The Acolyte Review and Breakdown (STN 467)

THE ACOLYTE premiered on Disney+ on June 4! We review and break down the first two episodes of this mystery-thriller Star Wars series with Mike Celestino (Laughing Place / Who’s the Bossk Podcast). The series is set at the end of the High Republic era of Star Wars, and 100 years before THE PHANTOM MENACE. Mike brings his extensive knowledge of THE HIGH REPUBLIC publishing initiative to our discussion, sharing the links between the two. He also attended THE ACOLYTE Hollywood premiere.

Richard and Sarah spoke with series showrunner and executive producer Leslye Headland during a star wars fan site roundtable, and we play her comments as they apply to our discussion. The first 30 minutes of this show starts out spoiler-free, and then we get into nitty gritty details of the first two episodes. Watch for a spoiler warning.

THE ACOLYTE Cast and Summary:

THE ACOLYTE is a Disney+ Star Wars mystery-thriller series of eight episodes. The series is set at the end of the High Republic era of Star Wars, and 100 years before THE PHANTOM MENACE. It follows a former Padawan Osha (Amandla Stenberg) and her Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) as they investigate a series of Jedi murders, all relating back to the point when Osha was recruited by the Jedi. Could there be a new phantom menace in the galaxy?

Mae (Amandla Stenberg) – a dangerous warrior, focused on a dark mission
Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) – Respected Jedi Master
Qimir (Manny Jacinto) – A former smuggler and current sidekick of Mae
Jecki (Dafne Keen) – Master Sol’s padawan
Yord (Charlie Barnett) – Jedi Knight and temple guardian with a yellow lightsaber
Vernestra Rwoh (Rebecca Henderson) – Senior member of the Jedi Order who rose to prominence as a young prodigy during the High Republic days. The character originated in High Republic novels and comics.
Master Indara (Carrie Anne Moss) – Jedi Master proficient in “Force-fu” fighting, inspired by Moss’s portrayal of Trinity in THE MATRIX.
Kelnacca (Joonas Suotamo) – Wookiee Jedi!
Mother Aniseya (Jodie Turner-Smith) – Leader of a coven of Force witches
Master Torbin (Dean Charles-Chapman) – Jedi