The Acolyte Review | Safe for Kids?

Is The Acolyte OK for kids? Is The Acolyte safe for kids? Read the Star Wars: The Acolyte Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the all-new Disney+ original series Star Wars: The Acolyte 2024, starring Carrie-Ann Moss as Indara, Lee Jung-jae as Sol, and Amandla Stenberg as Osha. No spoilers! #TheAcolyte #DisneyPlus May contain commissioned links.

Parents Guide The Acolyte Review | Safe for Kids?

You take the blue pill lightsaber or you table the red pill lightsaber. Are the fans ready to step into the (Star Wars) Matrix?

Before the many Star Wars series spin-offs of The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, or Ahsoka there was the golden age of the Jedi, aka Star Wars: The Acolyte.

But can a Matrix star and a trendy Squid Game act solve this Star Wars mystery?

In this Star Wars: The Acolyte Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full TV-14 age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this new 2024 Star Wars: The Acolyte parents guide to the new Disney+ original show. A no-spoiler parent review of The Acolyte 2024, can Trinity save the Star Wars…Matrix?

The Visuals

Visually Star Wars: The Acolyte feels like a Star Wars television show. While the camera movements aren’t overly impressive – sci-fi thematic elements are realistic enough to enhance the feel of this series, fitting right in with the Star Wars universe. With overhyped CGI special effects though – Star Wars has definitely taken some creative liberties to enhance the violent nature of this mysterious series. Not to my taste.

Photosensitivity Warning. For viewers prone to epilepsy and photosensitivity, Star Wars: The Acolyte does have scenes of bright flashing or strobing lights of note in episodes 1 and 3. There are no scenes with dizzying and fast spinning camera movements that could be nausea inducing so far.

The Story

Directed by Leslye Headland (“Bachelorette“) for episodes 101 and 102, Kogonada (“After Yang“) for episodes 103 and 107, Alex Garcia Lopez (“Residue“) for episodes 104 and 105, and Hanelle Culpepper (“Parenthood“) for episodes 106 and 108. Star Wars: The Acolyte stars Amandla Stenberg (“The Hate U Give“) as Osha, Lee Jung-jae (“Squid Game“) as Sol, Manny Jacinto (“Top Gun: Maverick“) as Qimir, Dafne Keen (“Logan“) as Jecki, Charlie Barnett (“Chicago Fire“) as Yord, along with the talents of Jodie Turner-Smith (“White Noise“), Rebecca Henderson (“Russian Doll“), Dean-Charles Chapman (“Game of Thrones“), Joonas Suotamo (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens“), and Carrie-Anne Moss (“The Matrix” franchise) as Indara.

Where does The Acolyte fit in the Star Wars timeline? This Star Wars spin-off story takes place 100 years before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in the golden age of the Jedi Order and towards the end of the labeled “High Republic” era. But mystery ensues as a series of crimes pits Jedi Master Sol against a dangerous warrior from his past. As clues unfold within the Jedi Order – the golden age perhaps isn’t as golden as it seems as a new sinister force may be at work.

I’ll admit that I was really excited about the labeled Star Wars “mystery” series. And then I watched the first episode. With the mystery feel quickly evaporating I turned to the story – deep in ancient Star Wars lore complex characters and blurred lines of dark versus light – the build up of Jedi Order flaws the rise of evil – it’s a Star Wars series as heavily invested as Andor. Stirring up the canon with the High Republic era now a reality Star Wars: The Acolyte has true “Rogue One” potential. And with a Korean lead as the epitome Jedi Master it’s easily a little Asian girl’s Star Wars dreams come true.

The real question is – is The Acolyte a Star Wars show for kids?

The Acolyte TV-14 Rating Explained

Is The Acolyte safe for kids? Another Star Wars original television series rated TV-14? Should parents be concerned? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). And as we know, not all movie and TV age ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how ratings have shifted over the years with a G-rating no longer an option to help guide parents.

PG ratings now oscillating between Turning Red intense to Christopher Robin calm, and even PG-13/TV-14 age ratings teetering on the edge of R or MA ratings (Moon Knight and Werewolf by Night, I see you!), there’s a wide range between the age of 0-14 years old for parents to consider. Having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or show is kid friendly – and safe for the whole family to watch together.

Why is Star Wars: The Acolyte rated TV-14? In The Acolyte Review | Safe for Kids?, this 2024 Star Wars: The Acolyte Disney+ original series is rated TV-14 for “intense violence.” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like The Acolyte is kid friendly. Is The Acolyte too violent for kids? Is The Acolyte for kids? Let’s breakdown that TV-14 age rating in this Star Wars: The Acolyte parents guide.

