Annlyel James 
After the intense season finale, Annlyel provides her insights and reflections on Leslye Headland’s The Acolyte.
To say that watching The Acolyte has been an emotional rollercoaster would be an understatement. From the first two episodes, it was obvious that I would enjoy this show far more than I expected. However, the fifth episode changed everything, making The Acolyte one of the most engaging stories in this universe in a long while.
After watching this fantastic series for seven weeks, my love for this franchise was rekindled. The nuances, complexity, exciting character development, and mystery enveloping it all left me floored and asking for more. Now that the finale has been released, ending the first chapter of Osha and Mae’s stories, I’ve gathered my thoughts about that mind-blowing finale. So, let’s dive into all of the fascinating outcomes of the series.
A Flawed Jedi
Ah, Master Sol. He was such a tragic and complex character. Lee Jung-Jae brought so much warmth to him in those first episodes, making him an early standout. But as the season continued, he perfectly encapsulated the broken man that Sol was. Riddled by guilt and regret, Sol became entirely unforgivable, hence why his untimely death at the hands of the person he loved most, Osha Aniseya, was both heartbreaking and understandable.
Jung-Jae’s nuanced performance made me feel a range of emotions while following his journey. I cheered whenever he displayed his skills as a powerful Jedi master, and I became angry whenever he used the same terrible story to justify his heinous actions on Brendok, which resulted in the death of Osha and Mae’s entire family.
Seeing Sol’s story, from beginning to end, was a stark reminder of why the Jedi had made rules against attachment. From the first moment he saw her, his love for Osha led to his undoing, and in doing so, he created another Dark Side user in Osha. It’s brilliant writing, and I think it’s one of the most vital elements of the series.
The Downfall of the Jedi
One of the other things I was excited to see this series tackle, especially in the finale, is the idea that the Jedi are not all good. Since the original trilogy, George Lucas established the Jedi as space wizards who, despite their goodness, also have their more cunning, calculating, and untrustworthy sides. Just think about what Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda did to Luke Skywalker. They told him he would become a Jedi when he killed Darth Vader. But they neglected to tell him that the man he would be killing was his father. That level of deception is mind-boggling when you think about it. Instead, Luke had to discover the truth from his father, which hurt him.
Would they have told him if he had managed to kill Vader, or would they have kept that secret to the end? It’s an interesting question to consider. Their deception could’ve potentially led Luke to join Vader and embrace the dark side, but it was Luke’s goodness that won out in the end. It was his attachment to his father that allowed his father to be saved from the Dark Side. Without that emotional tether, Palpatine would’ve killed Luke, and the trilogy would’ve had a much bleaker conclusion.
The Prequels
In the prequel trilogy, the Jedis’ indifference to Anakin and his need for validation, emotional support, and simple friendship led Anakin down a dark path. Part of the reason he began embracing the dark side in Attack of the Clones is that Obi-Wan always treated him like a padawan, but not as a brother, hence why he couldn’t approach him about his feelings for Padme or the nightmares he’d been having about his mother. That need to not form emotional attachments and the Jedi council’s constant dismissal of Anakin’s power led him to find love secretly. It made him increasingly distrustful of the Jedi, allowing Sidious to worm his way into his mind and turn him to the dark side.
So, we know the Jedi aren’t holier than thou, and this series once again iterated that beautifully. We see the Jedi cause the death of a Force cult of witches because they couldn’t stop interfering with the witches’ lives. We saw Jedi Master Vernestra forge a massive lie about Sol to cover up the truth of the horrible circumstances that led to his death and to prevent anyone from learning that her former pupil was now a Dark Side user. Finally, we see the Jedi as flawed individuals who make mistakes, which can sometimes be so horrible that a Galactic Empire can exist.
The Yin and Yang of Osha and Mae
I loved that this show was a dark side story. We’ve gotten so many stories about the good guys in this franchise, but The Acolyte felt fresh and exciting because, finally, we’re seeing the story of the Force through a different lens. And that always makes things more complex and fascinating.
I loved that the first five episodes painted Mae as the “villain” and Osha as the “hero,” but then it flipped. Suddenly, Mae was the calm one who found herself more drawn to the light, while Osha became emotional and drawn to the dark. Their switch was also brilliant because, as we learned in the series, they’re not twins. They’re the same person! And something that I’ve learned while watching Star Wars, especially since The Last Jedi, is the idea of the cosmic Force.
The cosmic Force is all about balance. “Darkness rises, and the light to meet it.” This quote is from Snoke in The Last Jedi, where he explains how Rey is Kylo’s equal in the Force but from the Light perspective. In that same sense, Osha and Mae are the literal embodiments of the Light and the Dark. The fact that their personalities change drastically at the end as a signifier of which side of the Force they would be drawn to was brilliantly executed. It was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the series.
