word of advice ! This article arrest SPOILERS forThe Acolyteepisode 8 .

Summary

The Acolytehas wasted its fair portion of interesting characters by belt down them off , but there ’s one character who did n’t even cash in one’s chips that I ca n’t think theStar Warsshow did n’t employ more . Since it was rig inthe High Republic era , The Acolytegot a chance to introduce a whole new cast of characters of characters into theStar Warsgalaxy . Unfortunately , not allthe characters ofThe Acolytewere used as much as they could have been . WhileThe Acolytehas more than a few underutilized character , one in particular really frustrated me because of how good they could have been .

The Acolyteepisode 5 and the Jedi massacre on Khofar proved that the show was n’t afraid to kill off characters with a raft of potency . BothJecki Lonand Yord Fandar , characters with very prominent roles in the first one-half of the serial , saw their story cut shortly on Khofar . Other characters as well , likeMaster IndaraandMaster Kelnacca , break down before they could do much , though they did get to appear in flashbacks . One character , however , was n’t hold back because he kick the bucket , but because he was only bring in in the finish ofThe Acolyte , which form his wasted potential even sorry .

Here ’s everything you ask to follow along with Star Wars : The Acolyte , from references and trifle to independent takeaway from each novel episode .

Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen) Vernestra Rwoh (Rebecca Henderson) and Yord Fandar (Charlie Barnett) in The Acolyte on a purple background

Custom image by Sean Morrison

David Harewood’s Senator Rayencourt Was An Extremely Interesting Character

One of the most interesting character inThe Acolytewas David Harewood ’s Senator Rayencourt , the senator who wanted the Jedi Order to be more transparent and have more accountability . Rayencourt ascertain right through Vernestra Rwoh and her secrecy , verbally tore her to shreds , and predicted the future more accurately than any Force user has in the history ofStar Wars . Harewood ’s exceptional performing tied it all together , too , and sour a character who could have derive across as a jerk into one who was profoundly passionate and distressed about a legitimate problem . He immediately won me over , partially because of how unique he is as a senator .

For the most part , the member of the Galactic Senate are render in one of two ways inStar Wars . One option is to show them as the shine examples of the high paragon , like Padmé Amidala , Lina Soh , Bail Organa , Orlen Mollo , or Mon Mothma . The other , more common , characterisation of senator is as work-shy , corrupt , and vile political leader who only care about themselves . Rayencourt , however , did n’t fit into either of those category . He was n’t a starry - eyed idealist , but he also was n’t corrupt . Rayencourt was a realist , and I found him much more interesting thanStar Wars ' distinctive political fictitious character .

All the accusations Rayencourt made of the Jedi were exact , and all the changes he want to follow through were reasonable and would have been helpful if they were adopted .

Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) and Mae Aniseya (Amandla Stenberg) in The Acolyte

Image via Disney+

Rayencourt also shew he was a fascinating fictional character because he was correct . All the accusations Rayencourt made of the Jedi were accurate , and all the changes he wanted to follow up were reasonable and would have been helpful if they were adopted . Rayencourt criticized the Jedi , and though he come on a bit strong , the Jedi were more than deserve of criticism . If Vernestra or any of the Jedi had actually listened to the points Rayencourt made , they could have invalidate so many problems , and potentially even the fall of the Order . He was a beguile part of reason , but he was sternly underutilized .

Introducing Senator Rayencourt In The Acolyte’s Finale Was A Mistake

Though Rayencourt ’s introduction was incredibly effective and cool , it only happened in the finish ofThe Acolyte . The timing of his institution limited how much of an gist he could have , as the season ended shortly after . Introducing Rayencourt in the finale also steal some of the attention he deserved . The close ofThe Acolytewas the culmination of so many different story , and the conflict between already established characters take up precedent . There just was n’t enough time for a young character to be put in efficaciously , and it feels odd thatThe Acolytechose that present moment to introduce him .

The Acolyte sequence 8 wraps up season 1 of the High Republic show by put the shadower of the dark side , and Darth Vader , over the Jedi Order .

I honestly have no idea whyThe Acolytedidn’t bring out Senator Rayencourt in the beginning and use him more . The only reason I can call up of is that he ’ll have a larger function inThe Acolyteseason 2and the show was relieve him for the future . That still feel like a misapprehension to me , though , sinceThe Acolyteseason 2 still has n’t been confirmed , and there ’s no guaranty Rayencourt will ever have another probability to make an appearance . It seems like a waste of a great role and an even better actor , particularly consider what Rayencourt could have done for the plot ofThe Acolyteseason 1 .

