THE ACOLYTE EPISODE 7 REACTION & REVIEW "Choice" | The Mystery FINALLY Revealed

In this week's Live Stream, we'll be discussing The Acolyte on Disney+. The Acolyte picks up at the end of The High Republic Era and begins the period between The High Republic Era and the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. We give our reaction to everything that happened in The Acolyte Episode 7, and look towards The Acolyte Episode 8 (The Acolyte Finale) next week, predicting what might happen throughout the series. Plus, we take your questions, comments, and theories in a LIVE Q&A/Ask Us Anything throughout the stream. Don't miss it!
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[@thatfunkymonkey7667]

Great listen like always, congrats on 10k subs

[@starwarslads]

Thank you very much!

[@Breno_Lira]

Sol reminded me of Dagan Gera in this episode. Not as extreme of course but Sol failed to keep his desires in check, like Dagan Gera and his needs to explore Tanalorr which became his obsession and the reason for his fall.

[@starwarslads]

There's a lot of desire and obsession in Sol for sure, and Indaara tries to have him keep it in check. Why Sol is so honed in on Osha and yet still misidenties Mae would be a good angle to examine for the finale. Dagan Gera is a good comparison!

[@Breno_Lira]

@@starwarslads maybe Sol couldn't tell Mae and Osha apart because they are the same being? Since that they have the same M-count and the symbiotic thing? From my understanding, in regards of the force you can't differentiate them. One being split in two

[@starwarslads]

Yeah, definitely a factor, but then why are Sol and Qimir both drawn to Osha only? We need more on that and why Mae isn't as appealing if they're the same being split in two. Is there something the ascension ceremony diluted from Mae, and if so, why emphasize he misidenties her for Osha. Definitely like your thinking about them being the same in the force, but now we gotta see what the story will really do with that in the present.

[@DamnFineCupOfCoffee]

The “truth” was too tame and was basically just along the lines of what was suggested before anyways (Jedi mistakes, coverup, etc). And not immediately seeing our characters’ reaction to it in the present undercuts its weight even more. It seems the show thought this different point of view would blow our minds or something, teasing it episode after episode, when they had the opportunity to really shock us with something unexpected (Iike greater Sith machinations, or something extra sketchy from the Jedi, like brain washing etc to really put us in the shoes of those who would seek freedom from the Jedi’s “policing”, like Qimir/Sith) The show was basically getting by on mystery and it seems they finally revealed their pretty weak hand

[@starwarslads]

A fair perspective to have! It definitely leaves all parties in a sad but understandable state (except Koril), but it also does leave Mae and Osha as bigger victims than before. Indaara also is now seen as detached, but ultimately one of the better off figures once everything piles up and goes wrong. Is there a chance we see more about how the vergence was used to create the split artificial twins (a theory Sanak had but not one that highly voiced online from what we've seen) and how Qimir and other Sith may have played a role? Perhaps!

[@DamnFineCupOfCoffee]

@@starwarslads here’s hoping the finale capitalises on this intrigue

[@DaleESkywalker]

Kelnacca ragdolling Sol and Torbin was pretty epic. Short, but sweet!

[@starwarslads]

If Kelnacca does this possessed, one has to wonder what Burryaga and Arkoff were doing against the Nihil regularly!

[@dillonkoestler3065]

I have been really enjoying this show, and I liked this episode as it stands alone, but it was so similar to episode 3. For as much build up as there was around what the truth of the past actually was, it wasn't that shocking. It doesn't change much to act as a satisfying revelation. It still feels like there should be 3 or 4 episodes left. I'm not sure how episode 8 can tie up all the plot threads if it isn't like 2 hours long or something.

[@starwarslads]

Yeah, it's so focused on the Jedi perspective and fails Mae pretty badly with having her have her own flashback. Interesting things that were there could've been extended out with dialogue and making this 50 minutes instead of accelerating so quickly after a recap and having more discussions

[@jaxsonburch-eo1vz]

I liked the action in this episode but I can’t help but ask why this show has such short episodes. I think Qumir is a good idea for a good character, same with Sol, Torbin, and Jecki. But the show just isn’t hitting where it should for me. I’m watching house of the dragon right now and it’s just night and day in terms of quality of production and writing.

