Summary
- The Acolyte
is crucial to
Star Wars
lore, revealing connections to
The Phantom Menace
and the origins of Darth Plagueis. - The series expands on the Jedi’s belief in a vergence in the Force, potentially setting the stage for Anakin’s creation by Plagueis.
- The tragic story of
The Acolyte
mirrors
The Phantom Menace
, hinting at the Jedi’s eventual downfall and the rise of the Sith.
As a long-time fan of Star Wars, I must admit that The Acolyte has left me in awe and with a feeling of nostalgia tinged with a sense of foreboding. Having grown up watching the original trilogy and later delving into the prequels, I’ve come to appreciate the intricacies of the Force and the Jedi Order. The Acolyte’s exploration of these themes from a new perspective has been both exciting and thought-provoking.
Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Acolyte.
Though initially appearing as an independent tale in the “Star Wars” universe with no ties to the Skywalker Saga, “The Acolyte” subtly unveiled its significance throughout its eight-episode span. Set a century prior to the first film in the Skywalker series, this intriguing murder mystery focuses on twin sisters Mae and Osha (Amandla Stenberg) who are linked to a coven of Force witches, Jedi secrets, and an enigmatic dark side user. With the recent summer rerelease of “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” featuring a teaser for “The Acolyte,” it was evident that these stories were interconnected.
After the completion of the series, many early concerns that it disregarded “Star Wars” canon have been debunked. The finale provides justification for the Jedi’s belief that the Sith would no longer exist by the era of the prequel trilogy. Furthermore, the show not only upholds but enhances “Star Wars” lore by delving deeper into previous background information. It also introduces a previously unseen significant character and adds elements that will influence the “Star Wars” universe in the prequels. Essentially, “The Acolyte” serves as a precursor to the “Star Wars” prequels, and this is how it connects to “The Phantom Menace”.
Darth Plagueis Arrives in The Acolyte
After a span of 19 years since his initial mocking in “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith,” Darth Plagueis came into presence for the first time in any “Star Wars” official media through the series “The Acolyte.” Previously, only non-canon literature had depicted him. The anticipation surrounding his role began when it was revealed that “The Acolyte” was set within “The High Republic” era. As weeks passed, fans eagerly waited for a glimpse of this legendary Sith Lord. Although more might have been desired, the mere mention of him sparked excitement for a potential second season. Furthermore, his appearance provides fresh perspective on the “Star Wars” prequels.
In simpler terms, the implication is that Qimir, the Sith antagonist in “The Acolyte,” may have been Plagueis’ former apprentice. Qimir is presently grooming Osha to become his successor, aiming for a power struggle against their current Master and eventually becoming the new Dark Lord of the Sith. However, fans are aware that Qimir will ultimately fail in this endeavor, leaving Osha’s fate uncertain. This unsuccessful pursuit by Qimir for an apprentice to usurp his master sets the stage for Plagueis to search for a new apprentice, eventually choosing a young Palpatine. Although Palpatine wasn’t born during “The Acolyte,” the foundation of his origin story has been introduced.
The series implies that Plagueis has existed for a great length of time, making Palpatine’s tale to Anakin about Plagueis mastering death manipulation more credible. He appears to have prolonged his life significantly and may have lived much longer than depicted in “The Acolyte.” Furthermore, until his apprentice, Palpatine, betrays him, Plagueis keeps a close eye on him. The series also suggests that through Qimir, Plagueis becomes aware of Mae, Osha, and the Witches of Brendok, potentially paving the way for his grand scheme.
Expanding, But Not Reconning, Anakin Being a Vergence in the Force
Some fans have raised concerns over the third episode of “The Acolyte,” arguing that it lessened Anakin Skywalker’s significance by revealing that Mae and Osha were also created through the Force. However, this interpretation is not in line with established canon. The correct explanation is that Mother Aniseya used her power to actively create Mae and Osha, whereas Anakin was conceived as the will of the Force took shape.
In the last episode of “The Acolyte,” a surprising development emerges, adding fuel to a long-held fan hypothesis about Anakin Skywalker’s origin. For decades, fans have speculated that Darth Plagueis and Palpatine/Darth Sidious collaborated to manipulate the Force and create Anakin as their Sith apprentice. Nevertheless, Lucasfilm and series creator Leslye Headland have emphasized that Anakin is a natural creation of the Force. Nonetheless, Mae and Osha, the characters in “The Acolyte,” were artificially brought into existence through manipulation of the Force. This series could potentially pave the way for this fan theory gaining official recognition.
