The Acolyte Season One Ending, Explained

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The Acolyte Season One Ending, Explained

As a long-time fan of Star Wars lore and someone who grew up devouring every detail about the Force and its wielders, I have to admit that I was both excited and skeptical when I first heard about “The Acolyte.” I’ve seen my fair share of spin-offs and expanded universes that promised to shed new light on the galaxy far, far away but ultimately fell short. But as someone who has spent countless hours pondering the intricacies of the Jedi Code and the Sith’s dark side, I felt a deep connection to this story from the very beginning.

The Acolyte might be the most interesting Star Wars Disney+ series. It’s definitely not the best or the worst, but it might be the one most worthy of in-depth discussion. Like it or not, this is the kind of thing that this franchise needs. It’s compelling, bizarre, complicated, and different from the things that came before. Exploring new corners of the galaxy should have been the mandate for these series since Disney bought the franchise. Experimentation yields new discoveries. The Acolyte is over for now, but where did it end up?

The dialogue about “The Acolyte” has primarily focused on its controversial aspects rather than the actual show itself. Before its premiere, the series, which features a woman or a person of color in its promotional materials, was targeted with negative reviews even before it aired. Once released, criticisms over the writing and editing clashed with debates about the racial representation in the cast. However, such criticism is not unique to shows with diverse casting, and the focus has since shifted.

What is The Acolyte about?

Creator Leslye Headland
Stars Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Charlie Barnett, Manny Jacinto, Rebecca Henderson
Number of Episodes 8
Release Date June 4, 2024
Rotten Tomatoes Score 83%

In simple terms, “The Acolyte” is about two identical twins, bonded by the Force yet torn apart by a devastating mishap. The twins are identified as Osha and Mae Aniseya, who mistakenly believe each other to be deceased. Living in the era of High Republic, the Jedi Order has maintained peace for centuries. However, their tranquility is shattered when Jedi Master Indara, a powerful member of their ranks, is slain in a violent assault. Suspecting Osha, a former Padawan who had abandoned her Jedi life to become a mechanic, the Jedi come to question her. Osha insists that she lacks both the motivation and power to kill a fellow Jedi. As they delve deeper into the matter through psychic links, Osha learns that Mae is indeed alive. With the help of her former mentor, Jedi Master Sol, Osha sets out to locate her sister and halt her lethal rampage. Their investigation exposes a plot to claim more lives and a sinister figure orchestrating it from afar.

After Mae allegedly kills her second victim, a quiet Jedi monk named Torbin, Osha and Sol come to the realization that these murders are linked to an incident that drove the sisters apart. They encounter Mae’s enigmatic accomplice, Qimir, who guides them to a secret meeting place. Upon confronting Mae, she declares her intention to eliminate all four Jedis whom she met on the planet Brendok during her youth. Osha attempts to intervene, but Mae manages to escape. Recalling her childhood on Brendok, Osha reflects on her life within a coven of Force witches and defying her mother’s wishes to join the four Jedis for examination. Mae cherishes their shared life on Brendok and goes to extreme lengths to keep Osha from leaving. After a fire erupts, the witches perish, forcing Osha to depart with Sol. In the present day, Mae and Qimir collaborate in tracking down the Wookiee Jedi, Kelnacca, on Khofar. However, Mae’s desire shifts towards reconciling with her sister rather than fulfilling her master’s objective of slaying a Jedi without utilizing a weapon. She ultimately betrays Qimir to the Jedis but finds Kelnacca deceased upon attempting surrender. Sol and a sizable group of Jedis encircle Mae, prompting her masked mentor to make an appearance.

In an exhilarating battle scene, the enigmatic warrior, armed with a lightsaber, faces off against multiple Jedi. The Stranger, later revealed to be Qimir, employs underhanded tactics and a puzzling helmet that disrupts lightsabers upon collision. During the fierce encounter, Qimir’s mask falls off, unveiling his identity as a powerful Sith. Before he could avenge Mae for her betrayal, Sol manages to subdue Qimir. Osha then summons giant moths to take Qimir away, while Mae stuns Sol, granting the sisters some privacy. Their reunion quickly escalates into an argument, leading Mae to knock out Osha and switch costumes. This leaves Mae on Sol’s ship and Osha in Qimir’s company. Trying to uncover the truth about the Brendok incident, Mae pressures Sol, but he uncovers her deception and stuns her. Initially resisting Qimir, he reveals his past as a former Jedi Padawan and persuades Osha to use his sensory deprivation cortosis helmet. As Mae regains consciousness, Sol shares the long-hidden truth about their past. Both siblings gain new insights into their history.

How does The Acolyte end?

The Acolyte Season One Ending, Explained

In the next-to-last episode of “The Acolyte,” the events of the third episode’s flashback are revisited. Mae and Osha were born due to an anomaly in the Force. The witches who raised them trained them to harness their enigmatic abilities and carry on their exclusive lineage. Indara, Torbin, Kelnacca, and Sol journeyed to Brendok to explore this anomaly. They met Mae and Osha and requested a trial for them to become Jedi. The witches consented, knowing the consequences would be unfavorable otherwise. Although Mae’s mother advised them to fail intentionally, Osha took it seriously and passed. Torbin detected an elevated midi-chlorian count in their blood and discovered they were one being split into two bodies. Osha expressed a desire to join the Jedi, while Mae preferred death. She secured the compound, but Sol and Torbin breached it, leading to a clash. Mae unintentionally ignited a destructive fire, causing her to cry out for aid. Their mother, Aniseya, employed her powers vaguely. Sol swiftly eliminated Aniseya, initiating a more violent confrontation. Despite the witches’ valiant efforts, the Jedi managed to flee the compound. Sol seized Osha and convinced the Jedi to attribute the fire to Mae. With Osha in hand, Sol departed with her. (Note: I tried to maintain the first-person perspective as a gamer by using “we” or “I” when appropriate, but given the narrative, it was challenging.)

In the current situation, Osha and Qimir come to an understanding that they must pursue Mae as a team. Qimir proposes that Osha becomes his disciple. However, Osha declines, with Darth Plagueis observing from a hidden cave. The combined forces move towards Brendok. While Osha and Qimir hunt for Mae, a band of Jedi chase after Sol, suspecting him of killing the other Jedis on Khofar. Qimir clashes with Sol, resulting in a stalemate. Mae intervenes, disarming the Jedi Master. She refuses to kill him and forces his confession, revealing that he was responsible for Aniseya’s death. Mae intends to bring Sol to trial, but Osha secretly uses the Force to kill him instead, obtaining his lightsaber as a souvenir when its kyber crystal alters the blade’s hue. Escape becomes a reality for Mae and Osha. Osha consents to learn from Qimir, eventually departing to join the Sith. Reconciliation ensues between Mae and Osha. To help Mae leave peacefully, Qimir erases her memories. The Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh takes Mae away to the Jedi Temple. With the Senate investigation into Jedi misconduct escalating, Vernestra decides to blame Sol for all wrongdoings and discloses that she was once Qimir’s mentor. In the final scene, she consults with Yoda regarding these recent events.

In simpler terms, the TV show “The Acolyte” weaves a complex tale with a somewhat underwhelming ending. It starts off by raising doubts about its credibility in the initial episodes. Despite this, it manages to deliver on its promises by the final episode, even if not as groundbreaking as anticipated. Overall, “The Acolyte” is an engaging watch, and there are numerous puzzles left unsolved that promise to keep viewers hooked when the show comes back for a second season.

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2024-07-22 01:07