Warning! This post contains spoilers for The Acolyte.
The Acolyte showrunner 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 in Star Wars. The Acolyte has already changed the Star Wars game in a number of ways, not only by introducing a host of new characters to Star Wars movies and TV shows but also by pulling in Legends concepts such as cortosis. In fact, The Acolyte has already created waves by introducing a Sith to the High Republic Era, 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
Now, though, The Acolyte’s showrunner has introduced yet another shocking turn: a new understanding of balance in the Force. In an interview with Inverse, 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 that it may be the Sith, not the Jedi that managed to find that balance—or, at least, The Acolyte’s new Sith, the Stranger, has struck that balance.
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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 in The Acolyte so 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.
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 in The Acolyte episode 5.
Arguably, this isn’t entirely new to Star Wars, as even Master Yoda had to face his darkness at one point. In Star 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 or The 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 of The Acolyte, as it could mean a major shift in the Star Wars franchise.
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
