As someone who grew up devouring every single piece of Star Wars content I could get my hands on, I approached The Acolyte with a mix of excitement and trepidation. Excitement because it was a new addition to the expanding Star Wars universe, and trepidation because I’ve been burned before by promising shows that didn’t quite live up to their potential.
Well, the fight scenes were good. And the ending? Pretty neat.
As a long-time fan of thought-provoking and suspenseful television shows, I have to admit that I was truly looking forward to the season finale of “The Acolyte.” The initial seven episodes had been building up the anticipation with their tantalizing hints of dark mysteries and significant revelations. However, as someone who’s been following the show since its inception, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed by the season’s climax.
Let’s go back to where we left off in the story before last week’s lengthy flashback. Osha was considering an offer from Qimir to learn a stronger form of the Force. At the same time, Mae was traveling with Sol, aiming to make him confront his past actions that led to the destruction of the sisters’ coven 16 years ago on Brendok. In this week’s episode, Osha, Qimir, Mae, and their students revisit Brendok for intense lightsaber battles and catch up on all the necessary information.
The two key points that get shared are:
The Jedi strongly suspected that Mae and Osha’s mothers and their entire group of witch practitioners were threatening, as they had acquired the ability to generate life through the power of the Force. More precisely, these witches gave birth to Mae and Osha, who are in fact a single person inhabiting two bodies.
An alternate expression could be: 2. In a sudden fit of fear, Sol unintentionally took Aniseya’s life. Following this tragic event, he collaborated with other Jedi to conceal the truth. During a heartfelt moment, Sol reveals his deep regret for his actions, yet remains convinced that he acted justly despite the long-term consequences.
Point one leaves everyone, including Osha and Mae, as well as Qimir, somewhat puzzled rather than agitated. They display more confusion than alarm. In contrast, point two comes as a heavy shock to Osha, disrupting her self-perception. She reacts angrily and seeks retribution, employing the Force to snuff out Sol’s breath and life in a manner reminiscent of Darth Vader.
In simpler terms, the conclusion of “The Acolyte’s” first book feels underdeveloped. While Sol’s death is significant as he is the main character and detective in the story, the resolution on Brendok occurs too swiftly following seven episodes of anticipation. The episode mainly focuses on setting up events with very few unexpected twists, leaving many pieces missing from an epic saga finale.
Here, there’s an abundance of routine dialogues as Sol, Mae, and Osha express their thoughts freely. Osha discloses her failure to complete Jedi training due to unresolved sorrow and rage over her lost sister and mothers. Sol concealed the truth about Brendok, requiring both sisters back on Coruscant for verification of a planetary anomaly. In the end, Mae’s mission is accomplished when Osha uses the Force to choke Sol, making it seem like she killed a Jedi without a weapon. The storyline connects several dots, some of which could have been addressed earlier in the series.
An intriguing turn of events in this finale doesn’t solely revolve around Sol’s demise, but rather the consequences that follow. Osha, fueled by her anger and the newfound strength it grants her, ultimately consents to join Qimir as an acolyte. On the other hand, Mae, now more focused on achieving justice than revenge, submits herself to the Jedi order with the plan to document Sol’s misdeeds. However, Qimir allows Mae to leave only after erasing her memories, which means she can’t reveal much upon returning to Coruscant.
These two women, naturally dressed in contrasting attires – one in black (Osha) and the other in white (Mae) – continue their journeys, each drawn toward the opposing realms of the Force. Moreover, as Osha wields her lightsaber, a legacy from Sol, its hue transforms from blue to red right before our eyes.
The visual signals are an impressive addition, I’ll give them that. This episode also includes thrilling moments that prevent it from being overly disappointing. For instance, Mae manages to flee Sol’s spaceship with Pip’s assistance, leading to a pulse-pounding chase through Saturn-like rings of pebbles. Moreover, it’s been some time since The Acolyte showcased the full Force as it does in this episode’s lightsaber battles. Qimir and Sol land softly on the ground then rise up again, mimicking the agile fighters in a wuxia film, and their strategies combine both weapon use and hand-to-hand combat. There’s an effective transition between Mae and Osha locking legs and kicking each other during their fight, and Qimir and Sol crossing their sabers.
In the ending, however, Vernestra on Coruscant, the anxious Jedi bureaucrat, encounters Senator Rayencrantz (David Harewood) who expresses concern that the galaxy has grown too reliant on the Jedi for resolution of disputes (“When one gazes up to idols, one tends to overlook the issues at hand,” Rayencrantz remarks). Facing an imminent Senate probe into the Jedi’s role, the revelation of Sol’s failure adds to their troubles.
Is it possible that Sol was behind the cover-up of the Jedi’s Force Witch scandal on Brendok? This is the suggestion Vernestra puts forth to those in power. She accuses Sol of betraying his colleagues and taking his own life when they threatened to reveal his wrongdoings. Moreover, she intends to track down a former student, assumedly Qimir, who allegedly turned to the dark side. To aid her in this pursuit, she requests assistance from a secluded Jedi Master, whose identity is unveiled at the season’s end as…
Yoda! (Or at least a Jedi from Yoda’s species. But it’s probably Yoda.)
If “The Acolyte” obtains a second season, it seems there will emerge fresh enigmas to unravel. For instance: What transpired between Vernestra and her former apprentice who has now turned to the dark side? What actions can Yoda take in response? Furthermore, can the show’s creators deliver an intricately layered narrative with continuous progression instead of being fixated on past events?
Force Ghosts
In my recent cinematic adventure, as Qimir and Osha prepared to depart from their planet, I couldn’t help but notice a peculiar figure lurking in the shadows of a nearby cave. This enigmatic being was swathed in a cloak, revealing only his pale skin and piercing reddish eyes – a striking resemblance to the ancient Sith Lords depicted in the iconic “Star Wars” saga.
When “Episode 8” of the Disney+ series was released, Disney didn’t provide a title other than “Episode 8,” but sources like Wikipedia labeled it as “The Acolyte.” It’s unclear why Disney kept the episode titles hidden each week until the last minute. Perhaps they believed knowing them in advance would be a spoiler. Maybe this is also why the character Qimir was referred to as “the Stranger” in the subtitles, despite no one on the show using that name. It seems there’s an excessive focus on keeping all secrets, even the minor ones.
As someone who has been a devoted fan of the Star Wars universe for decades, I was truly looking forward to the premiere of The Acolyte. Having enjoyed previous shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi, I was eagerly anticipating this new addition to the franchise. However, I must admit that I was left feeling somewhat underwhelmed by season one.
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2024-07-22 17:52