This article contains spoilers for The Acolyte episode 3.

The Acolyte rewrites Star Wars canon in some subtle (and overt) ways, although not quite as much as some portions of the fanbase believe. The beauty – and, sometimes, the tragedy – of Star Wars lies in its nature as a transmedia franchise. Every story builds on the ones before, adding new context, rewriting the history, and retconning new characters into galactic history. This means canon and continuity in Star Wars are always changing, always evolving, and sometimes broken until Lucasfilm figure out a fix.

The Acolyte is no different. It is set at the end of the High Republic Era, the golden age of the Jedi and the Republic. In theory, that should mean retcons are few and far between; after all, there’s only one previously established character in a major role (and Vernestra Rwoh is known only to readers). In reality, though, Leslye Headland’s Star Wars Disney+ TV show has triggered a firestorm of debate online. What are the real changes to Star Wars canon from The Acolyte?

8

Anakin Skywalker Wasn’t The First Child Conceived By The Force

Does this affect the Chosen One prophecy?

Let’s start with The Acolyte episode 3’s most shocking revelation – dialogue hinting that Anakin Skywalker wasn’t the first child to be conceived through the Force. A flashback episode, this featured a conversation between Mothers Aniseya and Koril that hinted the witches of Brendok had used dark side magick to create the twins Osha and Mae. It was a shocking revelation, although showrunner Leslye Healand has hinted the truth may be rather more complicated.

Oddly enough, this isn’t really a massive change in canon – just more exposure for an idea that was already there. Back in 2018, Tricia Barr’s book The Dark Side – only published in French and Spanish – contained the following information about the Nightsisters of Dathomir. While it’s true the witches of Brendok aren’t Nightsisters, the point still stands:

During the time of the Clone Wars, he had the special favor of Mother Talzin. Although the Nightsisters did not need males to procreate , the Brothers would have become extinct if they had not agreed to bear Zabrak children. This guaranteed peaceful coexistence between clans. Sometimes the children were born as Zabrak males, while others shared traits of both species, Night Brothers and Sisters. Talzin gave birth to three Nightbrothers before rising through the ranks and becoming leader of her clan.

In fact, Anne E. Coverey’s short story “Bug” – published in Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Stories Of Light & Dark – even told the story of one such Dathomiri child, created by magick. There’s a sense, then, in which The Acolyte hasn’t really changed canon here; it’s simply made it more visible, causing a reaction from some parts of the fanbase who feel Anakin’s unique status as the Chosen One is somehow threatened. But Anakin achieved his destiny not because of his birth, but because of his choices.

7

The Acolyte Has Introduced A New Sith Lord

How does this Sith Lord fit into Star Wars canon?

The Acolyte is set 100 years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, and it features what appears to be a mysterious new Sith Lord. Little is known about this Sith Lord to date, but it’s worth noting he doesn’t appear to be either of the two Sith known to have been active in the century before Palpatine – Darth Plagueis and his own mentor, Darth Tenebrous (who’s been name-dropped in canon as well as Legends). The line of the Baneite Sith is now a little more mysterious.

Most viewers are convinced the Sith Lord is actually Qimir, Manny Jacinto’s character. If this is the case, then it’s difficult to say how he slots into the Star Wars timeline. The most likely explanation is that he will be a failed apprentice, perhaps dying after he attempts to replace his master.

6

The Sith Risked Exposure Long Before The Phantom Menace

Why did the Sith emerge from the shadows?

The next major change to lore was heavily teased, especially in the “Awake” TV spot. In Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, the Sith emerged from the shadows at last. According to Ki-Adi-Mundi, the Jedi believed the Sith to have been extinct since the tme of Darth Bane. But now The Acolyte has shown them risking exposure long before The Phantom Menace, and there even seem to be scenes in which the Sith confront the Jedi.

Why would the Sith risk everything in this way? It may be that some Sith simply became consumed by the dark side; it’s always seemed rather unlikely that all Sith would be able to restrain their anger and rage. Alternatively, it may well be there’s something in play they find too tempting to resist. Some viewers have speculated Osha and Mae could be a Force Dyad, which would certainly be sufficient.

