The Acolyte Recap: Inapt Pupils

As a longtime fan of Star Wars and a critic with a keen eye for detail, I have to say that this week’s episode of The Acolyte left me both intrigued and slightly frustrated. Now, let me tell you why.


The title of “The Acolyte” with its contrasting two-word label will resurface in the upcoming episode, as Mae and Osha are separated once more. In “Teach/Corrupt,” Mae assumes Osha’s disguise to gain access to Sol’s ship, while Osha is stranded on a desolate island of an unidentified planet with Qimir. Though I could ponder deeply about who’s truly learning and who’s truly being influenced, I believe the answer isn’t up for debate.

Qimir is doing his level best to corrupt Osha. And he’s doing a pretty good job, damn him.

In this week’s episode of “Night,” following last week’s excitement, the pace slows down significantly. This calmness effectively prepares the ground for the final two episodes of the season. I was utterly captivated by the prolonged lightsaber battles in “Night,” and I watched them a total of three times. However, I believe that “Teach/Corrupt” might be slightly superior, mainly because we have gained more insights into both main characters than their respective hosts do. Having spent ample time with Osha, we can ponder along with her as she evaluates Qimir’s arguments. As for Mae, even though she remains a mystery, we now comprehend the depth of meaning behind her every word to Sol.

The interactions between Sol and Mae carry an understated unease. It’s hinted early on that Sol may be aware of which sister he has rescued from Khofar. If this is true, the crucial moment will be when they both choose to stop feigning ignorance.

At first, Sol demonstrates trust in Mae (or in Osha) by allowing her to take control of the ship’s wheel and sharing his intention to confess all to the Jedi High Council. However, it is unclear if this confession is sincere as Mae becomes curious about the meaning of “everything.”

Mae’s disdain for the Jedi remains unsuppressed, leading her to make disparaging remarks towards Sol. She implies that he errs due to being influenced by what he desires to be true. Later, she expresses sympathy with Osha’s perspective, stating that the Jedi force trainees to sacrifice a significant part of themselves during their education. It is unclear whether Sol is aware of Mae’s criticisms or not, but eventually, he grows tired of her persistent Jedi bashing and shockingly silences her with a stun blaster. A Jedi Knight can tolerate a certain amount of criticism, but not endless derision.

In other parts of the galaxy, Qimir adopts an unusual approach to build trust. He grants Osha considerable freedom, allowing her to even board his spaceship whenever she pleases. However, there’s a catch – she must navigate through rough waters if she chooses to go with him immediately. Alternatively, they can spend time together while waiting for calmer seas.

Osha’s extended conversation with Qimir is engaging, yet leaves one yearning for more – a classic technique used by “The Acolyte”‘s creators, Leslye Headland and her team. They skillfully hint at the characters’ intriguing pasts without fully disclosing the details. During their talk, Qimir shares that he was once a Jedi trainee, bearing scars as evidence of a painful past. However, the nature of these events remains shrouded in mystery. Was it another Jedi who caused him harm? Qimir keeps this secret to himself. These unanswered questions are left hanging for potential revelations in future episodes – fingers crossed!

Currently, Qimir is working to help Osha reconsider her past interactions with the Jedi, offering a fresh perspective. According to Osha’s account, she spent some time learning from the Jedi but eventually left due to self-doubt. In contrast, Qimir believes that the Jedi manipulated her into believing there was something wrong with her because of her strong connection to the darker aspects of the Force. Qimir encourages Osha to disregard the Jedi’s labels and embrace her emotions, using them as fuel for personal growth.

Previously mentioned, Qimir exhibits a persuasive demeanor that goes beyond his physical attractiveness and charisma. Even during unusual circumstances like when Osha seizes his lightsaber while he’s bathing naked in the ocean, he manages to make light of Jedi principles, questioning why it’s acceptable to eliminate an adversary during intense combat but not in a more peaceful moment later on. His reasoning is subtly manipulative.

In simpler terms, it’s disconcerting that the portrayal of the Jedi Order in this episode makes them appear rather childish. On Coruscant, Vernestra is preoccupied with an upcoming senate review of the Jedi way of life when she learns that Sol’s crew on Khofar have been killed. She rushes to investigate and rules out Umbramoths as the culprits due to the presence of lightsaber wounds. One of her assistants suggests Master Sol could be a suspect, but Vernestra remains silent. While she may not believe this theory, momentarily considering it casts doubt on the Jedi’s devotion and ability to uphold their own teachings.

As a seasoned television critic with over a decade of experience, I’ve seen my fair share of twists and turns in various shows. From my perspective, the latest episode of “The Expanse” left me intrigued and eager for more. The way “Teach/Corrupt” ended was quite intriguing. On Sol’s ship, the subdued Mae was met with a surprising revelation from him – he’d been waiting 16 long years to have this conversation.

Regarding Osha, she had refused all of Qimir’s enticing offers to test his intriguing Sith equipment. However, her interest was piqued by his cortosis helmet, which he explained as a combination of defensive shield, disruptive tool, and sensory isolation device – similar to what Jedi used in various Star Wars tales to eliminate distractions and enhance their connection to the Force. Once Qimir exited the room, Osha couldn’t resist the urge. She donned the helmet, taking deep breaths that echoed ominously like Darth Vader’s.

It’s corruptin’ time!

Force Ghosts

• The Acolyte team likely anticipated widespread interest in Manny Jacinto following his captivating portrayal in “Night,” as they promptly included a scene of him removing his clothes and getting soaked in this week’s episode.

As someone who has been an avid fan of science fiction shows for decades, I can’t help but be thrilled by the latest twist in the storyline of “Pip and Bazil.” Last week’s episode left me on the edge of my seat with Bazil clutching what appeared to be a crucial piece of Pip. The tension was palpable as he hurriedly plugged the droid into a port on the ship, activating its systems to aid in their attack against Mae.

During an interview with Headland following the release of “Night,” she shared something that mildly took me by surprise. Initially, it was intended to keep the secret that “Qimir is Mae’s master” hidden until season two. In truth, Qimir (nicknamed “the Stranger” by the writers) wasn’t meant to be a significant presence in this season at all. I’m pleased they changed their minds and introduced the character sooner, even if I wished they had delved deeper into all the main characters’ backgrounds earlier on. With only two episodes left in season one, the show still seems to be in the setup phase. Yes, it’s an intriguing setup, but unfortunately, we haven’t fully engaged with the narrative yet.

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2024-07-22 18:31