Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Acolyte episode 5.

Star Wars: The Acolyte finally unmasked the mysterious figure presumed to be Star Wars’ newest Sith, but many aren’t convinced he’s the true Sith Lord. The Acolyte episode 5 was full of major plot twists and shocking character deaths, but it mainly focused on the revelation that Mae’s somewhat goofy sidekick, Qimir, was really the masked figure called the Stranger. His quirkier personality was immediately dropped, however, when he started brutally massacring many of the show’s main characters.

Even in light of the violence of The Acolyte episode 5 Jedi deaths, Star Wars viewers are largely not convinced that the Stranger is the Sith Lord of the show. In fact, there are a number of clues the Stranger isn’t the Sith master. Because of that speculation, these 10 theories about who the true Sith master is have become very popular possibilities.

10

The Sith Could Be Darth Plagueis

Palpatine’s Master Could Appear On Screen

One of the most prominent theories is that the true Sith will be Darth Plagueis, Palpatine’s own master. This has been theorized since The Acolyte’s first trailer was released, showing a masked figure wielding a red lightsaber. In terms of timeline, this would make sense. The Acolyte is set 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in the Star Wars timeline, which would give Plagueis plenty of time to train Palpatine and be murdered by him in advance of the prequel trilogy.

This would also be a logical choice, as Plagueis’ existence is already canonized. It would be somewhat odd for Star Wars to attempt to fit in another Sith master and apprentice duo prior to Plagueis and Palpatine, as the Sith Rule of Two would presumably dictate that they could not co-exist. However, The Acolyte has prided itself on twists and turns, and given audience expectations that Plagueis will be the Sith, the show may want to go in a different direction.

9

Master Indara Could Have Secretly Been The Sith All Along

There May Be Much More To Indara’s Story

A less predictable theory is that Jedi Master Indara may secretly be (or have been) the true Sith. Audiences were largely excited about Carrie-Anne Moss’ role as Indara in The Acolyte, but her character’s story was cut very short when she died early on in the show’s first episode. Although she has since appeared in flashback, viewers remain disappointed that her time as a Jedi master was so limited.

Revealing that Indara was the Sith master all along would be a brilliant way to further explore Indara’s story, and it could mean she isn’t really dead after all. Instead, she could have faked her death as a test for Mae, and she may return in a shocking reveal. Alternatively, she could truly be dead, opening up the opportunity for Qimir to become the real Sith master.

8

The Stranger’s Sith Master Could Be Darth Tenebrous

Darth Plagueis’ Master Could Be The Current Sith Lord

While the theory that the true Sith master is Darth Plagueis remains one of the most popular, viewers have also speculated that the Sith could be Plagueis’ master, Darth Tenebrous. Little is known about Tenebrous in Star Wars canon; however, in Legends, Tenebrous was a brilliant, formidable Sith who ruled as Dark Lord of the Sith for a century. Given how familiar The Acolyte’s showrunner Leslye Headland is with Legends, this is a real possibility.

Of course, this would almost certainly mean Tenebrous’ rule was about to come to an end, as 100 years seems to be a tight turnaround for Plagueis to usurp Tenebrous and Palpatine to usurp him, especially if, in keeping with Legends, Tenebrous was Dark Lord for a century. However, this would be an intriguing way to establish Palpatine’s Sith lineage. As Headland has already expressed interest in a second season of The Acolyte, the show could chart that line.

7

The Sith Master May Be Someone Brand-New

The Acolyte Could Introduce A Complete Unknown

The entirety of The Acolyte has centered on mystery and plot twists, so it’s quite possible that the show will instead take audiences completely by surprise and introduce a brand-new character rather than pull from the dark side Force-users who are already known. In fact, this seems especially likely given how much the show has avoided references to well-known Jedi. As a key example, Master Yoda was alive during The Acolyte, but he has yet to make an appearance, and he is unlikely to do so.

Although prequel trilogy character Ki-Adi-Mundi did have a cameo, The Acolyte nevertheless seems committed to having as little overlap with the Skywalker Saga as possible. This may mean that the introduction of Darth Plagueis in particular would go against the show’s intentions. The Acolyte certainly has the flexibility to introduce a brand-new Sith, although it’s unclear precisely how that would be done without a major retcon of Darth Plagueis and Palpatine’s story.

6

Osha’s Comment Suggests The Sith Master Could Be Mother Aniseya

Osha Recalled Her Mother’s Ability To Control A Jedi’s Mind In Episode 5

In The Acolyte episode 5, Osha drops a major hint that the Sith master could be her mother, Mother Aniseya, although that may be a red herring. When discussing what the Stranger could be, Yord tells Osha, “He gets into your head, and he stays there.” In response, Osha tells Yord that her mother could do that, referencing Mother Aniseya possessing Jedi Padawan Torbin in a previous episode.

