BothAndorandThe Acolyteare two of theStar Warsshows with darker tones, butAndor’stone works better for one key reason.The Acolytecertainly didn’t deserve all the hate it received, andthe backlash toThe Acolytewas often vitriolic. Even so, it’s true that there were various flaws with the show, ranging from its redundant episodes regardingwhat happened on Brendokto the plot leaning too heavily on plot twists.
Andor, by comparison, is easily one ofStar Wars’best TV shows, andAndorseason 2is primed to be just as good—if not better. What makes this comparison particularly interesting is the fact that both shows have similar aims of bringing a darker, more serious tone to the franchise. However,this approach worked brilliantly forAndor, but it fell a bit flat inThe Acolytefor one reason in particular.
Andor’s Darker Tone Is Set On Fighting Fascism, A Core Star Wars Idea
Andor Is Effectively A Darker Take On The Story Of A New Hope—As Was Rogue One
Part of what makesAndor’sdarker tone so effective is thatthe show stays true to the original ideas and messaging ofStar Wars, just asRogue One: A Star Wars Storydid. That is,Andoris about the boots-on-the-ground efforts to stop the Empire and, by nature of that, push back against fascism. This is precisely the story ofA New Hope(and the original trilogy in general) but from a new perspective.
Andoris about the boots-on-the-ground efforts to stop the Empire and, by nature of that, push back against fascism.
Whereas the original trilogy was about hope above all else—as the title ofA New Hopemakes quite clear—Andor’sfocus is on the realistic brutalities of war and fighting back against oppression.Andoris especially centered on those who are everyday people and not exceptional Force-users or individuals destined for something as massive as restoring the Jedi or rebuilding the Republic. This makes the darker tone work, just as it did inRogue One, because it’s a brand-new lens on theStar Warsstory of pushing back against oppression.
The Acolyte Is Too Empathetic With The Enemy
AlthoughThe Acolytealso had a darker tone,one of the issues was the show’s degree of sympathy for and ambiguity about its villains. A certain level of sympathy for villains makes for an excellent story. After all, Darth Vader’s redemption arc, which is at the core of the original trilogy, requires that the audience have empathy for him. There are countless other examples of this inStar Warsas well.
The problem withThe Acolytewas that it had such extensive sympathy for its villains and blurred the lines between good and evil so much that it was difficult to suss out who the true villain was, even by the end. Initially, it seemed like Mae was the undeniable villain, given she was running around killing Jedi. However, the show then revealed that she had actually been framed by the Jedi when she was just a child, after they had also killed everyone in her coven, including her mother right in front of her.
The problem withThe Acolytewas that it had such extensive sympathy for its villains and blurred the lines between good and evil.
Osha becomes a villain over the course of the show, but because we see her transformation and what caused her fall, it’s clear that this isn’t a black-and-white issue, as was the case for Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. Even Qimir, as a Sith, wasn’t entirely devoid of a sympathetic story arc, as he’d clearly had some sort of tragic event with his former Jedi Master and was just likable in general. In fact, he was arguably the most popular character in the entire show, which doesn’t mean he isn’t evil but does make him more sympathetic.
The reverse was also true.Although the Jedi are the undeniable heroes ofStar Warsin terms of the franchise’s larger narrative, inThe Acolyte, they don’t come out looking all that great. Master Sol is the most obvious example of this, as he was the one who killed Mother Aniseya, framed Mae, and manipulated Osha for years. Even Vernestra Rwoh has a questionable relationship with ‘good’ in light of her decision to completely cover up what really happened with the Jedi andthe Witches of Brendok.
The Acolyte Ending Explained: The Shadow Of Darth Vader Descends In The High Republic Era
The Acolyte episode 8 wraps up season 1 of the High Republic show by casting the shadow of the dark side, and Darth Vader, over the Jedi Order.
Despite Its Tonal Shift, Andor Is Still Truer To Star Wars Than The Acolyte
Star Wars Has Always Been About The Good Standing Up To (And Defeating) Evil
Ultimately,Andoris simply more in keeping with the underlying message ofStar WarsthanThe Acolyteis. There’s plenty to be said about the benefits of sympathetic, complex villains and moral ambiguity. Part of the problem is,Star Warshas always been about good versus evil, whether that’s the Jedi versus the Sith or the Rebellion versus the Empire.
Admittedly,The Acolytewas also cut short before it could really prove its messaging. It was clear that the creators of the show were planning for and even betting on a second season, which may have reinforced similar messaging toAndor. In light ofThe Acolytenot getting a second season, though,Andor’sdarker tone works so much better.
Andor
Cast
Andor is a Star Wars prequel series set before the events of Rogue One, following Cassian Andor as he navigates a world of danger and deception. The series delves into his transformation into a pivotal figure in the struggle against the Galactic Empire.
The Acolyte
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
