I am old enough to remember when really really good shows sometimes had rough first or even first couple of seasons before they found their footing. The streaming era demands perfection out of the gate or the axe comes down and I think that is unfortunate. Maybe it is cause they are spending too much on the shows, or maybe it is the current philosophy of executives, but I fear a lot of good stories aren't getting told because of this. Also without Jecki I am not sure I cared about more Acolyte. Hashtag Justice For Jecki
Forget the open ended finale. The writing was terrible. Character motivations changed from episode to episode with no explanation. It just wasn't good. The audience gave it chance but didn't like it and stopped watching
Some racists didn't like the show, and I bet you some of those that did like the show are also racist. There are racists and bigots everywhere. But this has nothing to do with the cancellation. The show was cancelled because people didn't show up to watch it. You can defend the show all you want, but if you and others don't show up to watch it, it will get cancelled. You can blame the racists all you want, at the end of the day this show flopped because it was bad, not because it had a diverse cast.
For years, Kathleen Kennedy has been going out of her way to destroy what made Star Wars what it was (she had to get rid of the more popular competition), to replace it with something completely different but with the same name (watch The Acolyte to get a close-up look at HER 'vision'.Or not), while also DELIBERATELY driving away the original fan base, hoping to replace it with a new 'modern audience' (which for some reason never turned up for her anti-Lucas 'masterpiece',). NOT the brightest of ideas. It was only when Favreau got involved and with Chapek's backing, revitalised live action Star Wars with The Mandalorian, while trying to return it to it's roots that things started looking up again. And then they got rid of Chapek, brought back Iger, apparently sidelined Favreau for Season 3 of The Mandalorian, and things started going downhill once more. Star Wars fans MIGHT have had more goodwill towards Lucasfilm, if KK hadn't insisted on refusing to give them what they wanted simply to serve her interests. Which is apparently a fixation on people's gender, skin colour and bedroom habits as opposed to good writing and interesting characters.
I feel this way about every bloated show/movie that is either a remake or sequel to a long time show/movie which only shows there is no new ideas being churned out. Now this show was not great at all, but the online discourse about star wars, HOD, and anything else that becomes conversation not about the merits of the show but the color of the actor's skin or their gender only makes the objective conversation about show quality harder. Star Wars needs to fail harder and then disappear for another generation.
It was a terrible show that simply could not justify such a bloated budget. Better written and acted shows are produced ever year for less than what we are seeing here. Do better Disney. We've been asking for that ever since The Last Jedi, yet you still deliver the same mindless, soulless dribble.
Guys I'm not a racist. I'm Asian. There might be racists out there that hate colored characters but the acolyte was just terrible in every way that matters. Has nothing to do with race.
I dont agree with the take that the worst people won. It was just a middling show that had a so much going for it but it chose not to engage. I thought it was supposed to be a sith show. But its another bait and switch from these shows, i think ppl just got burned too many times and not even the stupid chlture war drama is enough to draw in signifigant views. If this was an indie show with a limited budget id understand, but this is the rich kid with the best gear and talent just producing a c minus show.
Agreed, Acolyte had potential if it went all-in with what it promised. I feel bad for Lee Jung-jae, Stenberg, and Jacinto. They made the show something worth watching. If you pander to Star Wars fandom, it would look like Rebel Moon - slo-mo and joyless.
Honestly i appreciate rebel moon (specifically the directors cut) over most of star wars at this point because it at least has a clear vision its universe
90% of people don’t want new ideas. Deadpool and Wolverine made a billion dollars and it’s nothing but cameos and nostalgia. You are part of the problem.
Shogun was so amazing because it was a ONE SEASON show. Just imagine how bloated and unsatisfying it would have been if it knew going into it that it had three seasons? Imagine how it would have introduced the beloved mystery box into the show, where it would be loaded down with "Who's the traitor?" and having Toranaga's brother or whoever switching sides multiple times until we get to the final season. Mariko's sacrifice pushed off to season three. Etc etc. MAKE ONE-SEASON SHOWS! If it's a hit, make sequels. I have semi-high hopes for Shogun season two, as they will have to create an entirely new story with new arcs and new endgames. If they are honest about their two-season renewal, then at worst, it's only one season they can push off the major resolutions. The scourge of modern franchise storytelling is "We've got a great multi-season story planned." Every problem with The Acolyte (and with Ahsoka) can be boiled down to the contorted storytelling decisions made prolong any resolution to some imagined later season. Showrunners want to make shows that will allow them to be employed for multiple years. But none of them have the skill to pull that off. I see this in all shows. Severance should have been a one-season show. Stranger Things should have been a one-season show. Every one of these shows could have told their story in one rock-solid season, but cut themselves off at the ankle by pushing off all the important stuff to a later season.
The franchise will be dead after andor if the same people continue to run it into the ground. And there is no light on the horizon in a change of leadership so the future of the once mighty franchise that starwars was will continue to be ground into dust.
Sadly. Its for the best. 180M$ for a below average show is just not sustainable or reasonable. Shame. I was really excited for this show. But the weird character motives and changing on a switch. How they showed the Jedi and Sith. I just felt empty, angry, then disappointing. Also. I'm a bit tired of people saying or attacking the Star Wars fans. Fans generally like Andor, Ahsoka (I didn't like but it has its fans), Rogue One, and Mando. All have diverse casts. Fans just want good content from what I see. Sure you get some bad apples but I've also seen some hateful things said towards this show being cancelled and attacking the fans. At least we have Andor season 2 to look forward to. Loved the first season and easily the best show Disney has produced. Side note. Been watching Star Wars: Darth Plagueis - Episode I on RU-vid. Why can a fan video be better then a Disney product?
