Part 2/12:
At the heart of the controversy is the perception that The Acolyte is designed heavily around its cast’s appearance—chosen "simply because they look good on a spreadsheet," as some critics joke. This superficial casting decision arguably undermines any potential for authentic storytelling, leading to a world where characters often seem unrelated to logic or realism.
The narrative's tone often borders on the absurd, with dialogue that appears to be drenched in cringe — for example, a scene where a character says, "attack me with all your strength," as if she's releasing a PhD in cringe. The series seems to struggle with consistency, with characters reacting in ways that defy common sense, especially for trained Jedi or Sith.