‘The Acolyte’ Debuts: Critics Are Pleased, but Fans Are Not – Review Bombing or Bias?”

Disney’s latest Star Wars venture, ‘The Acolyte,’ stirred controversy well before its official debut. As most are aware, the series premiered on Disney+ on June 4, 2024, with two episodes. Now, critics and fans alike have the opportunity to weigh in on the highly-discussed show. As anticipated, critics have generally expressed satisfaction, though not overwhelmingly so, while fan reception remains notably critical, resulting in yet another polarizing addition to the Star Wars universe.

Even though critics have acknowledged that “The Acolyte” isn’t a top-tier Star Wars series after watching the initial episodes, they see significant potential in the show. Conversely, fans have labeled it as subpar, prompting speculation about whether this criticism stems from ideological review bombing or if critics harbor biases for unknown reasons.

To uncover the truth, we’ve watched the series and analyzed critics’ reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it boasts an impressive 88% positive rating and is Certified Fresh. Metacritic has also given it a “Generally Favorable” rating (69/100) based on critics’ opinions. The consensus among critics on Rotten Tomatoes is that “The Acolyte” takes bold risks with Star Wars lore while enjoying itself with the galaxy’s stylistic elements, showing potential to grow from a Padawan to a Master series.

In terms of our own impressions, we find “The Acolyte” to be neither the best nor the worst Star Wars series. The characters are intriguing, and the story shows promise, though we’ve only seen the first two episodes. It’s too early to form a complete impression. Some colleagues find it a bit slow-paced, but we’ll need to see how the story progresses to determine if the pacing was an issue. This sentiment echoes what many critics are saying.

For instance, James Dyer of ‘The Empire’ commented, “While it might be unfair to compare this broader heartland series to Andor’s edgy, adult-oriented outlier, The Acolyte isn’t yet the bold stride forward we’d hoped for.“

In contrast, Clif Worthington of RogerEbert.com lauded the series, stating, “[I]t’s the ideas that flourish in ‘The Acolyte’—mining the rich mythology of the universe to explore how our childhoods scar us, and what we do with that pain.”

Alison Herman from Variety commented, “In allowing itself to question Star Wars mythology, The Acolyte fosters the same sense of curiosity it has about its own universe.”

But don’t assume that positive reviews are all there is. Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone magazine was critical, saying, “It’s refreshing to see another Star Wars project, like Andor, challenging some of the franchise’s core assumptions. However, in terms of entertainment, the first half of The Acolyte unfortunately resembles The Book of Boba Fett.”

Mike Hale of The New York Times shared a similar sentiment: “Despite the familiar elements, the captivating essence that Star Wars can evoke in its finest moments is absent. Characters talk in clichés about loss, grief, loyalty, and revenge, and the cast mostly struggles with the dialogue.”

As you can observe, critics don’t entirely agree on the series. Those who enjoy it don’t consider it the best, while those who dislike it don’t consider it the worst. To accurately assess where the series succeeds and where it falls short, we’ll need to watch the entire season. However, it’s clear that the series has potential; its execution remains to be seen.

On the flip side, fans are notably displeased with the series. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a mere 47% positive rating, and its audience score on Metacritic sits at 3.9/10. Since fan opinions on these platforms aren’t as rigorously vetted, it’s uncertain if those who’ve rated it poorly have actually watched the show.

Review bombing is a phenomenon that has occurred numerous times in various forms. It wouldn’t be surprising if some “fans” gave the series a low score without actually watching it because they disagree with its “ideology.” Conversely, critics may be biased in their praise of the show due to these same reasons, focusing more on its message rather than its quality.

Considering the disparities between critics’ scores and audience scores, it’s more likely that the former scenario is true. The series isn’t as bad as some portray it to be, and while it may not be the best Star Wars series, it certainly isn’t the worst. We hope that final audience scores reflect the opinions of fans who have actually seen the show and judged it based on its merits rather than preconceived notions.

Have you watched the series? What are your thoughts on it? Share your opinion with us in the comments below!