The Shadow Of Darth Vader Descends In The High Republic Era

Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Acolyte season 1.

The Acolyte season 1’s ending wrapped up lingering mysteries, raised new ones, and left the shadow of Darth Vader and the dark side looming over the High Republic Era. After The Acolyte episode 7’s ending answered exactly what happened on Brendok, eyes immediately turned to the season finale. The show needed to wrap up the destinies of Osha and Mae, explain more about Qimir’s motivations and his ties to the wider Sith organization, conclude the tragic story of Master Sol, and explain Vernestra Rwoh’s connections to the entire ordeal.

As such, The Acolyte‘s main cast of characters was front and center in season 1’s finale. The Acolyte episode 8 saw parties return to the fateful planet of Brendok once and for all, leading to massive revelations, character changes, and tantalizing teases for potential future seasons of The Acolyte. Through various elements, The Acolyte took one step away from the High Republic to the era of the prequel trilogy as Darth Vader’s foreboding future lingers over proceedings, aided by the shadow of the dark side.

Master Sol’s Example Proves The Senator Right About The Jedi

The Tragedy Of Jedi Master Sol Proves The Jedi Order’s Shortcomings

In earlier episodes of The Acolyte, Vernestra Rwoh was shown keeping a Senator named Rayencourt at bay. Rayencourt wanted to initiate an external review of the Jedi by the Senate, before finally appearing midway through The Acolyte episode 8. Vernestra Rwoh speaks to Rayencourt, with the Senator continuing to call for said external review now that the two organizations are working closer together. Rayencourt tells Verns that he does not trust the Jedi and wants to see what – or more party, who – they fight for if not solely themselves.

Vernestra insists Rayencourt is incorrect, but The Acolyte episode 8’s ending involving Master Sol proves otherwise. After Sol’s untimely death at the hands of Osha, Vernestra solely blames him for the murders of Indara, Torbin, and Kelnacca rather than bringing Mae to justice. Sol is used as a scapegoat, absolving the wider Jedi Order of their involvement in the events of The Acolyte, with the Senate being told Sol’s own selfish actions caused these problems. Unfortunately, Sol’s late example proves Senator Rayencourt may have had a point in that the Jedi sometimes do not know what is best for the galaxy.

Osha, The Failed Jedi, Becomes A Sith With Darth Vader’s Signature Power

A Common Acolyte Theory Comes True Thanks To Osha’s Dark Turn

Since The Acolyte episode 6, a common theory has been that Osha and Mae would switch places; Mae would come to see the Jedi in a different light while Osha would turn to the darkness and join Qimir. In The Acolyte episode 8’s finale, this came to pass. Osha and Mae confront one another on Brendok. This allows Mae to tell Osha that Sol killed Aniseya, with Osha’s anger overflowing as a result. Osha attacks Mae and their fight makes its way to the courtyard where Sol engages Qimir.

Mae manages to get Sol to confess to killing Aniseya within earshot of Osha. This causes the latter to fully turn against her former training and embrace the anger, fear, and guilt that caused her to fail as a Jedi. In her rage, Osha begins using the Force to choke Sol. The Force choke is a move that has become synonymous with Darth Vader, drawing intentional connections between the iconic Star Wars villain and Osha. Eventually, Osha squeezes tighter until Sol dies, ending the life of one of The Acolyte‘s most compelling characters.

A Jedi Lightsaber Is “Bled” Into A Sith Blade

A Long-Standing Star Wars Question Is Answered

Concerning Star Wars’ lightsabers, a question many have held is how specifically Sith warriors manage to achieve their signature red color for the weapons. In Star Wars, lightsabers are powered by Kyber crystals. Younglings are taken to obtain Kyber crystals on the planet of Ilum, at least when the Order was at its most powerful. There, the aspiring Jedi obtain a crystal that usually turns blue, green, yellow, or one of the other Jedi lightsaber colors of Star Wars once connecting with its wielder.

However, one aspect of Kyber that has only been outlined in comics and novels is how they turn red for Sith warriors. Kyber crystals turning red is often described as “bleeding,” with dark-siders pouring all of their hatred, anger, and malice into it so that it turns the dark color. In The Acolyte, this takes place. As Osha is force-choking Sol with one hand, her other holds his lightsaber. As Osha delves deeper into her darkness, the Kyber crystal begins to bleed, turning it red and altering the once-meaningful blue of the Jedi to the dark red of the Sith.

The Stranger’s Surprising Tie To Vernestra Rwoh Revealed

What Connection To Vernestra Have To Qimir?

One of the other more common theories about The Acolyte has concerned Vernestra and Qimir. Given that Vernestra has been on the outside of The Acolyte‘s core story until the finale, many theorized that she has a connection to Qimir. This was supported by Vern’s comments that seemed to hint she knew more of what was happening. In The Acolyte episode 8, this theory is finally confirmed. As soon as Vern steps foot on Brendok, she senses Qimir through the Force, as he does her.

