The Acolyte
Summary
The Acolyteis formally over , and though I mainly enjoyed theStar Warsshow , here are 5 things I loved and 5 I hated aboutThe Acolyte’sfinale . The Acolyte , like many otherStar Warsshows and flick , especially the new one , faced acute scrutiny before it was even released . Despite that reasonably constant background noise ofThe Acolyte’sbacklash and controversies , I stay affirmative about the show .
For the most part , the show delivered ; many of the new persona were interesting , especially Qimir / the Stranger , and the lightsaber battles , particularly inThe Acolyteepisode 5 , were thrilling . However , the close was a bit more mixed . While there were many exciting moments inThe Acolyte’sfinale , there were 5 things I absolutely loved about the episode and 5 thing I really hated .
Audiences were concerned from the very beginning that The Acolyte would break Star Wars canon and retcon the prequels , but that did n’t happen .
10The Jump To Darth Plagueis Was Genuinely Scary
This Is Exactly How A Sith Lord Should Be
The Acolyte’sshowrunner Leslye Headland formally confirmed in audience following the finale thatthe mysterious trope shown on the Unknown Planet was indeed Darth Plagueis , Palpatine ’s own Sith master . This was one of my favored consequence in the episode because it was so genuinely shuddery . Not only was the jump to Plagueis wholly unexpected — an actual jumpscare inStar Wars , which is rare — but the menacing music was dead utter as well .
Even after the initial impact of Plagueis ' appearance , though , his presence persist very creepy-crawly . He was clearly watching Osha and Qimir , which sure spells difficulty for the pair ifThe Acolytegets beak up for a 2d season ( which has n’t been confirm ) . It is n’t clear whether Plagueis is Qimir ’s master or not , but either agency , he will want to realise how Mother Aniseya created the twins , as one of the world power he sought was the ability to create life sentence .
9Seeing Osha Go Full Dark Side Was Chilling
Watching Osha Kill Sol Was Brutal
Obviously , Star Warshas shown light side characters fall to the dingy side before . After all , Anakin Skywalker is my pet reference in the intact franchise , and his fall defined the beetleweed for generations . However , Osha ’s fall to the dark side was downright inhuman . I ’d meet this alteration coming , as she ’d assume Qimir ’s Sith masquerade inThe Acolyteepisode 7 , but I had n’t expected her to become so chilling so cursorily , nor did I require her to kill Master Sol .
That is n’t to say this decision for Osha to suddenly defeat Sol did n’t make sense — quite the opposite . I ’d long suspected Sol was not survivingThe Acolytebecause he was the concluding Jedi alert of the four that had been send on Brendok . Mae had set out to pop them all , so Sol ’s expiry made common sense to complete this arc . However , Osha killing her own darling former passkey was a true surprise for me , even if she had good reason , and watching her Force choke him to decease as he look at her crying was shocking .
8The Subtle Star Wars ‘Rhymes’ Were Perfect
I Loved The Connections To Previous Characters
Star Warsis well - known for its ' rhymes , ' or the parallels that connect the various movies and television show . The Acolytefinale had several , all of which were pernicious . The two that really get out to me were connect to Han Solo inThe Empire Strikes Backand Ben Solo inStar state of war : The Rise of Skywalker . The connexion to Han come when Mae said,“See you in Hell , Jedi"to Master Sol as she escaped from his ship , clearly reminiscent of Han Solo’s"Then I ’ll see you in Hell!“to a Rebel inThe Empire Strikes Back .
These rhymes specially delighted me because Han and Ben Solo are n’t always the character reference with parallel of latitude in New undertaking .
The connexion to Ben was even insidious and came when Mae climbed up from the side of a shelf where she had been hiding to keep off Sol . As her hand came up to grasp the ledge , the nip linger in an image well-nigh monovular to the one fromThe Rise of Skywalkerwhen Ben Solo was climbing back up from the scissure into which he ’d been thrown by Palpatine . These rhymes especially delighted me because Han and Ben Solo are n’t always the part with parallels in newer projects , so this felt truly new .
