The Acolyte
Summary
ace Wars’Skywalker Saga was think to conclude withStar Wars : The Rise of Skywalker , yetThe Acolytejust reinforced whatStar Warsmovies and TV showshave shown since the sequels : Star Warsdoesn’t roll in the hay what to do without the Skywalkers . It ’s on-key that some ofStar Wars’best movies , such asRogue One : A Star Wars Story , haven’t centered on anyone inthe Skywalker sept tree . However , its place intheStar Warstimelinemeans that those write up are still relevant ; after all , Darth Vader is still a major player in that movie .
The Skywalker Saga does n’t only refer to Anakin , Luke , and Leia , though . Rather , characters connected with the Skywalkers are also part of their Saga , blurring the lines of what is meant to be over inStar Wars . While many recentStar Warsshows have shown the issue with these bleary line , The Acolytejust made one decision that is perhaps the safe example of this persistentStar Warsproblem .
Although there was sight to do it about The Acolyte ’s finale , I had very mixed touch sensation about the instalment ; here are 5 things I jazz and 5 I hat .
The Acolyte Was Said To Have No Prequel Trilogy Cameos
The Acolytewas said to have only brand - young characters on - screen , which was a thrilling concept and seemed accurate for most of the show . In fact , The Acolyte’sshowrunner , Leslye Headland , specifically articulate that she was only pulling fromthe High Republic EraorStar WarsEU , so while some characters would be whole invented for the show , others who were unexampled to the screen would be conversant , particularly from the High Republic books . Initially , The Acolytewas genuine to its word .
The show focused on a few fundamental characters , admit twins Mae and Osha , a host of Jedi , and a new baddie make Qimir / the Stranger . Especially toward the commencement of the show , these introductions work well . Osha and Mae were compellingly mysterious , and while Mae had a harsher outside , Osha was more relatable and quickly became a likable character . The Jedi , too , were enough interesting , and Master Sol , Yord Fandar , and Jecki Lon work very well as a grouping , evocative even of Obi - Wan Kenobi , Anakin Skywalker , and Ahsoka Tano ’s constantly bickering triad without being too directly tie in to them .
Perhaps this is whyThe Acolyteunfortunately relied upon an old put-on that points to an inability forStar Warsto get go of the Skywalkers .
Custom Image by Nick Bayer
However , it was the baddie , Qimir , who really took the net by violent storm . While audiences did love Yord , some of them even creating a chemical group named ' the Yord Horde , ' nothing sent the cyberspace into more of a hysteria thanThe Acolyteepisode 5’sQimir reveal — of both his face and his biceps . However , every death inThe Acolytebegan to take its bell , and many of those well - liked character reference swiftly die off . Perhaps this is whyThe Acolyteunfortunately trust upon an old trick that direct to an inability forStar Warsto let go of the Skywalkers .
The Acolyte’s Cliffhanger Hinged On A Skywalker Saga Connection
While interviews with actors , directors , and showrunners can of path include misdirects , especially inStar Wars , a franchise in which so many things are kept secret , it was dissatisfactory to realize that Headland had enunciate there would be no prequel trilogy cameo inThe Acolyteonly for that to prove profoundly false . The first prequel trilogy cameo was Ki - Adi - Mundi , and viewer were already distressed with that , as it seemed to retcon the Jedi master ’s age ( although that is n’t really the case ) . However , The Acolyte’sfinale put in a cameo much more pregnant than Ki - Adi - Mundi ’s .
Audiences were have-to doe with from the very beginning that The Acolyte would break Star Wars canon and retcon the prequels , but that did n’t happen .
The final stab ofThe Acolyterevealed the back of Master Yoda ’s headas Vernestra Rwoh presumably fall to inform him of all that had transpire and seek his counselling on her cover - up . However , Yoda ’s cameo direct contradicted what Headland had enjoin throughout interviews for the show . In fact , at one point , Headland was asked whether Yoda would be in the show , and she enjoin he would n’t be becauseThe Acolytewas meant to focus on different story .
Image via Disney+
Yoda ’s cameo instantly contradicted what Headland had read throughout interviews for the show .
Again , this could have been a misdirect because interviewers were getting too close to the accuracy , and Yoda ’s cameo was meant to be a monolithic jolt at the end . The trouble with that is , the cameo actually fell a second flat . It did n’t equip with all that the show had been depart for regarding telling different stories and , frankly , it did n’t have the shock it was imply to have . If anything , the much more exciting cameo was Darth Plagueis ' creepy appearance on the unnamed Planet . Really , that would have been a much good , more original , and more chilling net injection .
