Earlier this month, Disney released their latest installment of the Star Wars Saga, The Acolyte . The show takes place around a century before the events of Episode I: The Phantom Menace and follows the Jedi in the High-Republic era as they investigate a series of crimes.
With a script that checks an overwhelming number of DEI boxes, the three episodes aired since the shows debut on June 4 have already showcased an obese Jedi and a coven of communist lesbian space witches .
While the in-your-face politics of the show has overwhelmingly been its largest criticism, there is a less talked about downside that deserves just as much attention the destruction of the Sagas most important character.
Anakin Skywalker is the central figure of the entire Star Wars story. Miraculously conceived and having a stronger connection to the Force than any other Jedi, Anakin was deemed to be the prophesied chosen one who would eventually defeat the evil Sith and bring balance to the Force.
Liam Neeson, Kenny Baker as R2D2, Jake Lloyd, and Ewan McGregor. Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999). Copyright: Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. IMDB.
In George Lucass pre-Disney trilogies, we see Skywalker transform from a little boy to a powerful Jedi Knight before his tragic transformation into one of cinemas most iconic villains, Darth Vader. Then finally, in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi , we see Anakin redeem himself by completing the prophecy and sacrificing himself to kill Emperor Palpatine.
To many, this was a perfect ending. Disney, however, seemingly begged to differ. In the 2019 film The Rise of Skywalker , it is revealed that Anakin never actually killed Palpatine. Despite being thrown down a reactor shaft and seemingly exploding, he survived. Unsurprisingly, his return was short-lived as the films openly feminist writers allowed the female lead character, Rey, to defeat him once and for all.
Copyright: Lucasfilm Ltd./Disney. All rights reserved. IMDB.
Responding to the backlash of his film, filmmaker J.J. Abrams claimed:
If you are someone who feels threatened by women and needs to lash out against them, you can probably find an enemy in Star Wars. You can probably look at the first movie that George [Lucas] did [Star Wars: A New Hope] and say that Leia was too outspoken, or she was too tough. Anyone who wants to find a problem with anything can find the problem. The internet seems to be made for that.
The issue is, the character structures of Princess Leia and Rey are completely different. Leia was a princess who maintained her femininity throughout the original trilogy, and while she did pick up a blaster every now and then, she frequently allowed Luke, Han, and Chewbacca to do much of the heavy lifting.
Disneys Rey, on the other hand, is a classic example of the Mary-Sue trope. According to Author David Anderson in his breakdown of characters like Rey, a Mary-Sue is a female character who is instantly good at everything.
From outmaneuvering seasoned Tie-Fighter pilots moments after entering a cockpit for the first time to besting a Sith apprentice in the force without any formal training, a YouTube compilation video titled Rey being a Mary Sue for 6:38 perfectly encapsulates the absurdity of her character.
After the nullification of Anakins prophecy completion, he really only had one thing remaining about him that made him unique: his miraculous conception.
Unfortunately, with the release of The Acolyte s third episode last week, that was taken away from Anakin too. It was revealed that two of the shows new powerful female leads were miraculously conceived by a coven of communist lesbian space witches.
Lucasfilm. Disney+. The Walt Disney Company. IMDB.
While Disney has shown little remorse in the past for their destructive writing, the fans have made it clear they are not on board. Despite the critics of Rotten Tomatoes giving the show an 85% approval, the audience rating is now below 20% and continues to drop. Similarly, IMDB users have collectively rated the show a 3.8 out of 10.
IMDB user Rethyarnold who rated the series 1/10 said:
The Acolyte, the latest installment in the Star Wars franchise, is a devastating blow to the fandom. It completely misses the essence that made Star Wars a cultural phenomenon. The characters are shallow, the plot is incoherent, and the series seems to prioritize ticking boxes over crafting a compelling story. Its disheartening to see beloved lore mishandled so badly. The pacing is inconsistent, and the dialogue often feels forced and unnatural, lacking the wit and charm that once defined Star Wars. The decisions made in this show seem out of touch with what fans have cherished for decades. The Acolyte might be the final nail in the coffin for long-time fans, leaving us with a lingering sadness and a fear that Star Wars may never recover from this low point.
One can only hope Disney eventually follows companies like Target and Anheuser-Busch, who have stopped pushing leftist politics on their consumers due to backlash. Until then, many Star Wars fans, including myself, will be taking a step back from the franchise entirely and remembering what once was.
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JacobFalach is a writer and student in Nashville, TN. You can find him on Instagram at: @jacobfalach
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
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Note: This article has been edited to substitute the word immaculate with miraculous.