The penultimate episode of Star Wars: The Acolyte, titled “Choice,” was released on Disney+ this week, unveiling the long-awaited truth about the events on Brendok when Mae and Osha (Amandla Stenberg) were young. Warning: Spoilers for The Acolyte Episode 7 ahead. During their time on the witches’ planet, Sol’s (Lee Jung-jae) concerns for the twins clouded his judgment, leading to a confrontation with Mother Aniseya (Jodie Turner-Smith). Aniseya transformed into a cloud of black smoke, which Sol misinterpreted as an attack, resulting in him killing Aniseya in front of Mae. When the situation calmed, Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss) chose not to inform the Jedi Council about the true events, despite her previous commitment to transparency.
Earlier today, ComicBook participated in a press roundtable with The Acolyte creator, Leslye Headland, who discussed the significant choices made by Indara and Sol in the episode. “I think it should be left up to interpretation,” Headland said when Jedi News inquired about Indara’s decision to cover up the incident on Brendok. “My personal opinion is that she sees this entire situation as a terrible, terrible tragedy and Sol’s insistence that he turn himself in at the expense of the one survivor of this. She believes it to be an incredibly selfish act. If this has all been for anything, let’s have it be for this little girl to grow up having achieved what she wanted to achieve, which I think is an incredibly passionate thing for a Jedi to decide even if it’s misguided.”
Headland further elaborated on Sol’s actions, stating, “Again, I think it’s really up to interpretation. I can say, my personal opinion, which is that I think that it’s just super messy. Each of the Jedi have their own blind spot in this episode, and Sol’s is definitely an emotional, spiritual blind spot. He just feels like, ‘This is my padawan, I’m Qui-Gon, this is my Anakin, this is the warrior I am meant to train.’ And so, the paternal protectivism gets kicked in.”
She continued, “And that’s a thing that, obviously is in media especially, is usually coded as something very, very good. But I think that can also be a dangerous thing. It’s not always coming out of what’s best for the child or the object of that protected. And it could be coming out of his own preconceived notions or his inflated sense of self as well, thinking, ‘I am the person who can help this child live up to their potential. I’m the person that can save this child from potential danger.’ So I think it’s a little bit of both. It comes from a very good place and it’s very natural, but at the same time, it’s not automatically good just because you feel it.”
During the roundtable, Screen Rant asked Headland if Sol could be redeemed for his actions on Brendok. “I mean, I think it’s in the hands of the person harmed,” Headland explained. “That’s truly what it is. Does Vader deserve redemption? Luke thinks so, and we saw what Anakin did, but Luke believes that. So I think it’s in Osha’s hands. To me, it’s between the two of them. It’s not an easy moral question for the audience to answer.”
The episode has sparked significant discussion among fans, particularly regarding the moral complexities and the characters’ motivations. Indara’s decision to withhold the truth from the Jedi Council is seen by some as a protective measure for Mae, while others view it as a betrayal of Jedi principles. Sol’s actions, driven by a mix of paternal instinct and a sense of duty, add another layer of complexity to the narrative.
The Acolyte has consistently explored the gray areas of morality within the Star Wars universe, and Episode 7 is no exception. The choices made by Indara and Sol highlight the internal conflicts faced by the Jedi, who are often portrayed as paragons of virtue. This episode challenges that perception, showing that even Jedi can be flawed and make questionable decisions.
As the series approaches its finale, viewers are left to ponder the consequences of these choices and what they mean for the characters involved. The dynamic between Sol and Osha, in particular, will be crucial in determining whether redemption is possible and what form it might take.
The season finale of Star Wars: The Acolyte is set to drop on Disney+ on July 16th, promising to bring resolution to the intense and morally complex storyline that has captivated audiences. Fans eagerly await to see how the narrative will conclude and what the future holds for the characters who have made such impactful decisions.
Stay tuned for more insights from the roundtable interview with Leslye Headland, as well as the highly anticipated season finale of The Acolyte.
Source: ComicBook, Jedi News, Screen Rant
