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WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for The Acolyte episode 7.

The Acolyte episode 7 just doubled down on one of George Lucas’ most controversial Force ideas in all of Star Wars. Even though George Lucas is beloved by Star Wars audiences for the inception of a galaxy far, far away, that doesn’t mean he didn’t have missteps when it came to the franchise. For example, when Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace premiered, many viewers hated the character of Jar Jar Binks, a character Lucas believed to be the heart of the movie because of Jar Jar’s comedic timing.

Jar Jar Binks isn’t the only misstep in the Star Wars franchise made by Lucas, but as the Star Wars galaxy has grown, other projects have begun to help legitimize or even fix issues in other titles. Shows like Star Wars: The Bad Batch introduced Palpatine’s Project Necromancer much earlier than anyone thought, which gave more context and history to the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which takes place more than 45 years in the future. This same idea has continued in The Acolyte episode 7 with midi-chlorians.

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.

George Lucas Introduced Midi-Chlorians In The Phantom Menace – But Even He Backed Down

The Science Behind the Force Didn’t Sit Well With Audiences

In The Phantom Menace, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn famously introduced the concept of midi-chlorians, and how these microscopic organisms existed in all living things. If an individual had a particularly high concentration of midi-chlorians, it was an indication that the individual was Force-sensitive. It was an easy way for the Jedi to determine if a child should be brought to the Jedi Temple to be trained or not. When this idea was introduced in The Phantom Menace, many long-time Star Wars viewers didn’t understand or like the concept.

In the original Star Wars trilogy, the Force was mysterious and seemed like some kind of magic; however, the change that there was a scientific reason behind someone being able to use the Force felt like a sharp turn away from fantasy and into science-fiction. The backlash on the midi-chlorians, paired with an unclear storyline, meant that they were omitted from the final two prequel movies. Star Wars avoided discussing midi-chlorians for years, with the concept only coming back to the forefront of Star Wars stories recently in titles like The Mandalorian, The Bad Batch, and most recently, The Acolyte.

The Acolyte Goes Where George Lucas Feared To Tread

Episode 7 Makes Them An Important Plot Point

The Acolyte episode 7 was another flashback episode to the planet Brendok 16 years before the main events of the show. During this episode, Padawan Torbin takes samples of twins Mae and Osha’s blood, testing their midi-chlorian count. It’s revealed that both Mae and Osha have high M-counts, making them highly Force-sensitive. This test also proves that the twins were created using a vergence in the Force. This discovery sets up the entire third act of The Acolyte episode 7, where Torbin and Master Sol infiltrate the witches of Brendok’s fortress.

If this discovery hadn’t been made, then the Jedi likely would’ve gone back to their mission of searching Brendok for a Force vergence and followed the Jedi High Council’s advice. Unfortunately, the rash decisions made by Torbin and Sol proved disastrous and led to the death of the coven of witches and forever altered the destiny of Mae and Osha. With only one episode left of The Acolyte, it will be interesting to see how else, or if, midi-chlorians will be a factor in the rest of the show.

New episodes of The Acolyte premiere on Tuesdays at 9 PM EST 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: 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): 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: 1
Streaming Service(s): Disney+
Franchise(s): Star Wars
Writers: Leslye Headland
, Charmaine De Grate
, Kor Adana
Directors: Leslye Headland
, Alex Garcia Lopez
Showrunner: Leslye Headland