The Star Wars universe has introduced a formidable new villain in its latest series, “The Acolyte.” The fifth episode, which premiered on Disney+ recently, has become the most talked-about installment of the series so far. This episode, essentially a 30-minute lightsaber duel, not only saw the demise of several beloved characters but also unveiled the enigmatic Sith Lord who has been a shadowy presence throughout the season. Following this significant reveal, series creator Leslye Headland and actor Manny Jacinto, who plays the Sith Lord, shared insights into the twist.
**Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Acolyte.**
The Sith Lord’s identity was revealed to be Qimir, the seemingly meek trader portrayed by Manny Jacinto. Qimir had been hiding in plain sight all along, with numerous hints scattered throughout the season. Headland explained that the key to a good twist is not about completely concealing the truth from the audience but rather about leaving clues and then executing the reveal with precision.
“I think a good twist is not about hiding everything from the audience and then throwing it on them like, ‘Hey, this is what you didn’t see! We hid it so well that you didn’t see this,'” Headland told EW. “I think a good twist is telegraphing what’s going to happen, and then once it does, executing it without an ounce of pity or sentimentality.”
For Jacinto, the challenge was to portray a character within a character for most of the season. The reveal allowed him to switch gears and embrace a more aggressive and action-oriented role.
“We talked a lot about how you take a low-status character and convert him to a badass,” Jacinto said. “He’s a guy that is so under the radar, that nobody is paying attention to, and all of a sudden he’s actually the guy pulling the strings.”
Jacinto also shared the rigorous preparation he underwent for the intense fight scenes. “I had almost four months to train for that fight scene,” he added. “That was the first time I really got to dig into something with so much action and really make use of my dance background. We worked on everything. We did boxing, we worked on kicks, we worked on all the choreography. It was tough. They conditioned my body so that I could get through this five-person fight scene.”
Set during The High Republic era, “Star Wars: The Acolyte” delves into a series of mysterious crimes, pitting a Jedi master against his former apprentice in a quest for the truth. As they uncover more about the situation, their journey takes a darker turn, confronting them with evils beyond their imagination.
The series boasts a star-studded cast, including Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, and Carrie-Anne Moss. “Star Wars: The Acolyte” premiered on Disney+ on June 4th.
The fourth episode of “The Acolyte” also brought significant developments, reuniting characters Mae and Osha and revealing Mae’s Master to the Jedi. This episode provided deeper character interactions and classic Star Wars action, despite some narrative stumbles. Osha’s potential return to the Jedi Order and her complex feelings about it added depth to her character, while Mae’s motivations remained somewhat ambiguous.
In a flashback, viewers saw Mae attempting to kill Osha as children, driven by anger over her sister’s departure from their coven on Brendok. Mae’s belief that the Jedi were responsible for her coven’s demise has fueled her quest for vengeance. However, her willingness to surrender to the Jedi for a chance to reunite with Osha adds complexity to her character arc.
The episode also featured a rare live-action team-up of multiple Jedi, led by Sol, in an attempt to stop Mae. The inclusion of prequel character Ki-Adi-Mundi, despite earlier statements about avoiding major cameos, added an interesting twist.
A memorable scene involved the Jedi encountering creepy creatures on Khofar, which turned out to be large, bug-like critters. The protective Umbramoth’s attack and subsequent death led to a poignant discussion between Osha and Jecki about the Jedi’s perspective on death and the Force.
Fan theories have speculated that Qimir might be the Sith Master he claims to serve, hiding in plain sight as his own subordinate. Episode 4 provided moments that supported this theory, with Qimir’s clumsiness and awkwardness potentially being part of his subterfuge. Whether Jacinto’s character is a full-fledged Sith Lord or a scoundrel remains to be seen, but both possibilities hold promise.
The episode’s cliffhanger saw the powerful entrance of Mae’s Master, who used the Force to send the Jedi flying, setting the stage for an intense confrontation. The graphic depiction of Kelnacca’s death, a Wookiee Jedi, added to the episode’s impact, though some fans were disappointed by his untimely demise.
Overall, “The Acolyte” continues to introduce intriguing elements, exploring the Jedi’s dynamics within the Republic’s power structure and delving into the darker aspects of the Star Wars universe. As the series progresses, fans eagerly anticipate further revelations and character developments.
Source: Entertainment Weekly (EW), Disney+
