Summary
Star Wars: The Acolyte’s latest episode shares numerous parallels withStar Wars: The Last Jedi, making the show all the more interesting.The Acolytepromised to be aStar Warsstory unlike any other – it would dive into the Sith’s perspective, explore the final phase of theHigh Republic erain live-action for the first time, and revolve around a central mystery rather than galactic political turmoil. Six episodes in,The Acolytehas delivered on those promises, providing a compelling though sometimes frustrating newStar Warsstory with complex characters – characters with boundless (as yet untapped) potential.
InThe Acolyteepisode 6, “Teach / Corrupt,” Qimir (Manny Jacinto) and Osha (Amandla Stenberg) are in their own little world on an unknown planet. Something has shifted; Qimir’s ruthless brutality is nowhere to be found, while Osha’s curiosity has gotten the best of her. This new relationship is reminiscent of one ofStar Wars’ other most multifaceted relationships – the one established betweenKylo Ren and Reyin theStar Warssequel trilogy, specifically inThe Last Jedi.
Rian Johnson’sThe Last Jediexplored the Force’s role in a relationship between two people. At the beginning of the film, Rey and Kylo Ren are on opposite sides – Rey is adamant about her place with the Resistance, while Kylo wants to rise in the ranks of the First Order. As their bond deepens, however, they gravitate toward one another, and the line between the dark side and the light begins to blur.Upon watchingThe Acolyteepisode 6, it becomes clear that creator Leslye Headland was directly inspired byThe Last Jedi’s (contentious) themes, characters, and narrative.
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.
8Are Qimir And Osha On Ahch-To?
The landscape is very similar
The first parallel that stands out inThe Acolyteepisode 6 is the setting. Rough, rocky terrain, dreary greenery, an island surrounded by water, inhabited by adorable small creatures – anyone would be forgiven for thinking that Qimir was hiding away on Ahch-To, the same planet that Luke Skywalker disappeared to in theStar Warssequel trilogy. Though Headland confirmed in an exclusiveinterview withColliderthat the “Unknown Planet” isn’t supposed to be Ahch-To – cortosis ore can be mined there – the similarities are still striking.
Headland did confirm that the similarities were intentional, however. Ahch-To is where Kylo Ren and Rey’s bond in the Force and relationship begins to take shape inThe Last Jedi. Both planets are isolated and remote – Headland confirmed that it’s uncharted by the Jedi, hence the “unknown” title – so there are no distractions. All they have is each other. It’s an interesting place to start a relationship.
7Osha’s Outfit In Episode 6 Looks Very Familiar
Remember Rey’s costume in The Last Jedi?
The setting isn’t the only physical evidence of Headland’s respect forThe Last Jedi.After Osha’s sister Mae stole her Jedi-issued clothing to assume her twin’s identity, Osha was left to wear a simple gray outfit with cut-outs around the shoulder. This outfit is reminiscent of Rey’s costume inThe Last Jedi.Rey’s clothing shifted from cream and white to gray betweenStar Wars: The Force AwakensandThe Last Jedi, symbolizing her confused allegiance and her changing relationship with the Force.
Osha’s Jedi-issued outfit was white. Now that she’s with Qimir, and he tries to persuade her that she can still access the Force if she taps into the dark side,Osha’s outfit is gray, too, a physical representation of her current position within the story. She could still go either way – return to the light, or step fully into the dark.
6Qimir Follows In Kylo Ren’s Shirtless Footsteps
Qimir definitely did it on purpose
One particular sequence inThe Acolyteepisode 6 caused quite a stir on social media: Qimir’s leisurely swim. After Osha wakes up – he’s bandaged her by this point, possibly referencing the way Kylo and Rey healed each other in the sequel trilogy – she follows him as he heads out to bathe and watches as he strips down, using the moment to steal his lightsaber.
Of course, the scene inThe Last Jediin which Kylo and Rey’s bond in the Force is unwittingly accessed and Rey can see Kylo without his shirt was a turning point in their relationship, too. Though Qimir’s shirtless scenes are more suggestive than Kylo’s, both allude to the vulnerability of these complicated male characters.In a sense, Rey and Osha get to see them as they truly are. There are no masks – there’s nothing for them to hide behind.
5How Far Is Qimir Willing To Go For The “Power Of Two”?
How far was Kylo willing to go for the Force Dyad?
