The Acolyte: 3 things I liked and disliked about the premiere

The Acolyte Episodes 1 and 2 premiered on June 4th, and the series introduces a brand new era in the Star Wars timeline to live-action, known as The High Republic Era, which takes place over a century before the events of The Phantom Menace.

Let's dive into 3 aspects that impressed me in the first two episodes of The Acolyte, and 3 areas that fell short of my expectations. Warning- Spoilers ahead!

What I liked about The Acolyte

1. The fight choreography

Mae and Indara's fight moves are extraordinary, and I watched them twice to appreciate their intricacy. It's always exciting to watch a Jedi defending themselves with the Force instead of a lightsaber. The Acolyte includes two great fight sequences that show just that, including the opening fight between Mae and Indara and the one that comes later on between Master Sol and Mae.

2. Lee Jung-jae as Master Sol:

There's nothing better than a wise, compassionate, and patient Jedi Master; these traits make Master Sol an intriguing character. His faith in Osha is moving, and we've seen it before. Even years after his Padawan, Osha, left the Jedi Order, he trusts her enough to know she didn't kill Master Indara. I'm curious to learn more about Master Sol and why he's so attached to Osha, and Lee Jung-jae is a big standout from the first two episodes.

3. It feels like something set before The Skywalker Saga:

The Acolyte has been successful as it feels like something set 100 years before The Phantom Menace. It naturally feels like it's set in a different era, which is a huge achievement for the show. I never felt like I was watching something that takes place in the prequels or later, but it still maintains the Star Wars world-building. For the most part, The Acolyte looks and feels like Star Wars.

What I disliked about The Acolyte

1. The dialogue

The prequels are known for their cheesy and clunky dialogue, but The Acolyte's dialogue isn't much better. The conversations lack the humor for which Star Wars is known. While the conversations successfully convey the dynamics between these characters, none are particularly memorable.

2. The visuals

I was expecting big things from The Acolyte regarding visuals and sets. So far, I'm a little disappointed. The sets have been average, and while it's always cool when new worlds are introduced in Star Wars, none are immersive. The one-sided fight between Mae and Sol contains some impressive choreography, but it's set against a very unimpressive background that failed to wow me. The same can be said about every scene shot inside Osha's ship. I also expected a more detailed look at Coruscant and The Jedi Temple than what the show delivered. Hopefully, a few visually stunning scenes are coming up in the rest of the season.

3. The side characters

I'm fully invested in Osha and Master Sol, but I haven't been able to connect with the other characters. I like Indara, but sadly, she's killed off within the first few minutes of episode 1. Apart from Master Sol and Osha, the show doesn't do a good job of establishing anyone else. This can certainly change by the end of the season as we're given more time with the other characters. For now, Master Sol, Osha, and Mae are compelling enough to keep us hooked.

The Acolyte is streaming on Disney+.