Darth Jar Jar is unlikely to ever become canon in Star Wars, but Star Wars: The Acolyte just revealed a major Sith plot twist that is almost as good. The Darth Jar Jar theory initially started as a bit of a joke in the franchise, but over time, Star Wars audiences have come to genuinely hope a Sith Jar Jar Binks will be canonized in Star Wars movies and TV shows. The theory posits that, based on some of Jar Jar Binks’ odd behaviors and his at times unusual physical abilities, he may in fact be Force-sensitive.
The real crux of the theory, however, is that beyond just being Force-sensitive, Jar Jar Binks is a Sith who has been working with Palpatine in secret. This is substantiated by the number of times Jar Jar’s actions benefited Palpatine, most notably when Jar Jar pushed for Palpatine to receive emergency powers in the Senate. While this theory is almost certainly too outlandish to ever be confirmed in canon, Star Wars just gave audiences the next best thing with its Sith reveal in The Acolyte episode 5.
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6 Unanswered Questions About The Acolyte’s Sith Lord After Episode 5
While The Acolyte episode 5 answered one of the show’s biggest questions, it also created new mysteries surrounding its compelling Sith Lord.
Star Wars’ New Sith Lord Plays The Darth Jar Jar Twist Straight
The Acolyte’s most recent plot twist involved the reveal that Qimir, once thought to be Mae’s somewhat quirky accomplice, was in fact the masked villain known as the Stranger. Although episode 4 had already dropped a number of hints that this twist was coming, making it somewhat less surprising, what made this twist downright shocking was the way Qimir’s demeanor completely switched. Although he had previously been a bit odd and perhaps even charming, he turned into a ruthless killer who cut down multiple Jedi without a second thought.
This may be as close as Star Wars comes to making Darth Jar Jar canon, as Qimir’s story mirrors the arc of Darth Jar Jar—a goofy sidekick who is ultimately revealed to secretly be a Sith. In Qimir’s case, this is a bit complicated, as The Acolyte hasn’t confirmed that Qimir/the Stranger is a Sith. Rather, Qimir is clearly a dark side Force-user who tells Master Sol that the Jedi might refer to him as such. Even with confirmation of Qimir’s Sith status hanging in the balance, though, The Acolyte has introduced a Darth Jar Jar-style plot twist.
Qimir Has Captured The Imagination… Just Like Darth Jar Jar
The similarities between Qimir and the theoretical Darth Jar Jar don’t end there, though. Rather, Qimir is also reminiscent of Darth Jar Jar in his popularity. Unfortunately, The Acolyte fell victim to harsh scrutiny and criticism even before the show released, and the backlash didn’t ease up when episodes began premiering. Up until The Acolyte episode 5, in fact, each new episode seemed to spur on new waves of negativity. This changed with the episode in which Qimir/the Stranger was finally unmasked.
Following that reveal in episode 5, The Acolyte has experienced a bit of a turning point in reception. Part of this is undoubtedly the Darth Jar Jar effect; even with the turn being somewhat predictable, this silly sidekick to terrifying villain arc is a compelling one. However, like Star Wars villains before him, Qimir has also captivated audiences with stunning lightsaber skills, brutal lines, and, yes, his looks. While those factors are surely at play, Star Wars: The Acolyte has also drawn Star Wars audiences in with this story so closely aligned with the fan-favorite Darth Jar Jar theory.
New episodes of The Acolyte release on Tuesdays at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST on Disney+.
The Acolyte
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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.
- Cast
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Amandla Stenberg
, Lee Jung-jae
, Joonas Suotamo
, Charlie Barnett
, Dafne Keen
, Leah Brady
, Manny Jacinto
, Rebecca Henderson
, Carrie-Anne Moss
, Jodie Turner-Smith
, Dean-Charles Chapman
, Lauren Brady
, Anthony J. Abraham
, Thara Shöön
, Danielle Xin Yao Waterman
, Sienna Khiroya
, Jeramiah Evans
, Dan Milne
, Thomas Coombes
, Archie Singh Swali
, Nick Court
, Ed Kear
, Jumayn Hunter
, Scroobius Pip
, Abigail Thorn
, Margarita Levieva
, Amy Tsang
, Saskia Allen
, Deborah Rosan
, Tabitha Alege
, Paul Bullion
, Indra Ové
, Derek Arnold
, Lewis Young - Character(s)
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Mae
, Master Sol
, Kelnacca
, Yord Fandar
, Jecki Lon
, Little Mae
, Qimir
, Master Vernestra Rwoh
, Master Indara
, Mother Aniseya
, Master Torbin
, Padawan Torbin
, Little Osha
, Fillik
, Tasi Lowa
, Youngling
, Restrained Convict
, Convict
, Olega Urchin
, Olega Master
, Olega Padawan
, Scavenger
, Ensign Eurus
, Mother Koril
, Ensign Rane
, Scout Sarria
, Ensign Shima
, Elder Jaalyn
, Master Lakshay
, Master Holden
, Master Ki-Adi-Mundi
, Jedi Knight - Seasons
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1
- Streaming Service(s)
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Disney+
- Franchise(s)
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Star Wars
- Writers
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Leslye Headland
, Charmaine De Grate
, Kor Adana - Directors
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Leslye Headland
, Alex Garcia Lopez - Showrunner
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Leslye Headland
