The Acolyte episodes 1-4 review: "The new Star Wars show plays like Andor meets Obi-Wan Kenobi"

GamesRadar+ VerdictThe Acolyte gets off to an intriguing start, though it stumbles in places and retreads familiar ground from the prequels. GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict The Acolyte gets off to an intriguing start, though it stumbles in places and retreads familiar ground from the prequels. The Acolyte gets off to an intriguing start, though it stumbles in places and retreads familiar ground from the prequels. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. From the start, The Acolyte has positioned itself as something brand new for Star Wars. Yes, it has all the hallmarks of the franchise – Jedi wielding lightsabers, the Force, and complicated Master-Padawan relationships. But it’s also set 100 years before the prequels on theStar Wars timeline, is billed as a murder mystery, and promises to investigate the question of power and who can wield it, rather than the binary light vs. dark that much of Star Wars revolves around. You might, then, be expecting a Jedi show in the vein ofAndor, Star Wars' gritty political thriller. The show opens with an impressive duel between Mae and Carrie-Anne Moss’s Jedi character Indara. Rather than clashing lightsabers, though, we’re instead treated to an inventive fight that involves knives, the Force, and some martial arts-inspired choreography. The sequence is a very effective hook, and a plot twist I won’t spoil here soon flips the show on its head. It’s an entirely engaging opening to a show that seems poised to question apparent truths about Star Wars as we know it. A shadow rises (Image credit: Lucasfilm) Still, though, there’s much to enjoy in the new show. Lee is a stand-out as the wise, gentle Sol, who seems to have his own, more unconventional ideas on attachment. Dafne Keen is also delightful as the matter-of-fact Jecki, Sol’s Padawan, while Charlie Barnett is lots of fun as the cocky Yord. Stenberg, though, is clearly the star – a lot is required of her to make her character work, and her performance is seamless and utterly convincing. The show’s billing as a murder mystery is also something of a red herring, as viewers will soon discover, but the true mystery of the series revolves around the shadowy Sith training Mae. The only clue we have so far is that Mae and Manny Jacinto’s Qimir refer to the figure as “he,” so let the theorizing commence. We catch only glimpses of him in the first four episodes, and he’s a compelling mystery – mostly thanks to the tasks he’s assigned Mae to complete (a masked, dark sider villain is nothing new for Star Wars, after all). Mae is also an intriguing character in her own right, though an extended flashback to her past unfortunately rushes through a fairly pivotal moment in her turn to the dark side, which undermines her story a little. Still, what we do see of her backstory is intriguing, with Jodie Turner-Smith playing a fascinating mother figure – not only of Mae, but of a coven of Force-using witches (and they have their own, intriguing ideas about Star Wars' cosmic energy). The Acolyte also just looks excellent, with its commitment tosprawling practical setscreating worlds that feel real and lived-in, as opposed to the sometimes shallower backgrounds of the Volume. Though we go to the familiar Coruscant, too, the visual language of the planet and the Jedi Order is different – the Jedi look much cleaner and shinier than we’re used to, and even the Jedi Temple looks lighter from the outside. Lightsabers are not drawn very often, but when they are, they look excellent. This gives the iconic weapon a certain weight, too – when a lightsaber ignites, you know the situation is serious. All in all, The Acolyte gets off to a solid start. While it loses some momentum, it quickly regains its footing with a seriously agonizing cliffhanger arriving at the midpoint of the series. Time will tell if The Acolyte manages to stick the landing throughout the back half of the season, but, for now, it’s an engrossing – if not as original as promised – adventure in the galaxy far, far away. The Acolyte arrives onDisneyPlus with a double season premiere this June 4 in the US and June 5 in the UK. You can keep up to date with the galaxy far, far away with our guide to all theupcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows. For more on The Acolyte, check out our pieces on: Today’s best Disney+ dealsDisney+ and Hulu Bundle - Monthly (With$7.99$10.99/mthViewatDisney+Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle - Monthly$16.99/mthViewatDisney+Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle - Monthly$16.99/mthViewatDisney+ Today’s best Disney+ dealsDisney+ and Hulu Bundle - Monthly (With$7.99$10.99/mthViewatDisney+Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle - Monthly$16.99/mthViewatDisney+Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle - Monthly$16.99/mthViewatDisney+ Today’s best Disney+ dealsDisney+ and Hulu Bundle - Monthly (With$7.99$10.99/mthViewatDisney+Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle - Monthly$16.99/mthViewatDisney+Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle - Monthly$16.99/mthViewatDisney+ Today’s best Disney+ deals Disney+ and Hulu Bundle - Monthly (With$7.99$10.99/mthViewatDisney+Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle - Monthly$16.99/mthViewatDisney+Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle - Monthly$16.99/mthViewatDisney+ Disney+ and Hulu Bundle - Monthly (With$7.99$10.99/mthViewatDisney+ Disney+ and Hulu Bundle - Monthly 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the Star Wars showLatest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest► More about the acolyteStar Wars star Ahmed Best says he stands “in solidarity” with The Acolyte’s Amandla StenbergThe Acolyte star says the cancelation was “not a huge shock” and calls out “rampage of vitriol” against the Star Wars showLatest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest► More about the acolyteStar Wars star Ahmed Best says he stands “in solidarity” with The Acolyte’s Amandla StenbergThe Acolyte star says the cancelation was “not a huge shock” and calls out “rampage of vitriol” against the Star Wars show More about the acolyte Star Wars star Ahmed Best says he stands “in solidarity” with The Acolyte’s Amandla StenbergThe Acolyte star says the cancelation was “not a huge shock” and calls out “rampage of vitriol” against the Star Wars show Star Wars star Ahmed Best says he stands “in solidarity” with The Acolyte’s Amandla Stenberg Star Wars star Ahmed Best says he stands “in solidarity” with The Acolyte’s Amandla Stenberg The Acolyte star says the cancelation was “not a huge shock” and calls out “rampage of vitriol” against the Star Wars show The Acolyte star says the cancelation was “not a huge shock” and calls out “rampage of vitriol” against the Star Wars show Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest► Latest 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time” 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time” 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time” See more latest► Most PopularNemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"Anbernic RG28XX review: “a tiny budget handheld that fits in my weird tiny jeans pocket”Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"Razer Kraken V4 review: “an iconic headset, all grown up"Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"Meta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created”Glorious Series 2 Pro review: “comfortable and nimble, but not quite punching with the flagships”Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"Bouiles Elite Series review: “The longer I sat in it, the more comfortable I became"Azeron Cyborg II review: “One of 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action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”