David Harewood as Senator Rayencourt in The Acolyte episode 8

Senator Rayencourt Could Have Made Vernestra Rwoh’s Story Better

Vernestra Rwoh and her coverup were major part ofThe Acolyteseason 1 , but they were n’t done very well . Vern note that she did n’t want the Senate to know about the slaying probe , and she mistily referenced that she sensed it was too important to get bogged down in politics , but those reasons never felt fully convincing to me . On top of that , Vern ’s role changed dramatically in the closing curtain ofThe Acolyte , and her decision to ensnare Sol and hide the Sith ’s getting even did n’t fit with her past . Leslye Headland explained why Vern changedso much , butThe Acolyteshould have given that explanation itself .

A prodigy among the Jedi of the High Republic , Vernestra " Vern " Rwoh was one of the youngest Jedi ever to achieve the rank of Knight . She serve at a sentence of crisis for the Republic , battling on the front crinkle against the Nihil , the Nameless , and the Drengir , and proving herself wise beyond her years . Vern will appear in alive - action in The Acolyte , set over a hundred years after she became a Master , at the tail final stage of the High Republic Era .

The most thwarting part of Senator Rayencourt ’s lowly part is that he would have been the complete way to make Vernestra ’s story more compelling . IfThe Acolytehad used Rayencourt more and made him a constant source of stress for Vern , her confederacy would have made so much more common sense . With pressure from Rayencourt , her sudden alteration in character would or else be a gradual decline as she have more and more catch up in her own mistakes and had to continually reduplicate down . That not only would have explained Vernestra ’s confederacy , it would have added much - call for suspense and astuteness to her tarradiddle .

Senator Rayencourt (David Harewood) questions Master Vernestra about the deaths of the Jedi Masters in The Acolyte season 1 episode 8

Image via Disney+

The Acolyte Could Have Done So Much More With Senator Rayencourt

Rayencourt could have made Vernestra ’s history better , but he also had so much more potential than even just that . If he had been introduce to begin with , The Acolytecould have explored any number of stories for Rayencourt . For example : Rayencourt would have been the perfect way to bring the Galactic Senate ’s politics intoThe Acolyte . By focalize on Rayencourt , The Acolytecould have explore the transition between the lofty apotheosis of the High Republic and the deep - rooted subversion of the prequels . With Rayencourt , The Acolytecould have had an entire political thriller subplot that filled in a massive hole inStar Warscanon , but it missed that opportunity .

In a elbow room , Rayencourt is emblematical of The Acolyte as a whole : he was one of the show ’s intriguing element that it only did n’t fully capitalize on .

Rayencourt would have not only single - handedly givenThe Acolytea very meaty moment in astronomical politics to jaw on , he also could have solved the problem ofThe Acolyte ’s duration . The eight episodes inThe Acolyteseason 1 averaged about 40 minutes per instalment , including about five minutes of credits per sequence . Rayencourt was the perfect way to add some valuable runtime and context to each episode ofThe Acolytein a way of life that did n’t feel like filler . Rayencourt ’s subplot would have been much less expensive thanThe Acolyte ’s lightsaber duel , and if it was done right , I would have institute it just as piquant .

A blurred poster for The Acolyte behind an image of Star Wars' Darth Vader

While The Acolyte get plenty of undeserved repercussion before it even premiered , here are 10 lawful issue with the show — that are n’t " wokeness . "

The Acolytewasted several character , but Rayencourt suffer me the most . With Jecki and Yord , there was at least a payoff for their short amount of sieve clip : their death helped giveThe Acolytehigher stake . economize Rayencourt for the last sequence , though , did n’t accomplish anything , and it closed the door to so many great opportunities . In a way , Rayencourt is symbolic ofThe Acolyteas a whole : he was one of the show ’s intriguing chemical element that it simply did n’t in full capitalise on . I sincerely desire that David Harewood ’s Senator Rayencourt set out a much bigger role inThe Acolyteseason 2 .

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The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the remainder of the High Republic Era , where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the elevation of their influence . This sci - fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all precede to dark erupting from beneath the Earth’s surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic .

Star Wars the High Republic Vernestra Rwoh Wielding a Blue Lightsaber

A prodigy among the Jedi of the High Republic, Vernestra “Vern” Rwoh was one of the youngest Jedi ever to achieve the rank of Knight. She served at a time of crisis for the Republic, battling on the front lines against the Nihil, the Nameless, and the Drengir, and proving herself wise beyond her years. Vern will appear in live-action in The Acolyte, set over a hundred years after she became a Master, at the tail end of the High Republic Era.

Mother Aniseya to the left, Jedi Master Indara in the middle, and Mae to the right in a combined image from The Acolyte

The Acolyte Poster Showing Jedi Order, Mae, and a Sith Lord Holding Lightsabers

The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.

Headshot Of Amandla Stenberg In The Premiere Of Disney+ Series Star Wars: The Acolyte

The Acolyte

Star Wars