Although some have theorized that this may mean Mother Aniseya survived the fire and is the true Sith master, it’s unlikely that The Acolyte would drop such a major, obvious hint. However, this could mean that Qimir has some connection to the witches of Brendok. This is further supported by speculation that Qimir looked as though he had burns on his arms, suggesting that he may have been present for the fire on Brendok that nearly killed Osha and Mae.

5

The Cold Mother Koril Could Be The Sith Master

Mae and Osha’s Other Mother Could Also Be A Sith

Similar to theories that Mother Aniseya is the Sith master, some have speculated that the twins’ other mother, Mother Koril, is really the Sith. This twist would make slightly more sense, as it wouldn’t be as obvious. Mother Koril was also the much colder and more menacing mother of the two, which would make her more believable as a Sith (although Star Wars has repeatedly proven how well the Sith can put up a façade).

This would also be an interesting connection to the prequels without being too heavily linked to the Skywalker Saga, as Mother Koril, like Darth Maul, is a Zabrak. In fact, as Maul will inevitably become Palpatine’s Sith apprentice in The Phantom Menace, this could even reveal the origins of how Palpatine discovered Maul. So far, though, there is little evidence that Koril is the Sith master.

4

The Stranger Could Surprise Audiences By Being The True Sith Master

Presently, Qimir Seems An Unlikely Sith Lord

Of course, it’s possible that there may be no surprise Sith master reveal, and Qimir/the Stranger may truly be The Acolyte’s Sith Lord. This seems unlikely for a number of reasons, however. For one, the Stranger’s identity was discovered much too easily. In fact, even before the full reveal in episode 5, The Acolyte episode 4 heavily hinted that Qimir was the masked figure. For another, it’s notable that Qimir didn’t identify himself as a Sith; rather, he said the Jedi may call him that.

Qimir is also looking for an Acolyte, not a Sith apprentice, which suggests that, at most, he is the current apprentice and has a master he answers to. Even so, the Stranger certainly proved himself to be a terrifying villain, brutally cutting down some of the show’s most beloved characters and even referring to Jecki Lon as “it” after killing her. The Stranger has also already proven to be an incredibly popular character, drawing many Star Wars viewers in after they had already decided they disliked the show.

3

There May Be No Sith Master After All

One Popular Theory Is That Qimir Isn’t A Sith At All

Based on the same comment by Qimir that the Jedi might call him a Sith, many have theorized that the Stranger isn’t a Sith and no other Sith is coming. This has become a popular theory because many are concerned that The Acolyte is retconning the prequels. In The Phantom Menace, Ki-Adi-Mundi stated that the Sith had been extinct for a millennium. While that wasn’t the case (clearly, Palpatine had been working in the shadows), Star Wars audiences have argued that the Jedi knowing about the Sith would be the true retcon.

Making Qimir some other dark side Force-user but not a Sith would solve this problem. This choice would also build upon the work that Star Wars has already been doing for years to transition away from the Jedi/Sith dichotomy. In fact, even in The Acolyte, that has been furthered, as the witches of Brendok seemingly use the dark side but are not Sith. The Nightsisters of Dathomir fall into a similar category. Arguably, this would be a much more innovative, interesting twist than a new Sith.

2

The Somewhat Aloof Vernestra Rwoh Could Be A Secret Sith

So Far, Little Has Been Revealed About Vernestra

In addition to speculation that Jedi Master Indara is secretly the Sith master, others have theorized that the Sith is Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh. So far, Vernestra has had little screen time, mainly engaging with Sol in an attempt to identify the killer. These limited appearances mean that, conceivably, Master Rwoh could be working in the shadows, pulling the strings all along. In fact, this would make her efforts to incriminate Osha make more sense.

However, because Master Rwoh hasn’t been a main character thus far, the payoff of this twist would be much lower than it would be for other characters. While Vernestra might be unlikely to be the Sith as a background character, though, theories about her nod toward what could be. Clearly, Star Wars viewers are interested in the possibility that a Jedi is the true Sith, which could be much more compelling with the more significant characters.

1

Master Sol Could Be (Or Have Some Connection To) The True Sith Lord

Qimir Alluded To Master Sol’s “Darkness”

Perhaps the most popular Jedi thought to secretly be the Sith is Jedi Master Sol, Osha’s former master. Unlike Indara or Vernestra Rwoh, Master being revealed as the Sith master would be much more shocking. So far, Master Sol has seemed kind and genuine, if a bit mysterious. However, The Acolyte episode 5 did suggest there is more to him, as Qimir asked him about his darkness.

Yet again, though, this seems almost too obvious. Many viewers have suspected that Master Sol might be the Sith master, and a show like The Acolyte is actively working to take audiences by surprise. It would nevertheless be an interesting twist to have Osha’s beloved former master be revealed as a Sith, though. While these possibilities remain only theories, it seems very likely that Star Wars: The Acolyte hasn’t finished with its major plot twists regarding the newest Star Wars Sith.