Key Takeaways:
– Disney Plus's show, The Acolyte has received a lower audience score than the Star Wars Holiday Special; considered the worst Star Wars project.
– The Acolyte holds a low audience score of 15% against the Star Wars Holiday Special's 21%.
– The critics' score paints a different picture, awarding it an average of 72%.
– Despite its low audience score, The Acolyte has done well in terms of viewership numbers.
– George Lucas once expressed a desire to destroy every copy of the Star Wars Holiday Special.
“The Acolyte” Fails to Please Fans
Disney Plus has once again managed to rouse reactions amongst the Star Wars community. This time, it's due to their latest offering, The Acolyte, which has suffered heavy criticism and a low audience score of 15%. Surprisingly, this number is an all-time low, considering the Star Wars Holiday Special, previously deemed the worst Star Wars project, still managed to secure a 21% score.
Contrary to its audience reception, The Acolyte has done impressively well when it comes to the critic's score, boasting an average of 72%. The stark contrast between these two scores paints an intriguing picture about the reception of this Disney Plus series.
The Acolyte Accused of Breaking “Canon”
Fans have laid several complaints at the foot of The Acolyte, ranging from a perceived break in Star Wars canon to unimpressive dialogues. There's also a sense that the series undermines the story of Anakin Skywalker, a central character believed to be uniquely conceived. However, some fans have reserved their criticisms until all episodes are released. Could review-bombing be responsible for the overwhelming low score? That's yet to be seen.
Despite the audience's apparent dissatisfaction, The Acolyte has swept up impressive numbers on its streaming platform, crowning it as Disney Plus's biggest premiere of the year so far.
George Lucas, Star Wars Holiday Special and Regret
The Star Wars Holiday Special aired once in 1978 and was swiftly subjected to the disdain of Star Wars creator, George Lucas. The special, written by comedy writers with no sci-fi experience, was dubbed as being objectively poor and was even ignored by Lucas thereafter.
Lucas, in his frustration, famously commented that he would destroy every existing copy of the Holiday Special if he was provided with a sledgehammer and the time needed for the task. Despite Lucas' dissatisfaction and its infamous reputation, the Holiday Special has ironically etched itself into Star Wars fandom and often serves as a running joke amongst fans.
Despite being the object of severe criticism and low public approval, The Acolyte continues to garner viewership on Disney Plus and is available for streaming.
In conclusion, the criticism of The Acolyte shows that even the most popular franchises aren't immune to fan displeasure. While The Acolyte may not be the most celebrated Star Wars project to date, it's still early days for the series and a turnaround in public opinion could still be on the cards. Until then, Star Wars fans will continue to debate and dissect The Acolyte as it unveils its story.
