Summary
This article contains spoilers for The Acolyte episode 3.No,The Acolyteepisode 3 hasn’t brokenStar Warscanon - and in fact fits surprisingly well with it. The discourse ahead ofThe Acolyteepisode 3 was explosive to say the least, with critical commentators insisting this would somehow break the lore irreparably. There’s already been abacklash againstThe Acolytein some circles (with review bombing on sites like Rotten Tomatoes), and this episode was seen as the moment when the fandom would turn on the Disney+ show.
The Acolyteepisode 3 is certainly controversial. It’s a lore-heavy episode, one focused on a new Force cult who live on the planet Brendok, and it strongly implies a shockingly negative view of the Jedi - although, to be fair, George Lucas himself wanted viewers to be disillusioned with the Jedi, so that’s not a problem. The core issue lies with theorigin of Osha and Mae, which some argue has the surprising effect of making Anakin Skywalker less special as a character.
All 18 Star Wars Easter Eggs In The Acolyte Episodes 3
The Acolyte episode 3 features a wealth of exciting new Easter eggs and references, connecting to major elements of the overall Star Wars canon.
Osha & Mae’s Controversial Origin Story Explained
The twins were conceived by the power of the Force
The Acolyteepisode 3 is an unusual one, an entire flashback episode revealing some of what really happened on the planet Brendok 16 years before the show’s main events. It explores a coven of witches who have secreted themselves on a remote planet, hoping to remain hiidden from the watchful eyes of the Jedi and the Republic. Similar to the Nightsisters of Dathomir, the witches have uniqueForce powersthat mark them as distinct from the Jedi and the Sith.
Osha and Mae are the only children on Brendok, andit’s strongly implied they were created by the power of the Force. During one conversation with Mother Koril, Mother Aniseya discusses their unusual conception; although she doesn’t explicitly state she created them, the implication isn’t exactly subtle. One comment in particular stands out; “There is no father,” a word-for-word quote fromStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, where it applied to Anakin Skywalker as theChosen One.
No, Mae & Osha Aren’t Star Wars' Anakin Skywalker Replacements
Anakin is still unique
Does this meanStar Warshas introduced two new “Chosen Ones,” a century before the events ofThe Phantom Menace? That’s the claim some are making, but it’s exaggerated and based on a misunderstanding of what is happening inThe Acolyte. Assuming Mother Aniseya’s comments are accurate, the clear implication is that she is responsible for creating the twins through use of the Force. In contrast,Anakin Skywalker - the true Chosen One - was conceived by the will of the Force itself.
Meanwhile, there’s one obvious difference between Anakin and the twins; the fact that he is male, while they are female. Osha and Mae were presumably conceived by Mother Aniseya using the Force to manipulate the Midi-chlorians in Mother Koril’s womb, andthere would only be X chrosomes present- explaining why both twins are female. Anakin is still miraculous in that he was a male child, with the Y chromosomes somehow created by the will of the Force. The words “There is no father” may imply a correlation, but it’s much less exact than it seems at first glance.
Mother Aniseya’s Force Power Has Been Part Of Canon Since Revenge Of The Sith
This is a power mentioned before
Even more remarkably, Mother Aniseya’s use of the Force was set up 19 years ago - inStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. She is clearly using a similarpower to that of Darth Plagueis, whose tragic tale was told to Anakin Skywalker by Palpatine himself. “Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wisehe could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create life,” Palpatine told Anakin, before focusing on the idea of conquering death as another of Plagueis' abilities.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if this were how Plagueis learned the power.
Again, assuming the conversation between Mothers Aniseya and Koril is to be believed, this is almost certainly what is being discussed inThe Acolyte; a forbidden dark side power that allows a Force user to create life by directly influencing the Midi-chlorians. In fact, given the shadow of the Sith looms overThe Acolyte, it wouldn’t be a surprise if this were how Plagueis learned the power. Far from breaking canon,The Acolytefits surprisingly well.
The Sith have often been shown coveting the Force powers of other dark side cults. In ancient times, there was a faction of Sith known as Darkseekers who sought out rival cults, learned their secrets, and exterminated them. Palpatine himself did this with the Nightsisters of Dathomir, learning as much as he could about them before attempting genocide rather than risk a rival faction.Ahsokarecently revealed even the ancientSith language of ur-Kittâtpredates them, so there’s a definite precedent for Darth Plagueis discovering his power from the coven.
Osha & Mae’s Origin May Yet Contain Some Surprises
Don’t assume the truth has been told just yet
It’s important to note there may be moretwists in Osha and Mae’s origin story.The Acolyteis employing a smart narrative technique fromStar Wars: The Last Jedi, that of the unreliable narrator, because episode 3 is told only from Osha’s point of view. Showrunner Leslye Headland has hinted more will be revealed in later flashbacks, presumably from Mae’s perspective:
“If you keep watching the show,we do talk about that and explore that. I would say there isn’t one answer to it. Some characters believe certain things, and other characters believe other things in terms of what she means by that. So you’re going to have to watch and decide which side of that argument you’re on.”
Unlike shows made for binge-watching,The Acolyteepisode 3 takes advantage of Disney+’s weekly drop formula. It is designed to conceal as much as it reveals, meaning it’s far too soon to say where this story is going. That’s why the above discussion continually notes that it is assuming Aniseya is telling the truth; that may not be the case. Only time (and the next five episodes) will tell.
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.
