The Acolyte Episode 8: What That Red Lightsaber Means – And How It Changed

The Acolyte Episode 8: What That Red Lightsaber Means - And How It Changed

As a long-time Star Wars gamer and fan with a deep appreciation for the rich lore of the galaxy far, far away, I was utterly captivated by the season finale of “The Acolyte.” The shocking revelation that Master Sol was responsible for Osha’s mother’s death and the subsequent emotional descent into darkness by our young protagonist left me both stunned and exhilarated.


The following contains spoilers for “The Acolyte” Episode 8 — “The Acolyte”

In the final episode of “The Acolyte,” it’s revealed that Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) is the one who orchestrated Osha’s (Amandla Stenberg) mother’s death in Episode 7, leading to a tragic chain of events. This revelation shocks Osha, who retaliates with a shocking act: she uses the Force to choke Sol to death, marking her descent into darkness and becoming the first known Jedi to kill another without using a weapon. The emotional moment is underscored by the transformation of Sol’s blue lightsaber into a menacing red one when Osha presents it to Qimir (Manny Jacinto), leaving viewers in awe as they witness the creation of a red lightsaber for the first time.

As a huge Star Wars fan, I can tell you that red lightsabers hold a deep connection to the franchise’s history. They were originally wielded by the sinister figures like Darth Vader and other dark side users. In contrast, Jedi lightsabers come in various colors, each carrying unique symbolism. However, it is commonly known that Sith lightsabers are predominantly red.

Where red lightsabers come from: Star Wars ‘bleeding’ explained

The Acolyte Episode 8: What That Red Lightsaber Means - And How It Changed

In the Star Wars universe, it’s worth noting that bleeding has been mentioned before. For instance, in the “Star Wars: Darth Vader” comic series (issue #5), penned by Charles Soule and illustrated by Giuseppe Camuncoli, we see Darth Vader extract a kyber crystal from a fallen Jedi Master Kirak Infil’a following their battle. This crystal becomes the source of power for Vader’s red lightsaber, as he manipulates it with his intense emotions. Unlike Jedi who obtain their crystals through peaceful means on Ilum, the Sith, such as Darth Sidious, described in “Star Wars: The Secrets of the Sith” (2021), take a darker route – they acquire kyber crystals from defeated Jedi, harnessing their power for their own sinister purposes.

A Sith’s saber isn’t handed down; instead, it’s taken. After obtaining a kyber crystal, one must infuse it with their deepest emotions – pain, anger, and hatred. By doing so, they gain control over the crystal, making it release intense red energy. However, the process can be challenging; some crystals may not yield easily or might even shatter during the transformation. Regardless, this is the unique method to create red lightsabers. Even unintentionally, Osha’s intense emotions after discovering Sol had killed her mother caused her kyber crystal within his saber to bleed and emit powerful red light.

In the finale of “The Acolyte,” many characters met their demise, resulting in a significant reduction of the show’s cast. Should there be a second season, it seems that most of the current actors will need to be replaced. However, one fact remains: Osha’s descent into darkness is far from over.

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2024-07-17 19:31