“This week’s episode of The Acolyte finally unveils the truth on what happened on Brendok. This is a great episode giving us the point of view of the Jedi. It will make you rethink what you thought of these characters.”
Last week’s episode of The Acolyte was a character-driven one. And today, we are going back to Brendok 16 years into the past, it’s finally the day the truth is unveiled. What really happened there? Let’s find out!
THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS BEWARE
A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW
Ever since episode 3 premiered, we all wondered what really happened on Brendok, theorizing who was responsible. The past two episodes definitely gave us some clues with Sol acting like he was hiding a bigger secret than we thought. He was. This episode gives us the point of view of the Jedi on what happened on Brendok. This is so interesting to finally get the full picture, not just what happened but how it happened. It challenges you to rethink what you thought of these characters in the first place. The Jedi mess up in this episode and it has big consequences.
When we meet Indara in the series premiere, she appears as arrogant and not exactly kind. That made me think that she was likely responsible for the events on Brendok. However, this episode gives us another side of Indara. She is clearly the wisest of the group. She is also a kind master and a thoughtful leader. I love that Carrie-Anne Moss was able to play this character a bit longer and have another take on her. She delivers a staid performance. Coming out of this episode, I have more appreciation for this character, more than just she had an awesome fight scene in the series premiere.
Indara is the most reasonable character in her group. One can argue that she is at fault too and it is true in a way, but what she really does is damage control. There is no good way to do it. Indeed, she does the best she can with the situation she is given.
THE WOOKIEE
As for Kelnacca, he gets some much deserved action, even though, it’s not really him and he is possessed. Seeing a Jedi wookiee in action in live-action is pure awesomeness for me. This episode gives us some more great lightsaber action. It’s short but it’s really intense. Moreover, Kelnacca isn’t at fault here, the poor wookiee is possessed by the witches. But, that explains why we see the witches symbols in his lair in episode 4. This left a mark on him. This character may be my one regret of this series. We didn’t get to see him enough nor explore his character. It’s actually a shame. On a side note, for the people who have read the High Republic books, you will understand the mention of the Great Hyperspace Disaster.
THE ONES AT FAULT
I remember watching the first four episodes of The Acolyte and claiming that Sol was what a Jedi should be like Qui-Gon Jinn. There was a humanity within this character that made him so loveable. It turns out we were all wrong about him. In fact, Sol isn’t the good man we all thought he was. His so-called kindness was hiding his guilt over what happened on Brendok. Sol Patrol is over now, there is no defending him anymore.
This episode shows us Sol’s true face. This is a man who is selfish, thinking about what he wants first rather than acting like a Jedi. Throughout the episode, he pushes to get what he wants without taking into account what it would mean for the witches or what Indara tells him. His attachment to Osha is beyond measure but he doesn’t really care for what she wants. He only cares for what he wants for her. He is so egoist. And this selfishness leads him to commit an unforgivable act. He is actually the one to kill Mother Aniseya. That one I didn’t see it coming. Once again, Lee Jung-jae delivers a masterful performance. He truly deserves an Emmy award for his work.
In addition, Torbin is the other Jedi at fault in this episode. He is a reckless padawan who is driven by a desire of coming home rather than being on a mission. George Lucas created Jedi as flawed in the Prequels. They are supposed to be good guys but they make so many mistakes as they are consumed by their own hubris. Leslye Headland has understood this and skilfully created this new set of Jedi. She truly does justice to Lucas.
THE WITCHES
Furthermore, this episode clearly shows that Mae did nothing wrong. She is manipulated by Mother Koril to use her anger. Indeed, she is just a child who made a mistake. She starts the fire by accident, not because she wants it. Her wanting to kill the Jedi makes a lot more sense now. She knows the Jedi killed her mother. Her desire of revenge is totally understandable.
There is also more to who Mae and Osha are. I have said that I see them as the yin and yang, as if they were two different faces of the same coin. It could be true. Indeed, the Jedi discover the sisters have the same symbiote which means that they have the same consciousness split into two bodies. It would explain the visions Osha has of her sister. They were created articifically but the question remains how Mother Aniseya succeeded in doing so. That is a mystery I am intrigued to find out, if we do find out this season.
On top of that, I just want to mention the witches’ magic. The smoke is absolutely cool! It definitely reminds of Mother Talzin’s magic in The Clone Wars. She disappeared quite a few times with smoke. This makes me think that it is not the last we have seen of Mother Koril. Unlike, Mother Aniseya, we haven’t seen her body.
END CREDITS
Finally, make sure to stay during the end credits as the song the ‘Power of Two’ by Victoria Monét is finally used. It’s something I have always wanted to see in Star Wars. This is why I prefer the end credits of the Middle-Earth films, because they have songs. It adds something to the credits when you get a song rather than just the music score. The ‘Power of Two’ perfectly describes the story of Mae and Osha. It is a fitting song for this episode. It surely makes me wish we had more songs like this during Star Wars end credits.
VERDICT
This week’s episode of The Acolyte finally unveils the truth on what happened on Brendok. This is a great episode giving us the point of view of the Jedi. It will make you rethink what you thought of these characters.
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.
