‘The Acolyte’ Review: New ‘Star Wars’ Series Has Prequel Vibes but Breaks New Ground

Leslye Headland wrote and directed two of the new century’s best and sharpest relationship comedies — “Bachelorette” and “Sleeping with Other People” — just as cultural tides were starting to toss that kind of material onto streaming services, whether in direct-to-wherever movies or short-run series. (Indeed, her major follow-up to “People” was co-creating the Netflix series “Russian Doll,” as well as directing various episodes of series she did not create or write.) Given that, seeing such a tart, talented filmmaker and playwright absorbed by a force as galactic as the “Star Wars” universe, even the corners shrunken down for Disney+ shows, should be an exercise in surrendering to the depressing inevitable.