This article contains spoilers for The Acolyte finale.
Summary
The Acolytefinale featured an unexpected cameo from Darth Plagueis, raising the question of what’s happened to his own Sith Master inStar Warscanon - Darth Tenebrous. For a thousand years, the Jedi believed the Sith had been rendered extinct. In reality, they were reformed under Darth Bane, who established theRule of Twoas a way to keep their numbers and in-fighting in check. Working in the galaxy’s shadows, the Sith began manipulating events to their benefit, encouraging the ultimate downfall of the Jedi and the Republic.
The Acolyteis set a century before the culmination of the Sith plan, and it has seen the first shadows of the Sith encroaching across the galaxy. Theend ofThe Acolytefeatured a tantalizing glimpse of what was identifiable as Darth Plagueis, the being who would ultimately become the mentor of Palpatine himself. But what does that mean for Darth Plagueis' own master, Darth Tenebrous, inStar Warscanon?
Darth Tenebrous Is An Established Character In Star Wars Canon
Created inStar WarsLegends,Darth Tenebrouswas a male Bith who served as Sith Lord for more than a century. A scientific mastermind, he was celebrated across the galaxy as the starship designer Rugess Nome, and he was personally responsible for designing many ships the Sith and the Empire would go on to use. Tenebrous was trained by an unnamed Twi’lek Sith Lord, who he eventually killed in accordance with the Rule of Two.
In Legends, Darth Tenebrous toyed with multiple apprentices: Darth Plagueis and Darth Venamis, who became rivals seeking to claim the line of succession in the Sith. Tenebrous himself was ultimately killed by Plagueis, although he attempted to preserve his consciousness as a retrovirus in Plagueis' own bloodstream - a form of the Force power known as essence transfer, given a scientific twist. His attempt was unsuccessful, and he found himself trapped forever experiencing the moment of his own death.
Little is known of Darth Tenebrous inStar Warscanon, although he has been name-dropped in a handful of obscure sources. The most intriguing detail was in a fact-file inStar Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon#44, which revealed that in canon he was responsible for designingDarth Maul’s Sith Interceptor. This implies Darth Tenebrous' canon and Legends stories are markedly similar.
Star Wars: The Acolyte Episode Guide - Cast Members, Biggest Takeaways & Easter Eggs
Here’s everything you need to follow along with Star Wars: The Acolyte, from references and trivia to main takeaways from each new episode.
Has The Acolyte Changed Darth Tenebrous' Sith Lord Backstory?
The Acolytehas left things very much up in the air as regards the Rule of Two. It’s unclear where the Sith Lord known only as the Stranger fits in to the Baneite line, but he’s clearly a contemporary of Darth Plagueis, given the unexpected Plagueis cameo. It’s possible the Stranger is the canon version of Darth Venamis, and that he and Plagueis are rivals who were both trained by Tenebrous. Alternatively, the Stranger may not be of the line of Bane at all, but rather could have drawn the attention of Plagueis due to his actions.
It’s important to note that not all alien races inStar Warshave the same lifespans as humans, and that canonically neither Bith like Tenebrous or Muun like Plagueis have an established lifespan. Meanwhile, some dark siders are able to use the Force to unnaturally extend their lifespans, an ability that Plagueis is mentioned as possessing in James Luceno’s novelCatalyst. Even in Legends, Tenebrous was supposed to be killed sometime between 167 BBY and 124 BBY - which fits perfectly with Plagueis' appearance inThe Acolyte. Remarkably,The Acolytemay well have perfectly preserved Tenebrous' timeline.
The timeline really does make it seem highly likely that the Stranger is in fact Darth Tenebrous' other apprentice, Darth Venamis. If this is the case,The Acolyteseason 2will presumably show Darth Tenebrous and Darth Plagueis going head-to-head in the end, and Osha will be the prize; her creation is clearly linked to the power Plagueis sought, to coax the midi-chlorians into creating life, andThe Acolyteshowrunner Leslye Headland has confirmed she’s figured out how all this ties together. It remains to be seen whetherThe Acolytewill be renewed, giving us a chance to see this story play out.
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.