[@starwarslads]

We totally agree. A lot of the editing is very rushed too, so the genuinely interesting or great scenes have no time to sit and marinate for the characters, plot, and audience. Sol having a moment of anguish last episode stood out so much for a reason, and that episode is genuinely the show's best attempt to stop and think about its story and thematic journey. It's missing a lot of the special potential it sometimes has shown outside of the lightsaber duels.

[@jaxsonburch-eo1vz]

@@starwarslads Well said. And yeah maybe they should have just done away with the twin storyline and focused more on Sol and Jecki doing a real investigation into these murders. Maybe they discover that the link between the killings is in Sol’s past. And we could get a dual perspective with the Sith and apprentice. I just feel like this show had to have been very different at some point. There’s no way this lady made Russian Doll on Netflix and then this.

[@Kasey_Barkle]

Should’ve been a movie and told chronologically. Someone will do it

[@starwarslads]

This feels like a show that needed the Obi-Wan Kenobi six episode treatment as is, or expanded out to 10 episodes

[@Kasey_Barkle]

@@starwarslads im hoping Patterson or someone else cuts this into a 2:15 movie. Start with the flashback, then transition into Mae hunting those responsible . I’m also looking forward to seeing if the show feels any differently watching it from the beginning once it’s all out, as I’ve only watched each episode once. I’m not watching anything from the Obi Wan series until PixelJoker95 releases his version (he works for ILM and is redoing effects and doing additional shots and all that jazz)

[@starwarslads]

We're aware of the edit, but he's probably not an ILM artist at this point if he's making this version while still employed haha

[@annalivia1308]

Just think of the first season of The Next Generation. Would you ever recommend it to get started with Star Trek? Most certainly not. Those times when a show had a whole season that had its strange moments and was still allowed to take off and get to 8 seasons (counting Picard season 3). Give it time to breathe.

[@starwarslads]

That's a good perspective to have. It's a shame that many streaming era shows are not only hampered by structure and first season flaws, but they get no chance to become more. With the amount of negativity online and manipulation of many voting sites, fair and honest critique also gets drowned out for not being as financially friendly as polarized takes. Here's to hoping we get a strong finale and a quick turnaround if we get a S2!

[@hawkeyemihawkgettingmoneylord]

Yea bud what about the thousands other shows that didn't have good first season so they were canceled. The exception is not the rule my guy.

[@starwarslads]

We'd say that while that's also true, especially in the streaming era, many of the franchises and IPs well established in transmedia for decades often times will be able to force the issue and cover for less received stories thanks to a cash cow doing well. That's probably why a lot of Star Wars Disney+ is being reexamined and movies are being pushed to the forefront again. Mandalorian and Grogu can effectively be a S4 of the show and highlight Favreau's strengths as a film director (he'd never done TV before and was obviously weakened without Filoni full around for BoBF and Mando S3), while reusing sets and assets (like the 80s and 90s Star Trek films) to keep costs controlled as they push Din Djarin and Grogu to movie-level status. If we get a Thrawn appearance, a summarization of key events in the Mando-verse, and the film is a hit, then the shows with tighter budgets and a shift to being TV episodes and not these 4-6 hour movies in parts can maximize both mediums with the financial buffers necessary to take risks and make the best stories for each medium.

[@lukeluke333lukeluke]

i won't lie. I'm not watching The Acolyte but watched reviews to see if it turned out any good. Which is clearly not the case. I can see some good ideas but the foresight, knowledge, and execution sound awful and lacking... Was hoping for another Andor but instead. We got something that barely makes sense. Still don't understand how this cost $180 million? I think there was rumors of reshoots and the show was a mess a year ago. I guess everything was mishandled... Its a shame. I just want a good Star Wars story. At least House of the Dragon is awesome and there's a season 2 of Andor to look forward to.

