The debut of ‘The Acolyte’ sparked considerable debate within the community. Some perceive the show as “woke,” although this argument lacks substantial support, while others critique its quality, with plenty of valid points.
According to streaming data, provided by Luminate, the show has seen a decline in viewership over the past three weeks. Conversely, Reelgood reports ‘The Acolyte’ as the second most popular installment in the franchise.
If you rely on Rotten Tomatoes data, you’ll find that ‘The Acolyte’ currently holds a 14% score, the lowest in the franchise, based on over 25,000 reviews—the highest number of reviews in the franchise overall.
According to the latest Nielsen numbers, which provide reliable viewership analytics, ‘The Acolyte’ ranks near the bottom among all live-action shows. Its viewership is lower than any other Star Wars show except for ‘Andor,’ although ‘Andor’ is widely praised as the best live-action Star Wars show to date. Interpret this data as you see fit.
TV show
Estimated minutes of viewing
The Mandalorian season 2
1,032 million
The Mandalorian season 3
823 million
Obi-Wan Kenobi
513 million
Ahsoka
414.5 million
The Book of Boba Fett
389 million
The Acolyte
244 million
Andor
208 million
Source
However, if the viewership numbers are indeed low compared to shows like ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ and ‘The Mandalorian,’ how can ‘The Acolyte’ have such a high number of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes?
The answer is rather obvious. Screenrant’s analysis, albeit on a small sample, suggests that a significant portion of those reviews are AI-generated, essentially bogus, and not genuine critiques.
Moreover, the sheer volume of reviews surpasses that of all seasons of ‘The Mandalorian’ combined. Does this imply that ‘The Acolyte’ has more viewership than ‘The Mandalorian’ overall?
‘The Acolyte’ isn’t among the best Star Wars shows and certainly has significant flaws. However, let’s focus our criticisms on legitimate reasons without resorting to manufactured outrage, especially since Nielsen numbers indicate that ‘The Acolyte’ is struggling in terms of audience performance.
Nevertheless, it’s important to note that viewership numbers alone don’t necessarily reflect the show’s quality. Take ‘Andor’ as an example; despite lower numbers, it’s widely regarded as brilliant and has already secured a second season.
What are your thoughts on this? Share your opinions in the comments below!
