I hate the current TV streaming model. We've discussed this point so much before here at Dork Side of the Force, but just a recap:
The current TV model is pretty flawed. Basically, thanks to gross money grabbing capitalists, if a show doesn't perform at Game of Thrones levels right out of the gate, it will be cancelled. There's no more letting a show find its feet or audience like the days of cable TV when sometimes it would be Season 2 before a show would take off. With so many shows crowding the TV market and they all can't be #1 on the charts, a lot of shows are axed prematurely.
And The Acolyte is proving this point.
According to Parrot Analytics via Comic Basics, the series has been one of the highest in demand shows in the last 30 days. It's just behind The Mandalorian and Skeleton Crew, which makes sense. The former is a behemoth that launched Dinsey+ and the latter just wrapped up its run, which word of mouth has helped it grow. The fact that The Acolyte remains in the top 2.7% of shows months after its cancellation says a lot.
This is how TV is supposed to work. Sometimes, it takes a show some time to find its audience. Not everything will drop a surprise Baby Yoda at the end of the first episode. In fact, I would argue that The Mandalorian is the outlier. Most shows are like The Acolyte, Skeleton Crew, and Andor, where audiences might need time to warm up to them. Andor wasn't the ratings darling at first and took time to get going. Skeleton Crew was a new story, pretty much disconnected from everything else. The Acolyte was a completely new era for the first time in live action.
I won't deny that The Acolyte was wildly over budget, which was a big reason for it to get axed. That said, there is still a high demand for the show. Why not give it another go but under a tighter financial leash? It's proving there is something successful there.
Besides, you're the third richest company in the world, Disney. It won't hurt you to lose a little money so a show can figure it out.