The Acolyte Premiere Is A Solid Start Without A Hook

Amandla Stenberg plays twin sisters Osha and Mae, both of whom suffered a horrific trauma when they were children–their family was killed in a fire, apparently started by Mae.

Osha emerged from the tragedy wanting to become a Jedi, though for reasons we haven’t learned yet, she left the order. When someone matching her description murders a Jedi master in The Acolyte‘s premiere, the Order comes looking for her, including her old master Sol (Lee Jung-jae).

While Osha believed her sister was dead, it soon becomes clear Mae is the culprit, at the behest of an unnamed benefactor. Osha joins the Jedi in the search for Mae, while Mae continues on her quest for vengeance–to kill four specific Jedi for reasons that remain mysteries.

My mind has since changed, but my initial reaction to the reveal that the killer was Osha’s twin was a groan–“oh god, an evil twin?”

I think differently now because–with both premiere episodes under my belt–it’s clear the relationship between Mae and Osha is at the heart of the mysteries of The Acolyte.

In the second episode, when Sol confronts Mae, we learn that just as Osha believed Mae was dead, Mae has believed the same of Osha, while Sol seems to have already known what both believed.

It’s clear that there’s something desperately important in The Acolyte that relates both to the separation of these sisters and the four Jedi Mae is hunting.

More than any previous Star Wars series, The Acolyte is driven by mystery.

Along with the potent mystery of the relationship between Mae and Osha, there’s the looming question–what did the Jedi do to earn Mae’s vengeance? It’s clear whatever it was left scars on all four Jedi.

I suppose this has a lot to do with my trepidation toward The Acolyte. With a plot so focused on what’s bound to be at least one or two big reveals, how well those unveilings are sold will determine whether this series lives up to the hype.

I already have one theory about what the nature of the reveal will be–which I won’t share here–but man do I hope I’m wrong.

On the other hand, one thing that is definitely working for me is the cast. Stenberg is the perfect choice for the twin sisters, and I’m particularly impressed with Lee Jung-jae as Sol. So far I think this is the only Jedi portrayal I can recall in which the actor exuded the trademark calm confidence while at the same time betraying a nagging, gnawing doubt.

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I would like to think that maybe the reason The Acolyte episodes have, so far, given us anticlimactic endings is because the show is focusing more on the story than big fan-service reveals.

As long as we get good story and strong performances like we have, I’m willing to give the series the benefit of the doubt. I’d rather have a slow burn to greatness than get meme-worthy episode endings that lead to another Book of Boba Fett.

Let’s see what The Acolyte has in store.