36:53 CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: The Wizard of Oz, film/ Over the Rainbow, song and its relation to WWII | The Wizard of Oz was released in 1939, the same year as the start of World War II. World leaders from various countries drew solace and encouragement from the melodies therein during/after the war. I do not have citations for how the film/song affected the morale of viewers worldwide; my claims were off the cuff. However, the film was popular enough to warrant several Oscar nominations, and a re-release in 1949. So, while The Wizard of Oz definitely became a meme throughout the war years and beyond, the claim that Hollywood released this in response to WWII proper would be technically incorrect. At the time, the filmmakers would only have troubling news and threats of war to wrestle with in deciding to release this film.
Casablanca is one of my absolute favourite films. The events of WWII are central to the plot, and it was released several months early to coincide with Operation Torch (the allied invasion of Morocco). It is everything that the Acolyte is not, despite being a product of a studio system that churned out vast numbers of films. Despite being "stagey", it has an authenticity that draws you into its world. Despite being a story about desperate people attempting to escape from oppression and evil, it is filled with hope. I could talk at length about the performances (many of the actors were themselves refugees from fascism), the direction, the musical score, and the cinematography, but all of these would mean nothing if it were not for the razor sharp scriptwriting. It's a masterclass in flawed, believable characters, in whom it's impossible not to become invested, even the supporting cast each have their moment to shine. The sparkling, witty, dialogue is unwittingly quoted by people who have never seen the film. The anti fascist message is far from subtle, yet one does not feel that one its being beaten around the head and neck with it.
I don’t like the escapism argument applied to Star Wars, because as much as it has always been a “Space Western”/“Science Fantasy” property, Lucas always took great pains to ground it in real-life politics, for better and for worse. His inspiration for the Rebel Alliance was literally “what if I made a movie depicting the Viet Cong as the heroes?” and his heavy use of WW2 parallels was meant to specifically draw both from peoples’ lived experiences around WW2/its aftermath and also from the copious amounts of WW2 media- movies, TV shows, etc-that younger people in the late 70s would’ve been exposed to. Ironically it’s the influence of people like Marcia Lucas and Larry Kasdan that is responsible for a lot of the meat-and-potatoes filmic storytelling and audience manipulation that people are so fond of in the original trilogy. And then you get to the prequels and George is just fully off of his leash to lecture on post-cold war geopolitics and why he dislikes neocons and neolibs in equal measure, etc. Frankly I feel like a lot of the criticisms that people have been applying to The Acolyte were also applied to the Prequel trilogy (with good reason). There’s a lot that I appreciate about the prequels and they’re fascinating as art objects and pieces of cinema history, but a decade of Disney strike-outs has caused people to reappraise them in a way that they don’t quite deserve IMO. Ironically enough though, the prequels did a way better job of showing the Jedi as flawed/instrumental in their own demise.
@@cartilagehead6326 Wrong. Lucas has said many times that he made Star Wars "for kids," so there's no debating the escapism argument. He depicted the Empire as WWII Nazis for the same reason he uses colors to denote X-wing squadrons, and stark green and red computer imagery to display the amount of time left for the Death Star to clear Yavin, or the red and blue/yellow lightsabers. It's a really wonderful way to clearly tell the audience what is happing with out additional exposition. By Attack of the Clones you'd be correct in suggesting that Lucas leaned into the Vietnam war era during the battle scenes, but not before that. Clones is the movie I'm most familiar with since I was an editor on it. You're correct that there's plenty of politics in the prequels, but the prequels aren't really a great examples of Carter's point. George has a very interesting perspective on politics. It's one of the things that complicated the work we did in editorial. He felt that certain depictions of things like the Trade Federation were clear representations of capitalist bureaucracy, but it kinda didn't make a lot of sense. And his need to awkwardly create a universal bureaucracy in Star Wars that doesn't really translate to the real world hurt the prequels, where the stark Nazi/Empire imagery worked amazingly. So look, there's defiantly a place in cinema for social commentary, politics, and the avant-garde, but it's not Star Wars. George really didn't create a socio-political structure that makes sense. Dune maybe? Not Star Wars.
I'm not much of a Star Wars fan (but am a guy) and watched the series out of curiosity. The Acolyte isn't bad for a Star Wars show; it's just a bad show period. How many time did they use the "someone is unconscious and wakes up in a strange location" plot device? It had to have been at least 4 times in 8 episodes.
If it was a sexist issue why would we hate all the other shows and movies? Obi Wan, and Mando are complete garbage and don’t have female leads. It is gaslighting WE ALL KNOW what good storytelling is, and pathetic worms like Leslie, Filoni, and Kennedy try and tell us we don’t.
If I'm being honest, your plot overview at the beginning actually made the acolyte plot sound interesting. Different writer, different director, we might actually have had something good here.
Agreed. I tried to re-imagine it (I'm an amateur screenwriter) while keeping it as close to the original as possible, and it really could have been great. If you rework it to avoid all of the plotholes, lore breaks, and pacing, there's something there to work with. I think a big issue they ran into, and what so many people making Star Wars are running into, is that you aren't free to do whatever you want in a franchise. It's nice to have a world already built and an audience waiting, but other than that, it's actually really restrictive to write within a franchise. You can’t write whatever you want, you have to write what the story calls for. The director has said she wanted to tell a Sith story, so maybe it would have worked better within the franchise to tell a story following a Sith right before the time of peace, like the last stragglers fighting to keep the Sith alive. It could have been fun.
@@filmanalysis7191 The bigger issue they ran into was that the plot was entirely dependent on poor communication, misunderstandings, dumb decisions and inconsistent motivations. See the Pitch Meeting, Ryan George spells it out well with good satire.
Just a minor observation as to why Mae is bad. She goes to kill an evil Jedi Master/Trinity. At the end of the fight, Mae realizes she can kill Trinity by throwing a knife at an innocent bystander. And it works perfectly. Except one problem, why would Mae assume the evil Jedi would sacrifice herself for the innocent if the Jedi are evil? For that reason alone, Mae should rot in jail for the rest of her existence.
@@TreyStation64 you could tear apart the motivation in almost every scene. Why does the Sith dude toy with Mae at the apothecary's place and in the jungle? How could that possible be testing her? Why does he kill the Wookie if Mae has never seen his face? Does she even know he is a Sith? Why does he attack the other 8 Jedi after killing the Wookie? Would could possibly make him think Mae is a good candidate to replace Mae? Why does he ask her to kill 4 connected Jedi if he wants to prove his apprentice and still stay in secret? Why does Sol let Osha go on the Wookie mission? what possible benefit would he see of putting the only person he loves in harms way? why the F does the Mother Witch mind-rape the Padawan? none of it makes any sense.
It’s worse than that - she wasn’t evil, she just defended herself when she was attacked. Secondly…jedi can block lasers with their lightsaber…they need to see hidden things as 2-3 year olds to even be accepted as jedi. Hiding and throwing something at a jedi should by all accounts be impossible.
That whole scene invalidates Mae's motivation. She attacks the Jedi for killing innocents? How does she provoke 'Trinity'? By attacking innocent civillians. Congratulations Leslye, 10 seconds into your show and the villain is already a hypocrite by their *OWN* standards.
As one of the millions of kids who grew up with the OT -- it was central to my identity, and played a significant part in inspiring me to dedicate my life to storytelling -- what I find particularly galling about Disney Star Wars is the treatment of fans. I recognize that generational interests and priorities shift, and that contemporary audiences place far more significance on issues of identity than I do (I'm really just in it for a ripping yarn and characters I care about, with a smattering of profound themes thrown into the mix). If having a queer showrunner and lead actor are the most important factors to young audiences, along with moral relativism and deconstructing the Jedi, then have at it. I was content to say "this Star Wars is not for me," and move on. But to have my dislike of this show used as a cudgel *against* me -- to be slandered (by a giant, greedy, stingy, soulless corporation) as some reprehensible, homophobic, misogynist, racist, review-bombing reprobate -- is absolutely beyond the pale. I have no doubt that it was a craven, calculated move on Disney's part to centralize the queerness of Headland and Stenberg so that any/all critics could be dismissed as bigots. I will never forgive them for this, and neither will the majority of fans.
Their marketing strategy is utterly mind-boggling. I fail to see how it benefits their company, the audience they wish to reach, or the world in general. It's almost divisiveness for its own sake. The answer HAS to be new stories.
@@_kmCarter Couldn't agree more. I've seen this discussed elsewhere, but Fallout seems to be a perfect example of a show with plenty of "progressive" content (gay and non-binary characters, anti-capitalist sentiment, etc.), but told such a great story, with carefully crafted characters, that it was embraced by almost everyone. I firmly believe that audiences aren't opposed to progressive content, we just hate being lectured (by giant, greedy, stingy, soulless corporations).
@@andywellsglobaldomination Boomers have never really been the target demographic of SW. Gen X is where the fandom got most of its original audience(assuming that when you mean boomers, you're talking about baby boomers, not submarines armed with ICBMs).
@@BiggieTrismegistus Gonna push back a bit on Star Trek. PIC S3 was pretty damned good. As far as the MCU goes, I (mostly) stopped caring a while ago. Falcon and Winter Soldier was the last Marvel thing I watched. The ONLY think I care about from the MCU is Guardians of the Galaxy. Don't care one bit about DC live action stuff. I stick to the DCAU.
Somebody told me, with episode 8: “It’s like they are trying to make you feel bad about liking everything you liked in the original trilogy, and calling it ‘making you think.’”
The best constructive criticism of the Acolyte. Not just snarky (but still fun), this is a brilliant deconstruction of many missteps and missed opportunities. It’s a lesson for all of us. Thanks!
I still have not found a breakdown that nails it as much as yours does. You made me a fan for life, thank you ma’am and may the force be with you and with us all
I have nothing against expanding a TV-Show with books and articles but the fact that they are used to cover for the mistakes either in the Sequels or now in the Acolyte to explain things that should be clear from watching the show itself (which I will not do but I'll happily watcch YT reviews with spoilers ha) shows how any personal interest is put first and good storytelling last (not even second otherwise it would be storytelling first, set quality second and personal agenda last).
She tried to subvert literally every aspect of the franchise, and in doing so there was no core element of contrast to focus on. It ends up being mush. Trying to subvert good/bad, masculine/feminine, etc all at once becomes too much. Everything ends up a tapestry of grey which just isn’t compelling to watch. You normally have to highlight a theme and use contrast and juxtaposition to really push your idea forward. That’s why Rashomon works so well. Its theme is moral ambiguity but Kurosawa uses stark contrasting scenes that flip the character’s behaviors and motivations tremendously so you can truly see how difficult the truth is to know. His vision could only achieved by the superb acting of Mifune. I knew immediately that Headland was trying to riff off this movie but she tries to subvert all aspects of the character at once and she never gives us any motivations for their actions. They all seem to just be flailing around without any direction, swimming in a soup of ambiguity. I initially thought she might play into a fight club twist where the twins were just one person acting as two, which might have saved the plot some if executed well but the acting was just so bland.
There it is. Nihilism. Star Wars came out in a period of nihilism in Hollywood and was a rejection of that. It was what we needed. Thank you for recognizing that, and saying what I've been saying this whole time: we need hope right now, and Star Wars should be a source for that.
I feel like the most entertaining thing about this show..... Is imagining being Disney and having to call Ewan McGregor into the office asking him to come back for season 2 of Obi-Wan. Ewan's show got 90 million. The Acolyte got 180 million. The pack of nobodies literally got double what the award winning actor, who has awards for acting older than some the Acolyte staff....his awards are older that the lead actor in the acolyte. Imagine that conversation and you have had more fun than a whole season of the Acolyte.
Disney's tenure with Star Wars feels like a decade long episode of Black Mirror. I cannot comprehend how the power that be are so out of touch, misguided, and are still allowed to be apart of this once great franchise. It is difficult to hold out hope for something that you love when there are no signs of hope. They have done such a poor job that I, someone who has no experience writing have unintentionally become inspired to write my own stories. Stories that are competent, MEANINGFUL, and don't waste $200 million. I love channels like yours because it is clear that you actually care about what you do. Thank you.
I think "Rouge One" was one of the best Star Wars films overall. I go back-and-forth as to whether it's "The" best, or just second best behind Empire. Ya, I know, major bummer that every one dies at the end, but these were meant to be one-off "filler" films.
They are allowed because George Lucas allowed them to buy it. Think about it, the Evil Empire bought the rights to one of our cultural touchstones and turned it into a factory for capitalistic gain. It turned art in product. What did we all think was going to happen?
It really hit home when you mentioned Wizard of Oz. I feel like modern entertainment is desperately lacking these stories that truly inspire and instill hope, righteousness and morality to aim to look forward to as individuals, instead of bringing more nonsense of everyday socio-politics and nihilism.
So this might be the best part of my entire July. I love love love how you critique critically without kid gloves but also don’t lean on hot takes and outrage to capture the audience. Thanks for treating us like intelligent discerning adults. ❤
To be fair, Lucas was much more of an ideas guy or visionary, but struggles greatly with the execution of those ideas. This is why Marsha Lucas, Gary Kurts, Lawrence Kasdan, Irvine Kershner and others were so integral to the success of the original trilogy.
