Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Acolyte episodes 1 and 2.
Summary
With the premiere ofThe Acolyte,Star Warsis yet again proving it can break new ground, 5 years after the debut ofThe Mandalorianon Disney+.The Acolyteis a bold project forStar Warsin a splendid variety of ways, but most notably forThe Acolyte’s place in theStar Warstimeline. It’s the first live-action project to explore an era ofStar Warsoutside the Skywalker saga, with it taking place during theHigh Republic era. Though this era is quite storied inThe High Republicbooks and comics, it’s yet to be explored in this way.
Taking place 100 years before the events ofStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace,The Acolyteis laying the groundwork for theStar Warsprequel trilogy, which has since become one of the franchise’s most revered eras - if not its most revered. This unique look at the Jedi Order in the golden age of theGalactic Republichas already started to explain why they act the way they do in the prequel trilogy.The Acolyte, however, is not the first to resetStar Warsin this way, asThe Mandalorianalso did so five years ago.
Star Wars: The Acolyte Episode Guide - Cast Members, Biggest Takeaways & Easter Eggs
Here’s everything you need to follow along with Star Wars: The Acolyte, from references and trivia to main takeaways from each new episode.
The Mandalorian Re-Launched Star Wars On Disney Plus
The Mandalorian Ushered In The Era Of Live-Action Star Wars Television
The Acolyteexists solely because of whatThe Mandalorianwas able to do first: carve a new path forStar Warstelevision.The Mandalorianarrived at the perfect time forStar Wars, when the sequel trilogy was coming to an end and Disney+ was preparing to launch. The streaming platform needed a flagship TV show to debut alongside it, andStar Warsaudiences needed something fresh after the conclusion of the Skywalker saga.
Even better was the fact thatThe Mandalorianwasn’t going to rely on familiar characters or narratives. While certain characters were certainly echoes of others, from the bounty hunterDin Djarinevoking Boba Fett to the adorable Grogu drawing upon prime Yoda nostalgia, each addition was brand-new in a rarely explored part of thecanonStar Warstimeline.It was only after the massive success ofThe Mandalorianseason 1 that otherStar WarsTV shows received a green light, includingThe Acolyteitself.
The Mandalorian
Cast
Released on August 24, 2025 The Mandalorian follows a lone gunfighter navigating the galaxy’s outer reaches after the Galactic Empire’s fall. As a skilled bounty hunter, he operates in a lawless universe, undertaking various missions on the fringes of the New Republic’s territories.
The Acolyte Proves That Star Wars Can Go Beyond The Skywalker Saga
Star Wars Can Explore New Eras With A Healthy Amount Of Nostalgia
Now,The Acolyteis carving its own path in theStar Warsgalaxy. While previousStar WarsTV shows afterThe Mandalorianhave all followed familiar characters, such as Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Cassian Andor, and Ahsoka Tano, in established eras,The Acolyteis introducing a brand-new cast of characters in an entirely new era. More importantly, however,The Acolyteis proving thatStar Warscan not only go beyond the Skywalker saga, but it can also succeed in doing so.
The narrative itself is compelling yet familiar enough on its own to make this work.
What works aboutThe Acolyteand its timeline thus far is thatit ties clear threads to familiarStar Warscontent within the Skywalker saga. Just two episodes in, it’s already easy to see how the events of this show will have consequences that make the Jedi of the prequel era who they are. It’s able to accomplish this without relying on familiar faces, even ifVernestra Rwohdoes have an origin inThe High Republicbooks and comics. The narrative itself is compelling yet familiar enough on its own to make this work.
All 35 Star Wars Easter Eggs In The Acolyte Episodes 1 & 2
The Acolyte has finally premiered on Disney+, featuring a massive collection of exciting Easter eggs and references in the first two episodes.
Both Stories Prove Star Wars Is At Its Best When Fresh
Brand-New Characters & Storylines Keep Star Wars Alive
Star Warshas certainly succeeded with its shows focused on familiar characters, withAndoroften being considered the franchise’s best, but there’s no doubt that fresh stories such asThe MandalorianandThe Acolytehave a charm that’s difficult to ignore.They evoke the true spirit ofStar Warsin bringing something new to life while still connecting to the sweet nostalgiaof the greater galaxy. Elements of the original trilogy are sprinkled all overThe Mandalorian, whileThe Acolyte’s first two episodes have left no shortage of prequel trilogy head-nods in their wake.
It’s encouraging to seeStar Warstrying new things 47 years after the very first movie. The overall reception ofThe Mandalorianand, thus far,The Acolyteproves that this can be a risky yet beneficial venture for the franchise.The Mandalorianhas easily become one ofStar Wars’most successful sub-franchises, as it will soon take the franchise to the movie theater for the first time sinceStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.The Acolytecertainly has audiences divided, but for the most part, it has been met with promising reviews from critics - proving that freshness works.
The Acolyteepisodes 1 and 2 are now available to stream. New episodes release Tuesdays on Disney+.
The Acolyte
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
