‘The Acolyte’ Episode 8 Recap And Review: A Terrible Season Finale Despite Cliffhangers And ‘Star Wars’ Cameos - The Acolyte was a mess from start to finish and Tuesday night’s jumbled season finale only strengthens my belief that this was a show that needed about three more drafts before going to production.
Everything about this show is rough and messy, and the two very fun cameos in the finale (which we’ll discuss below) can’t save it from itself. Spoilers, naturally. I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised that Osha goes to the Dark Side this episode, and that Mae-by dint of losing her memory-goes over to the good guys. After all, Osha was wearing black by this point and Mae was all in white. How subtle! Then again, it’s hard to tell who the good guys are anymore, or who the bad guys are, because The Acolyte is just so angsty and edgy. It’s Star Wars for adults! Or something. Let’s be real, subverting expectations and deconstructing the Jedi is just so 2017. The Acolyte seems hellbent on portraying the Jedi in the worst possible light and I might be able to accept this if it were just the coverup at the end when Vernestra somewhat bizarrely pins all the killings on Sol when she goes before the Senate tribunal. But this show wants very badly for us to think that what the Jedi did on Brendok is some horrific crime, when I’m right there with Sol: He was trying to protect children from what very much appeared to be a terrifying Dark Side witch cult.