Commentary: ‘Andor’ And ‘The Acolyte’ Showcase The Versatility Of ‘Star Wars’
by Frank Martin
One of the great things about Star Wars is that there are so many different facets of its universe. It can be a story about war, political intrigue, and space fantasy that includes laser swords and magical powers. Sometimes all of these elements combine, usually in the main films. But one virtue about the shows on Disney+ is the way they can isolate different aspects of the universe and focus on them. It’s then interesting to compare and contrast these various shows that can do two totally different things in two totally different eras. For this purpose, let’s look at Andor and The Acolyte.
Even though they both exist in the same universe and on the same timeline, the two series couldn’t be more different from one another. Starring Diego Luna, Andor takes place during the reign of the Empire as it centers on the Empire’s tyranny and the brewing rebellion against it. The Acolyte, starring Amandla Stenberg, takes place well over a hundred years earlier, before the Empire even existed. It focuses on the Jedi having to deal with a mysterious threat from the Dark Side.
Besides being in the same universe and timeline, there is a very thin thread connecting these two shows. The Acolyte concerns the Sith while Andor details what happens after that threat accomplishes its mission a century later. But other than that, the shows are wildly different in both plot and tone. Jedi don’t appear in Andor at all. The few remaining are in hiding due to the arrogance they displayed during the High Republic era of The Acolyte. Andor focuses on espionage and gritty urban warfare. The Acolyte is primarily a murder mystery focused entirely on the Jedi. There are well orchestrated fight scenes using lightsabers and the Force, something Andor would never even consider including. So the fact that both exist within the same narrative construct is a testament to the versatility of Star Wars.
The Acolyte streams Tuesdays on Disney+.