Marcia Lucas's contribution to star wars is greatly exaggerated. The first film was 75-80% edited by Paul Hirsch. George and Marcia got credit almost incidentally because they had both taken turns TRYING to edit Star Wars before Hirsch was eventually brought in to clean up their mess. George Lucas himself was on the brink of a panic attack until Hirsch was brought in. In various interviews, he actually admits it was the watching of Hirsch edit the film followed by John Williams scoring the film that gave him a little piece of mind in the immediate preceding of the initial Star Wars release and gave him confidence in the idea that the film in the very least, wouldn't tank.
@@macree01 thanks for that clarification. I was talking about her work helping edit the film, but also her invaluable status as the one who could and did push back on George. Spielberg, Coppola, De Palma, and their other friends all talked about how Marsha was the one who could get through to George. She had input and was not quiet about it. Many have said she understood the heart and human aspect and pushed back when that was getting lost. We can see the loss of her presence in the prequels and the beginnings of it in Return of the Jedi as they were separated. During the prequels, George was surrounded by people who saw him as THE George Lucas. There was so much less pushback. During the OT, he got it from the studio, from Kurtz, Kasdan, Kershner, his director friends that he consulted, and (the biggest guns) Marsha.
Couldn't agree more. Kasdan's refusal to have anything to do with the prequel series (thought George should do it on his own, given their past creative differences) REALLY showed through in the dialogue. While people have accepted the Prequel movies to a certain degree over time, we all know in the moment, they were a huge disappointment. And one of the most common areas of derision pointed at them (correctly IMO) was the horrible, hacky, cheesy dialogue. It IS bad. And that was George flying more solo without those creative writers pushing back on him. Now, I didn't realize until I went back and looked, that Kasdan also worked on The Force Awakens. And that makes sense as well. Ignore Episodes VIII and IX. When The Force Awakens came out, I was entertained by the movie. I was hopeful on a new cast of characters and how they aligned with the old cast of characters. It had that banter, I enjoyed the Force Awakens. I DID feel it was just a very open re-do of A New Hope. It covered the same essential plot devices and milestones. And at the time, I wished they'd departed more from "the old formula". And knowing that Kasdan was involved, that makes some sense. I know he didn't work on the script for A New Hope, but The Force Awakens was a call-back to a lot of the original trilogy themes. They then proceeded to pour gasoline on it and light it on fire after that, but at the time, that's how I viewed it. And to be fair. Harrison Ford and Kasdan had always wanted the death of Han Solo as part of the story. It's something they both felt strongly about, but that Lucas did not agree with. So keep that in mind when you point all the blame purely at Disney for killing Han. And honestly, despite HOW they brought the storyline and the climax of that to that point, IMO how they handled that scene was beautiful. People probably forget it somewhat now. But as a parent...as a father...that subtle gesture of Han stroking his sons face in that moment hit home really hard. You can't control how the world impacts your children. You prepare them as best you can, and try to be there for them in any way you can, but life takes its course, and there's often not much you can do. But they are ALWAYS your kids. And Hans empathy and forgiveness for Ben in that moment, is really touching. And you can see, it immediately impacts Ben. That he'd made the wrong choice. That he'd in fact done something really wrong. An idea they could have explored SO MUCH better as a possible redemption arc. But they blew that opportunity also.
Totally on point about the ship travel. The interior of the millennium falcon is a 3rd of the screen time in “a new hope” . Every kid in the world wanted to play the 3d chessboard fighting game.
From what I can tell, they lost track of the difference between "bad guy vs good guy" and "protagonist vs antagonist." I saw the director say in an interview that she thought it was so interesting that for the Sith, the Jedi are the bad guys. This is just the definition of the relationship between protagonist and antagonist. We follow the protagonist, and the antagonist is who stands in the way of them achieving their goals. If there are two people trying to get the same job, they each are the protagonist to their own story, and the antagonist of each other's. That doesn't mean that either of them is a bad guy. "Bad guy vs good guy" is less of a story structure for the writer and more of a means for the audience to learn from the story. It's about the morality, not necessarily who stands in the way of who in the story. Osha is the protagonist, but she is a bad guy. Sol ended up being the antagonist, but he (mostly) was a good guy. All of the people who contributed to making the story what it was should have understood that they would instantly lose the audience by asking us to see Osha as a good guy. Our morals tell us we can’t trust her or want her to achieve her goals, so we can't trust anyone who wants her to achieve her goals. You alienate the audience immediately and lose all credibility. Everything they tried to say with this story has to be called into question because we can't trust storytellers who want us to believe the bad guy is a good guy just because they are the protagonist. You are the protagonist of your own story, but your actions determine if you are a good or bad guy. The Acolyte acts like you are always right and justified if you simply forget other people can be hurt by your actions. Seriously, Osha, Mae, and Sithy are just brats. I've literally met a 5 year old with anger management issues who acts more mature than them.
How? Osha is the main protagonist. She is not "a good guy". We're told this in the very first episode. The story is about her journey from (apparently) innocent maiden to Dark side goddess. The story did not try to convince anyone that Osha is good.
Headland is using an "oppressor" vs "oppressed" categorization, where those classified as "oppressor" - those with power, the Jedi - are evil no matter what good acts they may do, and should be held responsible/accountable for their actions to the point of self-deletion. The "oppressed" unpowerful Sith, on the other hand can do anything they want - lie, steal, kill - without accountability nor moral condemnation because they are seeking freedom from subjugation. You can probably see now why Headland says she'd be a Sith.
@hoos3014 The way her journey is framed tells a lot about how it's supposed to be perceived. For example, her and Mae immediately being happy together again after Osha just committed murder and the way their goodbye scene is framed is trying to make us feel bad for them. We're supposed to feel bad that Osha can't have what she wants, that Sol and the Jedi stood in the way of it, and after her journey, she still can't have it. Then the end shot of her and Sith guy is described by the director as being a "bittersweet" type moment because you know they can't succeed for long. It felt very wrong when I watched it. I knew the scene was trying to make me feel bad for her, but I couldn’t. So much of filmmaking is influenced and defined by the way we interact in real life. What the script told me (Osha is dark side, and I know the dark side is bad in Star Wars) and what the actual scene told me (it is sad that Osha can't have what she wants) are two different things. The music, cinematography, actual camera framing, acting, and pacing all tell the story that this is a bittersweet ending. It's not like Anakin’s fall where the tragedy is about his actual fall to the dark side, but Osha’s tragedy is framed as her not getting everything she wants. You can certainly have the protagonist fail to achieve what they need or want to and have that be a great tragedy. However, you have to make sure they are a "good guy" if you want your audience on board. Most of us don't think Osha had any right to kill Sol, nor did it feel like she really had much of a reason. That means she is a "bad guy," so we naturally can't be sad she didn't get what she wanted. If anything, it only makes us wish she would get what she deserves (arrested).
@@filmanalysis7191 Osha DID get what she wanted; the freedom to make her own choices about her life. That was her motivation as stated multiple times in the first flashback episode. She did not want to be a witch; she wanted no part of the ascension ceremony or her family's plans. She was happy to be a Jedi partially because Sol talked her into it, but also as vehicle to get away from Brendok. But, obviously that did not last as she basically flunked out. Here, the protagonist did achieve her goal her. Reminder: she does not want, and never did want, her life to be entangled with her sister. In fact, Mae's own growth is shown by her finally being okay with letting Osha go. Osha's tragedy is that her goal will lead her into a descent to the Dark side, which we as the audience knows leads to doom. The show always billed itself as giving us a Sith perspective. By that standard, Osha was more than justified by killing Sol (who killed her mom and lied about it for 16 years).
I watched the first 3 episodes of this shite and then bailed. And I have been a die hard Star Wars fan all my life. I'm a 50 year old writer from Australia. I've watched everything Star Wars has put out (even the animated kid's shows) but nothing could make me sit through another episode of the Acolyte. It really has turned me off this franchise, and I fear what's to come. I have watched your Acolyte breakdowns with glee. You've hit the nail on the head with each comment. Sub earned.
PLEASE, you, and EVERYONE, if you haven't already, embrace the One True Only God YHWH Jehovah, Only One Jesus Christ His Only Begotten Son and Lord and Savior of our souls and the Only One Holy Spirit. God is good. God is love. Jesus is Lord. Jesus IS coming. Your soul depends on it! I have seen God act in my life. He saved my soul, changed my heart, changed my mind, helped people through me, took care of people in my life, people I hurt before I found God. God is the only reason I was able to reconcile with my dad before he died. God worked through Jesus Christ to save our souls. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. Be baptized in The Holy Spirit, and if He wills, water as well. Repent of your sins, accept God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit into your heart, that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, that all who believe on Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father Jehovah God but through Him. Not long after I got saved I prayed to God for help understanding the Holy Bible, and that same day someone knocked on my door asking me if I wanted to understand the Bible. The Holy Bible says, "love thy enemy", "turn the other cheek", "If your enemy is hungry, feed him", "if he is thirsty, give him a drink", "pray for those who persecute you", "do not repay evil for evil". LORD willing, all humans may commit sin of almost every kind (gay, straight), and that's wrong, and all humans sin, as God tells us through the The Holy Bible, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." The Holy Bible also says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
I'm glad you noticed the tie to Rashomon. I had no idea that Leslye Headland had actually watched it. I thought I was the only who noticed the tie, but I assumed that Leslye only saw something that was derivative as she used Rashomon so poorly. I also agree that Rashomon is a poor vehicle to be used in a Star Wars universe. I get the feeling that Headland only took superficial queues from other material. Much like a poorly copied Tarantino. The moral ambiguity that He4adland was determined to portray really doesn't work in a universe based on good and evil. Andor however does succeed at what Headland is trying to do, this is largely because Tony Gilroy wisely omits the Jedi and the Sith. His story is of human beings making difficult choices that lie between the good and the dark, an appropriate portrayal of those outside the Force. I hope you have seen Andor, if not please watch it. The show (which is a success) is an interesting contrast with this show (which fails). And indeed, it does feel like licking chalk.
@@MrGadfly772 Andor is on my watch list. And yes, Jedi and Sith are for exploring archetypes. If you’re going to explore moral ambiguity, you need average human characters for that. 🙏🏼
@@_kmCarterI hope you put andor at the top of your priority list, especially after watching the acolyte. As soon as my partner and I finished watching the acolyte, we rewatched andor to cleanse ourselves and bring us some peace and hope for the franchise.
@@ktsul12I watched Andor for the first time at the same time that I watched the Acolyte. I just alternated every couple episodes. The differences in quality are stark.
Mann, if ‘this hurts’ for you, a person that’s not a super fan of Star Wars, imagine how this show feels to us… this show makes me want to cry. How did this happen?
Straight white male here. I'm also a veteran, Christian, and typical conservative served with a side of ultra- conservatism. I say all of that just to create context i suppose, for my following comments. Your take on this show (I've watched all the videos you've made about this show) has been refreshing, entertaining, and cathartic in a way. I spent a lot of time alone as a child, a big constant in my life was StarWars. I had the original Trilogy, box set, special edition. I've probably seen eash movie from the OT OVER 100 times. I have Star Wars tats that i got one year on May the 4th. What's happening to Star Wars hurts me deeply. That might seem silly, but i believe Star Wars is a deep part of our culture and and it's being purposely destroyed. You and i might not sit at the scampfirefire, but i believe we sit on the same side of the battlefield. I appreciate your videos and the way you demonstrate your points. I look forward to more from you, keep up the good work.
@@zacharydavis9583 First, thank you for your service. I have a deep respect for servicemen. 🙏🏼 Also, I was devoutly Christian for most of my young life, and while my own spiritual path has led me to where I am at the moment, I still revere the teachings of Christianity and generally, most Christians. On the same side of the battle, definitely. 🙏🏼 Hello from a nearby campfire. 😌 Keep being you, and loving what you love, my friend.
The Acolyte and other garbage content will fade into obscurity over the years. The OT will always be there. The woke/post-modern/whatever you want to call it cultural movement is already winding down and stuff like "omg the first lesbian Jedi in a Star Wars show!!" no longer gets the riotous applause it used to. Keep your chin up friend.
