Discussion
What's really interesting to me is the way an interview like this becomes a Rorschach ink blot for the tuberati. Their reactions telling us far more about their fears of who people think they are, than about what Headland thinks. Or any other high-profile creator whose comments they take umbrage at.
(10/10)
@strypey I actually loved it myself tbh. First episode was definitely a little slow, though.
@wxhbxh
> I actually loved it myself
Not meaning to yuk your yum, but ...
> First episode was definitely a little slow, though
It was more than that. It reminded me of SW fan fic shorts I've seen posted on YT. The FX we're really impressive, especially for hobby productions, but for me they captured the aesthetic of SW without any of the substance.
Glad some people enjoyed it, and all power to you : )
But that doesn't mean Leslye Headland and her production company are bad at what they do. It doesn't even mean they couldn't create a good Star Wars show. It just means that this particular time, they didn't (for most of us, some people loved it).
Everyone takes an ugly picture from time to time. Even skilled professionals.
Anyway, this brings me to Leslye's recent interview;
https://www.thewrap.com/leslye-headland-interview-the-acolyte-cancellation/
Which has already inspired me to download Russian Doll and give that a proper go.
(2/?)
Towards the end of the interview, Headland was asked a really leading question about the negative online reaction to The Acolyte. She gave a really measured and nuanced reply, which I think is worth quoting at length;
"I am a Star Wars fan, which means I have always been, since the launch of YouTube, part of the Star Wars recap/criticism/lionization fandom community. These guys I’ve known for years and years."
https://www.thewrap.com/leslye-headland-interview-the-acolyte-cancellation/
(3/?)
"So when I got the information from others about what the weather report was, there was this real concern from friends of mine or co-workers of mine that saddened me. I also was like, 'I know who these guys are'. You don’t have to tell me who’s talking about it or how bad it is online, I know exactly who they are. I supported them on Patreon."
#LeslyeHeadland, 2025
https://www.thewrap.com/leslye-headland-interview-the-acolyte-cancellation/
(4/?)
"There are some of them that I respect, and there are some of them that I think are absolutely snake oil salesmen, just opportunists. Then, of course, there are the fascists and racists. So it runs a gamut. It isn’t just one thing or the other. So I think that if you’re in part of the fandom, you understand the genre and the tone of particular channels and creators."
#LeslyeHeadland, 2025
https://www.thewrap.com/leslye-headland-interview-the-acolyte-cancellation/
(5/?)
So while she stands by what she made, she can respect people disliking it and saying so. She's disappointed by people jumping on an anti-Acolyte bandwagon because they think there clicks and $ in it, and fair enough.
And she's right, it's not news that there are racists and fascists making low effort agitprop online, and a show like The Acolyte or Into the Spiderverse is a convenient boogieman for them, whether it's any good or not (IMHO Spiderverse is, Acolyte isn't).
All good, right?
(6/?)
This is *not* - as a particularly ornery YouTub reviewer whose videos are a guilty pleasure for me tries to claim - Headland saying anyone who disliked her TV show or disagrees with her politics is fascist. It's very clear from the passage itself, and especially in the context of the interview, that this isn't what she thinks.
Methinks the Drinker doth protest too much.
(7/?)
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