At the end of the day, if you blow $200M on a streaming show and it doesn’t turn a profit then it doesn’t matter how good or how bad something was made. Case in point, Andor has incredible writing but it’s one of the lowest watch streaming shows on Disney Plus. I don’t even think the Mandalorian movie is a lock. I’m ok with Disney taking a break with Star Wars.
BTAS’ animation was markedly more sophisticated. The climax to On Leather Wings is one of the most technically complex animated sequences ever produced for television.
It was alright but overall I was disappointed. The stories are just okay. Being honest. I'm slow to character changes and tend to not like them but was willing to give them a chance if it improves or creates a new character. I don't think any of the character changes improved the characters. Didn't like Two-face, Penguin, Harley. None of them worked. I did like Clayface. I was really excited for this show. Loved the art style and excited to see it set in the 40's. I grow up with Batman Adventures and still watch it. Its not a bad show, but it just felt meh and forgettable once I was done. Also. it didn't feel like a batman show in a sense it focused too much on the side characters which I'm not a fan and will never work for me.
Look at the way Two-Face is edited/presented. I think they are making the scarred side the normal one, and the regular side is the one that's angry and deranged.
Talking about this show as if it is in some way **directly** tied to BtAS, even if you internally know the difference, might create more problems than its worth.
No sexism and no racism was refreshing. I like that it just said upfront they race and sexuality isn't a factor in this world. Some people are just black and/or gay. Earlier time period was just an aesthetic and to make it where there weren't phones and computers everywhere.
Just finished listening to the post-morten ep and the little present for Kim at the end (that I ofc won’t spoil for anyone else), and just wanted to express that I’m gonna miss you guys 🫶 Ended the ep with a huge huge smile. All the very best, and until next time! 🥂 🐉
I wish George would "snipe" the showrunners more before they wreck another story he wrote. Season 2 of HOTD was a dumpster fire of fan fiction redit romance and pointless plot lines.
I had the same thoughts. What happened this season? Syd got a job offer. Is that going to matter? Sugar had her baby. Is that going to matter? They got a review. Is that going to matter? So many episodes just gave us more of the same with NO progression in story or character arcs. They screamed at each other in the kitchen. Again. I will not watch season 4 unless you tell me it is significantly better.
I mostly agree with Patrick and enjoy the finale, but I disagree with the thought that there's no value in a second viewing. Knowing the ending completely changes how I view some earlier scenes in the show. I hated the final scene of the family cooking dinner together until David gave his thoughts on the scene and compartmentalization. His comments really changed my enjoyment of the final scene. Also I had to rewind and listen a few times because I was laughing so hard at the conversation about different takeaways between Patrick and David on compartmentalization.
As Season 3 begins. When Alicent sees that Aegon is gone. She's gonna hightail it to her Hightower nest with Helena. Ulf will prolly be one of the first casualties ... possibly running away from Vaeghar. And Larys will be arriving at wherever he has Otto hold up.
Crispy Cole has been on a redemption arc. Also, all season long Gawain has been catching glimpses of Alicent and Cole stealing looks at one another. So sniffing her favor, was the last draw. Given their desperate state, about to go to war, with no dragon for protection. Seems like the show wanted to dip in on the various armies. And Cole's army could be ready to defect.
It feels like the writers wrote season 2 to be 10 episodes but got told later that they could only make 8 and with the strike, the writing couldn't be changed so they filmed the 8 as is. This episode genuinely feels like a penultimate episode to me building up to the Battle of the Gullet in ep 9 and Rhaenyra *landing* in Kings Landing in ep 10. Ep 8 has just enough tension and anticipation to ep 9 but not actually a cliffhanger to a new season 2 years later. There is actually *no* cliffhangers because we all know the battle will happen. Ryan Condal said in IGN in prettier words that they don't have the budget after all to do the battles in season 2. This might explain why they withheld even Rhaena claiming Sheepstealer from us. I usually don't agree with the introduction of a brand new character at the 11th hour but Abigail Thorn certainly made Lothar a super fun, erratic and memorable character!!!! She's stamped her mark!
Wait?! Was episode 8 the last episode of season 2?! I thought there was 2 episodes left. Well that freaking sucked. With that in mind I think the season was really bad in that case.
Up to this episode. I thought the season was an 8 out of 10 but the finale dropped the ball pretty hard. Not only was Deamon payoff disappointing. I think they kinda ruined his character to a degree. He’s a believer of destiny. I think it makes him less interesting. Aemond scenes make him look weak and none threatening. Which maybe is the point? The scenes with Tyland and the leader were weak. All there scenes felt unnecessary... The scene with the Alicent/Rhaenyra. Felt off from a story standpoint point. Felt fanfic for some reason? I don’t know. The whole time I kept saying to myself “no way this is in the book” and from what I understand. It wasn’t. There's a few good scenes but I’m obviously disappointed. Not the worst finale but I would give the episode a 5 and the season a 7. Really hope they pay things off next season but they can't tease any more or hold back.
Weak ending to a weak season 2. It had some high highs but there are some really low lows The ending scene between Allicent and Rhyenera I found completely unsatisfying as a finale moment
Great coverage Decoding TV crew! The moment the tabby dagger from Game of Thrones was re-introduced into season one of the House of the Dragon; shifted the focus/behavior of the characters. In the books, the Targaryens are no more “in-tune” with the Long Night than any of the other Houses. Once the dagger had a “Goonies-esque” inscription, the Targaryens were made into the “saviors” of Westeros who roasted thousands in the Reach, Dorne and Riverlands (Harrenhal) during Aegon’s Conquest…cause Y’know it was for the greater good. That shift has handcuffed the characters from becoming more shifty and interesting.