@@_kmCarter PLEASE, you, and EVERYONE, if you haven't already, re-embrace the One True Only God YHWH Jehovah, Only One Jesus Christ His Only Begotten Son and Lord and Savior of our souls and the Only One Holy Spirit. God is good. God is love. Jesus is Lord. Jesus IS coming. Your soul depends on it! I have seen God act in my life. He saved my soul, changed my heart, changed my mind, helped people through me, took care of people in my life, people I hurt before I found God. God is the only reason I was able to reconcile with my dad before he died. God worked through Jesus Christ to save our souls. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. Be baptized in The Holy Spirit, and if He wills, water as well. Repent of your sins, accept God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit into your heart, that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, that all who believe on Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father Jehovah God but through Him. Not long after I got saved I prayed to God for help understanding the Holy Bible, and that same day someone knocked on my door asking me if I wanted to understand the Bible. The Holy Bible says, "love thy enemy", "turn the other cheek", "If your enemy is hungry, feed him", "if he is thirsty, give him a drink", "pray for those who persecute you", "do not repay evil for evil". LORD willing, all humans may commit sin of almost every kind (gay, straight), and that's wrong, and all humans sin, as God tells us through the The Holy Bible, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." The Holy Bible also says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
@@sanshinobi3664 PLEASE, you, and EVERYONE, if you haven't already, embrace the One True Only God YHWH Jehovah, Only One Jesus Christ His Only Begotten Son and Lord and Savior of our souls and the Only One Holy Spirit. God is good. God is love. Jesus is Lord. Jesus IS coming. Your soul depends on it! I have seen God act in my life. He saved my soul, changed my heart, changed my mind, helped people through me, took care of people in my life, people I hurt before I found God. God is the only reason I was able to reconcile with my dad before he died. God worked through Jesus Christ to save our souls. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. Be baptized in The Holy Spirit, and if He wills, water as well. Repent of your sins, accept God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit into your heart, that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, that all who believe on Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father Jehovah God but through Him. Not long after I got saved I prayed to God for help understanding the Holy Bible, and that same day someone knocked on my door asking me if I wanted to understand the Bible. The Holy Bible says, "love thy enemy", "turn the other cheek", "If your enemy is hungry, feed him", "if he is thirsty, give him a drink", "pray for those who persecute you", "do not repay evil for evil". LORD willing, all humans may commit sin of almost every kind (gay, straight), and that's wrong, and all humans sin, as God tells us through the The Holy Bible, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." The Holy Bible also says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
When Lucas sold Star Wars to Disney, he sat down for an interview with Kathleen Kennedy. Kennedy started to explain the light and dark side in a sort of a grey way. (She was saying the dark side just has natural aspirations that become evil) Lucas imterrupts her and says "the story is about good and evil" - rather than evil starting out as something ok and good and then getting corrupted, the darkness is ALWAYS there and needs to be contained to maintain balance The difference between these two philosophies on evil is subtle but important - and current Lucasfilm is divided between people who see it Kathleens way (who she hires) and people who understand Lucas. Until they sort that division, their storytelling will always be muddled before writing even begins
It is worth observing that your plot breakdown at the beginning is far more coherent than the show itself. Here's hoping that Disney will stop making more Star Wars content and sell the IP to somebody who understands WHY it was so popular in the first place. P.S.-Your statement that ALL of the characters are INSUFFERABLE was spot on.
This breakdown carries so much information and enlightens my existing frustrations with such clarity that I can only consume it in short snippets. But I keep coming back to it a bite at a time because it is more satisfying to know how a beloved franchise was failed than it is to just gnash my teeth in blind frustration.
“Cultural vandalism” is the perfect phrase to describe Disney productions recently, including Star Wars obviously. They can go to hell too for doing this!
This was a wonderful analysis. Im glad more people like you in general are taking the time to point out what is a major flaw in not just this show but other modern movies and shows. Moral ambiguity seems to be the real message Hollywood wants to spread, and they think we are just going to go along for the ride because they insert their own ideologies into an I.P. that has been loved for decades. Most people are fine that the characters they see are not the same gender, color or creed as them. What people are not ok with is seeing something Evil and being told its Good, and then berated for disagreeing.
Are you telling me we didn’t need two different conversations about Green Bean’s tummy issues? 😂 Seriously, this is one of the best reviews I’ve seen. I also was more angry about the offense to writing than the offense to Star Wars. I think many reviewers were so enraged they had difficulty breaking down the specifics of what was wrong.
Terrific insights, km. The original Star Wars was a galvanizing antidote to nihilism, indeed. The best art is always uplifting, and you did that in this video. Cheers, and I'm glad to see the positive response to your channel.
I've been watching House of the Dragon (HotD) alongside The Acolyte and noticed that that both series have general themes of (hi)stories not always telling the whole truth and neither sides of a conflict being completely good or bad. However, HotD differs from The Acolyte in that the producers of HotD actually assertively choose to present one side (the Blacks) as being "good and righteous" (Rhaenyra is in fact is the rightful heir) but also flawed in terms of making serious mistakes (trust in the wrong people, hesitation to act), and the other side (the Greens) as "hypocritical and self-interested" but also sympathetic and realistic (inter-generational traumas and lack of emotional support). Still, there are complexities to each characters' thinking and behaviors, and the show is able to present the entire story from perspectives on both sides without neutering any of the characters (they get increasingly interesting as the story develops). All this to say that I think that HotD has much more compelling writing and more interesting characters than The Acolyte, and the theme of "moral grayness" is much better explored in the former than in the latter. Perhaps The Acolyte would have been more successful here if it had leaned more into Jedi being good at heart but not infallible (they make mistakes in judgment and action) and also more into the Sith (or pre-Sith) being so lost in their concern for the self that they lose sight of what is correct. The idea of grayness comes how much the characters resemble real qualities of human beings and the tension between selfishness and moral expectations, not characters whose actions have no connections to their thoughts or those who have strong words followed up by wish-washy behaviors.
I really appreciate how directly you acknowledge how much Star Wars means to fans. It's not just a movie, it's a philosophy for a lot of people. Disney is treating it like a commodity, but they really never understood it. Star Wars espouses specific ideals, but they are subsumed by Disney's only ideal--shareholder value.
You are so intelligent and so good giving the summary of this poorly written show. I never understood what Headlund was trying to do. She was pushing her own agenda way too much.
Amazing. You’re definitely getting better with each one. And I have learned something from each of your reviews. And I appreciate your message hope at the end. Can’t wait to see where are you take your channel.
Thank you, Acolyte, for showing us these underrated channels and giving them a chance to shine. Truly, you were a poop show. But, truly, you served a greater purpose.
Okay so, just a minor correction here: originally the force is in balance when it’s “light.” The force doesn’t create dark users to balance itself. It’s in its pure form when it’s Light. And light-side users can go “dark” or aggressive, attack, and cause things to happen proactively instead of react and it’s all balanced. The force becomes out of balance when evil users decide to be selfish with it. They usurp their will onto it and make it do what they want instead of what’s natural. Their being selfish creates an imbalance that needs purged. So, George Lucas’ Star Wars, Sideous and Mal and these Sith are causing an imbalance and the force hates them so it creates Anakin out of itself to go forth and destroy them. That’s why Anakin is born. To destroy the Sith and bring the force back into balance which is what the force wants. There is no dark side that is justifiable. It’s not yin and yang and the dark exists for a reason. You know what I’m saying? It’s yin and yang when it’s light. And Jedi like Mace Windu use both sides of it, aggression and defense, in balance. The dark users are just wicked. It’s only when it went Disney that the dark side became like justifiable and part of the force. And that there has to be dark users to balance the light users. That’s a corruption of the Star Wars story and doesn’t exist in the original story. And that’s why so many old school fans hate the entire premise that the force creates these wicked people or they exist for a reason. It’s all BS to justify corruption. And a tainting of the story. The Sith are meant to be pure evil and there’s not supposed to be any sympathy or justifiable reason for them to exist. Period.
That was one of the best break downs of the Acolyte I’ve seen so far and I like how it was just constructive criticism and not just bashing on Disney. It had details and concepts that made sense why the acolyte was bad, but also gave Leslie credit for some really good ideas but just not executed properly. With a different team the Acolyte could have been a great show, huge budget and some really unique and interesting ideas. Hopefully after Deadpool and Wolverine, maybe Disney is turning a corner in the quality of movies they are making.
Let me start by saying that this is definitely the best breakdown of the show I’ve seen thus far. You really hit the nail on the head regarding all of the gaping flaws the show has in terms of story and character. I think this show had a lot of potential to show the perspective of the Sith and all of that was just wasted completely. Your comments about how Leslie’s seemingly nihilistic worldview and how that bleeds into her writing for the show really struck me. For context, I’m in my early 20s and I’ve been a Star Wars fan all my life. My father was 16 in 1977 when A New Hope came out and he passed that love on to me. To me, all the best parts of the franchise I love (the Original Trilogy, prequels, the animated series I grew up with) are have the overarching theme of fighting against all odds to keep hope alive in the face of impossible odds of the world around you. The Acolyte flies in the face of all of that. What I’m trying to say overall is, thank you so much for this thorough analysis and May The Force Be With You! Also just a quick point RE: what Osha did to Sol’s lightsaber (not trying to lecture anyone just hoping to clarify for those who don’t know). It’s called bleeding and it’s basically the process of pouring all of one’s hatred, pain and grief into the lightsaber crystal to turn the blade red.
It's just so sad (and frustrating) how Leslye and Amandla keeps claiming all haters are bigots and sexists, when it's clear to _anyone_ who has some capacity for critical thinking that this is just poorly written. Characters just make choices to move the plot in the direction the writer wants, but it makes no sense why they'd do them. Mae is the perfect example; her goal is to kill the 4 jedi. Suddenly (some time after she's already got 2 of them dead) she decides that naa, she's going to hand herself in and not kill them, but when she finds the jedi, she flees from them and fights them. "Everything for my sister" is her thing, but she knocks Osha out so hard she's unconscious for many hours and left in a forest where animals could kill her. Then Mae joins Sol (the enemy she's sworn to kill) and _again_ decides to not kill him when she has the chance. How does any of this make sense to anyone? Who approved of this script? Another big problem (also based on poor writing, of course) is that no-one talks or explains things to anyone, just like in a poorly written soap opera or anime. Drama for drama's sake, not because it makes for a good story. It's truly disappointing how this series turned out, especially since Star Wars a beloved universe that is now slowly getting defiled and destroyed.
I’m torn; on the one hand, I’d absolutely watch a full documentary about this from you 😅-on the other hand, you’re so right; waste of time and creative energy. Thank you for summing it up and putting a bow on it-that was cathartic!
To be frank, I am weary of the "gray" moralism that seems to be all the rage. Or nihilism, as you also described it. It has its place, but it feels like creatives and story tellers don't actually believe in good and evil anymore. And when they do dabble in that arena, they focus on showing how "ACTUALLY your heroes were the evil ones all along!" They insist on subverting and tearing down what was built before. It's depressing and demoralising. I like to be inspired once in awhile, ya know? I appreciate happy, satisfying endings. I like Superman to be a beacon of Truth, Justice, and the American Way. I like Luke Skywalker being a young kid who stepped up, holds onto his values, and believes in people. I want a Lara Croft who craves adventure and discovering lost mysteries. I want a Lady Giladriel who is feminine, powerful, and wise; not a brutish psychopath. The vandalism and demoralising feels intentional, and I don't like it. Our young people deserve better stories.
@@bros4654 the subtext of my comments: these producers are part of an ideological movement that knows *exactly* what they’re doing. And that has earned a great big NOPE from me.
One of the most articulate logical and clear synopsises I've seen of the serious problems with this series. Excellent work. Well worth a subscription!!!
Your insight of "cultural vandalism" is spot on, enlightening and really appreciated. I've watched many acolyte-related videos, watching the pire of a greatly loved franchise go up in flames, but have not heard the insight in the way you eloquently presented it. You have significantly helped through this and other of your great content.
You have described in a clear concise manner how poor the storytelling and characters development was for the entire series. Plus you provided great examples from her source material. Bravo - Bravo! Please watch Andor for good Star Wars. Thank you for spending so much time on creating this content!
One other thing that I think is really pertinent to the conversation of writing for the show is how much of what Leslie intended stayed in her head and didn’t make it to the script. I’ve read several interviews with her where she tries to explain what is going on in various episodes, and there were so many times where she would make a point and my reaction was “yeah you didn’t show that.” I really think that a lot of the show still only exists in her mind, and that is a huge flaw when you are trying to write something that is meant to be enjoyed by other people. Your audience cannot see what is in your mind, and so you have to make things clear for them in the actual writing and not rely on them reading a Collider article to give extra information in order to understand it. The biggest example of this was the witch mother’s actions in transforming herself and Mae into smoke. Everything we see in the show is telling us that she is likely killing them both. But Headland says later she was transforming them both into the Force without killing Mae, which is a huge deal and something we can’t just be expected to understand because we’ve never seen it before. Every other time someone has transitioned into the Force, that meant death (Obi-Wan and Yoda specifically). So both the Jedi characters and the audience believe she is milling herself and Mae. But then Leslie says “no actually…” but never addresses that in the actual script.
@@NoscoSays Yes! I made a similar point briefly in one of my other videos; if she has to explain the work in endless interviews, the screenplay was not successfully (or even comprehensively) written.
I’ve watched every review for the Drinker to Nerdrodic and between. Your approach is by far the best. You don’t simply “tear it down” but identify what Leslie was trying to do, but failed at and then gave examples of what it looked like when done right. Your breakdown of how good vs evil works in film was masterful. Leslie wants to be both ambiguous and decisive at the same time. The really frustrating part is she is convinced it’s the audience’s fault.
