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The Acolyteis arguably one of the most polarizing additions to theStar Warsuniverse, with the series receiving mixed reactions from critics and fans. The High Republic era series has faced criticism for several reasons, leading fans to examine what exactly went wrong with the highly anticipated entry.
On social media, some fans deduced that the series is plagued by the same pacing issues that were a major hurdle for theObi-Wan Kenobiseries. Fans pointed out how the series had episodes with extremely short runtime, and failed to progress the story in a meaningful manner. Here is the one issue fans feel has largely affectedThe Acolyte.
The Acolyte‘s Short Runtime Proving to Be a Major Hurdle For theStar WarsSeries
The Acolytepremiered with its first two episodes releasing on July 11, 2025. The remainder of the eighth-episode season is being released weekly. Created byLeslye Headland, the series has received mixed reviews from critics and holds an audience score of14% on Rotten Tomatoes, marking a franchise low.
On Reddit, user@Ok_Magazine_3383pointed out how the short runtime of the subsequent episodes was a big mistake, given the show’s weekly release schedule. The user cited an article fromForbes, which also discussed how the short runtime was a major issue.
Almost every episode this season has ended too soon and each time it’s felt kind of rushed and sudden.
The user quoted the above words from the article, highlighting the main problem of the show’s short episodes. The article used the example of the latest episode to point out the loss of momentum, adding:
Lost whatever momentum and sense of urgency we’d picked up last week. It’s all a bit jarring.
As a result, the user agreed with the statement made in the article’s sentiment that the runtime was a major issue for the episodes.
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However, the user also mentioned that while the fifth episode was great, the preceding and following episodes did not do enough with their short runtime to progress the plot in any meaningful way.
Star WarsFans Debate HowThe Acolyte‘s Pacing Is Drastically Affecting the Series
After the initial post from the user, pointing out the show’s flawed runtime, a problem that also plagued theObi-Wan Kenobiminiseries, other fans chimed in with their take on the issue. Most fans saw the short runtime as a part of a larger pacing issue withThe Acolyte.
User@Gexuscommented “It feels like I’m watching a movie that keeps getting interrupted by week-long breaks,” implying that most episodes did not have enough substance to warrant their runtimes. Meanwhile, another userexpresseda desire to see the series compiled into a film after all episodes are released.
User@herman-the-vermincommented “The cutting is immensely jarring, and the pacing is just insane,” expressing frustration over the forced cliffhangers at the end of the episodes which affect the pacing and plot progression. As a result, it is evident that fans are unhappy with the show’s overall pacing.
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The Acolytehas allegedly been the subject of toxic fansreview-bombing the series. However, those who are willing to give the series a chance without any preconceived notions are also having issues enjoying it. Moreover, the short episodes, amounting to barely any plot progression, could result in the series fumbling its finale even if it manages to surprise viewers with a big twist at the end.
The Acolyteis streaming on Disney+.
Pratik Handore
Content Writer
Articles Published :1774
With a keen interest in comic book movies and blockbuster franchises, Pratik usually covers news and updates on the DCU, MCU, Star Wars, and more.A die-hard fan of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Pratik spends most of his time exploring different storytelling mediums that invoke a sense of wonder and adventure. Other filmmakers whose works have deeply influenced him include Alfred Hitchcock, James Gunn, and Guillermo del Toro.