Custom Image by Yeider Chacon
7Getting To See A Kyber Crystal Bled In Real Time Was Amazing
This Controversial Moment Was A Thrill
Audiences have been divided onThe Acolytefinale showing a kyber lechatelierite bleed in real - sentence , with some up in arms about the decision . However , I absolutely loved baffle to see Osha shed blood Master Sol ’s kyber lechatelierite . For one , the literal visuals were incredible , and they finally revealed what the interior of a lightsaber looks like . However , it was the symbolism of Osha bleeding this crystal that I in truth loved .
It was the symbolisation of Osha phlebotomize this watch crystal that I really screw .
What really stood out to me was the fact thatthis was the first lightsaber Osha ever interpret or touched , and , now , this will presumptively be her Sith lightsaber . That full - Mexican valium minute was impressively profound and heedful . Moreover , while much of the rebound has focused on this being a supposedly canon - breaking outcome , that is n’t the case . bleed a kyber crystal requires pouring one ’s anger , pain , and hatred into the crystal , which Osha absolutely did , whether she meant to or not .
6The Lightsaber Going From Red To Blue Was One Of Star Wars' Coolest Moments
The Acolyte Managed To Deliver An Innovative Lightsaber Moment
It must be hard forStar Warsshows and movies to invariably play something novel to lightsabers , although there seems to be insistency to do so , as each show or picture tends to reveal a new color or intent . The Acolytehad already done this to a sure grade with Qimir ’s threefold lightsabers , which include a dagger cavalry sword , and by take Vernestra Rwoh ’s lightwhip to live - action . However , this moment where a lightsaber turned red on - screen was unbelievable and , arguably , one of the cool moment in all ofStar Wars .
5A Reactor Shaft (Sort Of) Saves The Day Again
This Recycled Explanation Was Disappointing
Although I love many aspects ofThe Acolyte’sfinale , there were also several choices I was not a fan of , one of the biggest being the way Mae survived her fall during the fire on Brendok . This was one of the lingering mystery even after installment 7 had revealedwhat happened on Brendok . Because episode 3 was from Osha ’s perspective and sequence 7 was Sol ’s , no one experience how Mae had subsist her monolithic fall from the stop bridgework . My hopes were high that somehow either Mother Koril ( whom I trust is live ) or Qimir had interpose to write her .
After all , it still is n’t clear who found Mae when she was waiting under the tree diagram on Brendok after the ardour . This could be explored in a possible time of year 2 ; however , Mae evidently survived her nightfall because she progress to the core tunnel . Not only does this fall intoStar Wars’tired convention of reactor shafts saving characters who seem beat ( Palpatine and Darth Maul)—even if it was n’t a on-key nuclear reactor dick , it was unaired enough — but it also makes small sense . How did she get all the mode over to the core group burrow from where she fell ?
4We Didn’t See Vernestra’s Lightwhip In Action
I Was Shocked The Acolyte Didn’t Show The Lightwhip In Battle
One of the biggest missed opportunity for me inThe Acolytewas not showing Vernestra using her lightwhip in an active struggle . To be forthright , I was shockedThe Acolytedidn’t take better advantage of this weapon . Although it did make an appearance — Vern expend it to shoot down what looks like a expectant hemipteron at one point — not getting to see the lightwhip in action was a massive dashing hopes . In fact , The Acolyteeven hard suggest that such a battle was coming .
Not come to see the lightwhip in action was a massive letdown .
Not only was the lightwhip cod in trailers forThe Acolyte , which precede audiences to trust that it would make for a large use in the show , but also , the finale confirm that Qimir had been Vernestra ’s Jedi Padawan , and they even ended up on Brendok at the same fourth dimension . This would have been an epic showdown , particularly because the lightwhip is established in the canyon to be an idealistic Department of Defense against the Forbidden Forms , which Qimir used . Sadly , this seems to be yet another example of something that could come out in season 2 — a season 2 that might not come .
Star Wars : The Acolyte episode 5 highlight the Stranger ’s use of a forbidden lightsaber form , but Star Wars laid the groundwork 3 years ago .