Well said!! I feel like you put into words the sadness, frustration, and disappointment this show brought to me. I watch Star Wars to escape for a little while the craziness of this world. I do not want to watch a show that is going to take away my hope and that offers no clear positive message. You put your finger on it when you said that Lesley created a show where there is no clear good or evil. Thanks for your words. They have helped put everything in perspective for me. ❤
I just wanted to say thank you for your video. You’re able to explain so much in depth of what is wrong with this show and also explain why so many SW fans are sad / angry about the whole thing. I was just pissed off about it, but more like a child angry at something and not being able to express why correctly, and you’re like the adult that explained what’s going on and on some level that is reassuring hahah. So thank you for diagnosing this nightmare called the Acolyte.
"I was at a place where The Jedi just did what they thought was right. And if they did what they thought was right, that doesn't make them bad people." This perfectly encapsulates the way I felt. I felt like they went for this big "a-ha!" moment. "See? The Jedi were actually the bad guys" and it just didn't work at all.
@@veronicabrushsci-fi honestly, start by buying the ORIGINAL cut of the first three Star Wars films. 😆 You’ll probably enjoy that more during the coming apocalypse.
"I am at last myself... with no ambition greater than to walk where I please and to breathe the open air. To die unremarked and unnoticed and be free." - Alicent, Queen Regent The finale of House of Dragons is everything Acolyte tried to be and failed miserably at...
I love this. I knew i hated this show but am not quite skilled enough to explain why. Fortunately you are, for that I would like to say thank you. Hope you have just the greatest day and may the force be with you 👊☮️
Respect, Carter - best breakdown and presentatiom of SW/Acolyte I’ve seen. Respectful, passionate and solid argumentation. Will happily follow your journey…
You know, the way you summarize the story of the Acolyte, taken by itself, actually sounds very interesting. With a capable writer / director, this series could've been compelling. Shame 😢
Honestly, when I watched the first two Episodes of the show I couldnt shake off the feeling that this whole show was written by toddlers (or A.I.), perfomed by amateur actors from a middleschool-theatreclub on the same schools stage set and filmed by anybody who was willing to hold the camera. If Disney wouldn't have its label on that show, I wouldn't have recognized it as a serious multi-million-dollar project from the Star Wars franchise. Two main issues which irritated me the most were the horrible plot and the horrible technical implementation like camera angles and the depicted environement. Never continued watching this mess of a feverdream. (sorry if my sentences feel off sometimes, I am no native speaker)
I think you're being very generous to Leslye calling her worldview as nihilistic. If she believes The Acolyte is morally grey, I am incredibly suspicious of her personal moral compass.
Wow, watched your breakdown now. Wonderful, and so so cathartic. Incite full, evidence-based, direct, clear, respectful, resonating, positive and funny. All these things., You suggest dedicating a channel to such material would be a waste of your, and our time - I argue not. Your clear, rationale, intelligent and funny videos are the perfect example of the positivity that has emerged in response to The Acolyte - your videos do what the show should have done - brought together people from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and shown us that we are more alike than society, and Disney, seem intent to make us believe. Your videos are a gift of positivity and reassurance to everyone who watched The Acolyte, and the associated media messaging by its creators, and are wondering how we suddenly became bad people, and want to know ‘is it just me?’ Someone in your vid comments has begun calling you ‘Mother’ - and its an apt descriptor - you are reminding and explaining in such a clear way to all of us that it is not us who are bad, is is the terrible offerings of a flawed - hell, let’s say evil, group of powerful people. It seems that The Acolyte, and its creator’s declared social purpose, have inadvertently polarised the audience into a unified Rebellion Alliance, against an actual evil Empire that has finally revealed itself for what it is. Something negative in a World where we need and crave positivity. I normally watch a favourite movie or video when I need a positive pill. In this case it is the work of intelligent, concerned, passionate creators not reacting, but responding to this show, The Acolyte, that makes me smile and feel good. Thank you. Lets start that channel, and the Rebel Alliance! ( apologies for the grammar - I am terrible at using commas!😊)
I am pretty well-versed in Campbell's work. Archetypes and world myth are two of my favorite subjects. I studied some of that in college. Now that our culture is a LOT more global, and Anime/Manga has captured the younger generation, I think some writers are turning to Eastern forms of story structure and trying that on for size. There's something I don't like about Campbell's work, but I never could put my finger on it. I know when it's done well. Star Wars and Willow did it well. I am open to exploring other forms of story structure. I feel ready to be blown away by something totally new. The Acolyte isn't it.
The way you had these very slight hesitations and pauses when you got to some of the most ridiculously nonsensical parts in your plot summary was so damn funny. I could practically hear you thinking "i cant believe im saying this with a straight face as if its just a normal part of a coherent story ". 😂. Glad to have found this channel, your humor is a direct match with mine. Great video here, its much smarter analysis than the show itself really deserves.
This is the best analysis ive seen. I usually only have apathy for Star Wars now having gone through the 5 stages of grief after the last jedi. But then there is a moment when i see a comment, hear Williams' music or see an image and my heart clenches, and it hits me, like the grief of a lost loved one. Your closing lines with the photo of Luke and Vader hit me hard. I was a star wars fan for more than 30 years, from the age of 5. I am also a woman and appalled this has all happened under the guise of 'The Force is Female'. No, the Force was for EVERYONE. Moreover, ALL my beloved franchises has gone up in flames. We fans are living in Fantasia(Fantastica) and The Nothing is now consuming everything it touches and we are trapped in the Swamp of Sadness desperately trying to save Artex.
This is by far one of the best analysis of this show. I really appreciate all the Roshamon examples, it made this more about artistic style as opposed to a video that just bashes the show.
Last Jedi also used Rashomon for inspiration. They should try another Kurosawa film that isn't Hidden Fortress or Seven Samurai. He has a rich filmography but those are the only ones anyone seems to have watched.
Well put. My radical idea: this show should be de-canonized. No season 2, no more discussion about what this show could have been, no more Headland. Just pick up and move on, because this show is absolutely not good for the franchise. It's not compelling, it's not kid-friendly, just bad...
The fact this might have put a nail in the coffin for High Republic beyond books for a good while is a real shame. I was looking forward to seeing the gradual slip of the Jedi order from a truly impressive organization of thousands assisting the galaxy to a group of insular monks so obsessed with being holier than thou that they revel in doing nothing. Instead, we got a pretty boring story with nonsense decisions that made me think, "Damn, I could have been watching Andor again."
The "Disney Effect" of wasting interesting premises... Out of curiosity, since you sound quite invested, is there any particular part of the High Republic media that you would recommend? I have to admit I've only tried the comics with the Drengir, I wasn't too impressed and didn't get past the first couple of issues. Should I give HR another chance?
it’s so awesome to hear you use the word “craftsmanship” multiple times. as a visual artist, in this dawning age of AI generated imagery, which comes from a craft-void and creative-void; and to see the music industry turn to craft-void pitch correction as the de facto standard, it’s reassuring to know there are some humans out there who still value quality and actual elbow grease. brava!
I will scream that word from the rooftops to my last breath. Don't ever give up doing your human craft! Eventually, in an age of AI -generated everything, craftsmanship will become the premium.
Thank you for adding validation to my concerns with Disney Star Wars. Being apathetic towards something I grew up with and loved for so many years is something I never expected to see happen.
If this is first time you've felt that way over the last 10 or so years consider yourself lucky. All sorts of franchise have been badly damaged over that time frame.
I think too many people nowadays don't understand what "bias" is and when it is or isn't appropriate. Why would you expect a review of a show to be "unbiased"? What would an "unbiased" review even look like? In this video she's obviously biased in favor of good writing for example. I think when people say "bias" they're really referring to the tone of the criticism. Anyone who comes off as too "mean" in a critique gets called "biased" and that's enough for some people to write them off.
@@BiggieTrismegistus I guess when I say un biased I am meaning not toward the actual topic . It is a fair appraisal of what was done and the expectations of us the viewer . Not the speaker or reviewer but the spectators expectations of what was presented or how it was delivered. Sorry for mis speaking …
Even Headland has no idea what she intended for this show, that much is cleear from her inteviews. She even gave the game away by saying "Have we just written bad fan-fiction? HAHAHA!"
She says Sol was a bad guy for wanting to protect Osha. That's patriarchal. I'm still waiting for someone to ask why Mae wasn't mad about her other mother abandoning her and her sister.
Keep on doing what you're doing. No matter how bad some media is, it can still be used as a bad example and learned from. Excellent points made and clear, defined examples. Thank you.
reminds me of something ive read. "the way the Meritocracy works everywhere in our society? It's just a mostly closed caste of people from the same socio-economic group sorting each other into roles based on "oh hey I know so and so." "oh, yeah, I went to the same school/was in the same club", "my dad knew your dad" "i know a guy that knows a guy that knows a guy that says you're looking for work doing X and says that you're pretty good at X". They all assume that anyone from their social stratum are by definition the most deserving and capable individuals because they went to the right schools and know the right people. Actually being good and experienced at the job in question comes secondary to being from the same/right social caste. It feels to them like a safer bet to pick someone they have shit in common with than risking it on someone who "knows what they're doing" because money is on the line and they understand mediocre people like them and don't understand a talented person from a different caste in modern hollywood the main exception to this tends to be a large social media following where any lack of talent or personal familiarity can be replaced with "well we know that this person has X followers on social media, so we can expect X eyes on this project" and so that's taken the place of conventional casting on ability on a lot of projects. simply put, to the people with the money it's "safer" to not seek out people with experience and skill and instead rely on someone you can control or predict due to personal familiarity"
36:53 CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: The Wizard of Oz, film/ Over the Rainbow, song and its relation to WWII | The Wizard of Oz was released in 1939, the same year as the start of World War II. World leaders from various countries drew solace and encouragement from the melodies therein during/after the war. I do not have citations for how the film/song affected the morale of viewers worldwide; my claims were off the cuff. However, the film was popular enough to warrant several Oscar nominations, and a re-release in 1949. So, while The Wizard of Oz definitely became a meme throughout the war years and beyond, the claim that Hollywood released this in response to WWII proper would be technically incorrect. At the time, the filmmakers would only have troubling news and threats of war to wrestle with in deciding to release this film.
Casablanca is one of my absolute favourite films. The events of WWII are central to the plot, and it was released several months early to coincide with Operation Torch (the allied invasion of Morocco). It is everything that the Acolyte is not, despite being a product of a studio system that churned out vast numbers of films.
Despite being "stagey", it has an authenticity that draws you into its world. Despite being a story about desperate people attempting to escape from oppression and evil, it is filled with hope. I could talk at length about the performances (many of the actors were themselves refugees from fascism), the direction, the musical score, and the cinematography, but all of these would mean nothing if it were not for the razor sharp scriptwriting. It's a masterclass in flawed, believable characters, in whom it's impossible not to become invested, even the supporting cast each have their moment to shine. The sparkling, witty, dialogue is unwittingly quoted by people who have never seen the film.
The anti fascist message is far from subtle, yet one does not feel that one its being beaten around the head and neck with it.
The force was close to not be in the movies by a man who didn't liked it. But was reintroduced by a woman. I find it ironic.
The Great Depression was 1929-1939. Point taken.
I don’t like the escapism argument applied to Star Wars, because as much as it has always been a “Space Western”/“Science Fantasy” property, Lucas always took great pains to ground it in real-life politics, for better and for worse. His inspiration for the Rebel Alliance was literally “what if I made a movie depicting the Viet Cong as the heroes?” and his heavy use of WW2 parallels was meant to specifically draw both from peoples’ lived experiences around WW2/its aftermath and also from the copious amounts of WW2 media- movies, TV shows, etc-that younger people in the late 70s would’ve been exposed to. Ironically it’s the influence of people like Marcia Lucas and Larry Kasdan that is responsible for a lot of the meat-and-potatoes filmic storytelling and audience manipulation that people are so fond of in the original trilogy. And then you get to the prequels and George is just fully off of his leash to lecture on post-cold war geopolitics and why he dislikes neocons and neolibs in equal measure, etc. Frankly I feel like a lot of the criticisms that people have been applying to The Acolyte were also applied to the Prequel trilogy (with good reason). There’s a lot that I appreciate about the prequels and they’re fascinating as art objects and pieces of cinema history, but a decade of Disney strike-outs has caused people to reappraise them in a way that they don’t quite deserve IMO. Ironically enough though, the prequels did a way better job of showing the Jedi as flawed/instrumental in their own demise.
@@cartilagehead6326 Wrong. Lucas has said many times that he made Star Wars "for kids," so there's no debating the escapism argument. He depicted the Empire as WWII Nazis for the same reason he uses colors to denote X-wing squadrons, and stark green and red computer imagery to display the amount of time left for the Death Star to clear Yavin, or the red and blue/yellow lightsabers. It's a really wonderful way to clearly tell the audience what is happing with out additional exposition. By Attack of the Clones you'd be correct in suggesting that Lucas leaned into the Vietnam war era during the battle scenes, but not before that. Clones is the movie I'm most familiar with since I was an editor on it. You're correct that there's plenty of politics in the prequels, but the prequels aren't really a great examples of Carter's point. George has a very interesting perspective on politics. It's one of the things that complicated the work we did in editorial. He felt that certain depictions of things like the Trade Federation were clear representations of capitalist bureaucracy, but it kinda didn't make a lot of sense. And his need to awkwardly create a universal bureaucracy in Star Wars that doesn't really translate to the real world hurt the prequels, where the stark Nazi/Empire imagery worked amazingly. So look, there's defiantly a place in cinema for social commentary, politics, and the avant-garde, but it's not Star Wars. George really didn't create a socio-political structure that makes sense. Dune maybe? Not Star Wars.
