Disney has been chugging along with their seemingly constant releases of Star Wars content on Disney Plus. They’re pulling from all corners of its universe and creating shows from even the most minor characters and plot points. Surprisingly, some of the best series released so far have leaned less on cameos and references and more on worldbuilding. The Acolyte, which premieres its first two episodes on June 4th, continues this trend, delving into an era of the Star Wars universe that’s never been seen in live-action.

Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader don’t pop up, and John Williams’ classic score is nowhere to be found; Anakin Skywalker is decades away from being born. Although the series doesn’t reach the label of “prestige” television that is attached to Tony Gilroy’s brilliant political thriller Andor, The Acolyte is a mature mystery that presents a different perspective on the Jedi Order, and balances thoughtful storytelling with some of the best fight scenes in Star Wars.

New characters, new unpredictability

The Acolyte begins with a twist. A well-crafted opening fight scene yields an unexpected result that jumpstarts its underlying mystery: who is killing Jedi, and why? Leading the investigation is Jedi Master Sol, played by Squid Games actor Lee Jung-jae. Master Sol quickly realizes that the purported murderer has a personal connection to him: she is his former Padawan. He seeks out his protege, only to find that the situation is certainly not black and white. Showrunner Leslye Headland, co-creator of Russian Doll, manages to stuff not one but two season-defining reveals into the initial episode. It remains to be seen whether more left turns and surprises greet viewers in the second half of the season. It certainly feels like nothing is out of the question.

Mae, played by Amandla Stenberg, is the nucleus of the series. Stenberg plays a character who wants to be good, but she also plays a character blinded by revenge and anger. Stenberg handles This complicated role deftly, whose performance slots nicely into the themes and setting of The Acolyte. Her character’s interactions with Master Sol are the most genuine and well-written moments of the season, and allows viewers to connect with her as a sympathetic protagonist (or is she an antagonist?)

The Jedi: Complicated

The Jedi, for the most part, have always been perceived as the good guys. We cheer for Obi-Wan and Ahsoka in every fight, because they are fighting what seems to be pure evil. The Acolyte explores the Jedi and the Order through a different lens. These Jedi certainly try to do good, but their ideas of how to enforce that good come under fire. This examination of the Order will certainly have viewers questioning their praise of the system that trains Obi-Wan and Luke. In our world, people are not purely good or evil, they’re complicated; are Jedi not people too?

The third episode of The Acolyte is entirely a flashback, exploring Mae’s past and her first introduction to the Jedi Order. This episode is the strongest of the first four, and necessary for viewers to understand Mae’s actions and reasoning behind her unhealthy thoughts. It also paints the Jedi Order as enforcers of the Republic’s laws and regulations, a role that can certainly be seen as cruel by those who are directly affected by the Jedi’s methods.

The Tangibility of The Acolyte

Beyond its storytelling strengths, The Acolyte‘s visuals and sound are incredibly effective at immersion into its world. For all of the effectiveness of the Volume (the 360 LED screen created for The Mandalorian), it has its limitations. The Acolyte primarily used practical sets and costumes during its production, and the show is all the better for it. The planets that Master Sol and his group of Jedi visit feel lived-in and worn, and the sheer amount of aliens that populate the background of scenes only enhances the atmosphere.

The fight choreography throughout the season is also impressive, but nothing comes close to the style of the opening fight. There aren’t many lightsabers in the first half, but the combination of hand-to-hand combat and Force powers are mesmerizing. Regardless, the tantalizing cliffhanger at the end of the 4th episode teases an exciting lightsaber fight against a terrifying adversary. Stenberg herself teased more

The Acolyte seeks to set itself apart from all of the prior Star Wars series, and it succeeds at its goal while still feeling very much a part of the bigger universe. It certainly isn’t perfect, but the set-up and initial execution are enthralling and pose many questions. To stick the landing, those questions need to be answered not just, but satisfyingly so.

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