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| ID: Star Wars The Acolyte poster sourced from starwars.com |
Since the launch of Disney+ my enjoyment of Star Wars related content has grown significantly. This would have surprised my 15-year-old self immensely, as the very idea of a big company like Disney hoarding content on their own platform really pissed me off at the time. However, now with the release of shows like The Mandalorian and The Bad Batch, I find that my position has drastically changed. I now turn to the Star Wars section of Disney+ regularly for content to watch while I inhale my dinner. Most recently I watched the two episode premiere of Skeleton Crew - a relatively new TV show about pirates and lost kids navigating the wide galaxy far, far away - whose first season has already come to an end. Admittedly I've been a little too busy to finish it just yet, but again that is a story for another time.
The focus of this blog however, is a series that was released in early 2024 called The Acolyte. I would argue that it is one of the most accessible pieces of Star Wars media for anyone who has not watched anything related to the franchise. Generally, if someone mentions Star Wars it’ll probably bring to mind Jedi wielding glowing swords, John Williams’ beautiful soundtrack, or the sadly misquoted: “No, I am your father”. Most (if not all) are much less likely to think of lesbian witches, complicated flashbacks, and the much loved found family trope that gets all our hearts beating with joy.
The Acolyte is set roughly 200 years before The Phantom Menace and looks into the nature of the Jedi Order before the Clone Wars exposed just how problematic their role in the galaxy was. It follows the story of twins called Osha and Mae who are raised by a coven of witches led by the powerful sorceress Aniseyah (who, along with the coven, is hiding from the Jedi Order as well as most of the galaxy). Unfortunately it would seem that witches are unpopular even in the Star Wars universe (no surprises there). Aniseyah’s coven is one of the few all-woman witch covens depicted within the Star Wars universe, and there is something particularly special about this one.
Aniseyah and another witch–Koril–are seen exchanging a soft and intimate conversation when we first meet them in episode 3. Watching this scene, my gaydar was immediately on high alert (the interaction seeming far more romantic than a case of just two women being friends). Not too long after, it is revealed that Aniseyah created Osha and Mae and that Koril carried and birthed them. Not only does this series portray a lesbian relationship, but it also represents a family unit with two mothers within a franchise that has historically only discussed heterosexual family dynamics. Good news: we don’t have to headcanon lesbian witches in Star Wars anymore, because they are actually canon!
Family dynamics and sisterly love become a significant part of the plot’s development, and both Koril and Aniseyah have very distinct characterisation and influence on these family dynamics. They take on the role of the mother figure in different ways, and though much of the conflict in the show is related to the futures of Osha and Mae, this is not blamed on the nature of the queer family they’re a part of. A difference in belief and opinion between Jedi and witches is what ultimately causes much of the tragic events that unfold in The Acolyte. None of this is blamed on the lesbian witch mothers and their parenting, since the show is more interested in the politics between these two groups, and their respective belief systems. Although heart-wrenching, the show doesn’t require prior knowledge of much if any Star Wars lore to understand and enjoy the plot since none of the characters feature in the main nine-film story line. The historical distance between The Acolyte and the rest of the Star Wars saga also means that you don’t need to know too much about Star Wars politics since a lot can change within the span of 200 years.
To my great sadness, the show has been cancelled after one season and I find myself disappointed, but not surprised. The variety of representation that the series is able to achieve is likely something that the rude, loud-mouthed and bigoted Star Wars fans were keen to criticise. Giving a lesbian relationship a decent amount of screen time, and casting a queer, POC and non-binary actor to play the lead role may have also had something to do with the fact that Disney will not be renewing the series. For the fans who, like me, enjoyed the first season, this is something I will remain bitter about. The plot might be stressful at times, but the cast of characters are very easy to fall in love with, so the nail-biting plot twists are worth every gut-wrenching moment. I’d definitely recommend giving The Acolyte a watch since it is self-contained enough that it doesn’t need a lot of contextual research, meaning you can just sit back and enjoy this excellent show.
By Mariya (they/them)