The Acolyteis easily the most controversialStar Warsshow so far. It isn’t the best entry in the franchise, but it’s far from the worst. The series played with new ideas and asked engaging questions, guaranteeing a genuine reaction from some fans. For all of its flaws, this kind of experimentation is always preferable to the boring, risk-averse brand management that Disney usually does with the IP. The show features the live-action debut of a fan-favorite character, but is it a weak appeal to nostalgia or a preview of what’s to come?
One of the most obvious indicators of aStar Warsshow’s intentions is its connection to the rest of the franchise. Shows likeThe MandalorianandAndormanaged to find new thingsto say about classic characters.Obi-Wan KenobiandThe Book of Boba Fettseemed to exist to point at familiar faces and wait for applause.The Acolyteis refreshingly disconnected from the rest of the brand. It’s set in a different era and willing to keep callbacks out of its cast. That level of restraint only lasts until the finale, but it’s still appreciated.
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Release Date
July 30, 2025
The final episode ofThe Acolytefeatured two huge cameos, but only one seems particularly important to the plot. The final shot of the show is an embarrassing slow pan to reveal the back of Yoda’s head. It comes out of nowhere, connects to nothing, and feels specifically calculated to spark applause from devotees lacking in discernment. There’s a chance that Yoda plays a significant role in any futureAcolyteprojects, but it’s hard not to think he’s only there because he hasn’t been around for a few years. It feels like someone at Disney realizedthat he’d be alivein the High Republic Era and mandated some sort of cameo. Shoving him into the absolute final moment of the season feels like a compromise. In any case, Yoda isn’t the only important character who appears in roughly ten seconds ofThe Acolyte.
Darth Plagueis the Wiseappears briefly inThe Acolyte. Main character Osha and primary antagonist Qimir are resting on an unidentified island after the massacre in episode five. Mae has long since departed to kill her final target on Brendok. Qimir has a ship, and Osha has the destination, so they’re forced to share transportation to the final battle. Qimir makes one final offer, giving Osha a chance to take her sister’s role as his apprentice. She refuses, still opposed to his philosophy. They agree to take off together as a shadowy figure watches from a hidden cave. That figure, visible only as a hand and part of a face, is Darth Plagueis. While Qimir was acting under his double life, he frequently referred to a Master who gave Mae orders. In a way, he was the Master, but Plagueis might have been a level above him. This is the character’s first canonical appearance inStar Warssince Disneybought the brand. His involvement in this story is extremely vague, but his presence suggests something interesting to be explored in future outings.
IsThe Acolytegetting a second season?
There are no confirmed plans togiveThe Acolytea second season. At the time of this writing, it’s been less than 24 hours since the finale hit Disney+. Disney could theoretically announce the project at any time, but things don’t look amazing for the project.The Acolytehas a pretty solidly positive Rotten Tomatoes score from critics, but audiences hate it. That’s overwhelmingly the work of review bombings, which tanked the score before the first episode aired. These scores have little to do with a show’s performance, however. The more important metric is viewership.The Acolytehas the lowest viewership of any Disney+Star Warsshow so far. It can still make up some of those numbers, with ongoing audiences waiting to binge-watch the program. Those numbers also came out before the finale aired, so they’re still subject to change. It doesn’t bode well at the moment, butDisney has done more with less.
WillThe Acolyte’s sequel tease work?
Deep-cutStar Warslore could be a great way to attract unsure fans toThe Acolyte. Unfortunately, hardcore fans already have a strong distaste for the series. This partially comesback to the same insufferable bigotrythat infests and slowly ruins every fandom. The show received endless hate for every creative decision. The ideal market would be a mix of newcomers and more open-minded fans.The Acolytehas a lot of defenders. The lightsaber fight in the fifth episode dominated social media for a few weeks. Manny Jacinto’s arms alone were enough to drive a ton of attention to the series. It just seems odd to attempt to draw in a crowd by tying in elements of the franchise that new fans wouldn’t understand. Surely, thebetter way to push a second seasonwould be to leave the characters in an interesting place. The show does that as well.
Plagueis is a character that fans have wanted to see for many years. He appears in the script ofRevenge of the Sith, but his on-screen debut will always betied toThe Acolyte. There’s a subset of the fanbase that will die mad about that. IfThe Acolytedoes get a second season, the best way to sell it will be to maintain interest in its excellent original characters. Darth Plagueis may not have been the wisest move for this show’s finale.
