In a surprising revelation, Carrie-Anne Moss recently opened up about the intense backlash over her character’s death in the first episode of Star Wars: The Acolyte. In the premiere episode, ‘Lost / Found,’ Moss plays Jedi Master Indara, who faces off against a mysterious assassin named Mae.
The duel ends with Mae striking down Indara, a move that some fans felt was premature, especially given Moss’s prominent role in the show’s promotional materials.
Series creator Leslye Headland explained that the sudden death was essential for establishing the high stakes of the show, where both Jedi and villains face peril from the outset. Headland noted, ‘You have to go hard in a new story. The Jedi are going to take some losses; we want the audience to feel the emotional and physical stakes.’ Despite the reasoning, many viewers expressed their frustration over the decision, feeling that Moss’s character deserved more screen time.
Looking back, Moss admitted that she hadn’t anticipated the fan reaction to her character’s early demise. ‘When I saw how big of a deal it became, I thought, ‘Wow, how did I not think of that?” Moss shared. She knew the fate of her character when she signed on, but the scale of the backlash was a surprise. Fans quickly took to social media to voice their disappointment, with some feeling misled by the promotional material, which had suggested Moss would have a more significant role.
Although Indara does appear in flashbacks later in the season, the early exit left many fans with a sense of unfinished business. Even the cancellation of The Acolyte after Season 1 added to the dissatisfaction. Some, like Manny Jacinto, expressed hope for a potential Season 2, though many plot threads, including the introduction of Darth Plagueis, remain unresolved. Actor Lee Jung-Jae, who played Sol, was particularly surprised by the show’s cancellation. On the other hand, Amandla Stenberg and others were not entirely shocked, pointing out the controversy surrounding the series since its announcement.
In the wake of the cancellation, some cast members, including Jodie Turner-Smith, spoke out about the racist abuse they faced online, with Turner-Smith calling out Disney for failing to support the cast. Despite the show’s rocky reception, Jacinto remained optimistic about future opportunities to continue the story, stating that a second season was still his ‘life’s goal.’
While The Acolyte garnered mixed reviews, some aspects, like the lightsaber choreography, were praised. However, the overall writing and execution were criticized by many, leading to a largely negative reception. The Acolyte earned a 6/10 score from IGN, with the review noting the series’ potential but pointing out its lack of the classic Star Wars magic.
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