Mini Series The Acolyte 1.05 - Discussion Thread (Spoilers Allowed)

You must be fun at parties.

 

I tend to agree. I haven’t watched a review of a movie or show in years. Almost the only way I now watch Star Wars content on the internet is the occasional Star Wars explained video. Or watching reactions and just skipping to the most important part of the reaction

 

It’s a format (TV) by which *all* Star Wars is currently suffering IMO… and I say that as a fan of Mando, Andor, Ahsoka and now The Acolyte. Star Wars, as a concept, wasn’t designed for TV and I don’t think it’s the best fit… which isn’t to say it can’t work and have value, but for me, SW is at its best when it’s tighter, more condensed, filtered and purposely more visual to fill the biggest screen. It does less well when it carries fat on the bones and is smaller scale… and because of that, the best SW TV will never match the best SW films IMO. And if not adapting a book/novel, where the breadth of content always exists and just needs adaptation, it will always be a challenge to deliver circa 4 or 5 hours worth of consistently strong, tight and ‘high concept’ material that transposes to the small screen just as well as the best films did. The Acolyte is a good example of where the concept/idea would have made for a great film. And for those whom argue, but we can have both (good films and good TV), I don’t think there’s a model out there that successfully does that… in my opinion.

 

Aaah, the old RJ Snoke tactic. Yeah, that works well.

 

As opposed to the super fun guy at the party who keeps showing people clips from YouTube videos on his phone?

 

I really don't feel the need to have my own opinions validating or backing up by attention seeking youtubers, let alone listen to them because someone else takes smug satisfaction that they've found a youtube channel that matches their views. People seem to attach so much to these people like their reviews or opinions actually mean something or are important. These channels are out for nothing but clicks, more often than not breeding negativity with agendas, and at the end of the day I really don't want to listen to that. Sorry to be so boring.

 

I agree with you 100%.

I'm so done with these youtubers (Kristian Harloff, John Campea, etc.) Smug know-it-all guys who act like they know better than everyone else and just criticizes the content because it doesn't follow their theories and expectations.

Anyone who feeds on hatred has no business talking about Star Wars, in my opinion.

 

I will defend the Ahsoka "flashbacks" as most necessary and not really flashbacks. But I'll concur, having seen flashbacks and flashforwards, and even flash sideways, SW does not always do it well.

So glad Youtube never became part of my lifestyle. Another benefit of being old. The forgetting part is sort of fun when rewatching.

 

I naturally disagree with this. Even without novelization we can see what Palpatine's plan probably was. Dooku is surprised by his death but not about Anakin showing dark side during the fight.
If Acolyte gets novelization or if Qimir's actions are better explained later then I agree that my criticism was harsh. So far I think it's reasonable. It's hard to imagine any reason why he would risk revelation like this.

Well we'll see if later episodes explain this but I doubt they do explain this big inconsistency away. Entire premise of the show seems flawed really. Sith of this era shouldn't attack jedi unless they are planning to reveal themselves or assassinate jedi. Mae has not been a good assassin by attacking publicly.

 

The reigning champion of flashbacks is still Mando S1. Man those were good. Especially the IG-11 rehabilitation one.

 

I'm trying to remember here, maybe I'm forgetting ... but ....

Mae was murdering the four Jedi as revenge not just because of what they did to her Mothers/Coven, but also because she believed they killed Osha. So perhaps Qimir and Mae believed that these four Jedi could be killed, as part of a Sith Lesson, and that the Jedi wouldn't be able to track them down or discover who the killer was. That they could still stay anonymous and hidden because the Jedi believed that Mae died, and that she wasn't taken by the Sith.

However, what neither knew was that Osha was really alive, was saved by Sol, and was even a Jedi Padawan. And the Jedi could immediately track down who the killer is; first believing its Osha, who they knew firsthand, and then realizing its really Mae, who didn't actually die. This then leads to Sol having to relive the past events.

So Qimir and Mae made poor assumptions based on faulty knowledge. They didn't just recklessly reveal themselves by engaging in this Murdered Jedi plot. They thought it was safe to ensue.

 

It's not about whether your criticism is 'harsh', it's that it's subjective... and should be taken as such... It also doesn't acknowledge the fact that it's already established (both in the PT and OT) that Sith (or Palpatine) are shown to be overconfident and by default, sometimes prone to taking unnecessary risks. The whole concept of Palpatine getting himself kidnapped by the separatists, just to get Anakin to kill Dooku in cold blood, is the very definition of 'risky', as there's so many possible points of failure in it. So it's a real stretch to argue that Palatine's plan was a forgone conclusion (within universe) where Qimir's (whatever it may be) isn't.

The show is actually quite consistent with both the Darth Bane trilogy and the Darth Plaguies novels vis a vis risk/benefit that the Sith employ in their day to day dealings. For example, the Sith have been murdering/assassinating adversaries for literally hundreds of years whilst hiding in the shadows. Typically the Sith would employ assassins (or acolytes as we can now call some of them) to do their dirty work... and indeed, this is exactly what Mae was doing. Of course Qimir turning up and taking on the Jedi directly escalates the situation, but was it unforeseen or part of a bigger play (rhetorical questions)? So yes, I think we can only really evaluate whether Headland has been fully consistent with existing canon/lore at the end of the series... and I still think Sol is a big part of this...

 

I think we might have to look at The Acolyte from the perspective of non-Star Wars fans that haven't seen The Phantom Menace and thus aren't aware that the Sith doesn't come to the Jedi order's attention until that movie. I think Headland wants to introduce the Sith to first time viewers, so when Qui-Gon brings up the Sith in The Phantom Menace they don't ask themselves, "Who the hell are the Sith?" but instead say, "Oh no, they are back!"

 

It would be hard to structure all these shows on the idea that you have to reintroduce concepts each time.

 

Definitely stay off YouTube forever in that case lol. Perhaps the internet altogether. Imagine thinking Kristian Harloff is a click farmer though...Whose next Kevin Smith? These folks are failing miserably if that's the case. I don't like Campea either but I'm by no means under the belief he's a part of Gamer Gate. Everyone is giving the action a lot of credit so none of these folks are farming hate. Harloff called episode 3 the best episode when everyone else called it the opposite so. I thought the action was great too. Jekki was a stand out and if it were me, I'd have made Daphne Keen and Sol the main players and the show is about a master and Padawan uncovering a murder mystery by a Sith who shouldn't be there. Jekki was great she just has had little to nothing to do in the series before her big moment last ep.

 

Don’t worry. You’re not missing anything. The guy’s as dumb as bricks.

 

Its ok, whenever I use the internet I wear tin foil on my head. I find that helps.

TBH I didn't mean anything to look like a dig at you, I can't stand the youtube generation of film 'reviewers' especially in recent years with the stuff thats gone online with SW and Indy. As someone already mentioned.... the thumbnails they all use, the dramatic tag lines to pull you in just scream - look at me! I don't know who the first guy you mention is, so your subtle dig that I should know him is over my head. But I'm old and miserable and don't care too much that I don't know him. I've heard of Chris Stuckmann, is that cool?

 

He got alot of hate for that video it sounds like, lol. He should just take break. He just moans about how he wishes Apple bought Star Wars now.

 

There you go, I'm miles off it. Once the great Barry Norman stopped doing Film review shows in the UK then I was done.

 

Isnt Chris Stuckmann one of the few good youtube reviewers now?