WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for The Acolyte episode 7.
Summary
The Acolyteepisode 7 just doubled down on one of George Lucas’ most controversial Force ideas in all ofStar Wars. Even though George Lucas is beloved byStar Warsaudiences for the inception of a galaxy far, far away, that doesn’t mean he didn’t have missteps when it came to the franchise. For example, whenStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menacepremiered, many viewers hated the character of Jar Jar Binks, a character Lucas believed to be the heart of the movie because of Jar Jar’s comedic timing.
Jar Jar Binks isn’t the only misstep in theStar Warsfranchise made by Lucas, but as theStar Warsgalaxy has grown, other projects have begun to help legitimize or even fix issues in other titles. Shows likeStar Wars: The Bad BatchintroducedPalpatine’s Project Necromancermuch earlier than anyone thought, which gave more context and history to the events ofStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which takes place more than 45 years in the future. This same idea has continued inThe Acolyteepisode 7withmidi-chlorians.
Star Wars: The Acolyte Episode Guide - Cast Members, Biggest Takeaways & Easter Eggs
Here’s everything you need to follow along with Star Wars: The Acolyte, from references and trivia to main takeaways from each new episode.
George Lucas Introduced Midi-Chlorians In The Phantom Menace - But Even He Backed Down
The Science Behind the Force Didn’t Sit Well With Audiences
InThe Phantom Menace, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn famously introduced the concept of midi-chlorians, and how these microscopic organisms existed in all living things.If an individual had a particularly high concentration of midi-chlorians, it was an indication that the individual was Force-sensitive. It was an easy way for the Jedi to determine if a child should be brought to theJedi Templeto be trained or not. When this idea was introduced inThe Phantom Menace,many long-timeStar Warsviewers didn’t understand or like the concept.
In the originalStar Warstrilogy, the Force was mysterious and seemed like some kind of magic; however, the change that there was a scientific reason behind someone being able to use the Force felt like a sharp turn away from fantasy and into science-fiction. The backlash on the midi-chlorians, paired with an unclear storyline, meant that they were omitted from the final two prequel movies.Star Warsavoided discussing midi-chlorians for years, with the concept only coming back to the forefront ofStar Warsstories recentlyin titles likeThe Mandalorian,The Bad Batch, and most recently,The Acolyte.
The Acolyte Goes Where George Lucas Feared To Tread
Episode 7 Makes Them An Important Plot Point
This test also proves that the twins were created using a vergence in the Force.
The Acolyteepisode 7 was another flashback episode to the planet Brendok 16 years before the main events of the show. During this episode, Padawan Torbin takes samples oftwins Mae and Osha’s blood, testing their midi-chlorian count. It’s revealed thatboth Mae and Osha have high M-counts, making them highly Force-sensitive. This test also proves that the twins were created using a vergence in the Force. This discovery sets up the entire third act ofThe Acolyteepisode 7, where Torbin and Master Sol infiltrate thewitches of Brendok’s fortress.
If this discovery hadn’t been made, then the Jedi likely would’ve gone back to their mission of searching Brendok for a Force vergence and followed the Jedi High Council’s advice. Unfortunately, the rash decisions made by Torbin and Sol proved disastrous and led to the death of the coven of witches and forever altered the destiny of Mae and Osha. With only one episode left ofThe Acolyte, it will be interesting to see how else, or if, midi-chlorians will be a factor in the rest of the show.
New episodes ofThe Acolytepremiere on Tuesdays at 9 PM EST 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.