However , this is on the dot the issue withStar Wars’inability to let go of the Skywalkers after the Skywalker Saga was meant to have concluded . Sure , Darth Plagueis still has some Skywalker Saga connection as well , as he was Palpatine ’s Sith master . His link to the prequel trilogy and the larger Skywalker story are quite different from Yoda ’s , though .
Image via Disney+
This is precisely the issue withStar Wars’inability to let go of the Skywalkers after the Skywalker Saga was meant to have concluded .
For one , Plagueis has never appeared inStar Warsmovies before , whereas Yoda was in all three Skywalker trilogy . For another , Master Yoda had direct striking with Anakin and Luke Skywalker , even take Luke himself . His appearance brings all of this backstory and context with it , while Darth Plagueis still feel like a brand - unexampled character , even as he share a connectedness with Palpatine and , therefore , the Skywalkers to a more distant extent . This regrettably seems by design , though ; because of this connection , Yoda is sure to get a reaction . basically , because of his Skywalker Saga history , Yoda is guaranteed excitement .
The Skywalker Saga Isn’t Over
In verity , the Master Yoda cameo at the death ofThe Acolytereally undersell the show ’s story . It feel almost as if the show did n’t trust itself to stomach on its own merit , so it called in a Skywalker Saga staple that would mechanically work as a cliffhanger . However , this wasn’tThe Acolyte’sonly reliance upon a Skywalker connexion , even if it was the most obvious . Rather , from very betimes on , Osha and Mae were already heavily linked to Anakin Skywalker throughthe select One prophecy .
WhileOsha and Mae are not the prefer One , their apportion backstories with Anakin were always going to bring him to heed , which was no doubt designed . Specifically , Osha and Mae were seemingly created by the Force and were confirmed to have no sire , just like Anakin . Moreover , a Force vergence played a role in their universe , again attach them to Anakin ’s origins . Yes , Star Warsis a franchise built on ' rhymes , ' or parallels , with other appearance and picture , but it was a bit disappointing that this story seemed so intimate .
The Acolyte has discover a marque - young Force vergence in the Star Wars galaxy , a rare nexus of exponent with ties to the singular Gemini Osha and Mae Aniseya .
The Acolyteis far from the onlyStar Warsshow incorporating the Skywalkers themselves and other major player from the Skywalker Saga , though . In fact , therein lies the trouble . While the Skywalker Saga is meant to be over inStar Wars , the Skywalkers keep appear in brand - newStar Warsshows . This makes it hard to identify what exactly the Skywalker Saga includes and what it have in mind for the saga to be ' over . '
Is Star Wars Really Done With The Skywalkers?
Recent shows have not only include cameos from Anakin and Luke Skywalker but also made them all important to the secret plan . Luke appear in bothThe MandalorianandThe Book of Boba Fett , playing a lively role in Grogu ’s Jedi path and return to Din Djarin . Anakin appeared inAhsoka , pushing Ahsoka to last embrace the identity of a Jedi inthe World Between Worldsand then even appearing as a Force ghost watching over her , paint a picture he might be in the upcomingAhsokaseason 2 . Hayden Christensen also reprised his role as Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader inObi - Wan Kenobi .
Recent shows have not only included cameo from Anakin and Luke Skywalker but also made them essential to the plot .
To be clear , these cameos and storyline are n’t a bad thing — quite the opposite word . It was absolutely delightful to see Hayden Christensen and Mark Hamill return to these roles , and it will be wonderful if they bear on to do so . These character and these actors are beloved in the franchise for a reason . The issue is n’t with them , it ’s withStar Wars’inconsistency . Star Warsis mean to be moving on from the Skywalkers , but is it really ?
After all , the Skywalker Saga ' ended ' with Rey borrow the name Skywalker , and she has an coming movie , muddy the waters again . It ’s possible the Skywalkers are always going to be central toStar Wars , and that is n’t an issue ; it only becomes an egress when the franchise ( or shows within the dealership ) insist the Skywalker Saga is n’t cardinal but bank upon it anyway . Star Warsjust needs to distinctly define what it think for the Skywalker Saga to be over , specially when it comes to stories associate to the Skywalker trilogies , asThe Acolytemade clear .
All episodes of The Acolyte are now stream on Disney+ .
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The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the last of the High Republic Era , where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the altitude of their influence . This sci - fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several offence - all leading to wickedness erupting from beneath the surface and groom to bring about the end of the High Republic .
