‘The Acolyte’ Season Finale Recap, Episode 8: Original Sins

The action sequences were impressive and the conclusion was quite satisfying.

However, we shouldn't exaggerate this. The first seven episodes of The Acolyte's debut season heavily relied on hints of sinister secrets and significant disclosures, many of which had been gradually - maybe too gradually - unveiled in the weeks leading up to the season finale. With so much buildup, I was anticipating a more impactful conclusion to the season.

Let's remember where we left off in the story before the flashback last week. Osha was tempted by Qimir, who offered to teach her a stronger version of the Force. Mae was secretly riding with Sol, hoping to confront him about the events on Brendok 16 years ago. This week, they all return to Brendok for some intense lightsaber battles and a chat to catch up on everything.

The main ideas that are discussed are:

The Jedi were deeply concerned about Mae and Osha's mothers and their group of powerful Force Witches, as they had the ability to bring life into existence using the Force. These witches were responsible for creating Mae and Osha, who were essentially two individuals sharing one body.

In a sudden panic, Sol made the decision to end Aniseya's life and later collaborated with his fellow Jedi to cover up the truth. Sol reveals this confession in a heartfelt moment, where he maintains that he thought it was the correct action, despite recognizing the lasting consequences of his choice.

The initial point doesn't seem to bother anyone, surprisingly. Osha and Mae look more puzzled than frightened, and even Qimir seems to just shrug it off. However, the second point hits Osha hard, completely shattering her sense of identity. She reacts with rage and retaliation, using the Force to choke the life out of Sol, similar to how Darth Vader would.

Honestly, this all feels a bit underwhelming. While it is significant that Sol dies, especially since he is essentially the main character of The Acolyte, the resolution with Brendok happens too abruptly after building up for seven episodes. Besides Sol's death, there are not many unexpected twists in this episode. It seems like a lot of time is spent setting things up, but there are not enough elements considering this is supposed to be the conclusion of the first book in a grand story.

There is a lot of repetitive dialogue in this part of the story, as Sol, Mae, and Osha express their thoughts and feelings. Osha shares that she failed Jedi training due to being unable to move past the sorrow and rage she felt after losing her sister and mothers. Sol confesses that he had to keep quiet about Brendok because he needed both sisters to return to Coruscant in order to prove the presence of a powerful force on their home planet. Osha ultimately completes Mae's task of taking down a Jedi without a weapon by using the Force to restrain Sol. We learn more about the connections between the characters, which could have been revealed in previous episodes.

Truly, the most significant turn of events in the conclusion is not Sol's death but what comes after. Osha, fueled by anger and the thrill of power, decides to finally join Qimir as his follower. Meanwhile, Mae, no longer seeking revenge but seeking justice, turns herself in to the Jedi in order to expose Sol's wrongdoing. However, Qimir only allows Mae to leave after wiping her memory, so when she returns to Coruscant, she is unable to reveal everything she knows.

Interestingly, the Force has brought forth two women who are dressed in contrasting colors - Osha in black and Mae in white. They are moving in opposite directions, symbolizing the dark and light sides of the Force. Additionally, it is worth noting that Osha's lightsaber, which she inherited from Sol, changes color from blue to red when she wields it.

I really like the cool visual elements in this episode. There are some exciting moments that make it more than just average. Mae escapes from Sol's ship with the help of Pip, her reprogrammed friend, in a small shuttle. This leads to a thrilling chase through a ring of small rocks similar to Saturn. The lightsaber duels in this episode are more intense and dynamic than usual, with The Acolyte using the Force in a cool way. Qimir and Sol move gracefully like characters in a martial arts film, mixing weapons and hand-to-hand combat. There's a clever parallel between Mae and Osha's fight and Qimir and Sol's lightsaber battle.

However, the most daring moment in the finale happens during the epilogue. At the start of the episode, anxious Jedi official Vernestra is seen on Coruscant, being interrogated by Senator Rayencourt, who argues that the galaxy relies too heavily on the Jedi for resolving conflicts. ("By idolizing heroes, you can avoid dealing with real issues," Rayencourt cautions.) As the Senate considers launching a thorough inquiry into the need for Jedi intervention, the revelation of Sol's defeat comes as unwelcome news.

But is it really true? With Mae's memory partially erased, Vernestra comes up with a cunning plan. She convinces the authorities that Sol masterminded the cover-up of the Force Witch incident on Brendok, and that he ultimately killed his comrades and himself in order to keep it a secret. She also confides in Mae about her desire to track down a former student who has supposedly turned to the dark side, and she seeks assistance from a mysterious Master who is revealed in the season's final scene.

Hey there! (Or at least a Jedi similar to Yoda. But let's just say it's probably Yoda.)

If The Acolyte is renewed for another season, it seems like there will be fresh puzzles to unravel. Questions like: What transpired between Vernestra and her former Padawan who has turned to the dark side? How will Yoda address this situation? And can the show's creators deliver a complex, well-developed narrative that moves forward instead of constantly dwelling on the past?

While Qimir and Osha depart from their planet, they notice a mysterious figure in a nearby cave. The cloaked individual has pale skin and red eyes, resembling the ancient Sith Lords seen in Star Wars tales. Many online sources dedicated to Star Wars lore believe this is Darth Plagueis, a character referenced in the movies as Emperor Palpatine's mentor. If this is indeed Darth Plagueis, he is known for his ability to manipulate the Force to bring life into existence.

When this new episode was released, Disney+ only labeled it as "Episode 8" without revealing the official title. However, sources like Wikipedia are calling it "The Acolyte," which seems fitting. It's unclear why Disney (or perhaps the Star Wars team) chose to keep the episode titles a secret until the last minute, as if knowing them in advance would give away something important. For example, Qimir was referred to as "the Stranger" in the subtitles, even though no character in the show actually calls him that. It seems like there is a strong emphasis on keeping all mysteries, even the small ones, intact.

And that's a wrap on season one of The Acolyte! I was really looking forward to this show, as someone who usually enjoys watching Star Wars TV series. (I even kinda liked Obi-Wan Kenobi!) I liked how this series explored the justifications and illusions of the Jedi, and I also enjoyed the well-made action scenes. However, considering the possibilities of the story, the outcomes were mostly underwhelming. Nevertheless, I believe there is potential here, and I am hoping for a second season to see the show fulfill its potential.