tie fighter in DOLBY surround, or even going on Rise of the Resistance and FEELING like you're in George Lucas' mind, but I feel like so much of that comes from my childhood love of New Hope, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, more than the present.

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[newton]

This was honestly a chore to get through. The writing continues to be so poor. A couple scenes brought out laughter of the unintentional variety. The cameos from two pretty big lore characters felt cheap and tacked on, and didn’t impact the plot at all.

[chrislemchi]

Now that I saw the show in entirety, I didn't like it. I'm happy I gave it a chance and stuck through, but in the end, it didn't click for me. Which is totally ok! Happy some people enjoyed it, it just didn't resonate with me

[contentcorsair]

Glad to see you break down some Star Wars Coy, too bad it started on this show.

Maybe to leave this channel off on a more positive SW note, you could do a video with your thoughts on Andor S1 close to when S2 comes out?

[dayzofchaos]

The comic when Vader has to go kill some Jedi on his meditation retreat. To get his saber and kyber crystal. Then make that crystal bleed. SOme of the best comics around.

[kylecarter]

This felt the bones of a good show that needed more meat. It really seemed like this was an 8 episode pilot instead of a season of television. Everything that happened only makes sense in a "setup for future seasons" kind of way.

[VactorVerse]

I loved this show and had a great time with your reviews. At no time did you feel the need to insult those who were enjoying the series. You are the blueprint for how to be respectful on fandom.

[kmsa]

In honor of Lee Jung-jae and The Acolyte's season finale, here are four movies of his I recommend checking out!

The Thieves

New World

Face Reader

Assassination

[johnpaulm]

I finished feeling weird and unsettled. The best thing was the lightsaber fighting and Qimir as the Stranger. I too agree the twin thing was just not really necessary. Like I know the show has to end roughly this way because it's set in the past, but it's still weird to have a show showcase this as the ending. I think Disney was banking on the fact that the series would span at least 2 or even 3 seasons to fully answer all those questions we had during the show. Unfortunately, they didn't foresee the fact that they didn't make us really care during the first 8 episodes.

[StlBill]

Thanks for your coverage throughout the season Coy! Truly appreciate your certain point of view!!

[livthedans]

Thanks Coy for your thoughts. Your questions were my questions. Your weak movements were my weak moments. I will add that I think the strongest part of this episode was finally really introducing us to Venestra in a meaningful way. I think they tried to do this thing where her story would set up season 2 but it just felt like Okoye in Infinity War when she said “Where was she all this time?”

I would’ve liked this as a longer form tv series. I just don’t think it would’ve sold as a movie. But if they gave us a chronological story where we got invested in the characters (and not a bunch of time with side characters who were unceremoniously killed off) then I think we would have gotten more out of this show. That’s just me. 🤷🏾‍♀️
I did get the deeper cuts (from watching YouTubers along the way) but they weren’t enough to make me find greater meaning in this show.

[alexp]

Don't worry Coy, you didn't miss out on anything by not being a hardcore SW fan. I'm just sorry you had to choose this show to start getting more into the franchise 😅🙈

[CrimsonGhost]

I gave this show a shot, watched and hoped I would enjoy it. The show only left me frustrated and annoyed with the characters. In the end I really didn't care.

[billtron]

I’ve been playing a lot of ghost of Tsushima lately and one thing I liked was qimir lightsabers. The big and small one reminds me of the swords in that game. I’m mixed on the show. I really enjoyed the fight sequences but the story was weak. I appreciate u putting urself through this show week after week eventhough u weren’t crazy about it and pushing through for us! Love the videos man!

[Nate-]

This is very informative

Seeing Star Wars in the eyes of someone who isn’t a true Star Wars fan is interesting. I see your perspective of reasoning. I was very interested in seeing Mother Aniseya and her coven, learning about the Ascension, learning about The Thread, how Mae and Osha was connected. I do agree, I wish it was a movie more focused on Mother Aniseya and her coven Aniseya and exploring the magical world within the Star Wars Universe.

[ChrisSmith-tubu]

I mean this show isn't for ANYONE who likes Star Wars and good storytelling. Its worse than a disaster, its Leslie taking a big steaming dump on the franchise and its fans.

[indyj]

This show had its moments but it was not good. Still was a pleasure to see you cover it.

The main reason the green lady ‘had’ to cover everything up and wipe Mae’s memory is because according to the established lore in the prequels, the Jedi had no idea there were Sith in existence for “over a millennium.”

The cover up and mind wipe would have made that canon still make sense ‘kinda.’

While we wait for Andor season 2, maybe consider watching some Clone wars Arcs. They are anthology and you can get away with watching only arcs that are considered good. Great storytelling. 👍

[ArmandoMPR]

Great review! I really enjoyed hearing your perspective. I’ll definitely check back in for when Andor rolls out.

[garywilson]

Agree the Twin part of story did not really serve a purpose for this season but should have. Needed to be longer and more focus of Stranger and why needs an acolyte. Too many open ended threads to end a season with. Great review!

[SpideySensei]

I heard the premise of this show was originally supposed to be a mystery? The only one I saw was where did that $180M budget go? And the only ones who'll benefit from this show getting a second season is all the YT streamers clowning it for content.

[DanV]

Disney+ has a terrible habit of episode 7 being a flashback episode with WandaVision, Moon Knight, and The Acolyte. It would also include She-Hulk if episode 7 didn’t become the pilot with one extra scene.