Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Acolyte episode 7.
Star Wars has long since established that cloning Force powers is hard, but Star Wars: The Acolyte has finally given the real reason behind this difficulty. Ever since Palpatine’s infamous return in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, various Star Wars properties – most notably The Mandalorian and Star Wars: The Bad Batch – have been doing the work to explain how Force cloning works. It’s a very tedious process that requires both high midi-chlorian counts and individuals whose blood doesn’t degrade the original M-count specimen.
Yet the mystery of why exactly this process is so difficult has remained, until now. The Acolyte episode 7 touches on M-counts, but it also introduces a newer concept behind Force cloning to the Star Wars galaxy. This is something that has yet to be mentioned in relation to Force sensitivity, but it at long last explains why exactly Force cloning isn’t as easy as it seems, not even for the famed Kaminoan cloners.
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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.
Every Person Has Unique Symbionts
Midi-Chlorians Aren’t The Only Factor
When analyzing the blood samples taken from Mae and Osha on Brendok, Padawan Torbin brings up the twins’ symbionts to Master Indara, Master Sol, and Master Kelnacca and says they’re identical – something that is not typically possible, even in identical twins like themselves. It’s briefly explained that every person has their own unique symbionts, which facilitate the connection between a person and their midi-chlorians, and thus their connection to the Force. With such symbiotic relationships being inherent to the flow and function of the world, it makes sense that each person has a unique way to tap into that potential.
The Symbionts Won’t Bond Properly To A New Host
These Relationships Are Unique & Non-Transferable
This symbiotic relationship is why Force cloning is so difficult. Trying to artificially recreate a unique relationship between a host and their symbionts with a brand-new host would no doubt be confusing for their symbionts, which were made to bond specifically with their original host. This is why midi-chlorians cannot be the simple answer to Force cloning; even if an M-count transfer is successful and doesn’t degrade the specimen, the lack of a relationship between the symbionts and the host would not allow that connection to last.
This is a nice layer Star Wars has added to the process of Force cloning. While before, it seemed as if all it required was knowledge of M-counts and finding a way to transfer them from one person to another, the establishment of unique symbionts complicates this process in a perfect way. Seeing as most Force-users have their own unique bonds to the Force and see it manifest in different ways, having these unique symbionts makes even more sense. Now that The Acolyte has established this, it will hopefully be seen and mentioned more throughout Star Wars.
The Acolyte episode 7 is now streaming. The final episode releases Tuesday at 9 PM ET on Disney+.
The Acolyte
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- rent
- buy
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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
