Summary
StarWarshas a great opportunity to adapt an iconic Legends story withThe Acolyteseason 2. As seen inThe Acolyte’sfinale, Darth Plagueis made his first on-screen debut. Although the Sith Lord’s appearance was brief, it does tease that elements of his legacy that are currently considered non-canonical could become part of the officialStar Warscanon once more.
The dark Sith master who trained Darth Sidious, Darth Plagueis was first referenced inRevenge of the Sith. Known as"Darth Plagueis the Wise", Palpatine shares with Anakin Skywalker how Plagueis had great powers in the dark side including the ability to create life via the Force and to prevent the ones he loved from dying. However, Plagueis was ultimately killed in his sleep by Palpatine himself. However,there’s so much more about Plagueis' history that was later revealed in Legends, andThe Acolyteseason 2 could finally be howStar Warsmakes it canon again.
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This One Star Wars Book Has Always “Felt” Like Canon
Some Elements Are Still Canonical (But Not All)
Released in January of 2012, James Luceno’s novelDarth Plagueiswas one of the lastStar Warsbooks to have been published before Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm and the subsequent continuity purge of theStar Warscanon and the Expanded Universe, rendering anything that wasn’t a movie or show under the non-canon banner now known as Legends.While this included theDarth Plaguenovel, many still consider the book part of the canon, especially with reports that George Lucas himself consulted on the story with Luceno.
Likewise, Luceno went on to reference and integrate elements fromPlagueisinto his future novelTarkin, which did become part of the newStar Warscanon. This includes elements that Palpatine still owned 11-4D during the reign of the Galactic Empire, the droid that was once his master’s and made its debut in thePlagueisnovel.So many of the core elements such as Plagueis' “Grand Design” and his activities both before and during the beginning of the Skywalker saga have officially remained non-canon. However, that could soon change following the Sith Lord’s new appearance inThe Acolyte.
The Acolyte Season 2 Is The Perfect Chance To Make It So
Bringing Plagueis' Legacy Back To The Official Canon
While there would likely need to be some tweaks and adjustments made,theDarth Plagueisnovel could easily be used as core inspiration when and if the Sith Lord’s history is adapted forThe Acolyteseason 2. Likewise,Plagueis being revealed as an alien Muunin the first season’s finale is a good sign, one that provesAcolyteshowrunner Leslye Headland’s respect and love of Legends, seeing as how the Sith’s species was first established in Luceno’s book. Hopefully, more elements of Plagueis' past and how he continued the Sith Imperative ahead ofThe Phantom Menacewill be revealed in the near future.
All episodes ofThe Acolyteare now streaming 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.
