As a fan who has witnessed some of the most poignant moments in Star Wars history unfold, I must say that the death of Sol in The Acolyte was undoubtedly one of the darkest and most emotional turns yet. Having had the privilege to speak with Hanelle Culpepper, the director of the Season 1 finale, I can attest to the sheer intensity and dedication Lee Jung-jae brought to his performance during that fateful scene.
Warning: SPOILERS for The Acolyte are ahead!
If you assumed that no more significant characters in “The Acolyte” Star Wars TV series would meet their end after Episode 5’s deaths, you were off base. In the season finale, named “The Acolyte,” Lee Jung-jae’s character Sol was brutally slain by his ex-apprentice Osha, played by Amandla Stenberg, following Sol’s confession that he had killed her and Mae’s mother, Jodie Turner-Smith’s Mother Aniseya, 16 years prior. This grim scene is among the darkest moments in Star Wars history, and director Hanelle Culpepper shared with TopMob her experiences during the filming of this poignant death scene.
As a game enthusiast, I had an incredible conversation with Culpepper about her work on “The Acolyte”, specifically Episode 6, titled “Teach / Corrupt”. During our chat, I delved into Sol’s demise and asked her about the mood on set that day, as well as any recollections she had regarding Lee-Jung-jae’s portrayal of his character’s last moments. Culpepper, who has an impressive resume directing episodes in both the “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” universes, shared her thoughts on these topics first.
Indeed, I recall that day was incredibly draining for him, pouring so much emotional effort into it. He gave his all even when he wasn’t the main focus of the scene. To let them ease up a bit, I mentioned this, but he consistently gave it his best shot every time. The challenging aspect was that I wished for him to be positioned between Osha and Mae, engaging in an emotional exchange with both. This required him to maintain that deep emotional state from various angles. He had no respite, not even when shooting wire shots. His dedication was truly commendable, and it was heartrending to witness. On set, I often found myself moved to tears watching him perform that scene, as his affection for Osha and his regret over his actions towards Mae were palpable.
In the previous episode titled “Choice,” we saw Sol slay Mother Aniseya with his lightsaber after she unsuccessfully tried to use her powers against him. It turned out that instead of wanting to harm him, she had intended to grant permission for Osha to depart with him and the other Jedi. Sol justified concealing this fact by claiming he was safeguarding her and fulfilling her dreams, but upon discovering the truth, Osha succumbed to the Dark Side. Before his own demise, with Mae and Manny Jacinto’s Qimir looking on, Sol told Osha it was “ok” for her to follow through with what she planned, and moments later, he vanished.
Alongside Lee Jung-jae delivering a stellar performance, it’s noteworthy that Hanelle Culpepper mentioned the exceptional nature of his work on “The Acolyte”. She highlighted that this was his debut in an English-speaking television production, making his accomplishments even more impressive. As she put it:
As a devoted fan, I must admit that the language barrier was not an obstacle for this exceptional actor in his debut English-language series. By the time I joined the audience, he had already amassed such proficiency due to their rigorous journey through this process. However, this was his initial venture into the English realm, and yet, his comprehension was astonishingly complete. He immersed himself so profoundly in the role that it was awe-inspiring to witness. We were all left spellbound, and here’s the magic – he gives so much, and Amandla does too. So when two performers pour out such passion and it comes from a deep, authentic place within them, it radiates on screen, and that’s exactly what we saw.
As a gamer, I’ve got to say, Lee Jung-jae’s stunning performance as Song Ji-hun in Squid Game, which earned him an Emmy, was just the beginning for him. His English-language debut in The Acolyte left me awestruck. Unfortunately, his character Sol’s journey on the Star Wars series has come to an end, and it seems his reputation has been marred due to Vernestra Rwoh accusing him of being responsible for the deaths of Idara, Torbin, Kelnacca, and the Force witches. This accusation came after she sensed the presence of Qimir, her former apprentice, on Brendok, and while she kept this from the Jedi Council, Yoda’s appearance at the end of Season 1 finale hints that she might trust him enough to reveal the truth.
1. Regarding The Acolyte’s second season, there’s no update yet as of now. Feel free to rewatch the initial eight episodes with your Disney+ membership whenever you like. Meanwhile, Lee Jung-jae is set to return for Squid Game’s second season, releasing on Netflix on December 26. The final season will follow in 2025.
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2024-08-03 03:37