That Top-Tier Lightsaber Duel
Again, I have to commend the choreographers and everyone who helped bring the action sequences in this series to life because they have been remarkable. I thought episodes five and seven offered some of the greatest lightsaber duels we’d ever seen. However, the finale still managed to up the ante with an epic duel that had so many incredible jaw-dropping moments. I have to rank it as the second-best lightsaber duel in the franchise, next to the iconic Maul/Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan fight in The Phantom Menace. There were hallway fights, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon levels of wire work, and the Force used in fascinating ways. The peak lightsaber choreography was just so satisfying to look at.
Sol and The Stranger (or Qimir) have undoubtedly been highlights of the season. Their lightsaber duel cemented them as some of the most compelling characters in the franchise.
The Two Cameos
Okay, I’ll be frank. I’m not usually a big fan of fan service in Star Wars unless it fits the story perfectly. While the fan service cameos in the finale felt very forced and designed to excite one for the second season, I found them necessary additions to the finale because of what they bring to the table.
For one, that Darth Plagueis cameo was shocking. I’ve always wanted to see Plagueis in live-action, and he was far scarier than I’d ever imagined, which is perfect because the Dark Side is supposed to be terrifying. If a second season is made, Plagueis will be the ideal antagonist for Osha and Qimir because, as we all know, the Sith have the Rule of Two. If claimed one of them as his padawan, one of them would have to betray the other. That level of soap-operatic drama is something this franchise desperately needs.
Also, the Yoda cameo was a nice touch because it almost began to make no sense that Yoda wouldn’t know what was happening. We don’t know what Vernestra would tell Yoda, but it is nice to think that the next season may feature the iconic Jedi more prominently in the story.
So, Romance is on the Horizon for Osha and Qimir?
It seemed apparent that the relationship between Osha and Qimir was romantic after Qimir decided to bathe and present himself fully naked to Osha within minutes of getting a chance to talk to her without the distraction of a Jedi he might need to kill. After that came a sequence of scenes that heavily implied that, if explored, the dynamic between Osha and Qimir would evolve into something sexual. But, as a constant pessimist, I had doubts that the series would go there narratively.
So, imagine my surprise when the final shot features Osha and Qimir holding hands and staring at the horizon bathed in the golden color of a beautiful sunrise. As someone who was a staunch Reylo until the tragedy that is The Rise of Skywalker, this was everything I could’ve asked for and more.
Romance, as I said in a previous post, is central to Star Wars, but it’s often explored in the same way over and over again. A good guy likes a good girl—the end. One of the reasons why I was drawn to Reylo was this infatuating idea of a Jedi falling for the trilogy’s villain. That angst, that complicated dynamic, would’ve been utterly enthralling to continue pursuing. Instead, it fell flat, resulting in a chaste kiss that left me feeling nothing.
Osha & Qimir
With Osha and Qimir, it quickly became apparent that they had all the makings of an iconic Star Wars couple. They both have the Force, emotional turmoil, and similar tragic relationships with the Jedi. They’ve chosen the Dark Side, which has excellent chemistry, and, for superficial reasons, they’re both beautiful. Put those ingredients together, and you have a story that’ll bring people to watch the series.
In all my years as a Star Wars fan on the internet, I’ve never seen such a greedy response to a fictional ship in this franchise, or maybe any franchise. The widespread outpour of excitement and thirst for these two characters to be romantically involved was powerful and exciting. Suddenly, Star Wars catered to a different subset of fans and casual viewers, making the final three weeks a blast to share with everyone. Even now, as I write this, fans are coming together to talk about the nuances of their relationship, where it could go, and how exciting things could get for the characters in a second season.
That’s why that final shot of them holding hands was so impactful. Because it confirmed that, yes, this wouldn’t be a platonic relationship. We would finally get that Reylo story we’d always wanted, and I couldn’t be happier.
Final Thoughts
The Acolyte wasn’t perfect, but it was the most enjoyable Star Wars I’ve seen in years. As a long-time enthusiast of the Jedi and the Sith, this series caters perfectly to my deep fascination with these iconic elements of the Star Wars universe. I remember watching The Knights of the Old Republic game trailers so many times when I was younger because I hungered for that level of epicness in a Star Wars movie. The Acolyte is reminiscent of those trailers from everything we’ve seen. It still baffles me that we would be so fortunate to get this creative with diverse and exciting Star Wars showing.
I want to see more bold stories like this. I want to see a second season so badly, and I need this continued level of diversity, both in front of and behind the camera, in this franchise. The Acolyte stands out because it exudes the passion and dedication poured into its creation. It’s a tale crafted by a devoted Star Wars fan for fellow franchise enthusiasts. As a faithful community member, I am thankful that The Acolyte exists.
All episodes of The Acolyte are streaming on Disney Plus now.
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Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
