As a long-time fan of Star Wars, I’ve been thrilled with the expansion of the franchise these past few years. However, I must admit that it has become an overwhelming experience for me as well. With numerous shows and films, it feels like there’s always something new to keep up with, which can be quite daunting for someone who doesn’t have hours every day to dedicate to Star Wars lore.
Spoiler Alert: Major Spoilers Ahead for The Acolyte Season 1 Finale
Summary
- The Acolyte
provided a unique Star Wars experience that was mostly separate from the Skywalker Saga. - The finale introduces major cameos of Yoda and Darth Plagueis, hinting at a different direction for a potential Season 2 that may blend with the Skywalker Saga.
- The inclusion of familiar characters like Yoda and Plagueis in Season 2 may detract from the focus on core characters and unique storylines.
The first season of Disney+’s new Star Wars live-action series, titled “The Acolyte,” has ended with episode 8 named after the show itself. Throughout the season, which is set towards the end of the High Republic period, around a century before Episode I – The Phantom Menace, viewers met several fresh characters. These included the twin sisters Osha and Mae Aniseya, new Jedi like Masters Sol, Yord Fandar, and Jecki Lon, as well as the enigmatic Sith antagonist referred to as “The Stranger.”
In simple terms, the introduction of these fresh characters gave rise to an unfamiliar tale in the expansive universe of Star Wars. The show, titled “The Acolyte,” explored the heart-wrenching pasts of Osha and Mae, along with the possible resurfacing of the Sith in the galaxy. This narrative shift was intriguing as it diverged significantly from the Skywalker Saga – the films that constitute the Star Wars trilogies. However, despite its promising start, “The Acolyte” succumbed to similar issues as other live-action Star Wars series, such as “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka,” in its Season 1 finale.
Introducing Yoda and Darth Plagueis Into The Acolyte
In the final episode of The Acolyte, not just one, but two significant surprise appearances take place. These cameos hint at potential new storylines should Disney decide to renew the show for a second season. Towards the end, the iconic Jedi Master Yoda makes a short entrance. Though he’s only seen from behind and remains silent, his presence is unmistakable due to Vernestra Rwoh’s request for him to “talk.” Yoda seems to have been brought back using a puppet similar to how he was depicted in the original Star Wars trilogy and Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.
In the first season finale of “The Acolyte,” we get a long-awaited on-screen appearance of the legendary Sith Lord, Darth Plagueis. Previously mentioned in “Episode III – Revenge of the Sith,” this Muun character is revealed to be Plagueis. Palpatine (later known as Darth Sidious) introduced Plagueis to Anakin Skywalker through a story, describing him as “Darth Plagueis the Wise.” According to Palpatine’s account, Plagueis sought immortality and experimented with various methods, both natural and unnatural, to prolong his life. However, he was ultimately betrayed and killed by his apprentice, who was none other than Palpatine himself.
In “The Acolyte,” Plagueis makes a brief appearance as he cautiously emerges from a cave to observe The Stranger and Osha embark on a ship, marking their departure from the enigmatic planet. Despite his fleeting screen time, Plagueis’ identity is undeniable, carrying significant ramifications for the series’ development. This moment, though seemingly insignificant, sheds new light on The Stranger’s actions during Season 1. Although this is our initial on-screen encounter with Plagueis, his design has already been introduced in the 2012 “Star Wars: Darth Plagueis” novel by James Luceno. This novel has garnered a devoted following among “Star Wars” fans, and it seems that “The Acolyte” intends to expand upon some of its most captivating concepts in potential future seasons.
Star Wars Has a Modern Cameo Problem
Here’s the issue: one of the biggest complaints that has been haunting the Star Wars franchise in recent years is the inclusion of countless cameos and references to other stories. Whether it be through The Mandalorian bringing in characters like Luke Skywalker and Bo Katan, Ahsoka building on almost all the characters from Star Wars Rebels, or even Andor dealing with the likes of Mon Mothma and Saw Gerrera, essentially every new Star Wars story requires some sort of familiarity with what has come before it. The idea of truly standalone stories has almost completely disappeared from the franchise.
For a small franchise, not having a consistent narrative might not pose a significant challenge. However, this has proven to be a considerable issue for “Star Wars,” which encompasses over a dozen films and an equal number of TV shows. Maintaining a cohesive storyline for such a vast franchise has always been a challenge for “Star Wars,” but the problem has become more apparent in recent years. This is due to the exponential growth of the franchise, with at least two new Disney+ shows added every year. In 2022 alone, we’ve seen the debut of “The Acolyte,” the final season of “The Bad Batch,” and a new entry in the “Tales” anthology series titled “Tales of the Empire.” We also expect the live-action series “Skeleton Crew” to premiere before the year’s end.
For some “Star Wars” enthusiasts, the constant flow of new stories may be a source of joy. however, for less devoted fans, the franchise has grown overwhelming. It seems overly dependent on bringing back beloved characters to generate excitement for each new release. This issue became particularly evident with “Ahsoka,” a production that met the expectations of hardcore fans but left casual viewers feeling lost. They felt compelled to watch numerous seasons of “Rebels” and “The Clone Wars” (aside from “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett”) just to follow the plot.
The Acolyte Was Supposed to Be Different
The Star Wars franchise has struggled with this problem for a while, but things appeared to improve with The Acolyte. Setting this story 100 years before the beginning of the Skywalker Saga seemingly removed most of the familiar characters from the playing board. There would be no Luke Skywalker, Mace Windu, or Emperor Palpatine in this show simply because the characters would not have been born yet. Showrunner Leslye Headland has often spoken about this, providing the show with more freedom, as they were able to focus on new characters with little regard to what else was happening in the galaxy.
As a devoted fan, I’d express it this way: In the initial part of the season, The Acolyte skillfully maintained the limelight on its freshly introduced characters. Occasionally, we got glimpses of familiar figures like Ki-Adi-Mundi and Vernestra Rwoh. However, their appearances didn’t overshadow the main narrative. Mundi’s brief cameo brought excitement, though it sparked controversy among hardcore fans. On the other hand, Rwoh’s significance throughout the storyline didn’t hinge on prior knowledge of her background in the High Republic literature or comics.
In the finale of The Acolyte, Master Yoda and Darth Plagueis make appearances, signaling larger roles for them in Season 2. This move significantly reduces the distinctiveness of The Acolyte from the Skywalker Saga. Consequently, the writers will face relentless scrutiny regarding how Plagueis’ tale connects to Palpatine and why Yoda is either oblivious or involved in hiding the growing Sith influence.
As a long-time fan of the Star Wars franchise, I’ve grown particularly attached to the unique stories and characters of The Acolyte, with Osha, Mae, and The Stranger being my favorites so far. So, I was quite excited when I heard that legendary figures from Star Wars lore were going to be incorporated into the show.
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2024-07-18 02:31