5

Star Wars Has Confirmed How Acolytes Fit Into The Rule Of Two

Acolytes are an important part of the Star Wars mythology

The very title of “The Acolyte” is a not to an idea from Star Wars Legends, a subtle change to the Sith Rule of Two. A thousand years ago, Darth Bane established that there should only ever be two Sith at a time – one Master and one Apprentice, one to crave power and the other to wield it. Every Apprentice will ultimately challenge their Master, taking their place if they kill them. But doesn’t that mean the line of Baneite Sith will constantly be in danger, because there will be times when a new Master doesn’t have an Apprentice?

The Acolyte is the solution to this problem. If an Apprentice wishes to challenge their Master, they must first recruit an Acolyte who proves themselves worthy to become a Sith. It is only then that the Apprentice takes on their Master, ensuring they have a replacement should they fall, and a new Apprentice should they succeed. It’s a smart idea, smoothing out the line of succession in the Rule of Two.

4

An Acolyte’s Mission To Kill A Jedi Is Even More Dangerous

Why Mae needs to kill a Jedi without a weapon

Star Wars comics had long since established that a prospective Sith Apprentice proves themselves worthy by killing a Jedi, taking the kyber crystal from their lightsaber, and bleeding it red. The Acolyte makes this mission even more dangerous; the Sith Acolyte must kill a Jedi either without a weapon, or with their own lightsaber. That’s why Mae initially attempts to kill her targets with hand-to-hand, making an attempt to steal their lightsaber, and only using weapons when she knows she can’t win.

So far, then, Mae is a failure as an Acolyte. She resorted to weapons to deal with Indara, and poisoned Torbin. Master Sol was clearly out of her league as well, and she was forced to flee. Realistically, if Mae cannot kill Kelnacca without a weapon, then she has failed in her mission – and will no doubt be killed by the Sith.

3

Wookiees CAN be Jedi Masters, George Lucas

George Lucas’ strangest rule has been discarded

The Acolyte features Kelnacca, Star Wars‘ first live-action Wookiee Jedi. Although there had been Wookiee Jedi in Legends, George Lucas instituted an odd veto against the idea while he was working on the prequels. He never outlined his reasoning, meaning this has long seemed to be Lucas’ strangest rule. He relented in the end, which explains why Star Wars: The Clone Wars introduced the Wookiee Youngling named Gungi (who returned in Star Wars: The Bad Batch).

Played by Joonas Suotamo (of Chewbacca fame), Kelnacca is the first Wookiee Jedi to actually appear in live-action. That makes the character a trailblazer, and an exciting one at that. He’s hopefully only the first of many future Wookiee Jedi.

2

We Now Know Mirialans Can Live For Centuries

Vernestra Rwoh has proved the point

Rebecca Henderson appears in The Acolyte as Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh, clearly a high-ranking member of the Order – likely the Master of the Order, the position held by Mace Windu in the prequels. Vernestra is an established character from Star Wars: The High Republic Phase I, and she’s aged 116 in The Acolyte. This confirms her race, the Mirialans, can live far longer than humans.

Ironically, this conflicts with one of Lucasfilm’s most recent shows – Tales of the Empire. This featured three episodes told from the perspective of Barriss Offee, a Mirialan Jedi Knight who betrayed the Order during the Clone Wars. Oddly, Barriss proves to age at an accelerated rate when compared to humans, rather than a slower one. It’s currently unexplained.

1

We Have Our First Live Action Zygerrian Jedi

An obscure Clone Wars race had members in the Order

Finally (for now), The Acolyte featured the first ever Zygerrian Jedi. Tasi Lowa is the Padawan of Jedi Knight Yord Fandar, and her appearance is quite a surprise. The Jedi didn’t exactly have a good relationship with the Zygerrians, a race of slavers, so it’s something of a surprise to see one of them among the Order. It suggests the Jedi do indeed test Zygerrian Younglings for Force-sensitivity, which is no doubt something of a diplomatic minefield.