Star Wars: The Acolyte Season 1 Episode 8 Review

It’s all come to a head on Star Wars: The Acolyte™ in a pulsating, high-octane season finale.

The episode, aptly titled “The Acolyte,” ties up narrative loose ends while planting seeds for a potential season 2. Amandla Stenberg deserves all the awards for her performance as Osha™ and Mae™. It’s grounding, beautiful work. Manny Jacinto continues to be a complex, messy Sith, and I’m here for it.

While Osha’s dalliance with the Dark Side is something we’ve seen before in Star Wars™, it’s done well. We see her tap into her negative emotions upon learning the truth about the Brendok™ tragedy, and honestly, I, too, would struggle not to succumb to my anger. This episode is a meditation on grief and how we move through it. Do you simply let it go or allow it to consume you?

Additionally, as always, the fight choreography is top-tier, and the Easter eggs are super exciting for their existence in the story and what they mean as a whole.

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The Future

We open where we left off with episode 6 — Osha putting on The Stranger’s cortosis™ helmet. We hear her heavy breathing. The Stranger approaches as Osha has a vision of the future. She starts hyperventilating, locked in place. The Stranger tries to free her as his eyes morph into two black pools. Finally, he removes the helmet.

After Osha catches her breath, she admits she saw Mae choking Sol™. The Stranger states that Mae can kill a Jedi without a weapon, as he instructed. Osha and The Stranger board the latter’s vessel to track down Mae and Sol.

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Where Are We?

Meanwhile, Sol informs Mae that they’re in Brendok’s orbit. Mae asks Sol questions while she tries to free herself from her restraints. She manages to activate Pip™ as Sol declares he can prove that a vergence™ is on the planet. He tries to explain that Mae and her sister aren’t sisters or twins per se just as Mae uses Pip to shock him.

Then, Mae steals a ship, and a chase ensues. Sol pursues Mae as they move through an asteroid ring. Unfortunately, Mae can’t go into hyperdrive. Still aboard the Jedi ship, Bazil™ decides to contribute by pulling cables until said ship malfunctions. This causes Mae to go into a tailspin. Both Mae and Sol crash on Brendok.

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Unchecked Power

Next, Vernestra™ meets Senator Rayencourt™ on Coruscant™. He knows about her investigation into a string of Jedi-related murders and that she hasn’t reported it to the Senate. Vernestra defends her actions, citing that she can wield some power when there’s no immediate threat.

Rayencourt admits he believes the Jedi are “a massive system of unchecked power, posing as a religion, a delusional cult that claims to control the uncontrollable.” Initially, Vernestra believes he means the Force, which the Jedi can’t control. However, Rayencourt clarifies, stating that he’s talking about emotions.

Eventually, Rayencourt will get his wish — the Senate will conduct an external review of the Jedi. That’s not a threat; that’s a promise.

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I’m Not My Sister

Elsewhere, The Stranger and Osha prepare to depart for Brendok. The Stranger insists that Osha should be trained. Osha reminds him that she’s not her sister. As they leave, we see a gnarled hand stretch out, horror movie-style, grasping the rock face before it. A figure emerges from the shadows, and it’s none other than (presumably) Darth Plagueis™. What a fun Easter egg.

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Arrival

Sol exits his ship, feeling a surge in the Force. He knows Mae is nearby. While walking to the witches’ compound, he spies a vessel landing on the planet — Osha and The Stranger. Meanwhile, on Coruscant, Vernestra orders Mog™ to assemble a team of Knights; they’re returning to Brendok to help Sol.

Speaking of Sol, as he wanders through the compound, he relives that fateful night: killing Mother Aniseya™, young Mae calling out for her, the ensuing fight with a Koril™-possessed Kelnacca™, etc. Outside, Osha insists they must fix the elevator to gain ingress unless they want to scale the wall. (And who has the stamina, Force wielder or not, for that?)

