Too bad  The Acolyte isn’t a Star Wars show about throwing each other under the bus for a series fail. They have enough drama going for six seasons and it just got started.

It’s not just that The Acolyte has managed to surpass the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special in being the worst-rated Star Wars television series of all time. Trust me, that’s no easy feat. But what gets me about this debacle is Claire Kiechel’s subtle-but-persistent efforts to blame Dave Filoni for all the problems.

Let’s review: Dave Filoni is a prominent figure in the Star Wars universe. Now, I’m not saying Filoni is infallible – I mean, have you seen the recent sequels? But to solely blame one man for the decline in quality of this highly-anticipated TV series is like blaming one stormtrooper for missing every shot in the entire franchise.

The Acolyte’s dismal 14% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is not just a result of Filoni’s involvement. No, if anything, it’s also due to the lackluster writing and pandering. When Lucasfilm tries to appease everyone, they end up pleasing no one.

The Acolyte just *isn’t* good. That’s the problem. The show isn’t putting in the effort to create compelling stories. It’s idea of inclusivity is a plus-size character but that’s a lazy attempt at representation. I mean – come on – using physical appearance as a shortcut instead of developing well-rounded characters?? That’s not what we meant when we said ‘well-rounded!’

Look, I get it – when Star Wars fails you’re looking for any reason to not blame yourself and Filoni is an easy target. Normally, Star Wars is a cash register – you have to try very hard to fail (looking at you, Rise of Skywalker). But as I keep saying – we deserve better science and storytelling in the Star Wars universe.

Blaming Filoni for The Acolyte’s – what should have been an interesting Star Wars story on its own – fail is bad leadership. Take responsibility for your own choices, Claire Kiechel. Half-hearted attempts at social discussions will not do. Speaking truth to power (The angry white nerd community) requires courage and grit. Good enough isn’t good enough when it comes to a franchise beloved by millions. Quit dumbing things down to make everyone happy and start creating meaningful stories that honor the legacy of Star Wars.
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