As Above, So Below
Magic has been a common feature of Disney films going all the way back to 1937’s Snow White. Christians have always debated the use of magic in media, whether it is simply fantastical fun or a gateway to the occult. Two of the greatest fantasy series of all time, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, feature witches, wizards, and magic. Yet they are thoroughly Christian works, written by devout Christian men and beloved by believers everywhere. However, many of those same Christians would draw a line at content that portrays outright witchcraft, occultism, and Satanism. While the mystical ‘Force’ has always been central to the Star Wars Universe, The Acolyte features outright occult practice. In episode one, the twin girls—Osha and Mae—recite a rhyme that contains the line, “As above sit the stars and below lies the sea.” Some fans believe this is a reference to a popular occult phrase, “As above, so below.” The most overt occult imagery comes from episode three, in which the witch coven performs an occultic chant and ritual. This may not strike some people as a big deal, and the idea of magic and the occult in the real world may seem laughable to someone steeped in a modern, scientific mindset. However, witchcraft and paganism are currently on the rise. Various contributing factors may include the decline of organized religion, the increase of moral relativism, and our culture’s obsession with the self. Even if you think the portrayal of occult and magic in media such as The Acolyte is not a big deal, you cannot ignore the increase of New Age thought in our culture, and even among Christians.
The Underdog Versus the Institution
While much of the criticism of The Acolyte has been centered on the “lesbian space witches,” there are also broader worldview ideas highlighted in the show. Star Wars has always been understood as a story of good versus evil: the light side versus the dark side of the Force, the Rebellion versus the Empire, Jedi versus Sith. However, The Acolyte showrunner, Leslye Headland, has reframed the entire Star Wars conflict as “the underdog versus the institution.” In this show, “the Jedi are the institution” and “the bad guys are actually the underdog.” Thus, the Jedi are not the good guys; they are colonialists and imperialists who believe their way is the only right way, and they take children away from their family and culture. But if the bad guys are the underdog, are we intended to root for them? Does this actually make them the good guys? It’s true that not every conflict can be reduced simply to good and evil, as situations can be complicated and humans are imperfect. But underdogs versus institutions is also a very simplistic lens through which to view life.
A statement captured in the trailer above from the twins’ mother, Mother Aniseya, reveals the thesis of the entire show: “This isn’t about good and bad. This is about power and who is allowed to use it.” Star Wars is no longer about good and evil; it is really about power—individuals (Mae and Osha) or cultures (the witch coven) versus institutions (the Jedi). While many people in our culture are on high alert for anything that appears even remotely “woke,” the main theme of The Acolyte is definitely a product of contemporary critical theory, a blending of postmodernism and Marxism that is popularly known as ‘wokeism.’ One of its core tenets is that institutions wield hegemonic power to oppress and marginalize others.1 Mother Aniseya warns her daughters, “The galaxy is not welcoming to women like us,” delivering the narrative that the members of the witch coven were a marginalized people group. Thus, they are the underdogs, the victims who have been cast out and “othered” by the Jedi and the rest of the galaxy.
Reframing the Star Wars saga as “underdog versus institution” instead of “good versus evil” may seem edgy and subversive, but we viewers know that this ultimately fails. The Empire is not simply powerful, it is truly evil and oppressive. The Rebellion aren’t just the underdogs, they’re righteously fighting for freedom from tyranny. Luke Skywalker is good while Emperor Palpatine is evil. Institutions can be broadly good or bad depending on their actions and beliefs. As George Lucas showed in the prequel trilogy, the Jedi may have been misguided and flawed, but they were still generally good. The Acolyte does succeed in showing that right and wrong are not always perfectly clear, and that good people can make bad decisions. But to try to reframe Star Wars’ timeless portrayal of good versus evil as simply a power struggle of underdogs versus institutions is troublesome. We all have a basic understanding of right and wrong, but we need an objective reference point to determine what is truly right and wrong, regardless of what any individual or group believes. If this standard does not exist in reality or the Star Wars Universe, then maybe there truly is no good or bad, and all struggles are just about power. But if this is the case, then who’s to say whether the Jedi or even Palpatine and the Empire are right or wrong? We’re lost in a mire of moral relativism.
The Path to the Dark Side
The Acolyte has received a ton of criticism from Star Wars fans. While some view this as an irrational reaction from angry fanboys who don’t want their narratives to be challenged, we see that criticism is certainly warranted. Christians should be concerned with the overt “queerness” and occult imagery in the show, and on a deeper level, we should also be concerned with the ideas that are being promoted. Star Wars has always been a cosmic battle of good versus evil. It’s one thing to explore how morality can be complicated and how good people can make wrong choices. It’s another to try to replace good and evil with power struggles between institutions and the marginalized. If there is no objective standard of morality in the Star Wars Universe, then nothing anyone does is ever really right or wrong—there are only winners and losers. Yet, no one truly believes that, likely not even the show’s creator. Ultimately, we must agree with the many disappointed Star Wars fans: the Force is not with The Acolyte.
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