Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Acolyte episodes 1 and 2.
Summary
One theory aboutThe Acolyteclaims that the Sith Lord is hiding in plain sight, a theory that I could be swayed by after episodes 1 and 2. The identity ofThe Acolyte’s Sith villainis undoubtedly the biggest mystery the show has presented thus far. Since the show’s marketing revealed this villain, I have seen countless theories speculating who this Sith Lord could be, from Darth Tenebrous and Darth Plagueis toStar Wars' Sith Acolyte, Mae herself.
By the time ofThe Acolytepremiere’s ending, the identity of the villain was no closer to being revealed. Naturally, I expected this, givenThe Acolyteseason 1 will have a total of eight episodes that will reveal more about the show’s central mystery as it nears its conclusion. That said, there is one theory I have seen circling online that has some evidence to support it, especially when combined withEaster eggs fromThe Acolyteepisodes 1 and 2. This theory is fairly simple, claiming thatThe Acolyte’s dark lord of the Sith is out in the open.
04-06-2025
Episode 3 - TBA
11-08-2025
Episode 4 - TBA
14-08-2025
Episode 5 - TBA
31-05-2025
Episode 6 - TBA
09-06-2025
Episode 7 - TBA
27-06-2025
Episode 8 - TBA
04-08-2025
Fans Are Theorizing Qimir Is Secretly The Acolyte’s Sith Lord
Could The Sith Lord Be As Obvious As Qimir?
The theory in question claims that Qimir is the hidden Sith Lord inThe Acolyte. Qimir was introduced inThe Acolyteepisode 2 as an ally of Mae’s, running an apothecary on the planet of Olega. This apothecary was being used as a cover-up for Qimir and Mae’s illicit activities, as the two were conspiring to kill Jedi Master Torbin to gain the favor of “him.” The “him” in question is the Sith Lord shown briefly in the final moments ofThe Acolyteepisode 1, with many theorizing it is Qimir himself.
It could be the case that Qimir is actuallyThe Acolyte’s secret Sith Lord, manipulating the events of the series in full view…
At first, I was admittedly skeptical that Qimir could be the Sith Lord. For one, Qimir does not seem threatening at all, instead depicted as a drunken master of poisons rather than an imposing, intimidating Sith Lord. That said, there have been several moments from Qimir’s appearance inThe Acolyteepisode 2 that have swayed me somewhat. With the various points of evidence in mind, it could be the case that Qimir is actuallyThe Acolyte’s secret Sith Lord, manipulating the events of the series in full view of the Jedi and us audience members.
All The Clues Qimir Is A Sith Lord In The Acolyte
Qimir’s Secret Identity Has Already Been Teased In The Acolyte Episode 2
ThroughoutThe Acolyteepisode 2, there were several clues presented that made me believe in the theory that Qimir is the Sith Lord. Firstly, it is made fairly obvious that Qimir is endlessly stoking Mae’s hatred for the Jedi. Qimir is openly helping Mae, making snide comments and little remarks that remind Mae why she is doing what she is doing. Furthermore,Qimir feeds off of Mae’s need to please the Sith Lord, constantly stating that doing what he asks will make him proud. All of this pushes Mae into killing more Jedi, something that would benefit the Sith Lord - Qimir in this case.
Leading on from that, Qimir was shown to be instrumental in the death of Torbin. Without Qimir, Mae would not have had the poison needed to kill Torbin, meaning the former is pushing Mae in the right direction concerning Jedi deaths at every possible opportunity. Afterward, the scene inThe Acolyteepisode 2 in which Osha confronts Qimir by posing as Mae includes several pieces of evidence that Qimir is not what he seems.
Who Is Osha? Star Wars' New Rogue Padawan Explained
One of the bigger early reveals in The Acolyte surrounds the character of Osha, a rogue Padawan formerly of the High Republic Jedi Order.
After speaking briefly with Osha, Qimir knew the difference between her and Mae with relative ease. This would only be possible if he and Mae were close enough that he knew her subtle mannerisms. One way in which he could have managed this is by being the Sith Lord, regularly being up close with Mae, and giving her orders. After figuring out who Osha is, he immediately switches. Qimir goes from the hapless drunk from earlier in the episode to an intimidating, somewhat scary presence confronting the former Jedi.
After the other Jedi enter Qimir’s shop, he instantly switches back to the seemingly harmless, bumbling figure. This proves how expertly Qimir can manipulate situations, making the Jedi think he is being coerced into the killings by Mae, when he may actually be the one orchestrating things. The final hint that Qimir could be the Sith Lord comes after Mae believes he has sold her out. Mae tries to kill him, leading Qimir to disarm and overpower her with ease.
Qimir also tells Mae that the Jedi’s peace is a lie, a quote from the Sith Code in Star Wars canon.
Qimir does not struggle to fight against Mae, despite the latter being a confirmed Force-sensitive who is capable of going up against Jedi. This could prove that Qimir has more training than he lets on. If he is able to fight off Mae, it could be because he knows her moves, how she fights, and her tactics, almost as if he trained her himself.
Is The Acolyte Playing A Trick With Qimir?
Is Qimir Too Obvious A Choice For The Sith Lord?
Despite all of these points of evidence, I still have a hard time investing completely in the theory. The main reason for this stems from the very nature ofThe Acolyteas a story. First and foremost,The Acolyteis a mystery. It is unlikely that a show that hinges on its ability to raise questions will answer such a crucial one in the first two episodes. This is supported even further byThe Acolyte’s showrunner, Leslye Headland.
Headland’s other most notable works include the Netflix showRussian Doll.Russian Dollwas told across multiple episodes, with each one providing different answers that completely recontextualize the entire, overarching story. It is likely thatThe Acolytewill tell a similar story, with scenes, moments, reveals, and twists being added that change earlier episodes in the show. With that in mind, it is hard to imagine that Qimir - the prime suspect ofThe Acolyte’s Sith Lord - will be pushed to the fore so early.
The reveal ofThe Acolyte’s Sith Lord will likely come toward the end of the season, or maybe even in future seasons. It is no secret that Headland wantsmultiple seasons ofThe Acolyte,which could see the masked figure remain a mystery for years. All of this could hint thatThe Acolyteis playing a trick with Qimir. These elements of his character may have been included to intentionally throw the audience off the scent. Despite this possibility, Qimir could still beThe Acolyte’s villain, but we will have to wait before that answer is revealed.
New episodes of The Acolyte are released every Tuesday at 6 pm PT and 9 pm ET on Disney+.
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.