Qimir’s objective as a “Sith” is clear – he wants a pupil.Mae was unable to fulfill that role properly, so now he has his sights set on Osha. More importantly, however, Qimir wants the “Power of Two.”In this context, it’s likely referencing the bond and power of a Sith Master and their apprentice, but given the similarities between Qimir and Osha and Kylo and Rey, it’s hard to ignore the elephant in the room:the Force Dyad.
If there is a Force Dyad inThe Acolyte, like the one shared by Rey and Kylo Ren, it’s likely present in Osha and Mae. Qimir might not be able to harness that power for himself, but it’s clear he believes that two are better than one, and Osha might be exactly what he’s looking for. InThe Last Jedi,Kylo similarly believed that he and Rey could be incredibly powerful together, as evidenced by the fight in Snoke’s throne room.
4Qimir Helps Osha Unlock Her Connection To The Force
Kylo Ren helped Rey unlock her potential too
Though Osha insists that her connection to the Force has waned due to disuse, Qimir vehemently disagrees.He posits that all she needs to do is tap into the emotions that are traditionally suppressed by the Jedi– anger, fear, loss, and desire – and that the power of the dark side, and thus the power of the Force, will be hers for the taking. He evenlets Osha wear his Sith helmet, a sensory deprivation mask that will help her concentrate and commune with the Force.
InThe Last Jedi, Kylo Ren encourages Rey to see her potential power. As they continue to connect through the Force, Rey begins to tap into the dark side as well as the light, increasingly convinced that she’s strong enough to not only defeat the First Order but bring Kylo back to the light as well. In both cases, the female characters are encouraged to unlock their full (dark) potential by their male counterparts.
3Loneliness Is A Defining Theme In The Last Jedi And The Acolyte
They all need someone who sees them for who they really are
Osha has been alone for most of her life. The death of her coven, the “death” of her sister, and her decision to leave the Jedi Order left her feeling lost and untethered. It’s no wonder she became a meknek – she didn’t have anyone to settle down with. Qimir is similarly lonely – he longs for a pupil, someone to share his knowledge and his time with.Their loneliness bonds them, just as it did Rey and Kylo inThe Last Jedi.
Kylo (wrongly) believed that he had been abandoned by his family and that his legacy and his power were all that mattered. Rey had been waiting for the return of her parents for years; she yearned to belong somewhere, to something, to someone. Though her initial distrust of Kylo was completely warranted, they understood one another as well. Their shared loneliness and trauma brought them together again and again in bothThe Last JediandStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
2The Lure Of The Dark Side Is Hard To Ignore
Will Osha be able to resist the way Rey did?
The dark side is freedom – at least, that’s what Qimir and Kylo Ren believe.It is freedom from responsibility, freedom to be passionate, to desire, and be truly emotional. Though both Osha and Rey begin as firm believers in the light, they can see what it means to be tapped into the dark side. They’ve each had to hide their true selves for so long – Osha left the Jedi Order because she felt like she didn’t belong, and Rey’s sadness at being left behind has haunted her for years.
If the dark side is freedom, then it’s no wonder both Osha and Rey were tempted by it and by those who would encourage them to cross over the line. They’re not just lonely – they’re frustrated with themselves and their circumstances. The dark side may be able to set them free.
1Could This Be The Start Of A Dark Side Romance?
Are Osha and Qimir the franchise’s new Reylo?
The Last Jedidid a fantastic job of setting upStar Wars’ first-ever potential dark side romance. Rey almost crossed over to Kylo’s side. When he held out his hand to her and told her that she was someone to him, she hesitated. Of course, as she was the heroine, and this was a mainline Skywalker saga story, Rey was “trapped” by the conventions of the narrative. If anything, her decision to leave Kylo behind strengthened her relationship with the light – a relationship so strong that even Kylo later switched sides, with a little helping hand from his heroic family history.
The Acolyte, however, can finish whatThe Last Jedistarted.Neither Qimir nor Osha needs to be a hero. In fact, the story is much more interesting if Osha turns to the dark side and chooses a life with Qimir while Mae comes back to the light. The dark side is powered by passion and, as Qimir so eloquently put it, “desire.” They would be free to be who they really are with one another.Star Wars: The Acolytehas undoubtedly been influenced byStar Wars: The Last Jedi– now let’s see how much furtherThe Acolyteis willing to go.
New episodes ofThe Acolytepremiere Tuesdays exclusively on Disney+.
The Acolyte
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.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
Star Wars: The Last Jedi continues the saga as Rey hones her powers under the guidance of Luke Skywalker. As her abilities unsettle her mentor, the Resistance faces the First Order in a pivotal battle.
