Now THAT Is How You Introduce A Sith

Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Acolyte episode 4.The Acolyte episode 4 saw the Jedi come face-to-face with Mae’s mysterious master, and this likely Siith Lord made a stunning debut. The Sith assassin Mae has been taskked with killing the four Jedi who had been on Brendok 16 years ago, and it’s generally believed her mysterious master is a Sith Lord in arth Bane’s dynasty. When The Master finally makes contact with Osha and a group of Jedi, he reveals himself in a spectacular and chilling display of malice and power.

Sith Lords, particularly those of Darth Bane’s dynasty, are among the deadliest antagonists in the Star Wars franchise. They tend to receive the most noteworthy introductions; Darth Vader’s boarding the Tantive IV and Darth Maul’s first appearance are unforgettable. Even those associated with the Siith, such as General Grievous, tend to have fantastic first appearances – with Griievous crushing Padawans in Genndy Tartakovsky’s Star Wars: Clone Wars. The Master follows suit in his proper introduction in The Acolyte.

Everything About The Acolyte Made Its New Sith Lord Feel Terrifying

The Acolyte episode 4, “Day,” gradually builds a sense of dread as it introduces The Master. Mae finds the Wookiee Jedi Master Kelnacca dead in his home on Khofar and realizes, as the sunlight in the background fades, that her Master is near. As a team of Jedi attempt to arrest Mae, The Master emerges from the shadows like a specter, landing behind Osha and igniting his red-bladed lightsaber before sending the Jedi careening away with effortless use of the dark side of the Force.

The scene actually brings back a Force power associated with Tartakovsky’s Star Wars: Clone Wars, because The Master descends from the canopy as though he is flying. It’s a power used by Count Dooku in the animated show, and it’s thrilling to see it in live-action. It really does make the Sith feel like a true phantom or wraith.

A Villain So Powerful Has Got To Be A Sith Lord, Surely?

Given the gravitas of The Master’s appearance and details in previous episodes, The Master is likely a Sith Lord. In both the modern Star Wars canon and the original Legends continuity, Sith are not the only ones to use red-bladed lightsabers. Some members of the Knights of Ren and several notable unaffiliated fallen Jedi use such weapons, yet the red-bladed lightsaber is the signature weapon of the Sith Lords. Even more significantly, The Master’s agent Qimir referenced the opening line of the Sith Code in The Acolyte episode 2, suggesting a strong link.

If The Master is indeed a Sith Lord, the Jedi must not reveal his existence to the rest of the Jedi Order, otherwise, The Acolyte would contradict the events of the prequel trilogy. Given The Master’s weapon and the sheer power he unleashed on the Jedi, many or all of the contingent of Jedi will likely perish to preserve the Sith Order’s secrecy. After a truly chilling introduction, this probable Sith may continue to shock viewers in the next episode of The Acolyte.

The Acolyte

The Acolyte is a television 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 crimes – all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.

Cast

Dafne Keen , Lee Jung-jae , Amandla Stenberg , Jodie Turner-Smith , Joonas Suotamo , Carrie-Anne Moss , Margarita Levieva , Charlie Barnett , Dean-Charles Chapman

Showrunner

Leslye Headland