Summary
Star Wars’Skywalker Saga was meant to conclude withStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, yetThe Acolytejust reinforced whatStar Warsmovies and TV showshave shown since the sequels:Star Warsdoesn’t know what to do without the Skywalkers. It’s true that some ofStar Wars’best movies, such asRogue One: A Star Wars Story,haven’t centered on anyone inthe Skywalker family tree. However, its place intheStar Warstimelinemeans that those stories are still relevant; after all, Darth Vader is still a major player in that movie.
The Skywalker Saga doesn’t only refer to Anakin, Luke, and Leia, though. Rather,characters connected with the Skywalkers are also part of their Saga, blurring the lines of what is meant to be over inStar Wars. While many recentStar Warsshows have shown the issues with these blurred lines,The Acolytejust made one decision that is perhaps the best example of this persistentStar Warsproblem.
5 Things I Loved About The Acolyte Finale (& 5 Things I Really Hated)
Although there was plenty to love about The Acolyte’s finale, I had very mixed feelings about the episode; here are 5 things I loved and 5 I hated.
The Acolyte Was Said To Have No Prequel Trilogy Cameos
The Acolytewas said to have only brand-new characters on-screen, which was a thrilling concept and seemed accurate for most of the show. In fact,The Acolyte’sshowrunner, Leslye Headland, specifically said that she was only pulling fromthe High Republic EraorStar WarsEU, so while some characters would be completely invented for the show, others who were new to the screen would be familiar, particularly from the High Republic books. Initially,The Acolytewas true to its word.
The show focused on a few key characters, including twins Mae and Osha, a host of Jedi, and a new villain named Qimir/the Stranger. Especially toward the beginning of the show, these introductions worked well. Osha and Mae were compellingly mysterious, and while Mae had a harsher exterior, Osha was more relatable and quickly became a likable character. The Jedi, too, were plenty interesting, and Master Sol, Yord Fandar, and Jecki Lon worked very well as a group,reminiscent even of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ahsoka Tano’s constantly bickering triad without being too directly linked to them.
Perhaps this is whyThe Acolyteunfortunately relied upon an old trick that points to an inability forStar Warsto let go of the Skywalkers.
However, it was the villain, Qimir, who really took the internet by storm. While audiences did love Yord, some of them even creating a group named ‘the Yord Horde,’ nothing sent the internet into more of a frenzy thanThe Acolyteepisode 5’sQimir reveal—of both his face and his biceps. However,every death inThe Acolytebegan to take its toll, and many of those well-liked characters swiftly died off. Perhaps this is whyThe Acolyteunfortunately relied upon an old trick that points to an inability forStar Warsto let go of the Skywalkers.
Yoda
While interviews with actors, directors, and showrunners can of course include misdirects, especially inStar Wars, a franchise in which so many things are kept secret,it was disappointing to realize that Headland had said there would be no prequel trilogy cameos inThe Acolyteonly for that to prove profoundly untrue. The first prequel trilogy cameo was Ki-Adi-Mundi, and viewers were already unhappy with that, as it seemed to retcon the Jedi master’s age (although that isn’t actually the case). However,The Acolyte’sfinale introduced a cameo much more significant than Ki-Adi-Mundi’s.
Despite All The Controversy, The Acolyte Hasn’t Broken Star Wars Canon At All
Audiences were concerned from the very beginning that The Acolyte would break Star Wars canon and retcon the prequels, but that didn’t happen.
The final shot ofThe Acolyterevealed the back of Master Yoda’s headas Vernestra Rwoh presumably came to inform him of all that had transpired and seek his guidance on her cover-up. However, Yoda’s cameo directly contradicted what Headland had said throughout interviews for the show. In fact, at one point, Headland was asked whether Yoda would be in the show, and she said he wouldn’t be becauseThe Acolytewas meant to focus on different stories.
Yoda’s cameo directly contradicted what Headland had said throughout interviews for the show.
