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"Acolyte" first review: A familiar yet new "Star Wars" perspective, full of stunning action scenes

The first two episodes of "Acolyte," the newest TV series in the Star Wars franchise, were released this week and are quickly generating buzz among fans and critics alike. As a work set approximately 100 years before the events of "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace", "Acolyte" not only explores the setting of the Republic era, but also brings us a new perspective and story plot. Amandla Stenberg plays two roles in the play, telling the story of twin sisters who represent two sides of the Force. This complex setting adds depth and appeal to the series.

A fusion of innovative storyline and classic elements

Critics generally agreed that "Acolyte" succeeded in taking the "Star Wars" franchise in a new direction while maintaining enough classic elements to feel familiar yet new to fans. Laura Sirikul said in Nerds of Color that the series created a refreshing path and mythology for Star Wars, while Allison Hellman noted in Variety that "The Samurai" Monk" dared to challenge the sacred legend and found his own position.

However, Acolyte doesn't completely break away from classic Star Wars elements. Angie Han noted in The Hollywood Reporter that the series stays true to the charm that has sustained the series for decades: strange planets, bizarre creatures and a fresh style of lightsaber combat. James Dyer noted in Empire Magazine that while the show's aesthetic falls somewhere between the griminess of the main trilogy and the pure gloss of the prequels, it's still quintessential Star Wars at its core.

Brilliant performances and stunning action scenes

Amandla Stenberg played the dual roles of Osha and Mae in the drama, and her performance received widespread praise. Jamie Broadnax called her performance in "Black Girl Nerds" perfect, and MN Miller also spoke highly of Lee Jung-jae's performance in FandomWire.

The fight scenes in "The Acolyte" are equally impressive. Danielle Solzman in Solzy at the Movies called the fight scenes incredible, and James Dyer in Empire Magazine said that the action scenes in the series have the style of a Hong Kong action movie, but with a clear "... Star Wars elements. Bryan Young mentioned in Slashfilm that these fight scenes look like scenes from Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or Zhang Yimou's "Hero".

 

梅(阿曼德拉·斯坦伯格饰)在卢卡斯影业的《信徒》(2024 年)中

 

Disadvantages and future prospects

While The Acolyte excels in many ways, it also has some glaring problems. Keith Phipps in TV Guide noted that the series lacked compelling characters and the plot lacked some nuance. Angie Han wrote in The Hollywood Reporter that the show didn't seem to know what to do with its marginalized characters, while James Dale noted in Empire that the characters were thinly drawn and often weighed down by overly practical dialogue. .

Overall, however, Acolyte laid a solid storytelling foundation for the Star Wars franchise. Jamie Broadnax said in "Black Girl Nerds" that "Acolyte" is one of the few series that laid the foundation for the storytelling of the "Star Wars" series, from graphic novels to TV adaptations.

in conclusion

"Acolyte" is undoubtedly a bold attempt for the "Star Wars" series. It not only brings new life to the classic series, but also sets a new standard for future "Star Wars" works. While the series has some issues, its innovative storyline, great performances, and stunning action scenes make it one worth watching. For Star Wars fans, Acolyte is both an exciting breath of fresh air and a fresh take on classic elements.