Vernestra then states “You! You’re alive.” before Qimir dons his Cortosis helmet once more, blocking out the Force. This makes it more clear than ever that Vernestra is aware of Qimir in some way, but exactly how the two are linked is not divulged in The Acolyte episode 8. Given that around 100 years separate the events of The Acolyte and Vernestra’s appearances in the High Republic books, their connection could be an original creation for the former. Whatever it is, The Acolyte season 2 will surely focus on the connection between the two.

The Jedi Cover Up The Truth Of What Happened To Master Sol

The Jedi Covered Sol’s Death Up Because Of The Acolyte’s Lingering Mysteries – & Their Own Mistakes

As alluded to, Sol’s death is covered up by Vernestra Rwoh, presumably under the guidance of the Jedi Council. Sol’s death would mean the Jedi would have to accept responsibility for what happened on Brendok, as well as the tragedies that befell Indara, Torbin, and Kelnacca. Similarly, accepting what happened would mean facing the reality that the Sith have tipped the scales in the galaxy toward the dark side. Vern knows this due to her unknown connection to Qimir, leading the Jedi to blame Sol and Sol alone for what transpired in The Acolyte season 1.

The Acolyte Season 2 Will Surely See Vernestra & Mae Hunt For Osha

The Connections Between Vern, Qimir, Mae, & Osha Will Likely Drive Season 2

Where the potential story of The Acolyte season 2 is concerned, it will likely center on Vern, Mae, Osha, and Qimir. As of The Acolyte season 1’s ending, Vern and Mae are seemingly on the same side. The latter has had her memories of Osha and Qimir removed, with Vern explaining everything she has forgotten. With Vern knowing Qimir in some way and Mae likely wanting to reconnect with her forgotten sister, The Acolyte season 2 has a clear story to follow.

The Acolyte’s Two Big Cameos Show Both the Light & The Dark

The Light & Dark Sides Come To Play In The Acolyte’s Surprise Inclusions

Undoubtedly the biggest talking point of The Acolyte season 1’s finale will be two major Star Wars cameos. Midway through the episode, as Qimir and Osha are shown leaving their mysterious planet to intercept Mae and Sol, a robed figure is shown watching them leave. This figure is none other than Star Wars’ Darth Plagueis, the Sith Master of Emperor Palpatine. Plagueis’ bony fingers, long face, and piercing yellow eyes are shown as Mae and Qimir leave, truly hanging the shadow of the dark side of the show.

Related

The Acolyte Finale Reveals Its Sith Master: [SPOILER] Explained

The Acolyte finale reveals a major Sith Lord from the established canon, though his ultimate role in the series’ ongoing plot is not yet known.

On the opposite side of The Acolyte‘s good and evil spectrum is the cameo in the show’s final shot: Master Yoda. After Vernestra Rwoh attempts to cover up the Jedi Order’s misdeeds, she enters a room and apologizes for disturbing Yoda, insisting that they need to talk. The camera pans down to reveal the back of Yoda’s head, looking more akin to puppet Yoda than the CGI version of the prequels. This hints at The Acolyte‘s much broader story of light and dark, tying into the future stories of the Skywalker Saga.

The Acolyte’s True Connection To Darth Plagueis Is Still A Mystery

What Role Does Darth Plagueis Play Going Forward?

With Plagueis officially being shown in Star Wars canon for the first time in The Acolyte, the question of how he ties into the story looms larger than ever. Many assumed that Plagueis would be involved given The Acolyte‘s story about the Sith infiltrating the Jedi and using the Force to create life, but it was always how the mysterious Sith Lord would be used that was the more pressing matter. After The Acolyte episode 8, there are many possibilities. It could be the case that Darth Plagueis has simply been watching this entire time.

It is known that Plagueis was obsessed with trying to create life using the Miid-chlorians. Plagueis could have been aware that the witches of Brendok could achieve this, silently watching from the shadows to learn this power. Another possibility is that Plagueis is connected to Qimir, either as his Master or former Master. Conversely, Qimir may not even know Plagueis exists, and the latter wants the former dead as he is a Sith pretender. All of this is to say that Plageuis’ involvement in The Acolyte raises a host of possibilities that most Star Wars fans cannot wait to see capitalized on.

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

Amandla Stenberg , Lee Jung-jae , Joonas Suotamo , Charlie Barnett , Dafne Keen , Leah Brady , Manny Jacinto , Rebecca Henderson , Carrie-Anne Moss , Jodie Turner-Smith , Dean-Charles Chapman , Lauren Brady , Anthony J. Abraham , Thara Shöön , Danielle Xin Yao Waterman , Sienna Khiroya , Jeramiah Evans , Dan Milne , Thomas Coombes , Archie Singh Swali , Nick Court , Ed Kear , Jumayn Hunter , Scroobius Pip , Abigail Thorn , Margarita Levieva , Amy Tsang , Saskia Allen , Deborah Rosan , Tabitha Alege , Paul Bullion , Indra Ové , Derek Arnold , Lewis Young

Seasons

1

Writers

Leslye Headland , Charmaine De Grate , Kor Adana

Directors

Leslye Headland , Alex Garcia Lopez

Showrunner

Leslye Headland

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