I'm so glad you are taking them to task.. Yes, female fans hate this too. It's not a sexist thing, it's a quality issue . Thank you.
I'm not much of a Star Wars fan (but am a guy) and watched the series out of curiosity. The Acolyte isn't bad for a Star Wars show; it's just a bad show period. How many time did they use the "someone is unconscious and wakes up in a strange location" plot device? It had to have been at least 4 times in 8 episodes.
im a male fan who loves the show...cope
@@lilmovieperp3599 embarrassing 😂
If it was a sexist issue why would we hate all the other shows and movies? Obi Wan, and Mando are complete garbage and don’t have female leads. It is gaslighting WE ALL KNOW what good storytelling is, and pathetic worms like Leslie, Filoni, and Kennedy try and tell us we don’t.
@@lilmovieperp3599 and I love the movie transformers revenge of the fallen, does that make it a good movie?....cope
"Disney have replaced craftmanship and hope with cheap ideology and spite" - banger conclusion!
If I'm being honest, your plot overview at the beginning actually made the acolyte plot sound interesting. Different writer, different director, we might actually have had something good here.
Agreed. I tried to re-imagine it (I'm an amateur screenwriter) while keeping it as close to the original as possible, and it really could have been great. If you rework it to avoid all of the plotholes, lore breaks, and pacing, there's something there to work with.
I think a big issue they ran into, and what so many people making Star Wars are running into, is that you aren't free to do whatever you want in a franchise. It's nice to have a world already built and an audience waiting, but other than that, it's actually really restrictive to write within a franchise. You can’t write whatever you want, you have to write what the story calls for. The director has said she wanted to tell a Sith story, so maybe it would have worked better within the franchise to tell a story following a Sith right before the time of peace, like the last stragglers fighting to keep the Sith alive. It could have been fun.
Actually, the Acolyte has probably the best premise out of ANY of these shows. So it says something that they screwed it up
I agree, regarding the first half of the synopsis. I had to laugh a little as it went on.
@@filmanalysis7191 The bigger issue they ran into was that the plot was entirely dependent on poor communication, misunderstandings, dumb decisions and inconsistent motivations. See the Pitch Meeting, Ryan George spells it out well with good satire.
I really thought the same here. Could have been really interesting, in the right hands. Tony Gilroy comes into mind here.
Just a minor observation as to why Mae is bad. She goes to kill an evil Jedi Master/Trinity. At the end of the fight, Mae realizes she can kill Trinity by throwing a knife at an innocent bystander. And it works perfectly. Except one problem, why would Mae assume the evil Jedi would sacrifice herself for the innocent if the Jedi are evil? For that reason alone, Mae should rot in jail for the rest of her existence.
Just that alone invalidates her entire reasoning for murdering Jedi.
@@TreyStation64 you could tear apart the motivation in almost every scene. Why does the Sith dude toy with Mae at the apothecary's place and in the jungle? How could that possible be testing her? Why does he kill the Wookie if Mae has never seen his face? Does she even know he is a Sith? Why does he attack the other 8 Jedi after killing the Wookie? Would could possibly make him think Mae is a good candidate to replace Mae? Why does he ask her to kill 4 connected Jedi if he wants to prove his apprentice and still stay in secret? Why does Sol let Osha go on the Wookie mission? what possible benefit would he see of putting the only person he loves in harms way? why the F does the Mother Witch mind-rape the Padawan? none of it makes any sense.
It’s worse than that - she wasn’t evil, she just defended herself when she was attacked. Secondly…jedi can block lasers with their lightsaber…they need to see hidden things as 2-3 year olds to even be accepted as jedi. Hiding and throwing something at a jedi should by all accounts be impossible.
@@danielbengtsson9833 Agreed. If anything, Trinity should've caught that knife effortlessly with the Force.
That whole scene invalidates Mae's motivation. She attacks the Jedi for killing innocents? How does she provoke 'Trinity'? By attacking innocent civillians. Congratulations Leslye, 10 seconds into your show and the villain is already a hypocrite by their *OWN* standards.
As one of the millions of kids who grew up with the OT -- it was central to my identity, and played a significant part in inspiring me to dedicate my life to storytelling -- what I find particularly galling about Disney Star Wars is the treatment of fans. I recognize that generational interests and priorities shift, and that contemporary audiences place far more significance on issues of identity than I do (I'm really just in it for a ripping yarn and characters I care about, with a smattering of profound themes thrown into the mix). If having a queer showrunner and lead actor are the most important factors to young audiences, along with moral relativism and deconstructing the Jedi, then have at it. I was content to say "this Star Wars is not for me," and move on. But to have my dislike of this show used as a cudgel *against* me -- to be slandered (by a giant, greedy, stingy, soulless corporation) as some reprehensible, homophobic, misogynist, racist, review-bombing reprobate -- is absolutely beyond the pale. I have no doubt that it was a craven, calculated move on Disney's part to centralize the queerness of Headland and Stenberg so that any/all critics could be dismissed as bigots. I will never forgive them for this, and neither will the majority of fans.
Their marketing strategy is utterly mind-boggling. I fail to see how it benefits their company, the audience they wish to reach, or the world in general. It's almost divisiveness for its own sake. The answer HAS to be new stories.
@@_kmCarter Couldn't agree more. I've seen this discussed elsewhere, but Fallout seems to be a perfect example of a show with plenty of "progressive" content (gay and non-binary characters, anti-capitalist sentiment, etc.), but told such a great story, with carefully crafted characters, that it was embraced by almost everyone. I firmly believe that audiences aren't opposed to progressive content, we just hate being lectured (by giant, greedy, stingy, soulless corporations).
BOOM! Mic drop comment . 💥💥💥
Yep, they're chasing the Boomers away from the trough...
@@andywellsglobaldomination Boomers have never really been the target demographic of SW. Gen X is where the fandom got most of its original audience(assuming that when you mean boomers, you're talking about baby boomers, not submarines armed with ICBMs).
"Cultural vandalism" is the perfect term for whatever star wars is now
…and for so many many Disney remakes. Yes.
And Star Trek. And Doctor Who. And the MCU. And Marvel and DC Comics. And a whole bunch of things.
@@BiggieTrismegistus Gonna push back a bit on Star Trek. PIC S3 was pretty damned good. As far as the MCU goes, I (mostly) stopped caring a while ago. Falcon and Winter Soldier was the last Marvel thing I watched. The ONLY think I care about from the MCU is Guardians of the Galaxy.
Don't care one bit about DC live action stuff. I stick to the DCAU.
lol it means nothing. this is a dumb take.
That’s what it feels like inside like I feel the same reaction watching this show as I would if someone spray-painted on my car or something
"A delight-less experience. Like licking a piece of chalk."
and this is what star wars discourse has been reduced to: meaningless prose with no context to the text.
When we needed her most, she returned :)
Somebody told me, with episode 8: “It’s like they are trying to make you feel bad about liking everything you liked in the original trilogy, and calling it ‘making you think.’”
And:
- it did not make me think
- it did not make me feel bad for liking the original trilogy.
A complete failure on every level.
The best constructive criticism of the Acolyte. Not just snarky (but still fun), this is a brilliant deconstruction of many missteps and missed opportunities. It’s a lesson for all of us. Thanks!
Your summary made more sense than 8 episodes.
Yes!!! I mean YASSS!
I still have not found a breakdown that nails it as much as yours does. You made me a fan for life, thank you ma’am and may the force be with you and with us all
🙏🏼🙌🏼 YAAY!
@@_kmCarter Your review speaks to my soul.
Agreed! I’ve watched dozens of reviews of why the Acolyte was bad, but yours is very well done, from a story telling perspective.
I know, right? This is a superb analysis.
Y'ALL. I was able to save the footage!! 😭 I'm getting a new computer this weekend, and planning an uploading schedule. You guys are the best!
Dame Edna wants their glasses back
Willow remake breakdown and re-write coming up? 😂
Nice it worked out in the end! 🎉
I have nothing against expanding a TV-Show with books and articles but the fact that they are used to cover for the mistakes either in the Sequels or now in the Acolyte to explain things that should be clear from watching the show itself (which I will not do but I'll happily watcch YT reviews with spoilers ha) shows how any personal interest is put first and good storytelling last (not even second otherwise it would be storytelling first, set quality second and personal agenda last).
@@Steven-T😂 I don’t have the strength.
She tried to subvert literally every aspect of the franchise, and in doing so there was no core element of contrast to focus on. It ends up being mush. Trying to subvert good/bad, masculine/feminine, etc all at once becomes too much. Everything ends up a tapestry of grey which just isn’t compelling to watch.
You normally have to highlight a theme and use contrast and juxtaposition to really push your idea forward. That’s why Rashomon works so well. Its theme is moral ambiguity but Kurosawa uses stark contrasting scenes that flip the character’s behaviors and motivations tremendously so you can truly see how difficult the truth is to know. His vision could only achieved by the superb acting of Mifune.
I knew immediately that Headland was trying to riff off this movie but she tries to subvert all aspects of the character at once and she never gives us any motivations for their actions. They all seem to just be flailing around without any direction, swimming in a soup of ambiguity.
I initially thought she might play into a fight club twist where the twins were just one person acting as two, which might have saved the plot some if executed well but the acting was just so bland.
This comment alone has more depth than she was able to convey.
There it is. Nihilism. Star Wars came out in a period of nihilism in Hollywood and was a rejection of that. It was what we needed. Thank you for recognizing that, and saying what I've been saying this whole time: we need hope right now, and Star Wars should be a source for that.
I feel like the most entertaining thing about this show.....
Is imagining being Disney and having to call Ewan McGregor into the office asking him to come back for season 2 of Obi-Wan. Ewan's show got 90 million.
The Acolyte got 180 million. The pack of nobodies literally got double what the award winning actor, who has awards for acting older than some the Acolyte staff....his awards are older that the lead actor in the acolyte.
Imagine that conversation and you have had more fun than a whole season of the Acolyte.
Disney's tenure with Star Wars feels like a decade long episode of Black Mirror. I cannot comprehend how the power that be are so out of touch, misguided, and are still allowed to be apart of this once great franchise. It is difficult to hold out hope for something that you love when there are no signs of hope. They have done such a poor job that I, someone who has no experience writing have unintentionally become inspired to write my own stories. Stories that are competent, MEANINGFUL, and don't waste $200 million. I love channels like yours because it is clear that you actually care about what you do. Thank you.
@@beastlyarrow6570 Yes! Write! Get better, write more! Put it out there! THIS is the solution! 😆🙌🏼
>It is difficult to hold out hope for something that you love when there are no signs of hope
You still have hope? Wow.
I gave up after TLJ.
You thought we were led by people who knew what the hell they are doing?
I think "Rouge One" was one of the best Star Wars films overall. I go back-and-forth as to whether it's "The" best, or just second best behind Empire. Ya, I know, major bummer that every one dies at the end, but these were meant to be one-off "filler" films.
They are allowed because George Lucas allowed them to buy it. Think about it, the Evil Empire bought the rights to one of our cultural touchstones and turned it into a factory for capitalistic gain. It turned art in product. What did we all think was going to happen?
It really hit home when you mentioned Wizard of Oz. I feel like modern entertainment is desperately lacking these stories that truly inspire and instill hope, righteousness and morality to aim to look forward to as individuals, instead of bringing more nonsense of everyday socio-politics and nihilism.
So this might be the best part of my entire July. I love love love how you critique critically without kid gloves but also don’t lean on hot takes and outrage to capture the audience. Thanks for treating us like intelligent discerning adults. ❤
@@coreycapel9650 Always. I don’t have an agenda. I’m just trying to help fix this mess.
To be fair, Lucas was much more of an ideas guy or visionary, but struggles greatly with the execution of those ideas. This is why Marsha Lucas, Gary Kurts, Lawrence Kasdan, Irvine Kershner and others were so integral to the success of the original trilogy.
Marcia Lucas's contribution to star wars is greatly exaggerated. The first film was 75-80% edited by Paul Hirsch. George and Marcia got credit almost incidentally because they had both taken turns TRYING to edit Star Wars before Hirsch was eventually brought in to clean up their mess. George Lucas himself was on the brink of a panic attack until Hirsch was brought in. In various interviews, he actually admits it was the watching of Hirsch edit the film followed by John Williams scoring the film that gave him a little piece of mind in the immediate preceding of the initial Star Wars release and gave him confidence in the idea that the film in the very least, wouldn't tank.
