430: Star Wars, the Hero Journey, and The Acolyte

The boys drink and review Brooklyn Brewery's Sunny Pale Ale, then discuss Star Wars and the enduring influence of the hero's journey. The Star Wars movies struck quite a chord with the public. On the one hand, it seems like silly kid's stuff. On the other hand, Pigweed's literature professors referred to Star Wars as a classic example of the hero pattern, or quest journey. The lives of Jesus, Moses, King Arthur, Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, and many others follow a very similar pattern. Their stories follow a very predictable pattern that includes the call to adventure, resistance to the call, the role of the mentor, facing a challenge, winning the prize, then bringing that achievement back to the people. There are other background elements to the life of the hero, like a suspicious birth, the absense of parents, some connection to royalty and maybe divinity. Star Wars follows this myth in each individual episode, and across episodes. Some people have said that Star Wars has abandoned this pattern in the newest iteration of Star Wars -- the Acolyte. Others have gone so far as to suggest that The Acolyte has turned the entire myth on its head. Pigweed and Crowhill discuss the role of this pattern, and then, with some help from a letter from Nephew Will, evaluate some of the radical claims about The Acolyte.