Again, this could have been a misdirect because interviewers were getting too close to the truth, and Yoda’s cameo was meant to be a massive shock at the end. The problem with that is,the cameo actually fell a bit flat. It didn’t fit with all that the show had been going for regarding telling different stories and, frankly, it didn’t have the impact it was meant to have. If anything, the much more exciting cameo was Darth Plagueis' creepy appearance on the Unknown Planet. Really, that would have been a much better, more original, and more chilling final shot.
However, this is precisely the issue withStar Wars’inability to let go of the Skywalkers after the Skywalker Saga was meant to have concluded. Sure, Darth Plagueis still has some Skywalker Saga connection as well, as he was Palpatine’s Sith master. His connections to the prequel trilogy and the larger Skywalker story are quite different from Yoda’s, though.
This is precisely the issue withStar Wars’inability to let go of the Skywalkers after the Skywalker Saga was meant to have concluded.
For one, Plagueis has never appeared inStar Warsmovies before, whereas Yoda was in all three Skywalker trilogies. For another, Master Yoda had direct contact with Anakin and Luke Skywalker, even training Luke himself. His appearance brings all of this backstory and context with it, while Darth Plagueis still feels like a brand-new character, even as he shares a connection with Palpatine and, therefore, the Skywalkers to a more distant extent. This unfortunately seems by design, though; because of this connection, Yoda is sure to get a reaction. Essentially, because of his Skywalker Saga history,Yoda is guaranteed excitement.
Luke Skywalker
In truth,the Master Yoda cameo at the end ofThe Acolytereally undercut the show’s story. It felt almost as if the show didn’t trust itself to stand on its own merits, so it called in a Skywalker Saga staple that would automatically work as a cliffhanger. However, this wasn’tThe Acolyte’sonly reliance upon a Skywalker connection, even if it was the most obvious. Rather, from very early on, Osha and Mae were already heavily linked to Anakin Skywalker throughthe Chosen One prophecy.
WhileOsha and Mae are not the Chosen One, their shared backstories with Anakin were always going to bring him to mind, which was no doubt intentional. Specifically,Osha and Mae were seemingly created by the Force and were confirmed to have no father, just like Anakin. Moreover, a Force vergence played a role in their creation, again tying them to Anakin’s origins. Yes,Star Warsis a franchise built on ‘rhymes,’ or parallels, with other shows and movies, but it was a bit disappointing that this story seemed so familiar.
The Acolyteis far from the onlyStar Warsshow incorporating the Skywalkers themselves and other major players from the Skywalker Saga, though. In fact, therein lies the problem. While the Skywalker Saga is meant to be over inStar Wars, the Skywalkers keep appearing in brand-newStar Warsshows.This makes it difficult to identify what exactly the Skywalker Saga includes and what it means for the saga to be ‘over.’
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Recent shows have not only included cameos from Anakin and Luke Skywalker but also made them essential to the plot. Luke appeared in bothThe MandalorianandThe Book of Boba Fett, playing a vital role in Grogu’s Jedi path and return to Din Djarin. Anakin appeared inAhsoka, pushing Ahsoka to finally embrace the identity of a Jedi inthe World Between Worldsand then even appearing as a Force ghost watching over her, suggesting he might be in the upcomingAhsokaseason 2. Hayden Christensen also reprised his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader inObi-Wan Kenobi.
Recent shows have not only included cameos from Anakin and Luke Skywalker but also made them essential to the plot.
To be clear,these cameos and storylines aren’t a bad thing—quite the opposite. It was absolutely delightful to see Hayden Christensen and Mark Hamill return to these roles, and it will be wonderful if they continue to do so. These characters and these actors are beloved in the franchise for a reason. The issue isn’t with them, it’s withStar Wars’inconsistency.Star Warsis meant to be moving on from the Skywalkers, but is it really?
After all, the Skywalker Saga ‘ended’ with Rey adopting the name Skywalker, and she has an upcoming movie, muddying the waters again. It’s possible the Skywalkers are always going to be central toStar Wars, and that isn’t an issue; it only becomes an issue when the franchise (or shows within the franchise) insist the Skywalker Saga isn’t central but relies upon it anyway.Star Warsjust needs to clearly define what it means for the Skywalker Saga to be over, especially when it comes to stories connected to the Skywalker trilogies, asThe Acolytemade clear.
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.
