Thomas Storai 
“The Acolyte keeps us guessing where the story is headed while slowly peeling back the layers of its mystery. This is a compelling character-driven episode.”
Last week gave us the most intense and action-packed episode of Star Wars television. The Acolyte clearly didn’t hold back and went all in. After such an episode, what happens now?
THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS BEWARE
A FAMILIAR PLACE?
Since Mae made a switch at the end of episode 5, Osha is left with Qimir/The Stranger. On an island that seems familiar. Surprisingly, the planet’s name indicates an unknown planet. A water planet with rocky islands, this reminds me of Ahch-To from the Sequel Trilogy. We have seen in The Last Jedi that this planet has a place of darkness. It could be that.
However, this series has been including several elements from Legends, so it could be Bal’demnic instead. In Legends, Bal’demnic was an ocean planet with rocky tropical islands and deposits of cortosis. Here, we see that this planet has cortosis, too. It honestly could go either way. Depending on which it is, it would have a different significance—a Sith planet with a Dark Side user there or a Jedi planet with a Dark Side user there. I’m intrigued to learn which planet it is.
SEDUCED BY THE DARK SIDE
This episode follows three storylines – Osha with Qimir, Sol with Mae, and Vernestra investigating what happened on Khofar. Each of them are interesting in their way. After the big action, this episode is character-driven, slowly peeling back the layers of its mystery. Even though, you can guess some things, you never really know where the story is headed. It’s fun to theorize every week. A compelling mystery does exactly that, it keeps us guessing. This episode tells us a lot through the conversations between the characters.
After what happened, Osha is distrustful of Qimir, and she should be. But, she is stuck with him for now, so she can’t avoid listening to what he says. And what he has to say intrigues her. This is going in the direction that Qimir wants – getting the opportunity to find a new acolyte. Without noticing it, Osha is seduced by the dark side. Qimir is quite convincing. This is a game of seduction not just by the dark side but by Qimir himself. Indeed, there is an undeniable sexual tension rising between the two. Having a shirtless Qimir also adds to that. They knew exactly what they were doing when they hired a hot man like Manny Jacinto, who is also a brilliant actor with an incredible range.
A FORMER JEDI?
Moreover, Qimir loves playing with words. He knows what to say and how to say it. In this episode, we learn that he was apparently a Jedi once but he lost everything. He has a scar on his back that could have been made by a whip. And we know someone who has such a weapon. Yes, it’s Master Vernestra. Conveniently, Vernestra uses her light-whip on Khofar. Could she have been the one inflicting those scars? If so, she might have been his master when he was a Jedi. That would be an exciting turn of events. It is likely headed towards this way. Plus, Qimir says he was a Jedi a long time ago, who knows how old he is? Vernestra has been there for more than a hundred years, timewise it works! All the clues are there.
In addition, there is something else to think about. Qimir did ask Sol in episode 5 “don’t you remember me?” Yes, he still had the mask at that time. He could have made fun of him and it was simply a reference to Sol’s meeting in episode 2. Though, what if they did know each other from when Qimir was a Jedi. What if, they trained together at the Jedi Temple as kids? It’s quite possible! It would be a nice parallel with Osha and Mae, adding another layer of complex relationships.
TORMENTED
After losing his entire team, Sol is definitely distraught. It is not the Sol we have seen in the previous episodes. He is different, he is broken, and more importantly, he questions himself about his failures. His failure to have sensed Qimir is The Stranger, his failure on Brendok, his failure on Khofar. The humanity of this character is part of why he is so endearing to me. Undoubtedly, Lee Jung-jae delivers a tour de force performance. The expressions on his face speak a thousand words, even more so than what he actually says, just raw emotions.
I have a bad feeling about where this is going for Sol. There is a darkness within him, his regrets consume him. What happens next for him depends on how Mae reacts to the truth about Brendok, what he really did. Her reaction will help him stay in the light or fall into darkness. Sol’s final scene in episode 6 genuinely scares me. It’s the way he speaks, the expression on his face. He is not doing well. The question is how dark his secret is. Furthermore, the ship jumps to hyperspace. We would assume that Sol is going back to Coruscant to face the High Council and reveal the whole truth like he said. Nothing would make me more happy than seeing the High Council. But what if the ship isn’t heading there? What if Sol is going back to Brendok to face himself?
SWITCHING PLACES
Mae being away from Qimir allows her to think about herself and about Osha. Even though she starts the episode wanting to kill Sol, she has doubts. In the same way, Osha doubts Qimir and the Dark Side. They didn’t just switch places literally but figuratively, too. While the Dark Side seduces Osha, Mae is drifting away. She sees what Osha had and how she was, making her think about herself and who she wants to be. It is so interesting to see the characters questioning themself. I love character-driven stories.
On top of that, Mae pretending to be Osha doesn’t last long; it ends with this episode. That’s good because the story can now focus on what relationship Sol and Mae will build. It is going to be another long week of waiting for the next episode. This is proof that The Acolyte is a great series. You want to know what happens next!
WHAT HAPPENED?
Finally, Master Vernestra’s storyline is just as exciting! Yes, we, as the audience, know what happened, but Vernestra doesn’t, so I find it fascinating to see her investigating and reaching some conclusions that may or may not be true. Her first scene further establishes that the Jedi Order is not in the best position right now with the Senate.
I already mentioned it in my review of the first four episodes but it doesn’t hurt to repeat things – I love how this series has been bringing species from the Sequels and Prequels all together. The influences from both eras are felt all throughout The Acolyte. We usually see influences from the Original Trilogy, so this is a much-needed change. Selkaths made their first debut in Canon with The Clone Wars, but it’s the first time they have appeared in live-action with The Acolyte. In this episode, we get another look at the Selkath from the Jedi Temple. Little things like that made me smile, just like seeing an Abednedo senator.
Going back to Vernestra and that scene with the senator, it’s there on purpose. This may inform her choices on what to do regarding the murders on Khofar. A whole team of Jedi being murdered by another Force user wouldn’t present the Jedi Order in a good light for the Senate. The padawan with her poses the theory that Sol might have been responsible. A theory that Vernestra dismisses, but she sure thinks about it. She has a lot on her mind. Her line “something to tip the scales” comes back. She said it to Sol, and she reflects on it again. Does she really think Sol may have done it? Or does this line remind her of a former student, a man named Qimir?
VERDICT
The Acolyte keeps us guessing where the story is headed while slowly peeling back the layers of its mystery. This is a compelling character-driven episode, my favorite one after last week’s episode.
The Acolyte is now streaming on Disney Plus. Episodes drop weekly on Tuesday night in the United States and Wednesday morning in Europe and Asia.
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Collectables and Anime Editor for Future Of The Force.
Star Wars expert and Japan connoisseur.