3Slow Motion Force-Fu Just Didn’t Work
These Slow Motion Scenes Looked A Bit Silly
champion Wars’Force - Fu fight stylehas never quite work for me , largely because the name does n’t sound like something that is meant to be a serious , established term in the franchise . However , I care the conception of the Jedi swear on more than just their lightsabers , and I have enjoyed moments of this fighting way , which was also seen inAhsokawhen Ezra Bridger battle Shin Hati . This form was first used inThe Acolytein sequence 1 , during the battle between Mae and Master Indara , and that was a compelling battle .
The use of slow motion during Qimir and Sol ’s fight made the otherwise epical battle seem unserious .
Despite that initial succeeder , The Acolytefinale dropped the ball with this style because the use of slow apparent motion during Qimir and Sol ’s fight made the otherwise epic fight seem unserious . This was also simply unnecessary . The Acolyteepisode 5 had some of the best lightsaber battles in all ofStar Wars , arguably the very best sinceStar war : Episode III - Revenge of the Sith , so audience were already excited for the legal action sequences . try on to drive the competitiveness to seem even cooler by using slow motion was overkill and a bit ego - indulgent .
2Mae’s Character Made Almost No Sense, Which Was Only True In The Finale
The Decisions For Mae’s Character In The Finale Were Confusing
Mae had shift allegiances and motivations throughoutThe Acolyte , but those remained fairly lucid until the finale . At first , Mae seemed like a cold - hearted killer , obsessed with find retaliation . While that shifted somewhat when she saw Osha and realized her sis was live , she maintained that the four Jedi who were on Brendok when she was a child demand to die . In fact , installment 3 and episode 7 validated why she wants to defeat the Jedi , and I had a difficult time seeing her as an out - and - out scoundrel when I learned she watched Sol stab her mother as a child .
Suddenly , Mae is solely concerned in what Osha want , enough so that she is uncoerced to erase her darling sister from her memory completely .
In the finale , though , Mae ’s character only falls apart . Her motivations are unreadable , and the remainder of her story makes no horse sense . Suddenly , Mae is entirely concerned in what Osha wants , enough so that she is willing to erase her darling sister from her memory completely so that Osha can go coach with the valet de chambre who very late taste to kill Mae and had held a lightsaber to her head like a torpedo .
Mae has systematically prove that Osha is her precedency , but she ’s now well-heeled with Osha going off with this crimson man alone?While I sympathize Mae asking Osha what she wants is meant to mirror Mother Aniseya , I just did n’t find this believable . Moreover , although a minor contingent , Mae began acting like Osha in the finale in a way that made little sense , including telling Pip to"hold on"at one detail , as though she cared about the droid , which had never been established .
1Especially Toward The End, The Finale Was Basically Asking For Season 2
The Focus On Getting A Season 2 Weakened Season 1
In the ending , my biggest grievance withThe Acolyte’sfinale ( and , to some extent , the entire show ) was the elbow room it experience like an 8 - instalment tar for a second season . ahead of time on in marketing for the show , Headland say the doorway would remain open for a season 2 but that season 1 would finger like a complete tale . Unfortunately , whileThe Acolytecertainly render on the former , I ’m less convinced it did on the latter .
Much of the finale let in cliffhangers that felt like they should have been part of the show from the root , such as the appearance of Darth Plagueis . While that cameo was thrilling and satisfyingly creepy , it did finger like a bargaining chip for a 2d time of year . Moreover , some cliffhanger just made absolutely no sensory faculty .
Some cliffhangers just made utterly no sense .
Perhaps the best model is Osha and Mae jibe to obtain each other again . It ’s indecipherable how that would happen , as Mae ’s memory was wiped and the entire decimal point of them break was so the Jedi could n’t apply Mae to rule Osha . This alone also would n’t be enough to make time of year 2 a must - watch , as the Twin Falls ' relationship had been fairly puzzling throughout the show .
Interviews with Headland during and after time of year 1 also often mentioned that these concept could be revisit in a 2d time of year . Honestly , I do hopeThe Acolyteis renewed for another season , as I think there are a number of interesting togs that could be continued . However , the constant reminders thatThe Acolytecould be renewed were perturb and made the show a little less enjoyable .
All episodes of The Acolyte are now streaming on Disney+ .
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The Acolyte is a tv set series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era , where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence . This sci - fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crime - all contribute to dark erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the remnant of the High Republic .