[@starwarslads]

Yeah we're not sure about how this was $180 million. Now if we get another crazy duel in the finale, we could honestly buy it being 100+ compared to the 90 reported for Ahsoka, because as fun as the duels are in that show, all the choreography in this one definitely clears it. It's got some awesome visuals at times too and was mostly shot without the Volume too. Perhaps the space chase is also a big spectacle. We'd trade a duel away for more runtime each episode with that characters. Comparing Star Wars to House of the Dragon is probably unhealthy. Yeah, Andor is incredible and a mature drama in the SW universe, but it's got almost nothing to do with the general interests of many Star Wars fans, which the Mandoverse is more suited for. This show was never going to be HotD level writing or dialogue once the episode runtimes were revealed. It's too short and it's got the Disney+ of being a 4-6 hour film. The Acolyte especially with its flashbacks struggles with the movie as TV format too, much like Book of Boba Fett did. It doesn't deserve the massive campaign of forced hate, but we're not saying it's special either. Just very average despite some of the most unique ideas and lore go be played with. Hopefully the finale justifies a S2 and recontextualizes the season further for a truly dark side story.

[@db7819z]

I don’t understand Star Wars anymore… I feel like all the characters are just making random choices that make no sense I don’t understand. Am I supposed to care if one character wins and the other one loses? I don’t care who kills who like most of them are already dead from a previous episode anyway, but look on soul face after he kills that force mom which lady where he looks all confused… That was my face the whole episode I’m just very confused I don’t understand what this is. It doesn’t seem like Star Wars.

[@starwarslads]

It's different for sure, and you don't have to like it. Sanak is enjoying it but finding it average outside of episodes 5 and 6, and parts of 2. Liam isn't enjoying it much. We both agree the character choices feel pretty paper thin, but the justification for most is there, there's just simply no time! That's why 6 feels pretty good even if the story has slowed from the Osha and Qimir perspective, there's actually reckoning with what's going on. We appreciate The Acolyte trying new things. Unfortunately, it's got all the qualities of the prequels, strengths and flaws.

[@db7819z]

@@starwarslads I am well aware I don’t have to like it and I definitely don’t. I re-watched it again today and geez. The whole first 15 minutes nothing happens at all, then when they meet the coven or whatever it’s like all completely erratic and makes no sense. If that lady was going to let OSHA go why did she turn into a terrifying cloud phantom thing… Sol ‘s face is like, “wait if you were going to let OSHA go why did you do that?” It’s like every character that isn’t a Jedi has bipolar disorder. And the Jedi themselves are like weak and pathetic and dumb. I hate it!

[@db7819z]

@@starwarslads it’s like so cheap and bad I’m actually mad at them for taking my Disney+ subscription money. Like seriously screw then for doing this to Star Wars I like Star Wars it’s supposed to be better than this. This isn’t even like prequel bad or rise of sky walker bad… this is like I want a refund for my subscription bad.

[@starwarslads]

Ok, well those are your opinions and you're welcome to them, but we can't really help you with your subscription? Aniseya is also trying to escape with Mae, who Sol misidenties as Osha, which could be a plot point people misread and has more to it for the finale and how Sol views/treats Osha. Like we said, we're open to discussion, but these are mostly statements of how you feel and we're not going to deny or affirm them. Not really much else we can say other than the Mae misidentification and the comment we shared before.

[@db7819z]

@@starwarslads You can’t really help? I am not asking you to help that is a strange thing for you to say. You are a KZbin channel and this is a comments section. I’m not blaming you that Acolyte is so bad. Isn’t a KZbin comments section where people are supposed to comment about what they think? I’m not attacking your or your channel or saying it’s your fault. You are acting like I’m blaming you for Disney producing this garbage. It’s cool I’ll stay off your channel from now on clearly you don’t want people to engage with genuine thoughts and feelings about your videos.