@@macree01 thanks for that clarification. I was talking about her work helping edit the film, but also her invaluable status as the one who could and did push back on George. Spielberg, Coppola, De Palma, and their other friends all talked about how Marsha was the one who could get through to George. She had input and was not quiet about it. Many have said she understood the heart and human aspect and pushed back when that was getting lost. We can see the loss of her presence in the prequels and the beginnings of it in Return of the Jedi as they were separated. During the prequels, George was surrounded by people who saw him as THE George Lucas. There was so much less pushback. During the OT, he got it from the studio, from Kurtz, Kasdan, Kershner, his director friends that he consulted, and (the biggest guns) Marsha.
Couldn't agree more. Kasdan's refusal to have anything to do with the prequel series (thought George should do it on his own, given their past creative differences) REALLY showed through in the dialogue. While people have accepted the Prequel movies to a certain degree over time, we all know in the moment, they were a huge disappointment. And one of the most common areas of derision pointed at them (correctly IMO) was the horrible, hacky, cheesy dialogue. It IS bad. And that was George flying more solo without those creative writers pushing back on him.
Now, I didn't realize until I went back and looked, that Kasdan also worked on The Force Awakens. And that makes sense as well. Ignore Episodes VIII and IX. When The Force Awakens came out, I was entertained by the movie. I was hopeful on a new cast of characters and how they aligned with the old cast of characters. It had that banter, I enjoyed the Force Awakens. I DID feel it was just a very open re-do of A New Hope. It covered the same essential plot devices and milestones. And at the time, I wished they'd departed more from "the old formula". And knowing that Kasdan was involved, that makes some sense. I know he didn't work on the script for A New Hope, but The Force Awakens was a call-back to a lot of the original trilogy themes. They then proceeded to pour gasoline on it and light it on fire after that, but at the time, that's how I viewed it.
And to be fair. Harrison Ford and Kasdan had always wanted the death of Han Solo as part of the story. It's something they both felt strongly about, but that Lucas did not agree with. So keep that in mind when you point all the blame purely at Disney for killing Han. And honestly, despite HOW they brought the storyline and the climax of that to that point, IMO how they handled that scene was beautiful. People probably forget it somewhat now.
But as a parent...as a father...that subtle gesture of Han stroking his sons face in that moment hit home really hard. You can't control how the world impacts your children. You prepare them as best you can, and try to be there for them in any way you can, but life takes its course, and there's often not much you can do. But they are ALWAYS your kids. And Hans empathy and forgiveness for Ben in that moment, is really touching. And you can see, it immediately impacts Ben. That he'd made the wrong choice. That he'd in fact done something really wrong. An idea they could have explored SO MUCH better as a possible redemption arc. But they blew that opportunity also.
Totally on point about the ship travel. The interior of the millennium falcon is a 3rd of the screen time in “a new hope” . Every kid in the world wanted to play the 3d chessboard fighting game.
This also is why the SW: KOTOR games worked so well - especially in #2, the plot also progressed inside the ship.
From what I can tell, they lost track of the difference between "bad guy vs good guy" and "protagonist vs antagonist."
I saw the director say in an interview that she thought it was so interesting that for the Sith, the Jedi are the bad guys. This is just the definition of the relationship between protagonist and antagonist. We follow the protagonist, and the antagonist is who stands in the way of them achieving their goals. If there are two people trying to get the same job, they each are the protagonist to their own story, and the antagonist of each other's. That doesn't mean that either of them is a bad guy.
"Bad guy vs good guy" is less of a story structure for the writer and more of a means for the audience to learn from the story. It's about the morality, not necessarily who stands in the way of who in the story.
Osha is the protagonist, but she is a bad guy. Sol ended up being the antagonist, but he (mostly) was a good guy. All of the people who contributed to making the story what it was should have understood that they would instantly lose the audience by asking us to see Osha as a good guy. Our morals tell us we can’t trust her or want her to achieve her goals, so we can't trust anyone who wants her to achieve her goals. You alienate the audience immediately and lose all credibility. Everything they tried to say with this story has to be called into question because we can't trust storytellers who want us to believe the bad guy is a good guy just because they are the protagonist.
You are the protagonist of your own story, but your actions determine if you are a good or bad guy. The Acolyte acts like you are always right and justified if you simply forget other people can be hurt by your actions. Seriously, Osha, Mae, and Sithy are just brats. I've literally met a 5 year old with anger management issues who acts more mature than them.
How? Osha is the main protagonist. She is not "a good guy". We're told this in the very first episode. The story is about her journey from (apparently) innocent maiden to Dark side goddess. The story did not try to convince anyone that Osha is good.
Headland is using an "oppressor" vs "oppressed" categorization, where those classified as "oppressor" - those with power, the Jedi - are evil no matter what good acts they may do, and should be held responsible/accountable for their actions to the point of self-deletion. The "oppressed" unpowerful Sith, on the other hand can do anything they want - lie, steal, kill - without accountability nor moral condemnation because they are seeking freedom from subjugation. You can probably see now why Headland says she'd be a Sith.
@hoos3014 The way her journey is framed tells a lot about how it's supposed to be perceived. For example, her and Mae immediately being happy together again after Osha just committed murder and the way their goodbye scene is framed is trying to make us feel bad for them. We're supposed to feel bad that Osha can't have what she wants, that Sol and the Jedi stood in the way of it, and after her journey, she still can't have it. Then the end shot of her and Sith guy is described by the director as being a "bittersweet" type moment because you know they can't succeed for long. It felt very wrong when I watched it. I knew the scene was trying to make me feel bad for her, but I couldn’t.
So much of filmmaking is influenced and defined by the way we interact in real life. What the script told me (Osha is dark side, and I know the dark side is bad in Star Wars) and what the actual scene told me (it is sad that Osha can't have what she wants) are two different things. The music, cinematography, actual camera framing, acting, and pacing all tell the story that this is a bittersweet ending. It's not like Anakin’s fall where the tragedy is about his actual fall to the dark side, but Osha’s tragedy is framed as her not getting everything she wants.
You can certainly have the protagonist fail to achieve what they need or want to and have that be a great tragedy. However, you have to make sure they are a "good guy" if you want your audience on board. Most of us don't think Osha had any right to kill Sol, nor did it feel like she really had much of a reason. That means she is a "bad guy," so we naturally can't be sad she didn't get what she wanted. If anything, it only makes us wish she would get what she deserves (arrested).
@guygadbois3010 I can definitely see that influence. Thanks for sharing. That's pretty interesting.
@@filmanalysis7191 Osha DID get what she wanted; the freedom to make her own choices about her life. That was her motivation as stated multiple times in the first flashback episode. She did not want to be a witch; she wanted no part of the ascension ceremony or her family's plans. She was happy to be a Jedi partially because Sol talked her into it, but also as vehicle to get away from Brendok. But, obviously that did not last as she basically flunked out.
Here, the protagonist did achieve her goal her. Reminder: she does not want, and never did want, her life to be entangled with her sister. In fact, Mae's own growth is shown by her finally being okay with letting Osha go.
Osha's tragedy is that her goal will lead her into a descent to the Dark side, which we as the audience knows leads to doom.
The show always billed itself as giving us a Sith perspective. By that standard, Osha was more than justified by killing Sol (who killed her mom and lied about it for 16 years).
Such a great presenter. Will enjoy watching your channel grow
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
I watched the first 3 episodes of this shite and then bailed. And I have been a die hard Star Wars fan all my life.
I'm a 50 year old writer from Australia. I've watched everything Star Wars has put out (even the animated kid's shows) but nothing could make me sit through another episode of the Acolyte. It really has turned me off this franchise, and I fear what's to come.
I have watched your Acolyte breakdowns with glee. You've hit the nail on the head with each comment. Sub earned.
@@matthewkeegan666 🙏🏼 I’m just so happy to have found more like-minded writer friends. Welcome.
PLEASE, you, and EVERYONE, if you haven't already, embrace the One True Only God YHWH Jehovah, Only One Jesus Christ His Only Begotten Son and Lord and Savior of our souls and the Only One Holy Spirit. God is good. God is love. Jesus is Lord. Jesus IS coming. Your soul depends on it!
I have seen God act in my life. He saved my soul, changed my heart, changed my mind, helped people through me, took care of people in my life, people I hurt before I found God. God is the only reason I was able to reconcile with my dad before he died.
God worked through Jesus Christ to save our souls. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. Be baptized in The Holy Spirit, and if He wills, water as well. Repent of your sins, accept God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit into your heart, that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, that all who believe on Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father Jehovah God but through Him.
Not long after I got saved I prayed to God for help understanding the Holy Bible, and that same day someone knocked on my door asking me if I wanted to understand the Bible.
The Holy Bible says, "love thy enemy", "turn the other cheek", "If your enemy is hungry, feed him", "if he is thirsty, give him a drink", "pray for those who persecute you", "do not repay evil for evil".
LORD willing, all humans may commit sin of almost every kind (gay, straight), and that's wrong, and all humans sin, as God tells us through the The Holy Bible, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." The Holy Bible also says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
I'm glad you noticed the tie to Rashomon. I had no idea that Leslye Headland had actually watched it. I thought I was the only who noticed the tie, but I assumed that Leslye only saw something that was derivative as she used Rashomon so poorly. I also agree that Rashomon is a poor vehicle to be used in a Star Wars universe. I get the feeling that Headland only took superficial queues from other material. Much like a poorly copied Tarantino. The moral ambiguity that He4adland was determined to portray really doesn't work in a universe based on good and evil. Andor however does succeed at what Headland is trying to do, this is largely because Tony Gilroy wisely omits the Jedi and the Sith. His story is of human beings making difficult choices that lie between the good and the dark, an appropriate portrayal of those outside the Force. I hope you have seen Andor, if not please watch it. The show (which is a success) is an interesting contrast with this show (which fails). And indeed, it does feel like licking chalk.
@@MrGadfly772 Andor is on my watch list. And yes, Jedi and Sith are for exploring archetypes. If you’re going to explore moral ambiguity, you need average human characters for that. 🙏🏼
@@_kmCarterI hope you put andor at the top of your priority list, especially after watching the acolyte. As soon as my partner and I finished watching the acolyte, we rewatched andor to cleanse ourselves and bring us some peace and hope for the franchise.
@@_kmCarter Exactly. Thanks for putting it better than I could.
@@_kmCarterI think that you, as a writer, will love Andor. It will help cleanse the memory of the Acolyte
@@ktsul12I watched Andor for the first time at the same time that I watched the Acolyte. I just alternated every couple episodes. The differences in quality are stark.
Mann, if ‘this hurts’ for you, a person that’s not a super fan of Star Wars, imagine how this show feels to us… this show makes me want to cry. How did this happen?
Straight white male here. I'm also a veteran, Christian, and typical conservative served with a side of ultra- conservatism. I say all of that just to create context i suppose, for my following comments. Your take on this show (I've watched all the videos you've made about this show) has been refreshing, entertaining, and cathartic in a way. I spent a lot of time alone as a child, a big constant in my life was StarWars. I had the original Trilogy, box set, special edition. I've probably seen eash movie from the OT OVER 100 times. I have Star Wars tats that i got one year on May the 4th. What's happening to Star Wars hurts me deeply. That might seem silly, but i believe Star Wars is a deep part of our culture and and it's being purposely destroyed. You and i might not sit at the scampfirefire, but i believe we sit on the same side of the battlefield. I appreciate your videos and the way you demonstrate your points. I look forward to more from you, keep up the good work.
@@zacharydavis9583 First, thank you for your service. I have a deep respect for servicemen. 🙏🏼 Also, I was devoutly Christian for most of my young life, and while my own spiritual path has led me to where I am at the moment, I still revere the teachings of Christianity and generally, most Christians. On the same side of the battle, definitely. 🙏🏼 Hello from a nearby campfire. 😌 Keep being you, and loving what you love, my friend.
The Acolyte and other garbage content will fade into obscurity over the years. The OT will always be there. The woke/post-modern/whatever you want to call it cultural movement is already winding down and stuff like "omg the first lesbian Jedi in a Star Wars show!!" no longer gets the riotous applause it used to. Keep your chin up friend.
@@_kmCarter
If you didn't mind me asking, what brought you to where you are today, spiritually speaking?
@@_kmCarter PLEASE, you, and EVERYONE, if you haven't already, re-embrace the One True Only God YHWH Jehovah, Only One Jesus Christ His Only Begotten Son and Lord and Savior of our souls and the Only One Holy Spirit. God is good. God is love. Jesus is Lord. Jesus IS coming. Your soul depends on it!
I have seen God act in my life. He saved my soul, changed my heart, changed my mind, helped people through me, took care of people in my life, people I hurt before I found God. God is the only reason I was able to reconcile with my dad before he died.
God worked through Jesus Christ to save our souls. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. Be baptized in The Holy Spirit, and if He wills, water as well. Repent of your sins, accept God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit into your heart, that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, that all who believe on Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father Jehovah God but through Him.
Not long after I got saved I prayed to God for help understanding the Holy Bible, and that same day someone knocked on my door asking me if I wanted to understand the Bible.