After discovering how deeply the Jedi would trust in the concept of vergence in the Force and what led Master Sol to act, Darth Plagueis may have gained knowledge of the Force-wielding witches of Brendok. With this ability, Plagueis could manipulate the Force to birth Anakin as part of his intricate scheme to eventually bring about the Jedi Order’s downfall. The occurrences in “The Acolyte” might pave the way for the Sith’s grand plan to undermine the Jedi.
As a gamer, I can tell you that while there are intriguing theories circulating in the Star Wars community, nothing is set in stone yet. The idea of a Force convergence being tied to a specific planet or person is an interesting speculation. In the case of The Acolyte, it’s suggested that Jedi believe the former, but based on Qui-Gon Jinn’s discovery of Anakin Skywalker, some now suspect it could be a person. I’ve come across this concept with Mae and Osha, but sadly, no Jedi survivor was able to tell the full tale, which ultimately might have changed the galaxy’s fate for better or worse.
The Jedi Are Doomed to Repeat Their Mistake
The story of “The Acolyte” closely resonates with George Lucas’ well-known quote, “It’s like poetry, they rhyme.” In other words, the narratives share many similarities. In this tale, a Jedi Master (Sol/Qui-Gon Jinn) is tasked with guiding a child (Osha/Anakin), whom the Jedi deem too old and strong in the Force, away from their home for training. Meanwhile, a Sith Lord (Qimir/Palpatine) lurks in the background, manipulating events, while his apprentice (Mae/Darth Maul) carries out his missions.
When the story of “The Acolyte” comes to a close, many pivotal characters have met their demise, leaving crucial knowledge and discoveries, such as the Force’s vergence and the Sith’s enigma, behind as misplaced information. With no clear understanding of what transpired and the Jedi assuming that Master Sol was responsible for the deaths of those involved in the Brendok incident instead of Mae, they risk being trapped in a cycle of repetition, unable to break free from past mistakes.
An element of sadness and despair is evident in this situation. The Jedi Order, who had once been revered and trusted by the people of the galaxy, now face a significant loss of faith. In their attempt to regain the public’s trust, they align themselves more closely with the Galactic Republic and its Chancellor. Unfortunately, their efforts lead to their own demise, providing Palpatine with an opportunity to exploit their weaknesses. Ultimately, the Jedi are perceived as criminals by the galaxy at large.
Will There Be a Season 2 of The Acolyte?
As The Acolyte concluded its primary enigma, the show continued to hold numerous tales untold. The most intriguing dangling plot revolves around Osha: from her instruction under Qimir to her commitment to locating Mae once more. Given the unique connection between Mae and Osha in the Force, it is plausible that this theme will resurface. Will these sisters be reunited again? Might they unite as one person, with The Acolyte serving an overlooked fan hypothesis for a live-action Knights of the Old Republic adaptation? Numerous stories are yet to unfold in this chapter of the Star Wars saga.
The tale of Plagueis and its connection to The Phantom Menace merits deeper exploration. According to Leslye Headland, should a second season materialize, we would learn the outcome of Mae and Osha’s mother, Mother Koril. She might align with Plagueis in his mission to dismantle the Jedi Order and impart to him their sacred Force teachings. Concurrently, Qimir’s backstory could be delved into further, illuminating how it paves the way for Palpatine’s emergence.
In the closing moments of the episode, Master Vernestra pays a visit to Yoda. Given that Vernestra seems to be the sole Jedi privy to the truth about Brendok and Sol’s predicament, she could potentially share this information with Yoda. Moreover, it is disclosed that Qimir, who was once Vernestra’s padawan, is still alive. If Yoda is now aware of this fact, he may have been holding back crucial knowledge from the rest of the Jedi council regarding the Sith’s ongoing presence. Despite Yoda’s reluctance to train Anakin as a Jedi, the majority of the council supports Obi-Wan in this role. This revelation will significantly alter our understanding of Yoda’s actions in “The Phantom Menace”.
As a gamer, I’m deeply engaged with the storyline of “The Acolyte” on Disney+, even if it doesn’t come back for a second season. The intriguing foundations laid out in this series give us a glimpse into how the seeds of the Jedi’s demise were sown 100 years before the events of “The Phantom Menace.”
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2024-07-17 23:34