Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The Acolyte!
Summary
Star Wars: The Acolyteepisode 3 has created significant buzz (and some panic) among viewers about whetherAnakin Skywalkerhas just been replaced inStar Wars.The Acolyteintroduced Mae and Osha, the newest Force-sensitive twins inStar Warsmovies and TV shows. However, while twins may be reminiscent of Luke and Leia, several aspects of Osha and Mae thus far have been more connected to Anakin.
To say that Anakin has a special place inStar Warswould be a massive understatement. Not only was Anakin one ofStar Wars’most powerful Jedi, but he was also the one foretold inthe Chosen One prophecy. Because of that significance—and because Anakin and Hayden Christensen are fan favorites—the character has arguably been put on a pedestal in the franchise. Now,The Acolyteepisode 3has provided backstory on Mae and Osha that many feel threatens Anakin’s legacy, but does it really?
What’s Going On With Osha & Mae? The Acolyte’s Twins & Backstory Explained
The Acolyte episode 3 reveals the key backstory and major history of Mae and her twin sister Osha, including the significance of their conception.
Mae
Following the release ofThe Acolyteepisode 3, titled “Destiny,” viewers were concerned thatStar Warsnewcomers Mae and Osha are replacing Anakin Skywalker or, at least, are stealing his backstory based on their origins. In the episode, the twins' mothers, Mother Aniseya and Mother Koril, discuss the creation of the twins. In the conversation, they reveal thatMother Aniseya created the twins, while Mother Koril carried them.
Although the episode didn’t confirm that this happened with the Force, presumably, Mother Aniseya created the twins using the Force (or, the Thread, which is what their coven,the Witches of Brendok, call the Force). If that is the case, then the twins are the onlyStar Warscharacters known to be born through the Force other than Anakin Skywalker. Therein lies the concern for many, as some believe this could mean Anakin Skywalker is no longer ‘special’ inStar Wars.
If that is the case, then the twins are the onlyStar Warscharacters known to be born through the Force other than Anakin Skywalker.
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
The fear that Osha and Mae are about to replace Anakin Skywalker or detract from his story in the franchiseis unfounded and a misunderstanding of Anakin as a character. While, yes, Anakin’s conception was a remarkable event inStar Wars, that was nowhere near the sole reason Anakin was significant, nor was it what mattered most about his character. In fact, George Lucas himself has already spoken directly about how little bearing Anakin’s birth had on his overarching story and his destiny.
Regarding the mystery surrounding Anakin’s conception via the Force, George Lucas has revealed that it is the prophecy and Anakin’s fulfillment of it, not the circumstances of his birth, that are meaningful. In a 2005 interview withRolling Stone, Lucas explained:
Now, there’s a hint in the movie that there was a Sith lord who had the power to create life. But it’s left unsaid: Is Anakin a product of a super-Sith who influenced the midichlorians to create him, or is he simply created by the midichlorians to bring forth a prophecy, or was he created by the Force through the midichlorians? It’s left up to the audience to decide. How he was born ultimately has no relationship to how he dies, because in the end, the prophecy is true: Balance comes back to the Force.
With this interview, George Lucas effectively had the final word on the subject; that while Anakin’s being born without a father may be fascinating, this isn’t meant to be the most thought-provoking aspect of his story. Rather, what matters about Anakin is what he ultimately accomplishes. In the end, Anakin overcomes all he has experienced and all the evil he has done so far because he loves his son. In so doing, he destroys the Sith, and he brings balance back to the Force.
What matters about Anakin is what he ultimately accomplishes.
The Acolyte Hasn’t Introduced New Chosen Ones At All
For now,it isn’t even clear whether Mae and Osha were conceived by the Force. In fact, at present, it seems more likely that Mother Aniseya used aForce powerto create the twins; this is quite different from George Lucas' idea that the Force spontaneously created Anakin Skywalker. The reality is, untilThe Acolyteconfirms exactly how the twins were made, there simply isn’t enough information to draw conclusions about how the twins' story impacts Anakin’s. However,The Acolyteis certainly not creating brand-new Chosen Ones.
The Acolyteis certainly not creating brand-new Chosen Ones.
Even beyond the notion of the Chosen One, there’s almost no chance another character could come along and usurp Anakin in the franchise. In fact, in that same interview, Lucas said,“I made a series of movies that was about one thing: Darth Vader.“Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader is the heart ofStar Wars, and new characters won’t have an influence as massive as the Skywalker Saga. AsStar Warsbuilds additional storylines and characters into the franchise, it should elicit excitement, not a fear that Anakin Skywalker is being replaced — because, no,Star Wars: The Acolyteisn’t replacing him.
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.
