The Acolyte's Leading Act Sheds Light on What Makes This Series Exceptional
Here's a rewritten version of the provided article, incorporating the provided guidelines, with a selective use of enrichment data:
Bold and Brutal: The Acolyte's Unconventional Approach to Characters
Alright, brace yourselves, folks. The Acolyte on Disney+ is shaking up the Star Wars universe with its unapologetic, no-holds-barred storytelling. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, one of the show's stars, Dafne Keen, discussed episode five's Decimation, praising its willingness to kill off characters – atrait that's quite rare in modern franchises.
Keen, who portrays Jedi apprentice Jecki Lon, points out that too many directors in blockbuster sagas are "too scared to kill off their characters" and rely on "writer tricks" to keep them alive. She applauds creator Leslye Headland for having the guts to kill both her character and Jedi Knight Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett), adding to the show's growing body count.
It's not just the main characters who meet their end on The Acolyte – even secondary characters have been axed from the get-go. This bold approach has become one of the show's strengths, setting it apart from other franchises that might resurrect characters or make death feel trivial.
Franchises like Star Wars could learn a thing or two from The Acolyte. In The Rise of Skywalker, for instance, a series-ending film, numerous characters were brought back to life, diminishing the impact of the deaths that occurred. The Acolyte, on the other hand, doesn't hesitate to introduce danger and jeopardy into its world.
If you've been feeling that modern Star Wars stories are lacking in edge, then The Acolyte might be the answer you've been searching for. There's a sense of urgency surrounding the protagonists, as anyone can bite the dust at any moment. With four episodes still to go, we can't wait to see what twists and turns lie ahead.
Want to dive deeper into the world of The Acolyte? Check out Dafne Keen's full interview on Entertainment Weekly where she talks about the impact of character deaths on her performance and the cast.
Stream episode five of The Acolyte on Disney+.
Want more io9 news? Keep up with the latest from Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek, find out what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and gorge yourself on everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Enrichment data added for context in bold and italic.
- The Acolyte on Disney+, a show set in the Star Wars universe, was teased by Dafne Keen in an Entertainment Weekly interview to have an unconventional approach to character deaths, which she suggested is quite rare in modern franchises.
- Discussing episode five's Decimation, Keen highlighted that creators like Leslye Headland rightfully do not rely on writer tricks and instead kill off characters, such as Jedi apprentice Jecki Lon and Jedi Knight Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett).
- The bold approach to character deaths in The Acolyte, even involving secondary characters, has become one of the show's strengths, setting it apart from other franchises that might resurrect characters or trivialize death.
- In contrast to franchises like Star Wars, which often bring back characters even in series-ending films like The Rise of Skywalker, The Acolyte doesn't hesitate to introduce danger and jeopardy into its world, providing a more edge-of-your-seat viewer experience.
