Star Wars’ New Show Is Everything The Acolyte Should Have Been

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Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord episode 3-4

Although The Acolyte was advertised as a significant dark side story taking place during the High Republic, the series didn’t quite live up to the hype. Compared to recent releases like Maul – Shadow Lord, it feels like The Acolyte could have benefited from a more intense and focused approach.

While The Acolyte (2024) had interesting concepts and characters, and was set in a fresh period 100 years before The Phantom Menace, it often felt disjointed. The show jumped between different viewpoints without truly focusing on a single character or main storyline, and didn’t fully deliver on its potential to explore the dark side in a more in-depth way.

The animated series Maul: Shadow Lord stands out because it offers a much more direct and character-focused story about the dark side, especially concerning its main character, Maul. Compared to other Star Wars stories, it packs a lot of depth into just a few episodes.

Unlike Shadow Lord, The Acolyte’s Focus Was Far More Divided

Although The Acolyte was initially promoted as a series focused on the dark side of the Force, it actually spends a lot of time following several Jedi characters. While the show does offer some interesting new perspectives on the dark side, its focus is frequently divided between multiple storylines and characters.

Despite a solid starting point, the live-action Star Wars series The Acolyte ultimately faced cancellation, likely due to challenges with its first season. The show’s potential was higher if it had been allowed to run for the multiple seasons originally planned by creator Leslye Headland.

Compared to other stories, the initial episodes of Maul – Shadow Lord are very tightly focused. The plot centers entirely on Maul’s efforts to regain his strength and get revenge during the Imperial era. Almost every other character either helps him, opposes him, or is simply a tool he uses to achieve his goals. This clear direction creates a compelling story, particularly when Maul tries to corrupt Devon Izara and turn her into his apprentice.

The Stranger Should Have Been The Acolyte’s Primary Protagonist

You know, it’s funny – I actually think The Acolyte already had a character who could’ve been the central focus of the story. I’m talking about Qimir, or The Stranger, played by Manny Jacinto. He really could have carried things, honestly.

The Stranger was definitely one of the most interesting characters on the show. Similar to Maul in Shadow Lord, he wasn’t a Jedi or a Sith, but still used the dark side and was looking for someone to train as his new apprentice.

The similarities between Maul and Qimir actually highlight the biggest difference between the two shows. Shadow Lord is built around Maul as the main character, but Qimir doesn’t have that central role in The Acolyte. If Qimir had been the main focus, the show could have felt more unified as a Star Wars story centered on the dark side.

Shadow Lord delves into the darker aspects of the Force with a fresh, personal approach. It shows how tempting the dark side’s power can be, and also points out weaknesses in the old Jedi teachings.

While The Acolyte had some good qualities, Shadow Lord is proving more popular because it stays focused on its main character. Perhaps if The Acolyte had centered its story more clearly around Qimir, its lead, it would have been a more focused show.

You can now watch new episodes of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, an animated series from Lucasfilm, on Disney+.

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2026-04-17 01:08