Mini Series "The Acolyte" Season 1 Discussion (Spoilers Allowed)

TBH, we don't exactly know when this strict adherence to no attachments began. It could have been a more recent development or belief (perhaps just before Yoda's time) put into practice. (Same for say, the Chosen One prophecy, for instance) For all we know, ancient Jedi, or past Jedi, or just even pre-Yoda Jedi, could have had a more healthy experience with attachments, which is the real reason for their millennia long success and survival. However, just from the two episodes we've seen of this show, I'm beginning to wonder how successful the Jedi really have been at being successful. We're told peace is a lie. One that the Jedi Order itself, and perhaps even the Republic government, have interest in lying about, or keeping exactly as it is. For their own survival at the top of the galactic hierarchy.

This show is showing us cracks in the Order. Ones that eventually lead to its doom. While I think its important for Jedi to be able to let go and not be controlled by their attachments, or allowing them to turn into obsessions, or selfishly motivated desires, it's possible that earlier Jedi had a more balanced view. And for all their opposition to 'fear', and it leading to hatred and suffering, and the dark side, here's underlining and unspoken fear of attachments for Jedi of this time period. They seem more afraid of themselves, of any attachments turning them to the dark side, then any Sith that may or not actually be extinct or around still. They also seem to think they have it all figured out, as long as they stick to their rules, perhaps due to some belief, real or not, that they extinguished the Sith a thousand years ago, and there's nothing else they have to really worry about. Which obviously leads to arrogance down the road, that Yoda mentions in the PT.

Fascinating stuff at least.

 

I touched on this in the individual episode threads, but what's impressed me most with this series are how quickly it endeared me to several characters (which was always going to be its primary challenge) and how confident it's been with keeping the plot moving in the same manner as a feature film.

 

Oh boy the haters are going crazy in YT reactions comments saying that episode 3 will literally destroy Star Wars because

Spoiler

the force is made female because there is a coven of lesbian witches who can use the force to conjure force babies and that retcons even Anakin suggesting he was made oh my god by lesbian witches! And that destroys Star Wars and it’s over everything is over Star Wars is dead

Really curious to see what really will be in episode 3 now ehehe

 

It has been remarkably economical. Usually, when most writers are seeking to establish dominant character traits for an audience to grasp they will specifically craft scenes just for that purpose. We all know and have seen these types of scenes. They are especially prevalent in comic book or action movie group building scenes. We see the wild and crazy demolition expert blowing stuff up wildly. We see the smart and studious book worm frustrated by the chaos and returning to their book but not before suggesting a different chemical that is even more potent. We see the charming rogue trying to hit on someone or shown waking up in a bed next to a supermodel and getting into a new Audi R8. We see the muscle of the group growing mad and smashing something. All these scenes are there to quickly establish key personality traits early on so that the audience gets the group dynamics better. Sometimes they even have people criticize or laud that trait and then show it. These scenes are fun if a little played out and it would have been easy to begin episode 1 and aim for the same but instead every scene had multiple purposes to both develop character and move the plot along and that’s an underestimated aspect of economical writing.

 

Haven't the haters been saying Star Wars is destroyed for almost ten years now?

 

Since 1983

 

Hey do you think it may be my fault? I was born in 1983 did I ruin Star Wars?

 

They really, REALLY need to stop including, "I've got a bad feeling about this" in every single Star Wars production.

 

For the record, that sounds pretty dumb. And I say this as someone who loved both episodes released. Kinda ruins the whole Anakin thing if a coven can do it on command.

 

At some point I promise to stop saying this but, frankly, I feel like there has been so much focus on the "flaws of the Jedi" that you'd think they were basically a fundamentally failed, flawed institution, grounded in error and mistakes, versus a force for good that had some flaws, that wasn't infallible. I've posted about this many times so I wont' belabor it here, but when I hear we are getting yet ANOTHER exploration of the flaws of the Jedi, at this point. it inspires eye-rolling and boredom. I've seen so much of it, in SW content and across the fandom that I feel that some believe the story of SW is the story of those rotten Jedi and how they screwed everything up. Which, sorry, I do NOT believe was or is SW's fundamental message.

 

I think we should all wait to we see EP 3 and just how accurate any of that even is.

Even so, a convent of witches who can conjure the Force to create force sensitive people isn't the worst thing ever. A group of witches who think the Force is female just means that's what they believe and doesn't mean it's what the Force really is, or even what the Jedi view it as. (Just like on Earth, different religions have different beliefs). And even if the Force is 'female', I'm not entirely sure what that even means or why that is bad within the GFFA. I mean, all human and mammalian embryos/life begins as female anyways...so whatever.

And still doesn't negate the Force itself creating Anakin to balance the Force and rid the galaxy of the Sith. (Or perhaps Palpatine's story that they influenced the Midis to create ... life...is more true than we think)

 

Shoulda checked my alerts first. I loved the first two episodes. I felt extremely engaged and there really isn't a single character who I didn't really enjoy. Even Yord lol as he serves a purpose within the group! But yeah I thought the first two episodes were pretty great and id argue it kinda puts Ahsoka to shame. Just my two cents tho.

 

Depends how its depicted. Let the episode speak for itself then judge.

 

Yep you are not wrong. I'm hoping for the best because thus far it's fantastic.

 

It's still too much! Really took me out out of the moment. Now I'll be expecting a reference to, "never tell me the odds" and various other lines of dialogue from previous movies.

 

Considering how crazy the Dathomir witches got while Lucas was still at the company I don't see why anyone who considers Lucas's views to be biblical would be making that big of a deal out of it anyways.

 

I think the haters are implying that that IMPLICITLY retcons Anakin to their opinion so I would also wait to see if it is true how it is really laid out because I imagine they would misunderstand the whole thing…

 

Witches have always had crazy abilities in Star Wars. Even while Lucas was still involved.

 

I mean I don’t know about the life of you all but for me “I’ve got a bad feeling about this” is a quite frequent line so I expect it to be used a lot eheh

 

And honestly wasn't practically every Dathomirian witch force sensitive?

 

Yep yep yep …it tracks!

 

It was said that the floating Jedi hadn't spoken in ten years. Maybe he drank the poison because he had a scratchy throat and thought it was Throat Coat?

 

K2 starts saying it in Rogue One before being cut off by Jyn and Cassian, Han says he's got a great feeling about this in Solo, and BB-8 beeps it in The Last Jedi.

Anyway, it's one of those Star Wars tropes that I'm fine with, and it's often well placed, like I thought it was here. Yord commenting on the precariousness of the situation felt very in line with his character.