The first season of The Acolyte has concluded. The series always figured to paint the Jedi in a more complicated light, but perhaps we as fans should learn from the mistakes of these Jedi and apply them to our own lives and fandom.
We should learn from the Jedi in The Acolyte and try to be better
I have written a lot about the Jedi recently in the context of their portrayal in The Acolyte. Personally, I feel that there are times when the series may paint the Jedi in too negative a light with the way they treated the witch coven and some of the impulsive actions taken by Sol and Torbin.
Of course, it is important to acknowledge that not everyone shares this view. There are many who feel it is long overdue to take a more nuanced approach to portraying the Jedi. One could argue that there is a beauty in portraying characters in a human way. Human beings are flawed and fallible. Therefore, seeing our heroes portrayed in all of their flaws makes them seem more attainable and human.
This is a very valid and respectable take.
Personally, I think that the Jedi should stand as something to aspire to. The values of compassion, selflessness, honesty, and caring for others can often seem in short supply in our real world. That is why I believe having characters who fully embody those positive traits is so important.
In The Acolyte, we see the Jedi lie, act selfishly, and make very poor decisions. Sol is deceptive, selfish, and wrongfully kills Mother Aniseya. Worse yet, he still believed he did the right thing when he died at Osha's hand. Vernestra is similarly calculating and seems to be much more concerned about protecting the Jedi politically than doing the right thing or being honest. They may have noble intentions, but it does not lead to them doing the right thing.
Leslye Headland and the creatives behind the show did not do this out of nowhere, of course. They are building upon themes that have been present throughout the franchise. Obi-Wan Kenobi lied to Luke Skywalker about his father during the original trilogy, citing his logic "From a certain point of view." The Jedi made questionable decisions during the prequels and during the Clone Wars that one could argue contributed to their downfall. The Jedi acting in a less-than-perfect way is not anything new.
Perhaps I feel this way because there is still a part of me that is bitter that we did not get to see the best version of the Jedi in the sequel trilogy. I really hoped that Luke would have learned from the Jedi's mistakes and created a Jedi institution that remained true to those core values of selflessness and compassion.
Because the franchise chose a different direction for the Jedi, it seems less and less likely that we will get to see a period in the galaxy when the Jedi truly were a force for good.
For me, this is frustrating, but many fans like that the Jedi are in a sort of morally gray area. Every day, we have a choice to be good and act on our best impulses or to give in to our more basic evil instincts. The fact that the Jedi err and give into their emotions makes them more relatable and human in a way. I just wish we got to see the Jedi act on their best impulses a little more often on screen.
Nonetheless, this is all make believe in a galaxy far far away. One need not get angry or give into those baser instincts when discussing a TV show or movie. In one way or another we all love Star Wars. We may not love every entry in the saga but we at least owe it to each other to respect other viewpoints and not assume the worst in others.
Just like the Jedi do not have a monopoly on the Force, no one segment of the fanbase has a monopoly on what is the right take or opinion. We all love Star Wars for different reasons, and we should not be so rash to assume that those who disagree with us do so for nefarious reasons or are somehow practicing their fandom the wrong way. We learned this from the Jedi themselves with their actions on Brendok in assuming the witch coven was harming Osha and Mae because their practices were foreign and strange to the Jedi.
We can learn from their mistakes. We can be better. We can all try in our own lives to not rush to judgment or assume the worst in others. We can learn from the mistakes that Sol and Vernestra make in the show.
When discussing the Jedi, perhaps I—and all fans—should try to remember the Jedi values of restraint, selflessness, kindness, and humility. We can have opinions and defend them strongly, but we must do so in a way that is respectful of everyone. That is the Jedi way.