The Acolyte’s Twin Concept Sputters In Its Debut

Whereas The Acolyte is reviewing properly sufficient, pretty much as good as Ahsoka, maybe, however not fairly in addition to The Mandalorian and Andor, I got here away from the episode not likely liking the whole central premise.

This isn’t a spoiler, as each a late TV spot and an interview with the star herself confirmed this earlier than the present even got here out, that Amandla Stenberg performs force-powered twins on the present. Right here’s what she stated to The Electrical Playground:

“I play twins within the present. Their names are Osha and Mae they usually form of skew in the direction of totally different sides of the power. Though that’s form of up for debate and hopefully there’ll be one, as soon as all people will get to see the present. Mae is on a path for revenge – she’s on a warpath. One thing that occurred of their childhood separated these twins and now Mae is out for revenge. Osha, who’s a mechanic, and who was part of the Jedi order, however left as a padawan, is accused of the revenge that’s going down and has to defend herself whereas additionally discovering that her twin sister continues to be alive.”

I…don’t prefer it to date. I don’t assume it labored properly within the first two episodes, and I’m unsure how I really feel about the way it looks like it’s going to play out going ahead, however I suppose I’ve to provide it extra of an opportunity.

There are a couple of issues with this. The present tries to drag a “gotcha” within the first episode by having Mae stalk and kill a Jedi (Carrie-Anne Moss, who higher be in some flashbacks lest she not be completely wasted). Then, we see a chipper, very not-killer-seeming Osha within the subsequent scene, who’s arrested for the crime and everybody rapidly puzzles out {that a} twin sister she thought was useless is the truth is alive, and now looking Jedi. It appears like form of an affordable trick of a gap.

One minor factor that actually bothers me, and once more, looks like it’s bending over backwards to make this idea work, is that each sisters have the identical coiffure, the purple braids organized in the identical approach (Mae’s is longer down the perimeters, I suppose). As I watched, I believed “oh, perhaps Mae is disguising herself as Osha on goal” besides no, it’s revealed Mae doesn’t even know Osha is alive both. However nonetheless, similar hair, including to the confusion and the gimmick that everybody thinks Osha is the killer initially. I assume it additionally helps with wardrobe modifications when filming…

I additionally hope the story isn’t making a straight line towards precisely the place I feel it’s going, particularly:

• The 4 Jedi being stalked, together with her outdated grasp, have some accountability for the fireplace that killed their household and separated the 2 ladies. And/or they purposefully left Mae to die, considering she was evil for beginning the fireplace, whereas saving her sister.
• Osha ultimately convinces Mae to show from the darkish facet to allow them to be sisters once more (particularly since a lot of that is seemingly revenge for a sister she now is aware of is alive?).

Once more, it’s simply two episodes, however I do hope issues get higher from right here, as I used to be not in love with the double premiere, and the dual factor feels grating and compelled to me. However we’ll see the way it goes.

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Decide up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller collection and The Earthborn Trilogy.