*Please note that this Star Wars: The Acolyte series review and TV-14 age rating breakdown are for episodes 1, 2, 3, and 4 only. I will update this post with reviews of future episodes below as subsequent episodes are released.

Violence/Suspense. Star Wars: The Acolyte is a sci-fi mystery that still projects the usual Star Wars violence and peril. Expect lots of fist fighting and hand-to-hand combat, kill shots, deaths and inferred deaths, attempted murder, arson, kidnapping, imprisonment, bound characters, and a variety of Star Wars sci-fi weapons including guns, knives, and lightsabers. New for the Star Wars franchise, there is mild to moderate blood shown and the presence of some CGI enhanced graphic open wounds.

Sci-fi CGI creatures and special effects characters are also present per usual Star Wars. There’s also the addition of “witches” (very similar to the witch vibe in Ahsoka) with visual and verbal discussions of “covens,” chanting, and dark magic and fantasy thematic elements. Suicide is also implied with visuals and the verbal phrase of “killed himself.”

Adult Themes. There are mild references to amount of alcohol present in Star Wars: The Acolyte – including scenes taking place in bars visual of an alcohol flask and verbal discussion “I need a drink.” No alcohol consumption occurs in the first 4 episodes. No drugs or smoking so far. Death, grief, and loss are common themes as well as implied visual and verbal “suicide” mentioned above.

As stated above dark magic and fantasy thematic elements occur throughout each episode. Some scenes can be intense with spell conjuring/chanting, symbolism, and villainous qualities much deeper than a Hocus Pocus level – more on par with Lord of the Rings, Willow, or the Star Wars: Ahsoka series.

Does The Acolyte have sexual innuendo? In an unexpected twist on this 2024 Star Wars original series, it definitely wasn’t as clean as usual. Sexual content in The Acolyte include a scene of a male character shirtless with the line “put some clothes on” for a punchline. No nudity or sex scenes. Possible Star Wars LGTBQ+ theme of 2 “mothers” including a scene of a woman character caressing another woman’s face and verbal arguing over “carrying” and “creating” a child.

Language. Does The Acolyte have language? While not disclosed, there are some choice words parents should be aware of. Foul language phrases and swear words in the new Star Wars: The Acolyte series include: 1 “H-E-double-hockey-sticks” for the first 4 episodes.

Milder bad language phrases and insults in Star Wars: The Acolyte include: “scum,” “hate,” and “kill.” Overall, very mild language – but surprisingly still present in the Star Wars series, even if not disclosed.

Episode 5 Review Update | 33 minutes – Probably the most violent lightsaber hand-to-hand combat episode in all of Star Wars history including multiple killings, prominent visible wounds, and lightsaber choreography. Dark Side fans will appreciate the story draw – but I feel like we’re losing the mystery flair. No language or additional adult themes.

The Acolyte Age Rating for Kids

The Overall

If only they didn’t label The Acolyte as a mystery series.

I was really looking forward to the CSI mystery twist on the usual Star Wars formula. But then I watched episode 1. And I have to admit that it’s kind of a letdown label. Spoiler alert – not a mystery.

However, if you’re looking to shake up the Star Wars canon lore, this is the series for you. Good versus evil lines are blurred, the Jedi pedestal is cracked, and the High Republic era is finally brought to life. Star Wars: The Acolyte feels like the most thought out Star Wars series since Andor. And with 4 episodes left I’m truly hoping that we haven’t come close to the climax of this show.

And can we applaud the much needed REAL Asian lead in the Star Wars universe? A flawed but authentic Korean Master Jedi. That’s all I’m saying. I’ve got my Halloween costume ready.

Follow Star Wars: The Acolyte on social media:

• Website: https://ondisneyplus.disney.com/show/the-acolyte
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarWars
• Twitter: https://x.com/starwars
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialacolyte/
• #TheAcolyte

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The Acolyte, the first two episodes of season 1 premiere of the all-new 2024 Star Wars: The Acolyte Disney Plus original mini series is streaming exclusively on Disney+ starting Tuesday June 4, 2024 with new episodes being released every Tuesday through July 16, 2024. Will your family be watching?

I was invited to screen the all-new Disney+ television series Star Wars: The Acolyte 2024 in exchange for this The Acolyte Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of Disney+/Star Wars. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie reviews, television updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment, and behind-the-scenes info!