Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Acolyte episode 6.
Summary
The Acolyte’s Sith Lord, known as “Qimir,” had a few similarities to Kylo Ren in the show’s first five episodes, but the latest makes this setup more obvious. Many parallels between the two are so apparent thatit may no longer be logical to call Qimir a Sith Lord, despite his own words and the consensus of many viewers. Kylo Ren was not a Sith Lord in theStar Warssequel trilogy, even though he seemed like one on the surface, meaningThe Acolytecould be taking a similar approach.
Connecting Qimir to Kylo Ren inThe Acolytewould expandThe Acolyte’s storytelling potential while solving one of the show’s biggest continuity problems.The Jedi believed the Sith had been extinct for 1,000 yearsat the beginning of theStar Warsprequel trilogy, and it’s becoming more difficult to justify their not suspecting a Sith followingThe Acolyte’s Jedi massacre. However, Qimir’s being set up to connect with Kylo Ren instead of the Sith would help solve this problem while tyingThe Acolyteto both the prequel and sequel eras ofStar Wars.
Everything The Acolyte Just Revealed About Its New Sith Lord
The Acolyte episode 6 just revealed so much more about Star Wars' brand-new Sith, Qimir/the Stranger, adding to everything known about him so far.
Qimir’s Shirtless Scene Mirrors Kylo Ren’s
Osha and Rey catch their respective rivals at the most awkward moment possible
One of the first parallels inThe Acolyteepisode 6 isQimir and Kylo Ren both having a shirtless scene. Not only that, but he goes full nude before settling into the waters, a surprising moment for any dark-side user. Either way, it serves a similar purpose to Kylo Ren’s scene inThe Last Jedi,giving the illusion of being caught completely vulnerable but showing no fear towards Osha. He gives her a chance to strike him down while emphasizing that he is unarmed, making it difficult for Osha to end his threat while constantly tempting her to do so.
It feels like Qimir’s words were taken straight from Kylo Ren’s speech about Rey’s parents throwing her away like garbage and her need to seek them in everyone else.
Later in the episode, much of Qimir’s dialogue is similar to what Kylo Ren tells Rey during his shirtless scene. Qimir tries to convince Osha that the Jedi cast her aside, therefore she should stop considering herself a Jedi and letting their rules hold her back. It feels like Qimir’s words were taken straight from Kylo Ren’s speech about Rey’s parents throwing her away like garbage and her need to seek them in everyone else.Qimir and Kylo Ren have the same philosophy of letting go of the pastto become the person you were meant to be.
Qimir Emphasizes His Desire To Be A Teacher
Kylo Ren wanted to teach Rey the ways of the dark side
Qimir’s primary motivation throughoutThe Acolyteis in line with the show’s title, and he continues to stress his desire for a pupil. He attempts to make her see the Jedi from his point of view, offers to teach her the ways of the dark side, and says that he wants"the power of two"when she asks him what he wants. His casual attitude masks his feelings and guides Osha to wanting something that will make her his student. He constantly walks away without inviting her to follow, subtly encouraging her curiosity and giving him control of the situation.
Kylo Ren’s desire to make Rey his student also became his primary motivation in theStar Warssequel trilogy. He tells Rey inStar Wars: The Force Awakensthat she needs a teacher, asks her to join him willingly after Snoke’s death, and tries to take the choice out of her hands inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. While Kylo Ren never got a chance to make Rey his student,Qimir has at least two more episodes to convert Osha. Their similar tactics also hint that Qimir and Kylo Ren share something else in common.
All 18 Star Wars Easter Eggs In The Acolyte Episode 6
The Acolyte episode 6 features a collection of very exciting Easter eggs, including ties to the movies, Legends, High Republic books, and more.
It Seems More Likely Qimir Is Tied To The Knights Of Ren
A perfect opportunity to explore their origin
Although Qimir has been labeled a Sith Lord, his numerous parallels to Kylo Ren suggest he is connected to the Knights of Ren. Qimir did not fully confirm to Master Sol that he was a Sith, he merely stated that"…the Jedi like you might call me… Sith.“Qimir uses this as a placeholder term to describe a dark-side user with Jedi abilities who has no other official title.It wouldn’t be the first time inStar Warsthat a dark-side user looked like a Sith but wasn’t one, including Snoke and Kylo Ren in theStar Warssequels.
Qimir’s helmet fits the general style of the Knights of Ren, while his sleeveless tunic is visually similar to “Ren,” the man who led them before Ben Solo. The helmet is also destroyed like Kylo Ren’s inThe Last Jedi, and the scene where Qimir repairs it is reminiscent of Kylo Ren’s being repaired on Exegol inThe Rise of Skywalker.The origin of the Knights of Ren has never been fully explored in canon, meaning Qimir could be the first. The amount of Kylo Ren setup inThe Acolytedefinitely suggests that this isStar Wars' plan for Qimir.
New episodes ofThe Acolytepremiere at 9 PM EST/6 PM EST on Tuesdays 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.
