Why is The Acolyte backlash missing the mark?

The latest addition to the expansive universe of Star Wars, The Acolyte, has been receiving criticism for depicting fire in space, with viewers arguing that it defies practical science. While critics have praised the show for its cast and story dynamics, fans have been less enthusiastic, calling it another disappointing entry in the franchise.

The Acolyte | Credit: Lucasfilm
The show has released two episodes so far, and one particular scene has drawn significant attention and criticism for its questionable logic. However, it’s not the first time the franchise has depicted fire in space, as such occurrences have significantly been prevalent throughout the franchise.

The Acolyte Faces Criticism For Getting Science Wrong

Created by Leslye Headland, The Acolyte explores the end of the High Republic era following a former Padawan who reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes. They soon discover that the forces they must confront are more sinister than they anticipated.

Amandla Stenberg as Osha | Credit: Lucasfilm
Episode 1 of the show introduces the audience to Osha (Amandla Stenberg), a former Padawan, who now works as a Meknek, a freelance humanoid who works on the outer hull of a starship. As the episode progresses, the character is seen doing a repair, during which a fire spreads out, but she manages to extinguish it.

The scene has become a central point in the show’s criticism with many fans arguing that depicting fire in space is highly illogical, due to the lack of oxygen in space, for a sci-fi franchise. The scene has intensified the backlash for the show, as many shared their disappointment over what they perceived as a glaring error. One Reddit user said,

I’ll buy space magic over galactic distance but I can’t buy flames that act as though they are surrounded by oxygen in both form and nature while our protagonists are in full extra vehicular suits because they are in a vacuum.

The Acolyte scene depicting fire in space | Credit: Disney

Many fans even went on to claim that such mistakes would not have happened under George Lucas’ Star Wars, forgetting that ‘fire in space’ has been prevalent in the franchise since its inception with the 1977 film A New Hope.

Star Wars Fans Overlooking Franchise History in Criticizing The Acolyte

Despite fan criticism over the depiction of fire in space in The Acolyte and the notion that such errors wouldn’t have occurred under Star Wars’ original creator, the franchise has a history of showcasing similar narratives since its inception.
A still from Return of the Jedi | Credit: Lucasfilm
From the TIE Fighters and X-wings exploding in flames while destroying Death Star in A New Hope to flames spreading across the surface of the Executor without any sign of a vacuum effect in Return of the Jedi, fire in space is not new to the galactic saga.

Similar to the Disney+ series, George Lucas also didn’t adhere strictly to real-life physics, focusing instead on creating a visually spectacular experience, as Star Wars Explained quoted the filmmaker, “In my world, there is air in outer space when I want it.”

The statement highlights that Lucas did not hesitate to bend the laws of nature and science to tell the story he envisioned. As for The Acolyte, there have been numerous defensive explanations offered for the “fire in space” narrative.
Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Credit: Lucasfilm
Many have come up with a theory, suggesting that the fire could have been sustained by gas, potentially oxygen, leaking from the starship’s pressure belt. While fans are entitled to their criticism, it is also important to note that demanding scientific accuracy from a series that has never strictly followed scientific rules doesn’t seem reasonable.

The Acolyte is available to stream on Disney+.