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Reunion

Later, Sol and The Stranger square off in battle, with slow-mo fight choreography plucked straight from The Matrix. Meanwhile, Osha reunites with her sister in their childhood bedroom. Mae insists that Sol has been lying to Osha for years. While Mae started the fire, Sol was the one who killed their mother. The Jedi are responsible for wiping out the coven.

Initially, Osha is incredulous. She’s naturally fixated on Mae’s murders of Indara™ and Torbin™. In a fit of rage, Osha starts fighting Mae — sister versus sister.

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A Culmination

Sol and The Stranger’s epic battle continues, with the latter whipping out two Lightsabers™ and throwing them like boomerangs (again). At one point, The Stranger knocks Sol’s saber out of his hand. The Stranger removes his helmet as Mae arrives. The Stranger urges Mae to finish the job — kill Sol, and all four Jedi responsible for the Brendok tragedy will be out of the picture.

However, Mae refuses to do this. Instead, she casts Sol’s saber aside. She wants Sol to confess his crimes to the Jedi High Council.

Then, Osha emerges. Sol tries to explain himself, insisting he had to conceal the truth from Osha. She was too old to train, so he hoped to give her the best possible chance at the life she wanted.

Sol also reveals Mother Aniseya created Osha and Mae via a vergence on the planet. They’re not twins, but the same person. He couldn’t disclose his findings to the High Council because he thought Mae was dead.

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The End of the Road

Next, Osha does the unexpected, choking Sol with the Force. It’s precisely what The Stranger wanted: a Jedi life snuffed out sans weapon. Sol pleads for his life, resisting the pressure until he reaches acceptance. He tells Osha it’s okay as he dies.

After Sol’s death, we see the Lightsaber — Sol’s saber — transform in Osha’s hand. She unsheathes the blade, the color of which morphs from blue to red.

Then, Vernestra and her team land on Brendok. Vernestra senses The Stranger’s presence since he removed his helmet. She exclaims that she thought he was dead. I’m guessing he was her Padawan™. The Stranger puts his helmet back on while instructing the twins to run.

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The Hunt

Later, Vernestra, Mog, and the other Jedi arrive at the coven compound. Vernestra orders her crew to fan out and look for the twins. She kneels over Sol’s body and absorbs all that transpired there, from moments before her arrival to 16 years ago. The Stranger observes Vernestra from afar.

While Mog and the Knights search for the sisters, Osha and Mae flee to the bunta tree™. Mae admits she waited under the bunta tree following that fateful night’s fire. They apologize and mend fences.

Suddenly, The Stranger approaches, insisting that if he can find them, so can the Jedi.

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You Won’t Remember This

Then, the sisters decide to part ways. Osha will train with The Stranger. However, to ensure their protection, they must wipe Mae’s memories of Osha and The Stranger. The twins recite their favorite childhood rhyme for the last time while tearfully embracing. The Stranger proceeds to erase Mae’s memories. This scene is heartbreaking.

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Saving Face

After this, the Jedi bring Mae back to Coruscant. Vernestra questions Mae, who admits she doesn’t recall anything. Her last true memory is from when she was eight years old on Brendok. Vernestra fills in the blanks, stating that the man who killed Mae’s mother was her friend. Sol was a good man, but he committed terrible acts that night.

Next, Vernestra stands before the High Council. She discloses the tragedy of Brendok and what led to Sol’s death. However, she throws Sol under the bus to save face, claiming Sol acted of his own misguided volition, omitting Indara, Kelnacca, and Torbin’s involvement. Senator Rayencourt calls for that external review of the Jedi.

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The Acolyte

Later, we see Osha and The Stranger stand outside the latter’s ship. She holds Sol’s old saber, which now belongs to her. The Stranger puts his hand over hers as a look of vicious determination overtakes her features.

Meanwhile, Vernestra visits someone we know pretty well: Master Yoda™. She needs help.

Methinks we need a second season.