Star Wars: The Acolyte has caused chaos in the community. Not that you have to try hard to enrage most Star Wars fans these days, but it truly is something else this time. Sexism, homophobia, and racism sadly make up a whole lot of the comments left online from these supposed fans.
While I'm not here to discuss "wokeism" or delve into the behind-the-scenes at Disney, I am here to lay down some home truths that some of you might not want to hear about Star Wars, starting with this one:
George Lucas sold Star Wars, and some of you reading this need to accept that.
If this comment has you fuming, good. Perhaps it's the final push you need to let go of the bitterness that’s plagued Star Wars forums ever since George Lucas had the audacity to expand his universe with the prequels—and finally move on from the fandom.
Oh, you thought I was just here to discuss The Acolyte? No, my friend, the unjustified hate for Star Wars began long ago, and it's time to accept the new additions to the franchise.
Should you adjust your personal beliefs and feelings? No. But it is time to realize that no matter how furious you are toward Disney, this is Star Wars now.
No one says you need to enjoy everything about Star Wars. I don't like every aspect of it either, but too many people use Star Wars as a platform to unleash whatever hate they have toward certain groups of people.
While the enraged “Disney ruined MY Star Wars” brigade heads to the comment section to roast me, let's drop another bombshell: Star Wars isn’t yours, it isn’t mine, and it isn’t George Lucas’.
The Acolyte Haters
Set in the High Republic era of Star Wars, The Acolyte tells the tale of twin sisters Osha and Mae. Discussing every aspect of the hate would result in endless pages here; let’s look at the ‘highlights’ seen online in response to the show.
“The Witches are lesbians” - in a galaxy with space magic and laser swords, that was what broke the illusion for you?
“Osha and Mae have two mums” - yep, and that’s okay; you know that, right? Taking it to a Star Wars level, Obi-Wan and Palpatine were like two dads to Anakin as he matured, too.
“Episode 3 of The Acolyte RUINS Star Wars” - because the Witches refer to the force as a thread. So everyone in the galaxy has to either be a Skywalker or follow the Jedi religion? Those who don't follow the Jedi religion have an alternate take on what the force is.
“They made the babies with the force, making Anakin less special” - so Anakin was the first time this sort of magic/force use was attempted, and they got it exactly right the first time?
“The Jedi wouldn't train the twins as they are too old” - in more recent eras, children were younger when taken to be trained. The Acolyte is almost 100 years before that period. Are we still living the same way, by the same rules we did 100 years ago in real life, or did we learn as a society? I sure hope so.
As I said, that’s just the tip of the iceberg with the toxic comments. Yes, some will comment on the writing, characters, and sets; these are all fine critiques, but as Sam Witwer (Darth Maul/Starkiller) in an interview on The Rule of Two said while discussing the fan base and their anger towards aspects of Star Wars, "Whatever is going on in their life is being channeled."
The Acolyte was a refreshing change to the tired Star Wars trope that sees us following the Skywalker family (or a close relative/friend/neighbor) and gives us a look at the Jedi in a period not explored on-screen in live-action before.
If you didn't enjoy this show, that’s okay. Just watch some older Star Wars you did enjoy, or wait and try the next show or movie that looks good to you.
George Lucas Sold Star Wars
In case you didn’t realize or won’t admit it, George sold the franchise. He gave it up, quit, and handed it over to Disney, and they now own it.
Take a breath—it’s okay. His movies and animated series are going nowhere. You can always watch those and get on with the rest of your day. For the rest of us, getting new stories in the galaxy far, far away is awesome.
Do you need to like every new Star Wars show, movie, novel, or comic? No. I don’t think every new episode, book, issue, or film is amazing, but I will watch it because I love the franchise and want more stories. I was enraged when Star Wars got sold. I thought Disney would ruin every aspect of what I loved. Was I right? Also, no!
George was over it. He took his payday and left. You can either try the new content from Disney or enjoy what you had before. Nothing will change the fact that Lucas sold the company, and he left because of some of you.
The Prequels, The Sequels, And The Clone Wars
Yes, that's right. Not only has The Acolyte received hate from ‘fans,’ but George Lucas also likely heard enough of the comments directed toward the prequels that it helped him sell Star Wars to Disney.
And where did those comments come from? People leaving hateful comments about the prequels online. The people posting the comments about Disney are just the same as those who slandered the prequels when they were released.
They slandered them then, yet now defend them like the sacred Jedi texts because George Lucas made them.
I loved the prequels (Attack of the Clones isn’t my favorite) and was baffled to be told by the internet that I shouldn’t like them. Star Wars hate comes in waves, again something pointed out by Sam Witwer during another interview, this time with Katee Sackhoff (Bo Kataan).
"What's interesting about Star Wars is you don't know for 10 or 20 years", Witwer said, explaining how the actors can think they blew it at the time due to fan reactions and then discover that it is "beloved" years later.
The sequel's hate is widely known, and while I did not enjoy The Last Jedi, I liked The Force Awakens and didn’t hate The Rise of Skywalker. I am not saying I am right about that opinion, but I would rather talk to someone who liked The Last Jedi than anyone spreading their anger online because of The Acolyte.
Clone Wars is a nice bookend to my point about a Star Wars property despised at launch by trolls but much beloved today. Again, this was when ‘fans’ were directing hate towards George Lucas, but conveniently forget that fact today and proclaim him as a God.
Perhaps the franchise isn’t at fault when the blame shifts from owner to owner; maybe you are at fault, and that’s okay, too. Sometimes, you move on from a childhood love. Star Wars, after all, was designed for children.
It feels like when those who grew up with the original trilogy told me, growing up with the prequels, that they ruined Star Wars. That generation then grew up and told everyone that the sequels ruined Star Wars. Do you see what I am getting at here?
Maybe you grew up, and it's time to move on, and that's ok.
Star Wars Is For Everyone (not just you)
Star Wars is for everyone, which means it will try to appeal to as broad an audience as possible. Bringing unjustified hate to any new additions to the franchise is just spite. Not liking a show is okay, but if you consider it to be the one thing that ‘ruins’ a franchise for you, maybe it is time for some self-reflection.
More Star Wars will come, and no, you won’t enjoy every single release, but let those who do like it have a chance to enjoy getting more Star Wars content. Believe it or not, some of us here love that we are getting more stories in a universe we grew up with.
Disney does not pay me to write this; I’m just a tired, long-standing Star Wars fan who realized some time ago that it isn’t my story to tell; I am here to listen to the tales being told. Critiquing a product is fine, but at the end of the day, even a review is just one person's opinion; you have yours, and I have mine. I want to enjoy Star Wars for once and chat with a like-minded community without comments telling me I shouldn’t like something because of their ideologies.
Star Wars is made for everyone but is aimed at the younger generation; it has been like this since the beginning. So, try to enjoy these new stories or move on from the franchise instead of spreading hate.
Allow those who still love this galaxy far, far away to enjoy and share our love for these new stories and find happiness for yourself elsewhere.
For the rest of us, The Acolyte is available on Disney+, along with other wonderful Disney Star Wars shows and movies, such as Rebels, Rogue One, The Mandalorian, and Andor.
May the force be with you, always.