The Holy Bible says, "love thy enemy", "turn the other cheek", "If your enemy is hungry, feed him", "if he is thirsty, give him a drink", "pray for those who persecute you", "do not repay evil for evil".
LORD willing, all humans may commit sin of almost every kind (gay, straight), and that's wrong, and all humans sin, as God tells us through the The Holy Bible, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." The Holy Bible also says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
@@sanshinobi3664 PLEASE, you, and EVERYONE, if you haven't already, embrace the One True Only God YHWH Jehovah, Only One Jesus Christ His Only Begotten Son and Lord and Savior of our souls and the Only One Holy Spirit. God is good. God is love. Jesus is Lord. Jesus IS coming. Your soul depends on it!
I have seen God act in my life. He saved my soul, changed my heart, changed my mind, helped people through me, took care of people in my life, people I hurt before I found God. God is the only reason I was able to reconcile with my dad before he died.
God worked through Jesus Christ to save our souls. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. Be baptized in The Holy Spirit, and if He wills, water as well. Repent of your sins, accept God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit into your heart, that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, that all who believe on Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father Jehovah God but through Him.
Not long after I got saved I prayed to God for help understanding the Holy Bible, and that same day someone knocked on my door asking me if I wanted to understand the Bible.
The Holy Bible says, "love thy enemy", "turn the other cheek", "If your enemy is hungry, feed him", "if he is thirsty, give him a drink", "pray for those who persecute you", "do not repay evil for evil".
LORD willing, all humans may commit sin of almost every kind (gay, straight), and that's wrong, and all humans sin, as God tells us through the The Holy Bible, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." The Holy Bible also says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
“It’s like licking a piece of chalk.”
Beautiful! Beautiful mastery of language. I’m envious. You really made my day! Thank you.
When Lucas sold Star Wars to Disney, he sat down for an interview with Kathleen Kennedy. Kennedy started to explain the light and dark side in a sort of a grey way. (She was saying the dark side just has natural aspirations that become evil)
Lucas imterrupts her and says "the story is about good and evil" - rather than evil starting out as something ok and good and then getting corrupted, the darkness is ALWAYS there and needs to be contained to maintain balance
The difference between these two philosophies on evil is subtle but important - and current Lucasfilm is divided between people who see it Kathleens way (who she hires) and people who understand Lucas.
Until they sort that division, their storytelling will always be muddled before writing even begins
Yeah, I think that sums it up.
It is worth observing that your plot breakdown at the beginning is far more coherent than the show itself. Here's hoping that Disney will stop making more Star Wars content and sell the IP to somebody who understands WHY it was so popular in the first place. P.S.-Your statement that ALL of the characters are INSUFFERABLE was spot on.
This breakdown carries so much information and enlightens my existing frustrations with such clarity that I can only consume it in short snippets.
But I keep coming back to it a bite at a time because it is more satisfying to know how a beloved franchise was failed than it is to just gnash my teeth in blind frustration.
“Cultural vandalism” is the perfect phrase to describe Disney productions recently, including Star Wars obviously.
They can go to hell too for doing this!
That “ik what’s going on” intro to the breakdown was brilliant lol
This was a wonderful analysis. Im glad more people like you in general are taking the time to point out what is a major flaw in not just this show but other modern movies and shows. Moral ambiguity seems to be the real message Hollywood wants to spread, and they think we are just going to go along for the ride because they insert their own ideologies into an I.P. that has been loved for decades. Most people are fine that the characters they see are not the same gender, color or creed as them. What people are not ok with is seeing something Evil and being told its Good, and then berated for disagreeing.
Are you telling me we didn’t need two different conversations about Green Bean’s tummy issues? 😂 Seriously, this is one of the best reviews I’ve seen. I also was more angry about the offense to writing than the offense to Star Wars. I think many reviewers were so enraged they had difficulty breaking down the specifics of what was wrong.
Terrific insights, km. The original Star Wars was a galvanizing antidote to nihilism, indeed. The best art is always uplifting, and you did that in this video. Cheers, and I'm glad to see the positive response to your channel.
LH is a Hollywood Acolyte and she wrote what she knew
I've been watching House of the Dragon (HotD) alongside The Acolyte and noticed that that both series have general themes of (hi)stories not always telling the whole truth and neither sides of a conflict being completely good or bad. However, HotD differs from The Acolyte in that the producers of HotD actually assertively choose to present one side (the Blacks) as being "good and righteous" (Rhaenyra is in fact is the rightful heir) but also flawed in terms of making serious mistakes (trust in the wrong people, hesitation to act), and the other side (the Greens) as "hypocritical and self-interested" but also sympathetic and realistic (inter-generational traumas and lack of emotional support). Still, there are complexities to each characters' thinking and behaviors, and the show is able to present the entire story from perspectives on both sides without neutering any of the characters (they get increasingly interesting as the story develops). All this to say that I think that HotD has much more compelling writing and more interesting characters than The Acolyte, and the theme of "moral grayness" is much better explored in the former than in the latter. Perhaps The Acolyte would have been more successful here if it had leaned more into Jedi being good at heart but not infallible (they make mistakes in judgment and action) and also more into the Sith (or pre-Sith) being so lost in their concern for the self that they lose sight of what is correct. The idea of grayness comes how much the characters resemble real qualities of human beings and the tension between selfishness and moral expectations, not characters whose actions have no connections to their thoughts or those who have strong words followed up by wish-washy behaviors.
The breakdown we've been waiting for!!
Very in depth, I love the way you break down the tone of the show and how it feels nihilistic - not what we need in these times.
I really appreciate how directly you acknowledge how much Star Wars means to fans. It's not just a movie, it's a philosophy for a lot of people. Disney is treating it like a commodity, but they really never understood it. Star Wars espouses specific ideals, but they are subsumed by Disney's only ideal--shareholder value.
0:21, hold, hold up. Children *and* minors? Never heard it put that way before 😂
LOL... probably should have said "adolescents" instead of minors.
You are so intelligent and so good giving the summary of this poorly written show. I never understood what Headlund was trying to do. She was pushing her own agenda way too much.
Amazing. You’re definitely getting better with each one. And I have learned something from each of your reviews. And I appreciate your message hope at the end. Can’t wait to see where are you take your channel.
@@oddjobtech 🥹🙏🏼 thanks for joining me on the journey.
Thank you, Acolyte, for showing us these underrated channels and giving them a chance to shine.
Truly, you were a poop show. But, truly, you served a greater purpose.
"A BA in BS." OMG IM SO USING THAT
Okay so, just a minor correction here: originally the force is in balance when it’s “light.” The force doesn’t create dark users to balance itself. It’s in its pure form when it’s Light. And light-side users can go “dark” or aggressive, attack, and cause things to happen proactively instead of react and it’s all balanced.
The force becomes out of balance when evil users decide to be selfish with it. They usurp their will onto it and make it do what they want instead of what’s natural. Their being selfish creates an imbalance that needs purged. So, George Lucas’ Star Wars, Sideous and Mal and these Sith are causing an imbalance and the force hates them so it creates Anakin out of itself to go forth and destroy them. That’s why Anakin is born. To destroy the Sith and bring the force back into balance which is what the force wants.
There is no dark side that is justifiable. It’s not yin and yang and the dark exists for a reason. You know what I’m saying? It’s yin and yang when it’s light. And Jedi like Mace Windu use both sides of it, aggression and defense, in balance. The dark users are just wicked.
It’s only when it went Disney that the dark side became like justifiable and part of the force. And that there has to be dark users to balance the light users. That’s a corruption of the Star Wars story and doesn’t exist in the original story. And that’s why so many old school fans hate the entire premise that the force creates these wicked people or they exist for a reason. It’s all BS to justify corruption. And a tainting of the story.
The Sith are meant to be pure evil and there’s not supposed to be any sympathy or justifiable reason for them to exist. Period.
That was one of the best break downs of the Acolyte I’ve seen so far and I like how it was just constructive criticism and not just bashing on Disney. It had details and concepts that made sense why the acolyte was bad, but also gave Leslie credit for some really good ideas but just not executed properly. With a different team the Acolyte could have been a great show, huge budget and some really unique and interesting ideas.
Hopefully after Deadpool and Wolverine, maybe Disney is turning a corner in the quality of movies they are making.
Let me start by saying that this is definitely the best breakdown of the show I’ve seen thus far.
You really hit the nail on the head regarding all of the gaping flaws the show has in terms of story and character. I think this show had a lot of potential to show the perspective of the Sith and all of that was just wasted completely.
Your comments about how Leslie’s seemingly nihilistic worldview and how that bleeds into her writing for the show really struck me.
For context, I’m in my early 20s and I’ve been a Star Wars fan all my life. My father was 16 in 1977 when A New Hope came out and he passed that love on to me. To me, all the best parts of the franchise I love (the Original Trilogy, prequels, the animated series I grew up with) are have the overarching theme of fighting against all odds to keep hope alive in the face of impossible odds of the world around you. The Acolyte flies in the face of all of that.
What I’m trying to say overall is, thank you so much for this thorough analysis and May The Force Be With You!
Also just a quick point RE: what Osha did to Sol’s lightsaber (not trying to lecture anyone just hoping to clarify for those who don’t know). It’s called bleeding and it’s basically the process of pouring all of one’s hatred, pain and grief into the lightsaber crystal to turn the blade red.
@@DavidLevandowski Thanks for the lore clarification. Admittedly, my knowledge doesn’t go that deep. 🙏🏼 So glad you enjoyed the video!
It's just so sad (and frustrating) how Leslye and Amandla keeps claiming all haters are bigots and sexists, when it's clear to _anyone_ who has some capacity for critical thinking that this is just poorly written. Characters just make choices to move the plot in the direction the writer wants, but it makes no sense why they'd do them.
Mae is the perfect example; her goal is to kill the 4 jedi. Suddenly (some time after she's already got 2 of them dead) she decides that naa, she's going to hand herself in and not kill them, but when she finds the jedi, she flees from them and fights them. "Everything for my sister" is her thing, but she knocks Osha out so hard she's unconscious for many hours and left in a forest where animals could kill her. Then Mae joins Sol (the enemy she's sworn to kill) and _again_ decides to not kill him when she has the chance. How does any of this make sense to anyone? Who approved of this script?
Another big problem (also based on poor writing, of course) is that no-one talks or explains things to anyone, just like in a poorly written soap opera or anime. Drama for drama's sake, not because it makes for a good story. It's truly disappointing how this series turned out, especially since Star Wars a beloved universe that is now slowly getting defiled and destroyed.
I’m torn; on the one hand, I’d absolutely watch a full documentary about this from you 😅-on the other hand, you’re so right; waste of time and creative energy. Thank you for summing it up and putting a bow on it-that was cathartic!
To be frank, I am weary of the "gray" moralism that seems to be all the rage. Or nihilism, as you also described it. It has its place, but it feels like creatives and story tellers don't actually believe in good and evil anymore. And when they do dabble in that arena, they focus on showing how "ACTUALLY your heroes were the evil ones all along!" They insist on subverting and tearing down what was built before.
It's depressing and demoralising. I like to be inspired once in awhile, ya know? I appreciate happy, satisfying endings. I like Superman to be a beacon of Truth, Justice, and the American Way. I like Luke Skywalker being a young kid who stepped up, holds onto his values, and believes in people. I want a Lara Croft who craves adventure and discovering lost mysteries. I want a Lady Giladriel who is feminine, powerful, and wise; not a brutish psychopath.
The vandalism and demoralising feels intentional, and I don't like it. Our young people deserve better stories.
@@bros4654 the subtext of my comments: these producers are part of an ideological movement that knows *exactly* what they’re doing. And that has earned a great big NOPE from me.
One of the most articulate logical and clear synopsises I've seen of the serious problems with this series. Excellent work. Well worth a subscription!!!
@@RingoHellboy Thank you so much! 🙏🏼 Welcome. More on the way.
"...the evisceration" Guilty as charged 🤣🤦🏽♂️
Your insight of "cultural vandalism" is spot on, enlightening and really appreciated. I've watched many acolyte-related videos, watching the pire of a greatly loved franchise go up in flames, but have not heard the insight in the way you eloquently presented it. You have significantly helped through this and other of your great content.
You have described in a clear concise manner how poor the storytelling and characters development was for the entire series. Plus you provided great examples from her source material. Bravo - Bravo! Please watch Andor for good Star Wars. Thank you for spending so much time on creating this content!
One other thing that I think is really pertinent to the conversation of writing for the show is how much of what Leslie intended stayed in her head and didn’t make it to the script. I’ve read several interviews with her where she tries to explain what is going on in various episodes, and there were so many times where she would make a point and my reaction was “yeah you didn’t show that.”
I really think that a lot of the show still only exists in her mind, and that is a huge flaw when you are trying to write something that is meant to be enjoyed by other people. Your audience cannot see what is in your mind, and so you have to make things clear for them in the actual writing and not rely on them reading a Collider article to give extra information in order to understand it.
