Star Wars: The Acolyte [Spoilers on the North Ridge!]

[anevilgiraffe]

Props to to long necked one for getting the identity of the dark master.

I thank you. But him just turning up like that was too much… combined with how he was speaking and encouraging Mae, it had to be him.

[AKULA]

I know that he is referred to as "master" but technically isn't the Sith apprentice, which is why he is seeking an acolyte?

[anevilgiraffe]

I don’t think he’s really a Sith, he said it was just a term the Jedi would use to categorise him. His desire for freedom to use his powers as he wished, even though he’s a dick with them, seems more his motivation than looking for power itself.

[OSHIROmodels]

I don’t think he’s a Sith either, just some bloke who’s out for himself and doesn’t give a tinkers cuss who gets in his way 

Expanding it to more than Jedi/Sith is a good thing as far as I’m concerned.

[zemjw]

Some of the way he kept referring to himself/Sith in the third person had me wondering if there was an alien parasite thing involved, but probably not.

Not sure cutting your hair and putting on your sister's clothes should be enough to fool a Jedi master who can read minds, but, why not...

Hints of the witches getting into Jedi minds is muddying up my opinion of what/who killed all the witches, so credit to them for at least keeping that mystery open.

Not happy about the "all my friends are dead, I'll just leave them where they are to be eaten by the Rodents of Unusual Size in Fangorn Forest", approach (yeah, mixing movies, I know). He could at least have moved the bodies into the Wookie's hut to await collection

[Ninefingers]

I like the implication in this series that there may have been many force-using cults in the universe at one point, but the Jedi were the only state sanctioned force-using cult...

[OSHIROmodels]

I like the implication in this series that there may have been many force-using cults in the universe at one point, but the Jedi were the only state sanctioned force-using cult...

Yes, I like that as well.

[Maniac]

I like the implication in this series that there may have been many force-using cults in the universe at one point, but the Jedi were the only state sanctioned force-using cult...

Well, there is a reason for that, as invariably those force cults went to the dark side (save for maybe the Whills).

Remember, the Jedi are space Knights Templar.  That is one of the main sources of inspiration for the Jedi, and early in the Catholic church there were many heresies which had to be dealt with, such as the Arian heresy.

I just hope it (the Acolyte) doesn't paint them as anything other than heretics instead of the stupid trope of good and unfairly oppressed.

[Daeothar]

I actually like the idea that the Jedi are not the paragons of good that they were made out to be. Maybe individual Jedi are, but the organisation itself appears to be at least partially Byzantine, with councils, secret councils, secret sub-councils etc. Different schools, sub-sects and interpretations and all that.

The fact that Ki Adi Mundi was in the know of the happenings at the beginning of the series, and him blatantly agreeing that there had not been any Sith for a thousand years when on the high council during the Phantom Menace is proof enough that the Jedi order is not as forthcoming and transparent as they make themselves out to be.

Add to that the distinct implication that the 4 Jedi murdered all of the sisters during the fire (the bodies seen during the escape were not burnt and there was no suffocating smoke, they just lay where they died/were cut down), and it appears to me that this series is trying to add some severe nuances to the Jedi order.

It's only logical that there are many different force using groups across the galaxy (a galaxy is a very large place), and it's becoming clear that the Jedi order is doing whatever it takes to maintain its monopoly on force use, to the point where they will criminalize any competition or even outright exterminate them.

The Jedi order might have begun as a force of good, but thousands of years of institutionalization have severely blinded the order to their own original tenets, which have been replaced by strict, unforgiving dogma and a blind eye for certain aspects of their original beliefs that has made them unflexible and cold.

This might be me, but ever since the prequel trilogy I have had serious doubts about how (morally) good the Jedi actually are. They go on about balance in the force, but without dark, there is no light, so how can there be balance when all the dark is being suppressed?

Also; how is taking young children away from their loved ones, telling them to sever all ties with their past, then throwing them into an imposing, alien environment with very strict rules and ragging on them for feeling scared supposed to be good?

I think the Jedi order lost its way long before the events of this series, replacing actual good intentions with strict dogma.

And storywise, this makes them much more interesting I think; no strict black and white, but shades of grey (and a lot more than 50 ), which gives all matter of options, from paladin-like individuals fighting actual evil to scheming, machiavellian manipulators. So I'm all for that.

I know that this will not sit right with a lot of old-school Jedi fans, for whom the Jedi order is the true champion of all that is good, but to each his own. I'm also not defending the Acolyte as a series; the 5th episode was pretty good as far as I'm concerned but the first few fell really flat.

But then again; let's hope that after a lacklustre start, it will maintain its momentum and turn out to be actually OK...

[Condottiere]

Also; how is taking young children away from their loved ones, telling them to sever all ties with their past, then throwing them into an imposing, alien environment with very strict rules and ragging on them for feeling scared supposed to be good?

They don't take children away from their loved ones. If the parent(s) says no, they respect their wishes. The ones who take children without consent are the Sith, like what Darth Sidious did with the infant Maul. Severing ties with their past and other things make sense, but by the end of the High Republic era, the Jedi gone overboard with it. 

[Condottiere]

I know that he is referred to as "master" but technically isn't the Sith apprentice, which is why he is seeking an acolyte?

Since he's the one training her, it'd be correct for her to refer to him as "master". Banite Sith got around the Rule of 2 by training Sith Assassins or Sith Acolytes, like Sidious and Maul and Tyranus and Asajj Ventress. Usually this was done in secret, since it would be an obvious indication that the apprentice was preparing to replace their master, but even if known, it was tolerated, so long as they were kept weak - Sidious ordered Tyranus to kill Ventress, as she become strong. Some Banite Sith, like Tenebrous did violate their rule by having 2 apprentices: Darth Vanamis and Darth Plagueis.   

[Maniac]

It is certainly easy to see the Jedi's flaws in the prequels, and it is kind of fun to see them as 'not good guys'.  However, it's again back to the Knights Templar.  They were not allowed to have any relations with women, they couldn't even kiss or hug their own mothers or sisters.

The overarching failure isn't so much, pull away from family, as it is they fail to teach them how to not let their emotions run away with them.  Coupled with their own hubris/self belief they were blind to needed actions.  The implication might be that Qui-Gon was the right blend of attributes, but in his death Obi-wan was too bound to be legalistic in his approach.

The Sith are certainly the bad guys, and not 'misunderstood'. 

In terms of Ki Adi Mundi knowing, I think it's less he covered it up and more 'we don't give a #### about continuity'.  They've clearly demonstrated as much with Obi-wan.  Anything else is worthy of a Marvel No-Prize for covering up a total disregard for bad teen fan-fic.

[snitcythedog]

I have now sat through the whole series.  It expands the universe and adds new avenues for plot lines.  For me this failed in the same way as the majority of their new stuff.  Almost all of the new series have held real promise but then failed with the story, dialogue and the acting.  It is almost as if they are hoping that the effects makes up for the other deficiencies.  I really worry that they are flooding the market with mediocre content rather than putting real effort into creating compelling series.  It will turn off fans. 

[Lost Egg]

Watched today's episode...it was good to see the Jedi don't just leave their dead...the whole Sol missing that Osha is actually Mae thing felt like filler.

Also, the lightsabre whip is silly.

I realised this week I'd quite like to see a Star Wars series with a jobbing Jedi, no Sith, no the-galaxy-is-on-the-line story arcs. It could be a bit Quantum Leap-ish and be a good way of exploring different aspects of the setting.

[anevilgiraffe]

They don't take children away from their loved ones. If the parent(s) says no, they respect their wishes.

The witches said no, but they kept pushing.