Summary
The Acolyteepisode 6 shocked audiences by doubling down onStar Wars’newest Sith being a heartthrob, making good on one key line fromA New Hope—and I couldn’t be more delighted.The Acolyteepisode 5was absolutely brutal; in fact, several ofepisode 5’s Jedi deathswere downright difficult to watch. However, the episode also revealed the true identity of the masked villain presumed to beStar Wars’next Sith Lord, sending the internet into a tizzy for an entirely different reason.
The masked figure, officially called the Stranger, was revealed to be Manny Jacinto’s previously quirky character, Qimir. After episode 5, there was no longer anything quirky about him; rather, he had become a terrifying, seemingly bloodthirsty murderer. Despite that change (or perhaps because of it), many viewers fell hard for the Sith, and that’s entirely by design.The Acolyteis taking one key line fromA New Hopequite literally, andit’s all to do with the impact Qimir is having not only on the audience but also on the show’s protagonist, Osha.
We All Thought Kylo Ren Was The Furthest Star Wars Would Go With Shirtless Sith Lords
The Last Jedi gave Kylo Ren a daring shirtless scene, but The Acolyte gave its villain an even more daring - and revealing - scene in episode 6.
We’re Finally Seeing Someone “Seduced By The Dark Side Of The Force”
InA New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi explained that"Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force.“Although that language was compelling enough at the time, as it implied (accurately) that the dark side is full of temptation, Obi-Wan obviously didn’t mean seduction in the conventional sense. However,The Acolytehas decided to adopt that definition, crafting a narrative in which a light side Force-user is literally seduced by a dark side Force-user.
The Acolytehas decided to adopt that definition, crafting a narrative in which a light side Force-user is literally seduced by a dark side Force-user.
In episode 5, the romantic tension between Osha and Qimir was there but subtle; in fact, it was difficult to tell whether audiences were reading too much into their interactions, particularly at the episode’s end when Qimir covered Osha with a robe and rubbed her arm. Thankfully,episode 6 made the answer crystal clearby having Qimir completely strip down in front of Osha and even tease her about not joining him. WhileStar Warshasn’t often been a franchise with sexual undertones (even including Anakin and Padmé’s relationship),The Acolyteisn’t shying away from exactly that.
Why Has It Taken Star Wars So Long To Tell This Story?!?
If anything, I’m shocked it’s takenStar Warsso long to take the dark side ‘seducing’ light side Force-users literally, but I’m delighted it’s happening now. For one thing,this take on the dark side makes complete sense. Sith and other dark side Force-users would of course weaponize anything in their arsenal to obtain the apprentice (or the acolyte) they seek. It follows, then, that literal seduction would be an effective strategy.
While, yes, Anakin clearly worked very hard to seduce Padmé inStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, that wasn’t about the dark side whatsoever. The closestStar Warshad come prior toThe Acolytewas Kylo Ren and Rey’s relationship in the sequel trilogy. Even now, though, the nature of their relationship remains highly debated. Osha and Qimir’s relationship couldn’t be further from that ambiguity, andThe Acolyte’sshowrunner Leslye Headland has already explicitly confirmed that things are headed in a romantic directionfor the two.
Star Warswill finally show what being ‘seduced’ by the dark side really means.
Thrillingly, this meansStar Warswill finally show what being ‘seduced’ by the dark side really means. Hopefully, this also means that Osha and Qimir’s relationship will follow a different path than Rey’s and Kylo Ren’s. While their bond was fascinating, in the end, it was Kylo Ren who turned. It would be so much more compelling ifThe Acolytereally took a leap and had Osha embrace the dark side, agreeing to join her love interest rather than turn him back to the light.
New episodes of The Acolyte release on Tuesdays at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST on Disney+.
The Acolyte
Cast
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.