The biggest example of this was the witch mother’s actions in transforming herself and Mae into smoke. Everything we see in the show is telling us that she is likely killing them both. But Headland says later she was transforming them both into the Force without killing Mae, which is a huge deal and something we can’t just be expected to understand because we’ve never seen it before. Every other time someone has transitioned into the Force, that meant death (Obi-Wan and Yoda specifically). So both the Jedi characters and the audience believe she is milling herself and Mae. But then Leslie says “no actually…” but never addresses that in the actual script.
@@NoscoSays Yes! I made a similar point briefly in one of my other videos; if she has to explain the work in endless interviews, the screenplay was not successfully (or even comprehensively) written.
Amazingly well said. This is one of the best breakdowns and criticisms of The Acolyte I've seen. Kudos and thank you!!!
I’ve watched every review for the Drinker to Nerdrodic and between. Your approach is by far the best. You don’t simply “tear it down” but identify what Leslie was trying to do, but failed at and then gave examples of what it looked like when done right. Your breakdown of how good vs evil works in film was masterful. Leslie wants to be both ambiguous and decisive at the same time. The really frustrating part is she is convinced it’s the audience’s fault.
Thank you! This is what's rolling around in my head while I'm watching this crap, so I'm glad it's making sense to other folks!
Well said!! I feel like you put into words the sadness, frustration, and disappointment this show brought to me. I watch Star Wars to escape for a little while the craziness of this world. I do not want to watch a show that is going to take away my hope and that offers no clear positive message. You put your finger on it when you said that Lesley created a show where there is no clear good or evil. Thanks for your words. They have helped put everything in perspective for me. ❤
I just wanted to say thank you for your video. You’re able to explain so much in depth of what is wrong with this show and also explain why so many SW fans are sad / angry about the whole thing. I was just pissed off about it, but more like a child angry at something and not being able to express why correctly, and you’re like the adult that explained what’s going on and on some level that is reassuring hahah. So thank you for diagnosing this nightmare called the Acolyte.
Glad to finally hear what you had to say about it, thank you 💚
"I was at a place where The Jedi just did what they thought was right. And if they did what they thought was right, that doesn't make them bad people." This perfectly encapsulates the way I felt. I felt like they went for this big "a-ha!" moment. "See? The Jedi were actually the bad guys" and it just didn't work at all.
Because the Jedi are not bad guys, they are flawed but they’re not bad
If you made a full length documentary, I'd watch it! Heck, I'd buy it on DVD!
@@veronicabrushsci-fi honestly, start by buying the ORIGINAL cut of the first three Star Wars films. 😆 You’ll probably enjoy that more during the coming apocalypse.
As a white straight male I really have been enjoying your channel. The honesty you bring to your critique is much needed in today’s environment.
@@jeshuatemores9195 welcome! So glad you’re here!
Best analysis on TH-cam!
Our wishes came true! Season 2 was just rightfully cancelled! Rejoice!
The power of ONE!
The power of TWO!
The power of MANYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
lmao
@@TheAnhedonicOne yaaaayyyy!!!!
Your ending lines in this video...thank you, brilliant.
"I am at last myself... with no ambition greater than to walk where I please and to breathe the open air. To die unremarked and unnoticed and be free."
- Alicent, Queen Regent
The finale of House of Dragons is everything Acolyte tried to be and failed miserably at...
I love this. I knew i hated this show but am not quite skilled enough to explain why. Fortunately you are, for that I would like to say thank you. Hope you have just the greatest day and may the force be with you 👊☮️
Respect, Carter - best breakdown and presentatiom of SW/Acolyte I’ve seen. Respectful, passionate and solid argumentation. Will happily follow your journey…
You know, the way you summarize the story of the Acolyte, taken by itself, actually sounds very interesting. With a capable writer / director, this series could've been compelling. Shame 😢
@amalgam777 I thought the same thing. The actual skeleton of the premise isn't horrible.
That Initial Summary was really good
Honestly, when I watched the first two Episodes of the show I couldnt shake off the feeling that this whole show was written by toddlers (or A.I.), perfomed by amateur actors from a middleschool-theatreclub on the same schools stage set and filmed by anybody who was willing to hold the camera. If Disney wouldn't have its label on that show, I wouldn't have recognized it as a serious multi-million-dollar project from the Star Wars franchise. Two main issues which irritated me the most were the horrible plot and the horrible technical implementation like camera angles and the depicted environement. Never continued watching this mess of a feverdream. (sorry if my sentences feel off sometimes, I am no native speaker)
@_kmCarter Btw, I recently found out about your channel and I dont regret it. Will come for more, that's for sure :D
Thanks! so glad you enjoyed it! Welcome!
I think you're being very generous to Leslye calling her worldview as nihilistic. If she believes The Acolyte is morally grey, I am incredibly suspicious of her personal moral compass.
Wow, watched your breakdown now. Wonderful, and so so cathartic. Incite full, evidence-based, direct, clear, respectful, resonating, positive and funny. All these things.,
You suggest dedicating a channel to such material would be a waste of your, and our time - I argue not. Your clear, rationale, intelligent and funny videos are the perfect example of the positivity that has emerged in response to The Acolyte - your videos do what the show should have done - brought together people from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and shown us that we are more alike than society, and Disney, seem intent to make us believe.
Your videos are a gift of positivity and reassurance to everyone who watched The Acolyte, and the associated media messaging by its creators, and are wondering how we suddenly became bad people, and want to know ‘is it just me?’
Someone in your vid comments has begun calling you ‘Mother’ - and its an apt descriptor - you are reminding and explaining in such a clear way to all of us that it is not us who are bad, is is the terrible offerings of a flawed - hell, let’s say evil, group of powerful people.
It seems that The Acolyte, and its creator’s declared social purpose, have inadvertently polarised the audience into a unified Rebellion Alliance, against an actual evil Empire that has finally revealed itself for what it is. Something negative in a World where we need and crave positivity.
I normally watch a favourite movie or video when I need a positive pill. In this case it is the work of intelligent, concerned, passionate creators not reacting, but responding to this show, The Acolyte, that makes me smile and feel good.
Thank you.
Lets start that channel, and the Rebel Alliance!
( apologies for the grammar - I am terrible at using commas!😊)
I am pretty well-versed in Campbell's work. Archetypes and world myth are two of my favorite subjects. I studied some of that in college. Now that our culture is a LOT more global, and Anime/Manga has captured the younger generation, I think some writers are turning to Eastern forms of story structure and trying that on for size. There's something I don't like about Campbell's work, but I never could put my finger on it. I know when it's done well. Star Wars and Willow did it well. I am open to exploring other forms of story structure. I feel ready to be blown away by something totally new. The Acolyte isn't it.
The way you had these very slight hesitations and pauses when you got to some of the most ridiculously nonsensical parts in your plot summary was so damn funny. I could practically hear you thinking "i cant believe im saying this with a straight face as if its just a normal part of a coherent story ". 😂. Glad to have found this channel, your humor is a direct match with mine. Great video here, its much smarter analysis than the show itself really deserves.
This is the best analysis ive seen.
I usually only have apathy for Star Wars now having gone through the 5 stages of grief after the last jedi. But then there is a moment when i see a comment, hear Williams' music or see an image and my heart clenches, and it hits me, like the grief of a lost loved one. Your closing lines with the photo of Luke and Vader hit me hard.
I was a star wars fan for more than 30 years, from the age of 5. I am also a woman and appalled this has all happened under the guise of 'The Force is Female'. No, the Force was for EVERYONE.
Moreover, ALL my beloved franchises has gone up in flames. We fans are living in Fantasia(Fantastica) and The Nothing is now consuming everything it touches and we are trapped in the Swamp of Sadness desperately trying to save Artex.
@@J3335 yes! Watching this stuff is like staring into the Nothing!
This is by far one of the best analysis of this show. I really appreciate all the Roshamon examples, it made this more about artistic style as opposed to a video that just bashes the show.
excellent work. well put. i'll direct everyone to this video whenever they want me to justify my 'this show stinks' opinion.
Your brief summary of the Acolyte sounds more interesting than what the series produced
Wow.. your take is so much more interesting than anything Disney has done for ages... ❤ your brain 😊
I learned a lot from watching this and 36 minutes felt like 36 seconds.
Last Jedi also used Rashomon for inspiration. They should try another Kurosawa film that isn't Hidden Fortress or Seven Samurai. He has a rich filmography but those are the only ones anyone seems to have watched.
Well put. My radical idea: this show should be de-canonized. No season 2, no more discussion about what this show could have been, no more Headland. Just pick up and move on, because this show is absolutely not good for the franchise. It's not compelling, it's not kid-friendly, just bad...
The fact this might have put a nail in the coffin for High Republic beyond books for a good while is a real shame. I was looking forward to seeing the gradual slip of the Jedi order from a truly impressive organization of thousands assisting the galaxy to a group of insular monks so obsessed with being holier than thou that they revel in doing nothing. Instead, we got a pretty boring story with nonsense decisions that made me think, "Damn, I could have been watching Andor again."
The "Disney Effect" of wasting interesting premises... Out of curiosity, since you sound quite invested, is there any particular part of the High Republic media that you would recommend? I have to admit I've only tried the comics with the Drengir, I wasn't too impressed and didn't get past the first couple of issues. Should I give HR another chance?
it’s so awesome to hear you use the word “craftsmanship” multiple times. as a visual artist, in this dawning age of AI generated imagery, which comes from a craft-void and creative-void; and to see the music industry turn to craft-void pitch correction as the de facto standard, it’s reassuring to know there are some humans out there who still value quality and actual elbow grease. brava!
I will scream that word from the rooftops to my last breath. Don't ever give up doing your human craft! Eventually, in an age of AI -generated everything, craftsmanship will become the premium.
Spot on. Love how you present your thoughts.
Thank you for adding validation to my concerns with Disney Star Wars. Being apathetic towards something I grew up with and loved for so many years is something I never expected to see happen.
If this is first time you've felt that way over the last 10 or so years consider yourself lucky. All sorts of franchise have been badly damaged over that time frame.
@@BiggieTrismegistusnope, not the first time. It’s been a slow process
What I love so much about your posts are that they come off as completely un biased
@@tonycollins3505 …I did learn a thing or two from my BA in BS…🤣🤓
@@_kmCarter I agree you have learned . I applaud you and your tenacious mind .
I think too many people nowadays don't understand what "bias" is and when it is or isn't appropriate. Why would you expect a review of a show to be "unbiased"? What would an "unbiased" review even look like? In this video she's obviously biased in favor of good writing for example.
I think when people say "bias" they're really referring to the tone of the criticism. Anyone who comes off as too "mean" in a critique gets called "biased" and that's enough for some people to write them off.
@@BiggieTrismegistus I guess when I say un biased I am meaning not toward the actual topic . It is a fair appraisal of what was done and the expectations of us the viewer . Not the speaker or reviewer but the spectators expectations of what was presented or how it was delivered. Sorry for mis speaking …
Describing Hedlund as a 13 year trying to increase her vocabulary was my highlight 😂
Even Headland has no idea what she intended for this show, that much is cleear from her inteviews. She even gave the game away by saying "Have we just written bad fan-fiction? HAHAHA!"
Didn't she say in one interview "I walk into every project pretending I know what I'm doing."?
@@albatross4920 That was her advice to people getting into the industry, probably from personal experience.
@@johntud I thought extortion and holding Disney hostage was the advice.
She says Sol was a bad guy for wanting to protect Osha. That's patriarchal.
I'm still waiting for someone to ask why Mae wasn't mad about her other mother abandoning her and her sister.
Keep on doing what you're doing. No matter how bad some media is, it can still be used as a bad example and learned from. Excellent points made and clear, defined examples. Thank you.
Thanks for the encouragement! I'm living on that right now. 🙏
Nice to see the perspective of someone not dug into the fandom. I hope you have a great career in youtube or at least have a good time making videos
@@thecreepers5399 it’s been a blast so far. I hope I get to do more. I would love to see what I could build full time.
Thank you so much for making this video and calling out why this show was so disappointing.
You’re a legend, can’t wait for your next vid
reminds me of something ive read.
"the way the Meritocracy works everywhere in our society?
It's just a mostly closed caste of people from the same socio-economic group sorting each other into roles based on "oh hey I know so and so." "oh, yeah, I went to the same school/was in the same club", "my dad knew your dad" "i know a guy that knows a guy that knows a guy that says you're looking for work doing X and says that you're pretty good at X". They all assume that anyone from their social stratum are by definition the most deserving and capable individuals because they went to the right schools and know the right people.
Actually being good and experienced at the job in question comes secondary to being from the same/right social caste. It feels to them like a safer bet to pick someone they have shit in common with than risking it on someone who "knows what they're doing" because money is on the line and they understand mediocre people like them and don't understand a talented person from a different caste
in modern hollywood the main exception to this tends to be a large social media following where any lack of talent or personal familiarity can be replaced with "well we know that this person has X followers on social media, so we can expect X eyes on this project" and so that's taken the place of conventional casting on ability on a lot of projects.
simply put, to the people with the money it's "safer" to not seek out people with experience and skill and instead rely on someone you can control or predict due to personal familiarity"
Thank you!!!
It's weird listening to someone narrate and summerize the events of The Acolyte without laughing!😂😂😂