Warning! This post contains spoilers for The Acolyte.
Summary
The Acolyteshowrunner Leslye Headland provided brand-new insight into the concept of balance in the Force, and it shakes up the common understanding of the Jedi and the Sith inStar Wars.The Acolytehas already changed theStar Warsgame in a number of ways, not only by introducing a host of new characters toStar Warsmovies and TV showsbut also by pulling in Legends concepts such as cortosis. In fact,The Acolytehas already created waves by introducing a Sith tothe High Republic Era, 100 years beforeStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
Now, though,The Acolyte’sshowrunner has introduced yet another shocking turn: a new understanding of balance in the Force. In an interview withInverse, showrunner Leslye Headland explained:
Manny’s character is more in-balance than Sol’s character, especially when he says, “I’ve accepted my darkness. What have you done with yours?” Sol is just in full-on repression mode at this point. He’s deluded himself into thinking that he has achieved balance. As Qimir says in Episode 2, “The Jedi only think they’ve found peace.” Maybe that’s not true for all Jedi, but that’s his point of view. That’s what allows him to do what he did to survive and to keep his way of life. Not just a way of life. His actual life.
This take on balance in the Force fascinatingly suggests thatit may be the Sith, not the Jedi that managed to find that balance—or, at least,The Acolyte’snew Sith, the Stranger, has struck that balance.
The Acolyte’s Sith Lord: Every Power & Ability Revealed
Now that The Stranger has revealed himself to the Jedi, he has also shown that he is incredibly powerful. These are all his powers and abilities.
The Acolyte Has Turned Star Wars Upside-Down
Star Wars’newest show truly has made massive changes to the franchise in just five episodes, from introducing a new Force-sensitive coven,the witches of Brendok, to having a cut-throat approach to the shocking (and many)deaths inThe Acolyteso far. Even in the context of those numerous changes, though,the assertion that the Sith are the ones who have found balance is genuinely surprising. After all, the Sith have been known for wanting to corrupt and control all around them through the dark side.
The Sith have been known for wanting to corrupt and control all around them through the dark side.
However, it remains to be seen exactly what that darkness will look like with Qimir/the Stranger and what his connection to the light will be. Perhaps he has struck a balance within himself that is more in keeping with the ideal balance of the Force. This would be fairly difficult to prove at this point, however, in light of how brutally he killed multiple Jedi inThe Acolyteepisode 5.
Arguably, this isn’t entirely new toStar Wars, as even Master Yoda had to face his darkness at one point. InStar Wars: The Clone Wars, Yoda had an arc in season 6 that forced him to confront the darkness he was suppressing in himself. Ultimately, the message was similar to Headland’s;Yoda wasn’t truly finding balance because he was repressing rather than accepting and embracing the darkness that exists in all things.
Even so, this direct comparison between the Jedi and the Sith, wherein the Sith come out as the better of the two, is certainly novel in the franchise, and it’s more than a little likely to ruffle some feathers. This likely isn’t a concern for Headland orThe Acolyte; the show has made clear already that it doesn’t mind breaking with convention. It will nevertheless be quite interesting to see whether this rings true in the remainder ofThe Acolyte, as it could mean a major shift in theStar Warsfranchise.
New episodes of The Acolyte release on Tuesdays at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST 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.
