Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Acolyte episode 7.
Summary
Master Sol made some terrible mistakes on Brendok inThe Acolyteepisode 7, but I’ll still defend him.Lee Jung-jae’s Master Solhas definitely been painted in a different light afterThe Acolyteepisode 7 revealedwhat really happened on Brendok. Sol initially seemed like the perfect Jedi, one who could feel their emotions without succumbing to them, and one who showed compassion in all situations.The Acolyteepisode 7 changed that, though, but I believe there’s still something worth defending about Sol.
The Acolyteepisode 7 revealed that the Jedi, including Sol, were much more responsible for the deaths ofthe Witches of Brendokthan they previously seemed. It presented the events ofThe Acolyteepisode 3 from a new perspective, and it revealed that Sol was hiding a very dark secret about Brendok. While Sol was certainly at fault for his role on Brendok - he killed Mother Aniseya and chose to save Osha instead of Mae - he’s not completely lost. Even with all the mistakes he made,The Acolyteepisode 7 also introduced quite a bit of moral grayness to Sol’s story, and I’m still willing to defend him.
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One of the most important things to consider when judging anyone, including Sol, is intent. No one denies that Sol made some serious mistakes on Brendok.He got too emotionally invested in Osha, he enabled Torbin’s mistakes, and he escalated the situation between the Jedi and the witches, which ultimately culminated in Sol stabbing and killing Mother Aniseya.The Acolyteepisode 7 was a tragedy of errors, but Sol’s role in it was exactly that: an error. All of his mistakes came out of a desire to do the right thing and protect the vulnerable, not because of malicious intent.
Sol was just the main focus of The Acolyte episode 7, and the main way it displayed that good intentions can often lead to terrible outcomes.
I think it’s also important to remember the situation Sol found himself in Brendok. He didn’t have all the information, and he had only a fraction of the context the audience did. The information Sol did have, while obviously incomplete, painted a fairly clear picture.Mae told him that “everyone must be sacrificed,” he saw Mother Aniseya seemingly attack her own children, and he watched her turn into a cloud of ominous black smoke that was clearly a dark side Force power. In a high stress situation like that, where a child’s life seemed to be on the line, I find Sol’s mistakes much more understandable.
Sol
Master Sol is a wise, highly respected, powerful Jedi Master, strong in the ways of the Force, who is going through emotional conflict.
Sol is essentially a distilled version of the messageThe Acolytewas trying to convey with Brendok. Everyone on the planet, from the twins to the witches to the Jedi, had their own idea of what was right, and everyone made drastic mistakes trying to achieve it. Sol was just the main focus ofThe Acolyteepisode 7, and the main way it displayed that good intentions can often lead to terrible outcomes.I believe Sol had nothing but good intentions, and I don’t think he should be condemned for making some - admittedly egregious - mistakes while trying to help others.
Sol Did Want To Tell The Truth Afterwards
Intent is a very important part of doling out judgment, but Sol still caused real, devastating harm to everyone on Brendok. He should have been punished for his role in them, and even he knew that.When the Jedi returned to their ship inThe Acolyteepisode 7, Sol wanted to turn himself in to the Jedi High Council and face the consequences of his actions. It was only because Indara told him how much that would devastate Osha that he kept his sins on Brendok secret. Sol wanted to set his errors right, and that makes it easier for me to forgive him.
Indara
Master Indara is a Jedi Master of great physical and mental skill. Little has been revealed of her role to date.
Sol made serious mistakes on Brendok, and though they may have been worse than most, they weren’t completely damning.At the end of the day, even though he made disastrous mistakes that cost several people their lives, I believe Sol is still fundamentally good. The proof of Sol’s morality lies in what he did after Brendok. He spent the next 16 years atoning for his sins. Sol robbed Osha of a mother, so he became a father figure to her and countless other younglings. He kept Brendok a secret for years even though he wanted to come clean, and he did it to protect Osha.
It’s clear as day that Sol was repentant for the mistakes he made on Brendok, and I think that counts for something. Redemption is an integral part ofStar Wars, and Sol could easily become the most recent example. He’s already proven that he wants to be redeemed, and he’s also shown that he has rededicated himself to the light since his moment of darkness.There’s also more good in Sol than there has been in other characters who’ve earned redemption, like Anakin Skywalker or Ben Solo. I think Sol at least deserves a chance to prove he’s worthy of forgiveness.
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While I’m still ready to defend Sol, he hasn’t completely earned redemption yet. What he does in the finale ofThe Acolyteseason 1 will truly seal his fate. Sol has to tell Osha the truth, and he has to earn her forgiveness in some way. If he can’t do that, if Sol can’t prove to the people he hurt that he’s worth forgiveness, then I won’t defend him anymore. But until the finale ofThe Acolyteis out, I’m willing to give Sol a chance to set the mistakes of his past right.
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.
