Lee Jung-jae's 'the acolyte' was well received by the U.S. media...The ratings are low

Hollywood Reporter, Variety, etc. Praise Lee Jung-jae for his acting..."Mysterious acting"

U.S. viewers also criticized "Worst script, bad acting" and "below expectations."
Lee Jung-jae, the first Asian Jedi

Actor Lee Jung-jae is listening to questions at a press conference for the new Star Wars series "The Acolyte" held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 5th.

Since the release of the "Star Wars" series "The Acolyte," in which actor Lee Jung-jae plays a Jedi, on the 4th (local time) in the United States, media critics and general viewers have mixed reviews.

Critics were generally well received, but the ratings were low among the general audience.

Rotten Romato, a U.S. media outlet specializing in criticizing the film and TV series, published an article on the 5th that delivered several early reviews of Acollite, titled, "We are familiar, but the vision of the new Star Wars is full of amazing actions."


"Critics say the series creates a fresh and new wind for Star Wars with its solid performance and great combat scenes," the outlet said.


In particular, Hollywood Reporters and Variety, one of the major media outlets in Hollywood, praised Lee Jung-jae and the entire Acollite narrative.

"The potential of the new series is overflowing," the Hollywood Reporter said, "and no matter where the series ends, it is enough to make the journey worthwhile."

The media also commented on Lee Jung-jae's performance, saying, "He performs subtle acting as a 'master sol' and conveys indescribable affection with just one expression," adding, "Of course, he is very smooth in conveying the emotions that need to be revealed."

Actor Lee Jung-jae answers questions at a press conference for the new Star Wars series "The Acolyte" held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 5th.

"Acolite has joined Star Wars as another success," Variety said, adding, "It combines classic elements that give Star Wars eternal charm with new elements such as a strong core cast and fast speed."

He also evaluated, "Master Sol, played by Lee Jung-jae, appears as a face that can sympathize with the Jedi's ambivalence."

"Viewers familiar with this actor's acting in Korea will not be surprised to see him as an action hero with a warm heart, but for Americans who only know him as a Netflix sensation ("Squid Game"), this role will show his range of acting on the big stage of the English-speaking media," he added.

Another media outlet, FandomWire, also said, "Acolite is the best Star Wars streaming series since The Mandalorian," adding, "Lee Jung-jae contributes by showing raw acting that balances the series."

Actor Lee Jung-jae is greeting at a press conference for the new Star Wars series "The Acolyte" held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 5th.

On the other hand, there are also negative reviews.

The New York Times (NYT) pointed out, "The combat scene is vast, and much of it takes the form of a martial arts battle like ballet," adding, "But the storytelling power is not strong."

He also criticized the actors' acting, saying, "Characters talk cliché about loss, sadness, loyalty, and revenge," and "Lee Jung-jae, a compassionate Jedi character, does not show much impact in his first English role."

As of this afternoon, the freshness index set by critics on the Rotten Tomatoes rating page is 93% (100% perfect).

However, only 39% of Rotten Tomatoes were rated by ordinary viewers.


The viewer, who gave the lowest score, criticized, "Horrible play, worse acting. The battle scene is rather cool, but it's not enough to save the show."

Another viewer also complained, "I admit my expectations were too high, but this is really disappointing. This series doesn't know what it's trying to be on its own. It's such a mess."

"Except for Lee Jung-jae, the acting is really terrible," another viewer wrote. "This script imitates other stories to induce absurd stories."

Earlier in March, when the video of the Acollite trailer was released, there were a number of comments criticizing the casting of Asian actor Lee Jung-jae in the role of Jedi, which has been played by white actors.